timeforbreakfast Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 About a year ago I finally found a Korean EJ-160e and I love the thing. The only problem is that the pickup has alot of hum. I am not sure if this much hum is normal, but it does make using it live or recording with it problematic. I have noticed that a lot of the hum stops when I touch the input jack. I am wondering if there is a ground loop problem in the wiring of the guitar or if maybe it needs shielding. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you remedy it? I also considered just taking it in and having the pickup replaced with a real p90 or p100. I know the p90 hums, but I am thinking that if there is a legit wiring problem, it should get fixed with a proper installation of a new pickup. Anyone have opinions on replacing the pickup? Any help is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 I have the exact same guitar (Korean) and haven't experienced this problem. Regarding the p-up, the member Byrds1965 has had both EJ-160e and J-160e and has had his Epiphone P-up rebuilt so perhaps you could ask him how he did it, how much it cost, and whether it was worth it. Personally I don't think it's worth it because it's a solid top and doesn't really give off a great Beatles tone anyway. I've got a Piezo installed in mine and mainly use it in my Tribute band for the acoustic songs with acoustic strings using the Piezo. This works for me because I already have two electric guitars on stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship of fools Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Sounds more like you have a ground problem and not a pick-up problem, check to make sure that the outlet you are using is actually grounded and not just at the plug end, many homes are not properly grounded these days so it might be that., if you are losing the hum when touching the jack, your body is acting as the ground then.Ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 I have the exact same guitar (Korean) and haven't experienced this problem. Regarding the p-up' date=' the member Byrds1965 has had both EJ-160e and J-160e and has had his Epiphone P-up rebuilt so perhaps you could ask him how he did it, how much it cost, and whether it was worth it. Personally I don't think it's worth it because it's a solid top and doesn't really give off a great Beatles tone anyway. I've got a Piezo installed in mine and mainly use it in my Tribute band for the acoustic songs with acoustic strings using the Piezo. This works for me because I already have two electric guitars on stage.[/quote'] I do still own my MIK EJ160E. I had the PU rebuilt by Duncan and if I remember right they used Alnico 5 magnets in it, and I think it was around $80-$90 about 4 years ago now. I was not happy with the volume level or tone stock. As Clarkuss states here it does not do a real good Beatles vibe either plugged in or not plugged in. As Red has said it will get you in the ballpark but that it about it. A Gibson J160E sounds like an electric, plugged in not at all acoustic. The best way to describe the sound is a strat on the neck PU if you could add some hollow body tone to it. The stock mini humbucker in the EJ160E is I think the worst PU they make. I wish they would either jack up the price and put something good in it or leave it off. My Duncan rebuilt PU came back too bright for my taste so I had 250k pots installed and that knocked off some of the high end. Plugged in it is kind of like a cross between an acoustic and an electric. Nothing special but it does have the depth and volume now the original lacked. My bandmate still has his MIK stock and when he does play he uses mine. It does have some hum to it, but the tech who did the install and the pots told me there is nothing in that guitar, being an acoustic, to really ground it to so it will hum but when you grab the strings the hum goes away a bit. By comparison the Gibson J160E has the famous P90 hum and is more noticable. Neither guitar is ever going to be dead quiet. They are what they are love them or leave them pretty much. If you want acoustic go the Piezo route and have them wire it to use the volume and tone pots and the output jack. I play mine at bandpratice now and then and it works for certain things. My Gibson J160E never left the house. Hope this helps some. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeforbreakfast Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 Thanks so much for the input. Sounds like you still aren't totally happy with the pickup sound. I have never heard a J-160e live, but I do kind of like the sound mine gets through a vox pathfinder. I am not really looking to use it as an amplified acoustic (in fact considering either a masterbilt or performer). SO my next question is do you think it would be an improvement in sound to go to a p90? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Thanks so much for the input. Sounds like you still aren't totally happy with the pickup sound. I have never heard a J-160e live' date=' but I do kind of like the sound mine gets through a vox pathfinder. I am not really looking to use it as an amplified acoustic (in fact considering either a masterbilt or performer). SO my next question is do you think it would be an improvement in sound to go to a p90?[/quote'] Rebuilt it is better than stock. It depends on what you are looking for though. If you are looking it to sound like a real J160E, and by that the Beatles J160E's, it is never going to be. As I said mine post PU rebuild and several other mods does not sound like a true acoustic as you would get with a Piezo PU and unlike a real J160E it does not sound like a flat out electric guitar. It sounds like a cross between and nice for what it is as no guitar really does it so............ That said that tone works well for some things and not so great plugged in on a whole lot more. On the whole I find it kind of an ehh tone, not a nice acoustic sound but not a solid electric tone either. I guess if you push me it does neither well plugged in stock or rebuilt. Not sure a P90 will fit which is why I just had the PU yanked and rebuilt. If I did it again I would have told Duncan to make it sound as close to a P90 as possible given it is a minihumbucker. I am hoping with these inspired by series that the EJ160E gets some kind of upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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