Tokai Goldstar Sound with EMG SPC

A quick demo of the EMG SPC control I've just installed on my 80s Tokai strat. The pickups are GFS I28s. Blues purists be warned that this video contains the worst kind of amateur guitar w@nk, including unsubtle use of the whammy bar, and towards the end even some sloppy tapping - but I suggest you don't watch it that far, even if amateur guitar w@nk is your proverbial cup of tea.

It starts off with the SPC off, then after a while you can clear see and hear when I turn it full on. Then I gradually back it down again so that you can hear the range.

Recorded with the built-in microphone on my Mac so sound quality is not good, but the point of this is not to demonstrate good tone, but to show the amount of difference an SPC circuit makes.

Played through a Blues Junior (cream board) with full gain.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tokai
• EMG
• SPC
• Goldstar
• blues
• strat
• demo

[freenamdar]

Great Video. 3 questions:

1.did you have to do any mods since you're using passive pickups rather than active? or you can just use the spc right out of the box?

2. when spc is on zero, is it all bypassed and pickups sound as if you don't have the spc?

3. How do you keep your guitar in tune?! you use the whammy bar so often and yet it stays in tune!

thanks for sharing this!

[redsquier375]

@freenamdar Cheers for the comments. I'll try to answer your questions:

1. The SPC requires a battery so you have to wire in a new jack to work with the battery clip, but other than that it works fine with passive pickups and vol/tone controls, no mods needed.

2. As far as I can tell, yes

3. I've since replaced the trem unit due to saddle issues and it still stays in tune very well - I think it's just a case of having a good nut and tuners and installing the strings carefully

Cheers

[vicgarcia30]

@redsquier375 so u just buy the spc by it self u dont have to buy any thing else ? and is it esy to put on ?

[redsquier375]

@vicgarcia30 as well as replacing one of your existing controls with the SPC you need to replace your jack socket with the one included and find room for a 9v battery. If you've ever changed the pickups in your guitar then you'll be able to do this. It's just a case of reading the instructions and doing a bit of soldering. Easy peasy.

[zbaby82]

You've got nice tone. I wonder how this would sound on a DiMarzio super distortion?

[redsquier375]

Cheers. I've since tried the SPC with a couple of different bridge PUs - Fender Red Lace Sensor and a mid-output GFS hotrails clone. Both gave quite a good PAF tone with the SPC engaged. I imagine with a super distortion and SPC you would get some serious gain!

Biggest boost I ever heard was off an old active Charvel from the 80s, which I stupidly sold for very little money about 10 years ago .

[liamt6762]

nice playing , nice vibe !

[bluesbiker1963]

was für ein katzengejammer..brr :-)

[beeeastmaster]

I just got a goldstar like this except has the modified headstock, mine has a replaced nut, what is the nut on yours made of? plastic? bone? also does your trem screw all the way in ie. all the threads or stick out a bit?

[tele757]

very cool Santana like lines

it gets tough for anyone when the chords just repeat- nice dynamics