ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

[Xeromus]

I'm probably going to go for either the black model with EMG's or the Sunburst with Duncans. In my Schecter C-1+ I have an EMG 81 bridge and 85 neck. They work great for high gain and sustain forever and are quiet. More and more though I'm noticing they don't have the TONE, and they sound pretty crappy clean. This is in light of recently putting a Distortion, little '59, and cool rails in my Ibanez Prestige S-series. I don't know what to say, I used to love the EMG's but I feel kind of disappointed now. They seem to really be a one trick pony, but what they are good at they do very well. But I have to say my Duncan Distortion rips it up just as good. Solos sound freakin' wicked on the Duncans. On EMG's you kind of lose dynamics a little and they sound flat. Anyone else notice this? I bring it up because I may go in favor of the EC-1000 with Duncans. I've used the JB in one of my guitars before and I liked it, but I'd probably eventually change it for a Distortion or Custom.

 

[Bones]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

Ya, EMG's have a distinct voicing that is good from some, not for others. How many people would think that a CC would push an amp harder than an EMG81.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

Well, I have the sunburst one... I'm personnaly not a fan of EMGs for some of the reasons you wrote about. Not that they are bad pick-ups, some bands I like use them and they sound great for some precise things... I'd go for the duncans if I were you, the JB/'59 combo is a timeless classic combination and works good.. I have changed the pu in mine a couple of times, went for a PGb, which sounded superb in there, now it has a custom which totally rips and I am considering going back to the JB for comparison sakes... Just my 0.02 but I much prefer the duncans over the emgs and the sunburst is my favorite of the three possible ones...

 

[y2stevo]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

I don't have emg's but have you tried using 18volts instead of 9v... its supposed to put more power into the pre-amp in the pup and set the clipping point much higher..cleans are supposed to sound much better that way?

 

[heavydutysg135]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

DON'T TAKE OUT THE EMG's UNTIL YOU TRY THE 18 VOLT MOD
I had the same problem with the dynamics before I tried it. These pickups sound awsome run at 18 volts. Before I did the mod I wanted to sell them for another set of Duncans but after the mod I thought about taking out the duncans in the other guitar. :burnout:

Here is the info on how to do the easy and cheap mod.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mgollihur/emgmod.html

 

[y2stevo]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

So your saying i was right then?

Excellent................

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

If you don't have soldering experience you can just get a tech at a shop to do it right??? this seems like an option I will consider if the EMG's I will buy dont have punch

 

[heavydutysg135]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

If you don't have soldering experience you can just get a tech at a shop to do it right??? this seems like an option I will consider if the EMG's I will buy dont have punch

Yes you can bring it to your guitar tech if you don't have soldering experience. Bring a 9 volt battery and a 9 volt battery clip. Print out the instructiions on this site and give it to the tech

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mgollihur/emgmod.html

Tell him to wire the battery in series (not parallel) and it should take less than 5 minutes to do the whole thing. Feel free to ask any questions that you have.

 

[xerxes]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

well, i have tried a red cherry one with the emg's along with the one i got. i didnt like the sound of the emg's, not what i was looking for. the pups i got nailed the tone i wanted perfectly, the sound i had in my head for a while.


im actually thinking that i might get a red cherry one and swap the pups out for duncans, because the red looked really nice.....



also, sergeon, how does the custom sound? i like my jb, but was wondering the difference in this guitar...

 

[Surgeon]

Re: ESP EC-1000 EMG vs. Seymour Duncan woes

well, i have tried a red cherry one with the emg's along with the one i got. i didnt like the sound of the emg's, not what i was looking for. the pups i got nailed the tone i wanted perfectly, the sound i had in my head for a while.


im actually thinking that i might get a red cherry one and swap the pups out for duncans, because the red looked really nice.....



also, sergeon, how does the custom sound? i like my jb, but was wondering the difference in this guitar...

Hi buddy! The custom sounds great, I really love it... It's clear and punchy but has more bottom end than the JB, which was my major beef with it... It's not scooped at all so for cleans I switch to the neck (kept the '59 in there) but the cleans on the custom are definitely usable.... The custom has just the right balance for a nice aggressive tone through my jcm... Just great for me...