Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

[JMP/HBE]

I bought an EMG Zakk set 81/85, the 81 bridge is cool but don't like the 85.

I had SH-5 Custom & 59 neck with gold covers before, really miss the 59'

Any ideas ?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

The Fat 55 neck is designed to look, feel, and sound passive while actually being active. It's not too close to a 59n, but it's pretty close for what it is. Not many actives can closely replicate a PAF.

The only trouble is they only sell new in a set, so you'll either have to buy them together or find the neck used. They only came out a little while ago and aren't exactly flooding the used market.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

The 85 isn't really a neck pickup to begin with. It's loud and thick sounding. I prefer the 81 in the neck over the 85.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

It's been too many years, but when I dabbled with EMGs, I liked the 89 in the neck position. I liked the fact you could with from a humbucker tone to single coil in the one pickup. I don't remember how close the 89 sounded to a PAF. Nowadays i only use passive pickups unless I am playing acoustic electric guitars.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

It's been too many years, but when I dabbled with EMGs, I liked the 89 in the neck position. I liked the fact you could with from a humbucker tone to single coil in the one pickup. I don't remember how close the 89 sounded to a PAF. Nowadays i only use passive pickups unless I am playing acoustic electric guitars.

The 89 in humbucker mode is actually very close to the 85.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

What about the EMG 60 ?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

The 60 has nice cleans. It's like a brighter, more open, slightly less hot 81. It's still got the modern active vibe, but out of the ones I've tried, it's the most open-sounding of the bunch.

Consider 18V-modding them too. That opens them up a bit and makes them less focused and compressed.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

I bought an 18v mod harness. We'll see how that works. Thanks to all who helped.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

Probably the closest is the EMG Retroactive fat 55. it is specifically designed to be exactly that.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?





So i had my MESA FX loop modded from parallel to series by Engineer Obeid Khan over the weekend. Believe it or not the 81/85 EMG set sounds much more dynamic, im finally getting those Bluesy neck type tones out of the 85. I still have the wiring harness for the 18v mod in the mail so i may still try that but its good to have all my pedals back working with this amp.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

EMG 60 is only one digit apart from a 59 :laugh2:
Honestly I have an EMG 60 in a bridge of a super strat and I like it.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

The 85 isn't really a neck pickup to begin with. It's loud and thick sounding. I prefer the 81 in the neck over the 85.

The 85 is okay in the neck, but I prefer it in the bridge with either an 81 or 60 in the neck.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

I bought an 18v mod harness. We'll see how that works. Thanks to all who helped.

The 18 volt is a hit, it totally Rocks, im doing it to my Charvel next.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

When I played heavy stuff, a pair of 81s was my favorite.

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Is there an EMG neck pup thats like a Duncan 59' ?

I’d say the 60A. Never tried the 55.