If you could only own one guitar to do everything and cater for any situation as a pro player, it would be some kind of Strat loaded with the EMG DG20. This is the EMG assembly that Dave Gilmour first started using in his red Strat way back in 1985 and has used on and off both live and in the studio ever since. The DG20 gives you 3 SA pickups, which are Alnico 5 sounding in character, plus an SPC mid boost, an EXG frequency expander and a master volume, all laid out in the familiar Stratocaster way.

Like all EMGs they are dead silent, which is exactly what you want for studio use, or when using high gain. Because EMGs are active and run off a 9v battery, they will power through any cable length without loss of tone, and if you have a big pedal board, they send undiluted signal to your amp, whether your pedals are true bypass or not. Yes, you do have to have a battery situated somewhere in your guitar to supply the tiny current EMGs need, and occasionally it will need changing, but if you unplug your guitar cable when the guitar is not in use, we are talking a long time between battery changes. There is room in the cavity for the battery.

Adding to the mix of the already great sounding SA pups, the DG20 has an on board SPC presence control on the bottom tone pot. This is actually a mid boost and a great secret weapon. As you wind it up you get a very fat sounding SA pick up that is bordering on humbucker in character. It's absolutely perfect for singing solos or any hi gain work. There is a tiny amount of increased hiss as you push it to full power, much like kicking in a boost pedal, but as you would probably use it on the fly, you would never hear it in use.

On the second tone pot you have an EXG expander, which drops the mids and boosts the bottom and top. Great for clean rhythm or articulate acoustic type parts. When you add up the tonal options of a 5-way switch, three SA pups, an EXG and an SPC, you can see why I say if could only own 1 guitar, I would go for this assembly on a good Strat, because you will be able to deal with any style in any situation.

The DG20 is unquestionably an instant upgrade for any average Stratocaster, and nine times out of ten, a set of EMGs will turbo charge your guitar for better. To fit the DG20 no soldering is required.

After installing the DG20 EMG assembly your guitar will easily hold its own against much pricier instruments, and in the hands of a good player, can sound just as good as a guitar costing thousands. EMGs are the perfect upgrade for a guitar like yours.