Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

JMR

JMR

New member
Hey People, whats happening? I am JMR, an old school player from wayback who is starting to get back into it for real. Or as real as it can be when you are 30 something and have a mortgage and kids. I play alot of different styles, mostly falling under the blanket of "rock". The stuff I write tends to be on the melodic/progressive metal side. I like cats. :dance:

Now, my question is a common one, and I did research it before posting this. I did not find a concrete answer, so Im asking again...

EMG 81 vs Duncan JB/Custom/Invader/Distortion?

Ive seen threads where the EMGs are described as the highest output, Ive seen threads where people say a Screamin Demon has higher output. Ive seen threads praising EMG tone, and threads deriding it as sterile and lifeless...

My actual situation is this:

I recently started playing again, and bought a guitar with EMG 81/85. The guitar is a superstrat type, alder body, maple neck/rosewood board. I had never used EMGs before. I was very impressed with the definition and output, but the tone itself was lacking.

I have played them for a few months now, and I am at an impasse - I like the definition and output of the EMGs, but their tone is not to my liking. I dont play alot of lead, mostly rhythm - but its very fast, usually palm muted, intricate patterns. The EMG attack and definition are perfect for this, but they lack... "balls" for lack of a better word. I want to try some good passives, but I am unsure as to which to try... the JB, Custom, Invader, and Distortion are the ones I am looking into. The output is not as important - my preamp can gain up pretty much anything, but the higher the better. My primary concern is keeping the attack and definition.

From what I have read, it seems that the Custom or Invader would be my best choices, but I'm afraid the Custom will lack low end in this guitar (alder + maple) and that the Invader wont retain the clear attack characteristics under high preamp gain. The JB might be a decent catch-all, but it sounds a bit too mid-rangey for me, and I will say that I disliked Mustaines tone the whole time he was using JB/Jazz. I know its silly to base my opinion of the pup on one guys tone, but its always in the back of my mind when someone recc's the JB, which is fairly frequently.

Any help/thoughts/exeriences/flames are appreciated!
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

My buddie's got a Superstrat with a Dimebucker in the bridge.....plays the same style of music that you're talking about...and it sounds killer!...look that one up:P

~Mitch~
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

you have to tweak the invader a little bit to get nice definition, since its loaded with bass and mids, but i think it has balls, real big ones haha. alder and maple should help cleaning up the invader too. maybe a dimebucker would have some more definition to your liking?? and anyways i think its ok to say that about mustaine, because how many guys use EVH '78s or make a 59/custom hybrid cause of eddie?? but you should still try the jb, maybe you'll like it...never tried a distortion in depth you know, just fiddled with it a little so i really can't tell....oh and welcome to the forum bro!!!
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

3nz said:
because how many guys use EVH '78s or make a 59/custom hybrid cause of eddie??
Click to expand...

this is rather funny cuz i dont own any VH albums.. i only heared Eruption a couple times, or maybe Panama on the radio.. then this dude on the forrums was selling a 78 and i tought if people are raving about this thing it must be good, so i tried it and it blew my mind.. then i youtubed some VH and discovered this guy was pretty awsome with a guitar.. i didnt even know Jump was a Van Halen song (i know... LOL :P).. so its wierd cuz instaed of the player making me search for his tone.. the tone made me search for the player lol


And reguarding the original subject.. You shouldnt underestimate the Custom as it is very balanced and doesnt lack low end IMO, this is the PAF with more ballz and is my 2nd favorite pickups of em all, first being the 78 but the Custom does things better than the 78 and vise versa.. i used to swear by it in my strat and i use it now in my Les Paul, i play anything from light overdrein blues to full high gain metal and its a very versatyle pickup.. it has a sort of zack wylde'ish vibe to it in a les paul so i guess you could say it sort of emg'ish, it is slightly compressed but not realy.. itll take every bit of gain you throw at it to and dont muddy out, it doesnt do cleans very well but it isnt bad at it either.. with some vol/tone knob tweaking it can do some cool cleans but its not where it excels at to me. Anything from light OD to high gain tho it'll rocks in a strat :headbang:.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

The Invader has BIG BALLZ. I would try a Duncan Distortion or a Dimarzio Tone Zone. I have both but right now I'm really diggin' the Tone Zone. It's pretty damn crunchy and articulate with TEN SETS OF BAAAALLLLZZZZ! Huge crunching palm mutes under high gain.:rocket:
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Danglin' Fury said:
The Invader has BIG BALLZ. I would try a Duncan Distortion or a Dimarzio Tone Zone. I have both but right now I'm really diggin' the Tone Zone. It's pretty damn crunchy and articulate with TEN SETS OF BAAAALLLLZZZZ! Huge crunching palm mutes under high gain.:rocket:
Click to expand...

