EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Sweet Leaf_Sabbath

Sweet Leaf_Sabbath

New member
Which is better? Which has more mids? More crunch? Which is hotter?

I just read up on the SD livewire and i kinda want it, but if anybody can convince me that the 81 is better, feel free to do so

I want the most Slayerific tone possible
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

If you want tons of mids and a very very hot sound, then you go better with th live wire metal! It's an only-metal-pickup and even with less distrotion it already has a classic metal tone. If you don't care about the clean sound and less versatility this might be the right one for you.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

For this reason the live wire metal set has an classic live wire as the neck model!
Which also means, that you don't have an useful clean sound in middle position (both pickups together). The bridge pickup overpowers the neck PU.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

go w/ the 81, especially if you want that Slayer-ish tone.
the livewire metal sounds like a wah-wah stuck in the middle sometimes, i find that abit annoying..
i love duncans and all, but for actives they just dont cut it.

people here will tell you to go for the livewire just cause someone told them EMG's suck. alot of the pickup lounge guys seem to hate them for no reason, and im sure 50% of the haters havnt even bothered trying them on a decent guitar and amp.
(end of rant)
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Damn right. The both pups have mids, and one has so much mids where is overwhelms everything, and thats the livewire. Play a wah and leave in half open, instant livewire. Listen to the sound clip, even with a flat EQ, all you here is mids. And if you want a slayer tone, why not get what they use? EMGs.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Kerry uses EMG 85/81s (neck/bridge). I think Jeff uses the same, although it could be 81/81 in his guitar (I forget).
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Yeah, I know they use them...but I read somewhere that the Livewire was "hotter" than 81's but, I dont want so much mids that it destroys the sound to the point of not being able to tell one note from the other....So, perhaps the 81 is my best bet!

Any last minute comments would be nice....
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

the Metal LiveWire is THE pickup for metal... the Classic LiveWire is great for anything !!!!

i am not some pinhead fanboy who has formed his opinions from reading the reviews in the guitar mags ....

i actually own and use them ... the Duncans kick the crap out of EMGs.

for versatility the Classic L/Ws are the way to go.
these jewels are amazing pickups.
here is a tone tip that makes a world of difference : use 500k pots instead of the supplied 100ks.

for pure brutal screaming METAL nothing beats the Metal L/W .

EMGs are ok for some things ... lots of people love them ... i happen to not be one of those people.

i prefer pickup that actually have tone ... call me crazy , but thats what i think.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

If you want the 81 one tone but more polished refined and organic get a Blackout bridge. it's basicly an 81 with some extra bass and highs and less plasticy sound. And yes i've tried both the blackout and the 81.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Sweet Leaf_Sabbath said:
Which is better? Which has more mids? More crunch? Which is hotter?
Click to expand...

#1, Better, its subjective

#2, More mids, Live wire by a mile.

#3, more crunch, Livewire. That is all the Livewire does. It will make any clean channel crunch like crazy due to its insane output.

#4, Hotter, LOL!!!! The Livewire metal has 2-3 times the output of the 81. This pickup has more output than any pickup ever by a large margin. This pickup is absolutely obscene. There is no other way to describe it.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Chuck said:
for pure brutal screaming METAL nothing beats the Metal L/W .

EMGs are ok for some things ... lots of people love them ... i happen to not be one of those people.

i prefer pickup that actually have tone ... call me crazy , but thats what i think.
Click to expand...

I personally agree on all points.

I think the EMG's are bland as hell and like a piece of cardboard in tone. What they do VERY well is retain clarity under any condition. Tons of gain, cookie monster down tuning, tons of bass, tons of effects, it is still clear.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

DiminisheD-7th said:
go w/ the 81, especially if you want that Slayer-ish tone.
the livewire metal sounds like a wah-wah stuck in the middle sometimes, i find that abit annoying..
i love duncans and all, but for actives they just dont cut it.

people here will tell you to go for the livewire just cause someone told them EMG's suck. alot of the pickup lounge guys seem to hate them for no reason, and im sure 50% of the haters havnt even bothered trying them on a decent guitar and amp.
(end of rant)
Click to expand...

And now, as an updated version:

SD's no longer "don't cut it" for actives!

In fact, it cuts it quite well. Gotta love the blackouts.
 
Re: EMG 81/SD Metal LiveWire

Chuck said:
the Metal LiveWire is THE pickup for metal... the Classic LiveWire is great for anything !!!!

i am not some pinhead fanboy who has formed his opinions from reading the reviews in the guitar mags ....

i actually own and use them ... the Duncans kick the crap out of EMGs.

for versatility the Classic L/Ws are the way to go.
these jewels are amazing pickups.
here is a tone tip that makes a world of difference : use 500k pots instead of the supplied 100ks.

for pure brutal screaming METAL nothing beats the Metal L/W .

EMGs are ok for some things ... lots of people love them ... i happen to not be one of those people.

i prefer pickup that actually have tone ... call me crazy , but thats what i think.
Click to expand...

:smack:

I didnt see it but, a freakin Noob dug up a very old one from the grave. :smack:



You are Perfectly Welcome here Chuck. The only thing I got to say is, "dam". :smack:
 
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