METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
- Thread starter SABOTAGE
- Start date
Davey
Goliath of Tone
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
i got a newbie question bout EMG's too...
can you switch the pups around without a problem, or do they come position specific? like duncans do? one is calibrated for the neck and one for the bridge? or are they universal? (meaning, you dont have to buy a calibrated neck pup, you can switch em around like you please)
i got a newbie question bout EMG's too...
can you switch the pups around without a problem, or do they come position specific? like duncans do? one is calibrated for the neck and one for the bridge? or are they universal? (meaning, you dont have to buy a calibrated neck pup, you can switch em around like you please)
papersoul
New member
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
What kind of amp are you using? I have found that I prefer low to medium output pickups and let the amp (assuming high gain) do the work. I like this better than using pure high output pickups unless you are having a hard time hitting the amp.
SABOTAGE said:
What kind of amp are you using? I have found that I prefer low to medium output pickups and let the amp (assuming high gain) do the work. I like this better than using pure high output pickups unless you are having a hard time hitting the amp.
Altitudes911
New member
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
I think X2N would be a good choice too if you don't wanna go active.
im getting one this christmas for my jackson kelly's bridge. ^_^
I think X2N would be a good choice too if you don't wanna go active.
im getting one this christmas for my jackson kelly's bridge. ^_^
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
Try out the EMGs. If you don't like them, chances are I'll trade you something for them
Try out the EMGs. If you don't like them, chances are I'll trade you something for them
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
It's dependent on how many pickups you have in the guitar. Even if they aren't selected, the pickups still draw power. I'm thinking that the standard EMG is supposed to use enough current that it will hold up with a single 9-volt for about 3000 hours. However, if you're using 3 pups, it's 1000 hours (or a third of whatever the real number is, if I'm mistaken and it's not 3000 hours). I have no idea about battery life when it comes to the 18-volt mod.
In terms of the sound, both the dynamics and the tone of EMG's are different. I find the EMG doesn't bring out some of the sounds you'll hear with passives. For instance, the notes up on the 17th fret of the high E string sound just as thick as an A at the 14th fret of the G string. On a passive axe, the difference in THICKNESS is really apparent, but not so much on my EMG equipped axes. So, it seems more 'compressed' to me. In terms of the tone, I feel that while ALL pickups bring their particular tonal characteristics to the guitar, none color the sound as much as EMG's, at least in my experience so far.
If you like them, use them. I just find them too compressed, even for most metal (of course thrash and death metal don't count). I use JB's for rock/metal.
Mark
Neeradj said:
It's dependent on how many pickups you have in the guitar. Even if they aren't selected, the pickups still draw power. I'm thinking that the standard EMG is supposed to use enough current that it will hold up with a single 9-volt for about 3000 hours. However, if you're using 3 pups, it's 1000 hours (or a third of whatever the real number is, if I'm mistaken and it's not 3000 hours). I have no idea about battery life when it comes to the 18-volt mod.
In terms of the sound, both the dynamics and the tone of EMG's are different. I find the EMG doesn't bring out some of the sounds you'll hear with passives. For instance, the notes up on the 17th fret of the high E string sound just as thick as an A at the 14th fret of the G string. On a passive axe, the difference in THICKNESS is really apparent, but not so much on my EMG equipped axes. So, it seems more 'compressed' to me. In terms of the tone, I feel that while ALL pickups bring their particular tonal characteristics to the guitar, none color the sound as much as EMG's, at least in my experience so far.
If you like them, use them. I just find them too compressed, even for most metal (of course thrash and death metal don't count). I use JB's for rock/metal.
Mark
Fiber-Optics
New member
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
I've tried emg 81 on 3 different guitars and I didn't think they were that awesome, I rather have DD! But if you want the tone from all those bands then EMG is probably for you.
I've tried emg 81 on 3 different guitars and I didn't think they were that awesome, I rather have DD! But if you want the tone from all those bands then EMG is probably for you.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
I worked it out once....a two humbucker axe plugged in day and night would last around 6 months or something....But, thats based on two 60/81/85 pickups. The SAVs and 89s have more current draw, and will drop how long the battery lasts.
The same can be said about two different passive pickups....
....also, EMGs bring out some of the sounds you don't hear with passives....
...so which is better?
I think niether is better. Tone is subjective, and people should play whatever sounds good to them.
Farkus said:
I worked it out once....a two humbucker axe plugged in day and night would last around 6 months or something....But, thats based on two 60/81/85 pickups. The SAVs and 89s have more current draw, and will drop how long the battery lasts.
The same can be said about two different passive pickups....
....also, EMGs bring out some of the sounds you don't hear with passives....
...so which is better?
I think niether is better. Tone is subjective, and people should play whatever sounds good to them.
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
"I voted EMG 81, but only with the 18v mod."
I just bought the Zakk Wylde Set...how would you go about making this 18 volt mod? And is it really that big of a difference that it's worthwhile?
