Active pickups advice

A

Alex79

New member
Hi

I have an ESP Eclipse with an EMG85(n)/EMG81(b) setup. I'm not too happy with this and feel their tonal range is holding back the acoustic sound of the guitar too much.

Basically, I want to stick with active pickups in this guitar, but I'm unsure which one I should take.

My biggest problem is that the EMG81 I have at the moment has mostly upper mids, but no real treble response. I want an active with a clear and more aggressive treble response, with real und uncompressed highs.
The EMG85 is a terrible pickup; ideally I'd like something that cleans up better and is a bit more transparent.

I'm not really after extra output, my amp has all the gain I need.

I see Seymour Duncan makes three different Blackout sets and EMG makes the X-series now as well.

Which one should I take?
 
Re: Active pickups advice

blackouts man. you want uber tight with treble go with the abh-3. you want more treble and thick bass and mids go abh-1. however there are hotter than the emgs. also try the 18volt mod first on your emgs
 
Re: Active pickups advice

You might also consider moving the 85 to the bridge and the 81 to the neck...this works alot better for some EMG users....85 is much better in the bridge than the neck IMO...

I have original Blackouts in my EC and I love em.....I think they respond much better to volume and amp adjustments than the EMGs IMO.....
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Try swapping the 85 to the bridge and the 81 to the neck. The 85 in the bridge if full and fat, aggressive, just all around better.

The 81 in the neck cleans up really well, and balances out the lows of the neck position with its upper mids, and is very clear.

Zakk Wylde got it backwards and everyone started doing what he did, that is why you only see 81/85 now and not 85/81.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

I have the all-mahogany EC-401w. I swapped out the ubiquitous EMG-81/-60 pairing for Seymour Duncan Live Wire Classic II active 'buckers. (The block connector wiring format is fully interchangeable.) The only other change that I made was the capacitor value on the tone control.

As for EMGs, consider the X versions. I like the -85X in the bridge/Treble position. An EMG-H or -HA would make an interesting change in the neck/Rhythm position. Their latest "PAF" voiced humbuckers might also do the trick.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

I tried the EMG 85 in the bridge, it is even darker than the 81 and doesn't cut the mix in the bad very well I feel.

I had the 81, 85 and 60 and tested them and kept the 85 n/81 b combo, because at that time I was playing many leads on the neck pickup and the 85 lent itself nicer to that than the 60.

I'm worried the Livewire II metal is a one-trick pony with way too much output. I should maybe mention that I play mostly rock/hard-rock/metal, but not the super-modern stuff. More like Accept, Hammerfall, Megadeth.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

I had an 81/85 setup in a LP back in the day, I didn't like the 85 so I went to an 81/81 setup. Now I have two AHB-1 Blackouts in my LTD and they are great, I really see what people mean when they say the EMGs sound 'sterile'. Go with Blackouts!!!!
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Alex79. You appear to be confusing the SD Live Wire Classic II with LW Metal and/or Blackouts models. LWC2 is voiced more like a traditional Gibson - in terms of both tone and output.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Alex79 said:
I tried the EMG 85 in the bridge, it is even darker than the 81 and doesn't cut the mix in the bad very well I feel.

I had the 81, 85 and 60 and tested them and kept the 85 n/81 b combo, because at that time I was playing many leads on the neck pickup and the 85 lent itself nicer to that than the 60.

I'm worried the Livewire II metal is a one-trick pony with way too much output. I should maybe mention that I play mostly rock/hard-rock/metal, but not the super-modern stuff. More like Accept, Hammerfall, Megadeth.
Click to expand...

What is your entire rig and your amp settings? People always say the 81 is too harsh and bright in the bridge so just how much treble are you going for? It could very well be the amp, or the EQ.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Funkfingers said:
Alex79. You appear to be confusing the SD Live Wire Classic II with LW Metal and/or Blackouts models. LWC2 is voiced more like a traditional Gibson - in terms of both tone and output.
Click to expand...

I indeed confused them. I didn't know the LWC2 existed. It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure where to get them in the UK.

I use a Krank Rev Jr amp. It is quite flexible in how it sounds. I just, in general, prefer my guitars to have a very wide frequency range, and I don't mind a lot of treble either.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Myaccount876 said:
What is your entire rig and your amp settings? People always say the 81 is too harsh and bright in the bridge so just how much treble are you going for? It could very well be the amp, or the EQ.
Click to expand...

On the contrary, I feel the EMG 81 is just much upper mids and no real treble response. I would prefer clearer highs.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

I have an LTD EC-1000FR. When I got it I was really lovin' the Blackouts in my Schecter Blackjack ATX C1. So I tried a set in the LTD. They made that guitar sound even better. So my vote goes to the AHB-1 Blackouts. I think they just sound better all the way around.
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Alex79 said:
I didn't know the LWC2 existed. … I'm not sure where to get them in the UK.
Click to expand...

Some SD stockists in the UK bother to carry this model. A few eBay shops list them from time to time. I have two neck/bridge pairs - only one of which is in use. I am open to exchange or money offers. ;)
 
Re: Active pickups advice

Alex79 said:
Hi

I have an ESP Eclipse with an EMG85(n)/EMG81(b) setup. I'm not too happy with this and feel their tonal range is holding back the acoustic sound of the guitar too much.

Basically, I want to stick with active pickups in this guitar, but I'm unsure which one I should take.

My biggest problem is that the EMG81 I have at the moment has mostly upper mids, but no real treble response. I want an active with a clear and more aggressive treble response, with real und uncompressed highs.
The EMG85 is a terrible pickup; ideally I'd like something that cleans up better and is a bit more transparent.

I'm not really after extra output, my amp has all the gain I need.

I see Seymour Duncan makes three different Blackout sets and EMG makes the X-series now as well.

Which one should I take?
Click to expand...

What you are saying here is that you want some PAF-class pickup, nothing heavier.

The Lifewire classic should do if you insist on actives.
 
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