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Post by satrapo on Nov 6, 2020 8:34:48 GMT
Hello, first post here.
I am thinking about getting a Amarok 6 for Christmas. However, before I buy it, I'm trying to figure out (without success so far) how the electronics are set up. In particular, are the emg hot 70 already installed with the solderless emg wiring or is it an old fashioned soldering job?
Having the solderless set-up would be a great advantage for me, since I really love modding guitars and so far, I struggled a bit with other Harley Benton guitars, where the soldering/wiring was done in a way that unnecessarily complicated everything.
So, i was wondering if any of you Amarok owners could let me know whether the emg solderless wiring is there or not.
Thanks in advance!
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700 posts
YouTube Channel: ToroK Channel
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Post by taurash on Nov 7, 2020 7:26:26 GMT
Hello, first post here. I am thinking about getting a Amarok 6 for Christmas. However, before I buy it, I'm trying to figure out (without success so far) how the electronics are set up. In particular, are the emg hot 70 already installed with the solderless emg wiring or is it an old fashioned soldering job? Having the solderless set-up would be a great advantage for me, since I really love modding guitars and so far, I struggled a bit with other Harley Benton guitars, where the soldering/wiring was done in a way that unnecessarily complicated everything. So, i was wondering if any of you Amarok owners could let me know whether the emg solderless wiring is there or not. Thanks in advance! Hi satrapo, A few things to answer your question : - the Hot 70 on the Amarok are installed with some soldered components. And to go further, I know absolutely no guitar that comes with the EMG solderless kit out of the factory, whatever the brand. - The Amarok has limitations in terms of mods : you can swap EMG pickups thanks to the 3 pin connectors, but the cavity in which the pickups lies is not large enough to accept te "classic" EMG shapes. It means that you cannot put in some 81 / 85 / 60 / 57 / 66 / 58 / het set / Bone Breaker. But you could go for some fat 55 or J Daemonum - Another problem for modding : the guys at the facotry have enlarged the screw holes on the side of the EMG pickups and put some 3mm thicks screws that let you set the pickup action up. Problem is, EMG pickups always comes with 2.3mm holes. So if you try and change pickups, either you enlarge the screw holes, or you put some smaller screws that might not hold for a long time. - And finally, due to the enlarged holes in the Hot 70, you cannot use them on a guitar that would come with pickups rings. I've tried all the pickup ring screws I have found, none is large enough to do the job. So I'm afraid this Amarok is one of the worst mod platform you can think about. But in the other hand it's an excellent guitar !
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Post by satrapo on Nov 7, 2020 8:53:26 GMT
Hi satrapo , A few things to answer your question : - the Hot 70 on the Amarok are installed with some soldered components. And to go further, I know absolutely no guitar that comes with the EMG solderless kit out of the factory, whatever the brand. - The Amarok has limitations in terms of mods : you can swap EMG pickups thanks to the 3 pin connectors, but the cavity in which the pickups lies is not large enough to accept te "classic" EMG shapes. It means that you cannot put in some 81 / 85 / 60 / 57 / 66 / 58 / het set / Bone Breaker. But you could go for some fat 55 or J Daemonum - Another problem for modding : the guys at the facotry have enlarged the screw holes on the side of the EMG pickups and put some 3mm thicks screws that let you set the pickup action up. Problem is, EMG pickups always comes with 2.3mm holes. So if you try and change pickups, either you enlarge the screw holes, or you put some smaller screws that might not hold for a long time. - And finally, due to the enlarged holes in the Hot 70, you cannot use them on a guitar that would come with pickups rings. I've tried all the pickup ring screws I have found, none is large enough to do the job. So I'm afraid this Amarok is one of the worst mod platform you can think about. But in the other hand it's an excellent guitar ! Hello Taurash, wow, thanks for the super detailed information! That is really really helpful. I listened to some direct comparisons of EMG pickups and I have to say the hot-70 sound pretty good for what I play (mainly black metal). So, in principle, I don't need to swap them out. On the other side, as I mentioned, modding is part of the fun for me. Thanks again for the great answer. I'll be able to make an informed decision now
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700 posts
YouTube Channel: ToroK Channel
Disclosures: See Signature
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Post by taurash on Nov 7, 2020 9:45:37 GMT
You're welcome satrapo, I'm happy if I can help you If you want a guitar to mod and have fun with, you can take a look at the SC-1000 which is an excellent basis for a mod project, or the EX-84 modern which comes with much better hardware than the SC-1000 but will need a bit more work for replacing the electronics (especially the hole that links the electronic compartment to the battery compartmenent is too narrow for the EMG component, you have to enlarge it with a Drill and a 8mm drill bit). And if you wanna hear different EMG active bridge pickups, here's a comparison video I've made. I'm not into black metal, I'm into Thrash / metalcore, but maybe it's gonna give you a better idea of what could suit you
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Post by satrapo on Nov 7, 2020 16:06:08 GMT
Thanks! (Insta-like + subscribe ) I was checking out the SC-1000, but I was sad to find out the white version is not there anymore. I think I might consider the SC custom II white Active in case I want to go for a SC body.
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700 posts
YouTube Channel: ToroK Channel
Disclosures: See Signature
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Post by taurash on Nov 7, 2020 19:50:29 GMT
Thanks for subscribing and liking About the SC 1000 in white : there's not a lot to regret, the painting was really very sticky. The SC Custom II is a good guitar but for playing sitting, it's less comfortble than the SC 1000 due to a shorter horn. And keep in mind that the Roswell active pickups don't have the 3 pin connectors that you will find on EMG pickups. So you will have to change all the electronics. On the SC 1000, you jut have to remove the HBZ, plug your EMG instead, and there you are
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Post by satrapo on Nov 8, 2020 15:54:29 GMT
Oh, wow. I didn't know the HBZ pickups had the three pin system. Good to know! By the way, I see now on Thomann's website that they have the white version again
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Post by altf4 on Mar 19, 2023 13:51:00 GMT
Sorry to Necro this old thread, but I was wondering if the Hot 70s could be swapped out for standard sized passive pickups for the Amarok? I was thinking of Seymour Duncan's but not decided yet.
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