EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

[don73]

Hi folks,
I've got a LTD Eclipse EC-1000 (Les Paul Type but thinner, neck and body mahogany, maple top) that's factory equipped with two EMG 81. Dry played, without amp on, the guitar is sounding quite well, it's loud and it's got lots of sustain... But compared to my other guitars for example Gibson Explorer (498/500T) it's sounding a bit too muddy, woofy and indifferent. I miss some more brightness, clarity, some more presence and bite in my distortion-sounds. I think normally an EMG 81 should sound like this by itself..., so maybe there are bad pots in?
Is there a possible modification, change pots or build in something too reach my expected sound, anyone has an advise or made the same experience?
The Battery is not the cause, I've checked it.
Thanks for Help!
Don, Germany

 

[vinterland]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Its hard to believe that its an 81 causing a guitar to be muddy.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Its hard to believe that its an 81 causing a guitar to be muddy.

Agreed. If an 81 sounds muddy, I'd suggest going with a piezo setup.

 

[AmirH]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

I'd have a hard time believing this too if I hadnt experienced it before. Few things to check:

Wiring- make sure all the connections are solid and that it was done tidily.(especially with the tone pot)

Pickup height- you want it close to the strings but it's too close it sounds super woofy/muddy.

Amp settings- this wasn't the problem in my case but if you just got the guitar I'd say it was a possibility.

 

[don73]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

thanks death,
i'll check it out and talk soon. how about changing pots from 25k to 50 k? anyone knows?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

You could try going with two 9volts in series to get more headroom.

Snowdog

 

[frehley]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Make sure your bridge pup is set as close as possible then back the neck pup away from the strings until the output of both pups match. If this doesn't do it then there must be something wrong with the pots or pups.

 

[don73]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

hallo Idsnowdog,
Two 9 Volts in series? won't that do damage to the pups? Haven't I got 18 Volts then?
Thank u all

 

[Weldon51]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Yes check everything. It should sound like a basketball on a hardwood floor (stolen from a guitar mag!).

It's not ear piercing, but something like a thick metal plate hit with a hammer - thick, but with an obvious brightness and loudness that passives don't have.

I have one in A Jackson Professional, and it was twice as loud as the preceding J-120 Humbucker.

Check the output. If it's not very loud, something's wrong. If you have a multimeter, check it against the details on th EMG site, or email them and ask for help.

 

[Weldon51]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

I have 9 volts, and am happy, but I have a friend with 18 volts, and it's a bit better he tinks - . I dont' play that guitar muchnow, but I'd go for the 18V - simply, it gives you more headroom, a better signal to noise ratio There's a standard diagram.

The 9V battery in single lasts 3000 hours, so if you can fit them, do 18V. 27 is overkill and negligible improvement.

 

[lex666]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

sounds like your pup may be too close to the strings...

Raise the bridge pup all the way and then lower it until you find a sweet spot. Do the same with the neck pup so the output matches...

 

[ranalli]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

The 18V enhancement has nothing to do with his guitar sounding muddy. Something is definitely wrong.

And the EMG 81 can never be too high....it just doesn't lose clarity up there close to the strings like some passives.

 

[Diego]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Saying an EMG 81 is muddy is like saying a Gibby Les Paul has no balls. Something IS wrong there... have it checked.:burnout:

 

[Majestic]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Yeah, the magnet structure in EMGs is so weak (it's active, so it's not necessary), that for the most part that it isn't a huge risk to raise the pickup's height.

I find the 81 a terribly annoying pickup, except when Zakk Wylde plays it in his Les Paul through bassy cabs. There is NO WAY it should sound woofy. No way.

 

[AmirH]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

And the EMG 81 can never be too high....it just doesn't lose clarity up there close to the strings like some passives.

I disagree. In fact I'm willing to be that it's the source of his problem cuz as soon as I lowered mine a bit it sounded a LOT better. I have it in the neck position now but the emg85 did the exact same thing when I switched and cleared up immediately after I lowered it a tad.

 

[MesaDCLP]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

Saying an EMG 81 is muddy is like saying a Gibby Les Paul has no balls. Something IS wrong there...

if it only it was a gibson...
"Only a Gibson is good enough"

whatever

use an eq or the knobs on the amp.
active is different
apples and oranges = 498/500T and EMG 81's

 

[ranalli]

Re: EMG 81 sounds too muddy... help?

I disagree. In fact I'm willing to be that it's the source of his problem cuz as soon as I lowered mine a bit it sounded a LOT better. I have it in the neck position now but the emg85 did the exact same thing when I switched and cleared up immediately after I lowered it a tad.

I could see that with the 85 but not with the 81. The 81 is fairly bright with not alot of bottom end to overwhelm the clarity at any height.


But you know what....I say try it anyway...lowering a pickup takes all of about a minute. It's worth a shot