alpha/omega vs. loomis vs. emty voicing?

[glack]

Recently got an Ibanez s7721 (mahogany/poplar body) that plays like a dream, but sounds all sorts of average. I'd prefer active pickups, but the voicing of the alpha/omega set pretty much nails the technical/melodic stuff that I'm into. I could squeeze in a modular preamp with the volume pot relocated, but it's a mess to fit all that plus battery in an s-series cavity. Done it once. Miserable.
I like the EMTYs that I installed in my friend's '00 s7420 quite a bit, but the chord definition is a little lacking at times.
Knowing how voicing compares across the 3 would be a great big help!

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: alpha/omega vs. loomis vs. emty voicing?

Voicing of the Alpha/Omegas and EMTY is somewhat similar, but the Loomis ones have way more midrange and are warmer sounding due to the alnico magnets that they use. Also, the Alpha/Omegas have way less output than either of the actives you're looking at. I know that's generally a given with passives, but the Omega is like a high end of moderate/low end of high output pickup, and the Alpha has the output of a hot vintage pickup. I own 2 Alpha/Omega sets (one six string, one seven) and love them. I used to be all about actives, but passives just have more versatility in general, and the A/O set is probably the most versatile "metal" set I've ever used. Also, I have yet to find a pickup that has as great of chord definition as the A/O set, although there are definitely some close seconds.