And as for the poll? I personally have gone with EMGs. I recently placed a Duncan Distortion in my ESP LTD 151 (Explorer-esk), and although it doesn't sound bad (it actually sounds quite good), it's not the clear, distinct difference that I was expecting after taking out the EMG-HZs. Plenty of people have complained about these EMG-HZs passives, but I personally found them to suit my purpose quite well.
When it all comes down to it...it's about tone preference, something that everyone will hear differently and judge uniquely. I've come to realize that, if you want something more of a modern, clear metal sound, EMGs are usually the way to go (The EMG 81 in particular reminds me of the Black Album from Metallica, which I, personally, find to be the most desirable metal sound out there, second being Master of Puppets). If you want your guitar screaming out, including all of the natural sounds (good and bad!) that you can get out of it, go with the Duncan Distortion.
"I voted EMG 81, but only with the 18v mod."
I just bought the Zakk Wylde Set...how would you go about making this 18 volt mod? And is it really that big of a difference that it's worthwhile?
And as for the poll? I personally have gone with EMGs. I recently placed a Duncan Distortion in my ESP LTD 151 (Explorer-esk), and although it doesn't sound bad (it actually sounds quite good), it's not the clear, distinct difference that I was expecting after taking out the EMG-HZs. Plenty of people have complained about these EMG-HZs passives, but I personally found them to suit my purpose quite well.
When it all comes down to it...it's about tone preference, something that everyone will hear differently and judge uniquely. I've come to realize that, if you want something more of a modern, clear metal sound, EMGs are usually the way to go (The EMG 81 in particular reminds me of the Black Album from Metallica, which I, personally, find to be the most desirable metal sound out there, second being Master of Puppets). If you want your guitar screaming out, including all of the natural sounds (good and bad!) that you can get out of it, go with the Duncan Distortion.
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F. Hails Railsologist
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
HEJ DEVIL
let´s see some SOUND0CLIPS Man
HEJ DEVIL
let´s see some SOUND0CLIPS Man
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
Go to RadioShack (or similar) and buy three 9v connectors. Solder them in a ring as shown, connect two 9v batteries, then connect the remaining clip to the existing EMG harness.
You could also cut the harness and solder one clip in there, but some people seem to break into a sweat when that ideas mentioned, so this is the "no sweat, completely reversable" method.
As for how much of a change....it's really subtle. It's more about feel than tone I find, but it does give you a little less compression.
TDevilG said:
Go to RadioShack (or similar) and buy three 9v connectors. Solder them in a ring as shown, connect two 9v batteries, then connect the remaining clip to the existing EMG harness.
You could also cut the harness and solder one clip in there, but some people seem to break into a sweat when that ideas mentioned, so this is the "no sweat, completely reversable" method.
As for how much of a change....it's really subtle. It's more about feel than tone I find, but it does give you a little less compression.
Captain Tightpants
New member
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
The 81 is a good choice for metal, but if you're worried about sterile tone, go with an EMG 85 in the brigde instead. I've found it to be much more dynamic than the 81. Some say it's too muddy, but I've found a little tweak to the Treble knob on your amp takes care of that.
The 81 is a good choice for metal, but if you're worried about sterile tone, go with an EMG 85 in the brigde instead. I've found it to be much more dynamic than the 81. Some say it's too muddy, but I've found a little tweak to the Treble knob on your amp takes care of that.
slash857
New member
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
i think the greatest thing about emgs is well, their sound obviously, but i think its really cool with those quick connect connectors. it must make p'up swaps easy just to test out a sound. im not sure its really necessary, because ive suddenly found myself swapping pickups really easily nowadays, (i set up by lp today with the two dimarzios in 45 minutes, i was impressed) but nonetheless it is a good idea.
i think the greatest thing about emgs is well, their sound obviously, but i think its really cool with those quick connect connectors. it must make p'up swaps easy just to test out a sound. im not sure its really necessary, because ive suddenly found myself swapping pickups really easily nowadays, (i set up by lp today with the two dimarzios in 45 minutes, i was impressed) but nonetheless it is a good idea.
Nite_Maresz_25
on Elm Streetologist
Re: METAL ONLY! JB or distortion or 81
I've never played EMG's so I cant comment on that.
But i can comment on the JB and DD
in mahogany they are both equally awesome metal pickups. In alder(only heard a jb in alder) the JB is pretty good, not great, just good.
My favorite out of stated would be :
mahogany body/maple top | rosewood board - JB
mahogany body | rosewood board - DD
I've never played EMG's so I cant comment on that.
But i can comment on the JB and DD
in mahogany they are both equally awesome metal pickups. In alder(only heard a jb in alder) the JB is pretty good, not great, just good.
My favorite out of stated would be :
mahogany body/maple top | rosewood board - JB
mahogany body | rosewood board - DD
