what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

[WICKED LESTER]

I am not sure if anyone else here has noticed this but it seems that on records with two guitarist and one of them is using the EMG pups his tone is always the more pronounced/more powerful in the mix???
for example on testamants LOW record james murphy has a strat loaded with a 81 and his tone when he kicks in just emerges with such power compared to eric's who is using a distortion i think, and that is in a les paul!
for you testament fans it is very noticable on the title track at the begining.
and zakk wylde just recently aquired a RR's jackson copy that has a distoriton and a jazz in it ala randy rhoads and even though it still sound like zakk when he plays that guitar the tone is not as uh good?
there are other recordings like this as well but it is always the same t
he guy with the EMG loaded guitar has the more pronounced tone?

[some_dude]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Well, I find that Strat's have a more defined, middy tone than Les Pauls. I think that's why so many people use Strats/Super Strats for lead guitars.

Also, alot needs to be said for the amps, EQing, and mixing that they're using.

[Jeff5]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Its really hard to base anything on recordings. It all depends on how they mix the guitars, how many tracks they record etc. If you're hearing one guitar play more than another, chances are its because they mixed it that way, not because of the pups.

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

I kind of thought these things you guys stated.
I do know that right now my EMG loaded lester wastes the other two tone wise but they have stock gibson pups right now.
I will find out for sure when the distortion gets put into one.
I am hoping that the duncan will at least keep up with the 81?

[Xeromus]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Those are production methods. In the studio I could make a guy with a flute and a banjo pop out with more intensity than a guy with a full stack if I wanted to.

With that said I prefer my JB and Distortion over the Zakk Wylde EMG set I used to have.

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

I prefer my JB and Distortion over the Zakk Wylde EMG set I used to have.

can you please tell me what it is about the distortion or the JB that makes you feel this way?
I ask simply because you have hands on experience with them now after owning the 81/85 set

[some_dude]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

can you please tell me what it is about the distortion or the JB that makes you feel this way?

It's a sound and feel thing, but it's really personal and needs to be experienced in person. You may try Duncan's and love them so much you sell off all your EMGs...or you may hate them.


Personally, I yanked the JB out of my Strat and replaced it with an 85....

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

It's a sound and feel thing, but it's really personal and needs to be experienced in person. You may try Duncan's and love them so much you sell off all your EMGs...or you may hate them.

+1. For me, it's more the feel than sound. I'd recommend that you setup one guitar with EMGs, and another with Duncans.

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

+1. For me, it's more the feel than sound. I'd recommend that you setup one guitar with EMGs, and another with Duncans.

I plan on doing just that
I have three lesters and two now have emgs as of yesterday
and the remaining one will get a distortion/jazz as soon as i let them in the mail
(i ordered them 30 minutes ago)
if i do like them as much as i hope to the zakk LP will remain stock for obvious reasons and the other red one will get duncans as well

[Nate]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Did Peterson use a JB or a Distortion on Low?

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Did Peterson use a JB or a Distortion on Low?

I heard distortion but cant prove it?
he has used both over the years but
never any emg's to my knowledge

[Nate]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Right, right. I wouldn't know my Duncan tones from a crack in my ass.

My guess would be JB for the later years. Peterson's tone has just gotten bassier over time. :shrug:

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

I heard distortion but cant prove it?
he has used both over the years but
never any emg's to my knowledge

I'm almost positive that in the liner notes for Live at the Fillmore, there's a pic of Peterson's Flying V with an EMG in the bridge.

Let me see if I can't confirm that.

[Aceman]

Re: what am i hearing on recordings? EMG vs duncans

Dude - This is the second posting of this type this week. Wake up and smell the coffee: YOU LOVE EMG's. It's nothing to be ashamed of! I love my 79 LP's 490 neck. EMG's rock. I had a freind who was totally into them. They're not for me, but he loved them. And as for the recordings, don't bet anything on what actually made it on the album could have every guitar known to man and pup's from Alnico to EMG HiZ!