EMG 57 vs PAFs

che_guitarra

che_guitarra

New member
From what I gather, the EMG 57 is that company's take on the classic PAF... with an added 9 volts.

Just wondering what an EMG 57 is bringing to the table (sonically) that isn't found in a regular PAF.


Hmmm.
 
Re: EMG 57 vs PAFs

dave74 said:
It's definitely more hi-fi, more like a PAF with a sparkle drive boost.
Click to expand...

Pretty well said. I agree. Long story short, you're not gonna confuse it with your typical PAF. That being said, I absolutely LOVE the 57.
 
Re: EMG 57 vs PAFs

In my experience, the 57/66 set is high output and much, much hotter than a typical low-output PAF set.

The PAF voicing is sort of in there, but because the EMGs push an amp so hard, to me the feeling is not at all like playing a PAF. Probably what the 57/66 has most in common with PAFs is looks, i.e., pole pieces.

I've only played the Retro Active 55 neck pickup, but to me, that was much more like a PAF, i.e., low output and clear sounding. I'm guessing that the matching bridge pickup is likewise. I'd say that the Retro Active 55 set is EMGs "PAF" set, not the 57/66.
 
Re: EMG 57 vs PAFs

What the guys above have said is pretty much spot-on.

Prior to the RetroActives, the closest you could get to a "PAF" type sound in an EMG model was indeed the 57/66, but they weren't really "active PAF's" in the way you seem to be thinking.

Today, you'd get much closer to an "active PAF" with EMG's RetroActives or even Duncan's Duality set (which has a rather unique "hot vintage" voicing in my opinion). Nonetheless, all of these are likely to differ from your perceptions of a true PAF in ways that you'd simply have to play and hear to fully grasp.
 
Re: EMG 57 vs PAFs

Sounds like it might be the number for me then. I have a Warmoth superstrat with a Dimarzio Fred installed - it's the definitive rock guitar. Love it to bits.

I have another Warmoth superstrat with a Duncan Custom installed, screwed together to suit a slightly higher gain spectrum than my Fred-equipped superstrat. But something about the Custom isn't quite floating my boat (in this particular guitar). I think it might be the ceramic factor. The attack transients and upper mids are a little too prominent for my tastes. But the output is on the money.

I think the EMG 57 might just be the ticket - high output, alnico magnet response, PAF-ish dynamics, active clarity.
 
Re: EMG 57 vs PAFs

Very clear and hi-fi sounding. They do react really well to picking dynamics. The 66 neck pickup is probably my favorite neck pickup of all time. EMG could stop selling everything else and I think they would survive.
 
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