May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

Rex_Rocker

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
I have wanted to try that set ever since it came out, but I took a long break from active pickups some time ago. I am back to loving my 81/85 and 81/60 sets right now. I am pretty close to ordering a 57/66 set. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, they wouldn't be here for another week or two. I am dying to try them out!

I feel like the wait is going to be a long one if I pulled the trigger. So in the meantime, to those who have tried it out, please tell me what I can expect.

I am not expecting something entirely different from the EMG combos that I love. I want the 57 to be slightly more open-sounding than the 81. I want bigger-sounding, but not as low-mid heavy or dark as the 85 in that position. Don't get me wrong, I like the 85 in the bridge almost as much as the 81 in the right guitar, but I've always wanted to find a good middle ground between both. FWIW, as far as passives, I dig the JB in the bridge. Wonder if the 57 is somewhere between the 81 and the JB at all. I want the 66 to be warm for leads like the 85, but chimey and open for cleans like the 60.

Do you guys think the 57/66 will satisfy me? Again, I don't want something entirely different from the EMG sets I am used to. But I'm still looking for the variation on the EMG theme that best suits my needs.

Thanks!
 
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Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

No idea but let me know. I'm still old school 60/81/85/89 (haven't hooked up the 60 yet).
 
Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

I liked the 57 more than the 81. It has a broader EQ than the 81, so a bit more low mids and presence. Still a very peaked upper mid hump. It doesn't feel as compressed, but that might also be in part because I liked it set it lower than the 81. Not significantly different from the 81 overall though, it still sounds like an EMG.

FWIW I couldn't get the 66 to balance with the 57, it was always quieter. Maybe I had a defective one, I don't know. I ended up returning the set and switching back to a Distortion set.

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Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

Don't expect less output from the 57...
It has more than the 81...
 
Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

Will be interesting to hear your opinion if you go ahead. To me they are heavy and thick sounding, especially in that Drop B tuned demo (which I found to be uninspiring). I reckon you will find the 57 like I said, thick and heavy, and a bit lacking in character. Although I never tried the 66 neck, I'd be surprised if you like it because it because the demos seem completely different from the 60 that you were using. Maybe you just have to try them, otherwise you will never know!
 
Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

Wait a minute...

You're buying a set of active pups and you have no idea what they sound like?!

Why?

Just so you can try them out to see if you like them?
 
Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

GuitarDoc said:
Wait a minute...

You're buying a set of active pups and you have no idea what they sound like?!

Why?

Just so you can try them out to see if you like them?
Click to expand...

I can't answer for the OP but I got a 57/66 at the start of the pandemic partly out of boredom/curiosity. If you already have actives installed or have the wiring harness from an active set laying around, it's not a hard swap to see if you like them. In my case, I ordered from Amazon knowing I could return them (because I didn't open the plastic on the wiring parts so it doesn't look used and Amazon takes all returns).

The reviews for these things are all over the place, so I don't blame him for asking. A bunch of reviews say they're PAF-like - definitely not true. They're not EMG reinventing the wheel, rather a slightly different flavor of what they're famous for.

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Re: May be ordering EMG 57/66 set - What to expect?

Haven’t been a fan of actives for a long time. It took quite a while for my ears to get acclimated to the EMG Retroactive set that comes in the Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder. Always wanted an ESP Horizon non bolt on model and saw that it came with an EMG 57/66 set. Didn’t want to buy a guitar equipped with actives to swap them out so I first tried out an E-II which had that set and my ears needed no adjustment period. They sounded more “passive” like to me. So I bought an ESP USA Horizon which came equipped with the 57/66 set and I love it. It’s my favorite EMG set however, I’m coming at it from a way different direction so your mileage may vary.
 
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