EMG or Seymour Duncan
- Thread starter chrisj
- Start date
Xeromus
Tone Ninja
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
I love my EMG's, I also love my Duncans. Duncan is king of the passive world where EMG is king of the active world. They both make fantastic pickups. So my answer is both or neither. I say try them both OR listen to the sound samples, pick what works for your ears. I've never tried the livewires so I can't comment on them, I've heard good things though, but I can say that I couldn't live without my EMG's at this point either.
I love my EMG's, I also love my Duncans. Duncan is king of the passive world where EMG is king of the active world. They both make fantastic pickups. So my answer is both or neither. I say try them both OR listen to the sound samples, pick what works for your ears. I've never tried the livewires so I can't comment on them, I've heard good things though, but I can say that I couldn't live without my EMG's at this point either.
MaraSequor
New member
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
I'd like to know more about the livewires, too. Is the LW Classic-LW Hot-LW HM combo good in a mahogany Ibanez S470?
I'd like to know more about the livewires, too. Is the LW Classic-LW Hot-LW HM combo good in a mahogany Ibanez S470?
B
Bones
Guest
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
I dunno, but i have a S1220 with EMG81/85. Your not going to be able to put them in your axe unless you make a routing for 2 battery cavities. Believe me, not even one 9v will fit in your wiring cavity bro. I routed my ibanez ghetto like and i wish i never did.
Oh ya, its for sale in the trade room.
MaraSequor said:
I dunno, but i have a S1220 with EMG81/85. Your not going to be able to put them in your axe unless you make a routing for 2 battery cavities. Believe me, not even one 9v will fit in your wiring cavity bro. I routed my ibanez ghetto like and i wish i never did.
Oh ya, its for sale in the trade room.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
In my old S-470 there was MORE than enough room for one battery in the cavity with the EMGs installed. 2 batteries would have required me to rout a "battery Hole", but the one fit in like a charm. Just wrapped it in foam and done.
Of course if you leave the leads 20 miles long...
In my old S-470 there was MORE than enough room for one battery in the cavity with the EMGs installed. 2 batteries would have required me to rout a "battery Hole", but the one fit in like a charm. Just wrapped it in foam and done.
Of course if you leave the leads 20 miles long...
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
I would have to agree, but I haven't tried the active Duncans. Active pickups have never been my thing but I have started to appreciate them lately. Some guys have stopped by with EMG's in Strats that I had to admit sounded pretty darn good. Not the sterile tone I remembered, but instead warm and rich tone. I didn't want to like them but after playing around with them for awhile I had to admit I was wrong. EMG's can sound just great. Lew
JOLLY said:
I would have to agree, but I haven't tried the active Duncans. Active pickups have never been my thing but I have started to appreciate them lately. Some guys have stopped by with EMG's in Strats that I had to admit sounded pretty darn good. Not the sterile tone I remembered, but instead warm and rich tone. I didn't want to like them but after playing around with them for awhile I had to admit I was wrong. EMG's can sound just great. Lew
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
They produce a relativly uncoloured signal (some people refer to this as being sterile). This uncoloured signal responds very well to EQing and opens up many tonal options.
The EMG pickups typically have a lower number of coil windings, giving a low output, low impedance, and very clean and clear, uncoloured sound. The low output is boosted by an on-board active preamp which maintains the low impedance. Low impedance pickups (on their own, or with a preamp) can drive long cables without noticeable treble loss and are great for wireless cable systems.
Active pickups typically use weaker magnets since the preamp is mounted directly on them and the signal needs only travel a relatively short distance. These weaker mangnets contribute to signifcantly less string pull, and increased sustain.
The signal from an active pickup is very responsive to signal alteratiing devices such as distortion and effects.
The hotter signal produced by an active pickup can be used to overdrive your amplifiers front end, yet still cleans up nicely (and with less treble loss) as you roll down the volume.
EMG modules, such as the Strat Presence Control (a mid booster), or the Guitar Expander (a bass/treble booster) can really open up your options. Also a EMG-PA2 or EMG-AB can add upto 20db of clean boost at the flick of a switch/twist of a knob.
EMGs should be taken at face value and with the confidence that they will bring out the best and the worst in your guitar setup.
**Parts of this post contributed by "Pete". Thanks for the help.***
chrisj said:
They produce a relativly uncoloured signal (some people refer to this as being sterile). This uncoloured signal responds very well to EQing and opens up many tonal options.
The EMG pickups typically have a lower number of coil windings, giving a low output, low impedance, and very clean and clear, uncoloured sound. The low output is boosted by an on-board active preamp which maintains the low impedance. Low impedance pickups (on their own, or with a preamp) can drive long cables without noticeable treble loss and are great for wireless cable systems.
Active pickups typically use weaker magnets since the preamp is mounted directly on them and the signal needs only travel a relatively short distance. These weaker mangnets contribute to signifcantly less string pull, and increased sustain.
The signal from an active pickup is very responsive to signal alteratiing devices such as distortion and effects.
The hotter signal produced by an active pickup can be used to overdrive your amplifiers front end, yet still cleans up nicely (and with less treble loss) as you roll down the volume.
EMG modules, such as the Strat Presence Control (a mid booster), or the Guitar Expander (a bass/treble booster) can really open up your options. Also a EMG-PA2 or EMG-AB can add upto 20db of clean boost at the flick of a switch/twist of a knob.
EMGs should be taken at face value and with the confidence that they will bring out the best and the worst in your guitar setup.
**Parts of this post contributed by "Pete". Thanks for the help.***
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
I've just picked up a pair of EMG 707's to put in one guitar, and I've just put an EMG strat presence control in my other 7-string, which has passive humbuckers (which I'm going to change out to a Jazz/JB set as soon as I can ). The EMG-SPC is great, well worth taking out the tone pot I never used to put it in!
I'll install all these soon and try to post some clips, so that you can listen for yourself. I'll get both guitars on there, the one with active humbuckers, and the one with passive humbuckers with the EMG-SPC on and off. I'll do this as soon as I find time.
I've just picked up a pair of EMG 707's to put in one guitar, and I've just put an EMG strat presence control in my other 7-string, which has passive humbuckers (which I'm going to change out to a Jazz/JB set as soon as I can
). The EMG-SPC is great, well worth taking out the tone pot I never used to put it in!I'll install all these soon and try to post some clips, so that you can listen for yourself. I'll get both guitars on there, the one with active humbuckers, and the one with passive humbuckers with the EMG-SPC on and off. I'll do this as soon as I find time.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: EMG or Seymour Duncan
Chris; if you're contemplating trying out an active, you might want to check out this thread over at the Trading Post. John, at BlackRose Customs, is blowing out some p'ups at rediculous low prices. It looks like he may still have a Livewire left.
Trading Post thread
Chris; if you're contemplating trying out an active, you might want to check out this thread over at the Trading Post. John, at BlackRose Customs, is blowing out some p'ups at rediculous low prices. It looks like he may still have a Livewire left.
Trading Post thread