Quick review of the EMG Fat 55. Very, very cool pickup with lots of low/moderate output passive pickup vibe. I had previously tried a Hot 70 (Ceramic Magnet) and found it to be unbearably ‘muddy’ on the low end. That was right before I went back to passives for all but 2 of my guitars. I had recently read a review of the Alnico Magnet 55 and was intrigued. I then saw a used Fat 55 on Reverb for $50.00 and figured I’d give it a try. I’m glad I did.
The Hot 70 went into a Mahogany Super Strat that I no longer own. That body always sounded really ‘soft’ no matter what was in it - 81, 57, Hot 70. I ultimately sold that body before switching back to (mostly) passives. The Fat 55 just went in an Ash super strat with a Hipshot 2-point trem and an open nut with locking tuners. The guitar sounds really, really cool. Like a really clean, tame PAF - but with a Spark Mini on all the time. Lots of signal - but not with the same degree of squish and compression that the other EMG offerings provide. I’m digging it.
The Hot 70 went into a Mahogany Super Strat that I no longer own. That body always sounded really ‘soft’ no matter what was in it - 81, 57, Hot 70. I ultimately sold that body before switching back to (mostly) passives. The Fat 55 just went in an Ash super strat with a Hipshot 2-point trem and an open nut with locking tuners. The guitar sounds really, really cool. Like a really clean, tame PAF - but with a Spark Mini on all the time. Lots of signal - but not with the same degree of squish and compression that the other EMG offerings provide. I’m digging it.