TONE ZONE!!!! YEAH!!!!
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

I am looking into several DiMarzios as well - the Tone Zone, Evo, X2N, and Super 3 to be exact. I like to research all possible avenues thoroughly before making any decisions. Makes the local guitar store guys HATE me.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

For DiMarzios, I would suggest a set of Breeds, or an EVO 2 bridge/EVO neck.

From SD, the PATB-1 (or PATB-2 for more output) in the bridge and a '59 in the neck.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

tone zones and evos are really diffrent....but a friend of mine has an evo neck and tone zone bridge and its a nice combo...not really versatile but nice...
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Welcome Bro!Nice to have some expreienced metalheads here!I am shure i will like your clips!So post some of them :D
For your question.
I was in the same boat as you ,and i prefered first the Distortion ,then changed PATB2.But i am not in "speed" riffing as you are.So there are some choices out of PATB1 and 2.But they are not SD PUs.
The BareKnuckles Miracle Man is def what you are looking for!
I am going to try a EMG 60a first (wich jave to be the best EMG out there)
BTW ,there are new SD Actives called bLackouts.Check them too.They have to have this "life" what the 81 lacks!
:Beerchug:
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

I find the invader to be extremely well defined but under high gain, but it has a dark haze or fog that kinda surrounds the sound if that makes any sense.

That's why it sounds so huge.

It also has quite a bit of output to run into a high gain amp. It works well into my 6505 but can get buzzy, never gets muddy for me though. Infact my screamin demon gets muddier than it does... :\

I like it really well but it's one of those pickups you should just try on a whim and go with it if you decide you like it. If you don't like it, get a custom.

When you get into a pickup crisis, just buy something that sounds cool, experiment. You'll just torture your self if you don't.
 
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Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

I've heard rave reviews about the bare knuckle range of pickups, but they are pricey (there start around £100 this side of the pond which is the best part of $200) so not in everyones price bracket, especially mine.
But they might be what your looking for if you are after character, gain and definition.
Not saying any of the the SD range won't give you that either mind :)
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Can someone tell me what the deal with Bill Lawrence is? Researching the Dimebucker lead me to the X500 range, but it seems that there are two companies calling themsleves Bill Lawrence, both making X500 series pups, and both say the other isnt the real deal?
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

I assume you're using the 81 in the bridge and the 85 in the neck? If so, reverse them first and see if that works better for you. I think the 85 is a better bridge pickup and the 81 a better neck pickup.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

um the custom is a great chugger,....i dont think an x2n, jb, or dimebucker is what your looking for at all....they would all seem ball-less since what you are defining as balls is low end...invader, tonezone,custom, breed, possibly a fullshred(possibly because its pretty bright and probably sounds better in mahogany wood) an 81 is a fairly bright pickup too....so in a bright guitar it may lack balls. Invader would probably sound good, but as it seems mustaine ruined the jb for you, tom delonge and all these wannabe so cal punks ruined the invader for me...but it is a great metal low end pickup. Totally hetfiled rhythm status! so um custom or invader both will give you a good boot in the cohones!
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Thanks for all the help guys (and ladies if applicable)

Im going to try flipping the EMGs, if that doesnt work out I will try the Invader first I think.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Each maker has a certain flavor to their recipe...

If you don't like the EMG's it could be cuz they are kinda tight and HiFi

A Custom would give you thick raunch, and an Invader would have some sizzle and bite. If you like some vintage vibe, a Pearly Gates bridge in the neck slot is a nice choice. It has a nice low for an A2 pup.

Dimarzios rule the world of smooth.
 
Re: Hey guys, Im new, with a question (big surprise huh)

Never owned an invader, but when I have picked up an Invader loaded guitar I was far from impressed with its low end definition. If I’m looking for a pickup with great definition in the low end, my first try would be a Screamin’ Demon. Keep in mind the Demon is a more modern, hi-fi sounding pickup. I don’t think you could make a Screamin’ Demon muddy with a bag of dirt and bucket of water. If I needed a chunkier bottom end and a little more power, I’m probably going for a Custom. The JB is a good all-around high output pickup, but in my opinion there are pickups that are better options if low end clarity is a concern.

The Custom has a nice crunchy but focused and tight low end. Apples and oranges, but the Custom in my Les Paul is my “go to guy” for just about all forms of hard rock and metal (that I play at least). It’s well defined, has plenty of crunch, and enough top end bite that leads don’t get lost in a mix. It’s quickly become my favorite bridge pickup.
 
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