Might try Emgs...
- Thread starter HolyDirt
- Start date
kill your scene
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
NOOOOOO!!!
Ok, that was over-reacting, but I honestly think EMGs sound like crap. I've said it too many times to count, but they are way too crisp and clean for my liking. They sound like nails on a chalkboard and the best tone you can get out of them is bright, shrill highs.
Then again, this is just my opinion. A lot of metal guys love them because they make your power chords really well-defined and tight.
If EMGs are your bag, then go for it. Just do it for good reasons. The only unforgivable sin is thinking that you need EMGs because they are more powerful. THIS IS A LIE. Teenagers these days seem to think that in order to be in a metal band with really ballsy, aggressive tone you have to play EMGs. Wrong. EMGs have a lot of power, but they don't have half the personality of Duncans or DiMarzios (IMO).
Also, has anyone but me noticed that EMG's popularity increased exponentially about the same time that crappy nu-metal bands started showing up? Lousy tone and EMGs seem to go hand in hand, but that's just my observation. Some people might even argue that a certain metal band (who shall remain nameless) lost all their great classic metal tone the second they switched to EMG.
Sorry for the rant. Just my .02. Do what's right for YOU and I'll keep playing Duncans.
NOOOOOO!!!
Ok, that was over-reacting, but I honestly think EMGs sound like crap. I've said it too many times to count, but they are way too crisp and clean for my liking. They sound like nails on a chalkboard and the best tone you can get out of them is bright, shrill highs.
Then again, this is just my opinion. A lot of metal guys love them because they make your power chords really well-defined and tight.
If EMGs are your bag, then go for it. Just do it for good reasons. The only unforgivable sin is thinking that you need EMGs because they are more powerful. THIS IS A LIE. Teenagers these days seem to think that in order to be in a metal band with really ballsy, aggressive tone you have to play EMGs. Wrong. EMGs have a lot of power, but they don't have half the personality of Duncans or DiMarzios (IMO).
Also, has anyone but me noticed that EMG's popularity increased exponentially about the same time that crappy nu-metal bands started showing up? Lousy tone and EMGs seem to go hand in hand, but that's just my observation. Some people might even argue that a certain metal band (who shall remain nameless) lost all their great classic metal tone the second they switched to EMG.
Sorry for the rant. Just my .02. Do what's right for YOU and I'll keep playing Duncans.
StringSlinger77
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
ok this EMG hate is getting really boring. I love EMGs and I love Duncans. EMGs kick ass and are made for metal but sound good with most styles. They cut through the mix better than duncans and are amazingly quiet when not playing and yes they do have more ballsy metal tone than duncans. However duncans do sound warmer and are more versatile. The nu-metal reference was just stupid :bs2: , Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Bjorn and Jesper from In Flames(before they changed their sound), Jon Donais and Matt Blanchard of Shadows Fall use em and all of them could out play 99.9 percent of the posters on this board and have killer tone. The 81 is great for soloing and the 85 does cleans very well and sounds really dark. If you get the ZW set put the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck and it will sound killer. Try a guitar similar to yours with this set up through the same amp you use and see how you like the sound don't just get em because it's the metal thing to do. Just my UNBIASED observation. Duncans and EMG's will both fit the bill.
Keep it Metal :headbang:
ok this EMG hate is getting really boring. I love EMGs and I love Duncans. EMGs kick ass and are made for metal but sound good with most styles. They cut through the mix better than duncans and are amazingly quiet when not playing and yes they do have more ballsy metal tone than duncans. However duncans do sound warmer and are more versatile. The nu-metal reference was just stupid :bs2: , Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Bjorn and Jesper from In Flames(before they changed their sound), Jon Donais and Matt Blanchard of Shadows Fall use em and all of them could out play 99.9 percent of the posters on this board and have killer tone. The 81 is great for soloing and the 85 does cleans very well and sounds really dark. If you get the ZW set put the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck and it will sound killer. Try a guitar similar to yours with this set up through the same amp you use and see how you like the sound don't just get em because it's the metal thing to do. Just my UNBIASED observation. Duncans and EMG's will both fit the bill.
Keep it Metal :headbang:
DiminisheD-7th
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
some guys are just full of it...
give EMG's a shot, they are wonderful pickups.
some guys are just full of it...
give EMG's a shot, they are wonderful pickups.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Might try Emgs...
I don't have anything against EMG's, but I imagine that their "punch" comes from being active pickups.
Any Duncan can be made "active" simply by using the D-TAR Eclipse.
FYI
I don't have anything against EMG's, but I imagine that their "punch" comes from being active pickups.
Any Duncan can be made "active" simply by using the D-TAR Eclipse.
FYI
kill your scene
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
Exactly.
Hardly. It's not an observation, it's an opinion. Observations are undisputable science fact, what you stated are your own personal preferences. They are biased, by the way.... everyone is biased because we all have our own favorites.
As I said before, my opinion is nothing but an opinion. I don't think Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, In Flames or Shadows Fall have distinctly great tone. They're great players, don't get me wrong, but I've never listened to those bands and thought how awesome their tone was.
StringSlinger77 said:
Exactly.
StringSlinger77 said:
Hardly. It's not an observation, it's an opinion. Observations are undisputable science fact, what you stated are your own personal preferences. They are biased, by the way.... everyone is biased because we all have our own favorites.
As I said before, my opinion is nothing but an opinion. I don't think Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, In Flames or Shadows Fall have distinctly great tone. They're great players, don't get me wrong, but I've never listened to those bands and thought how awesome their tone was.
wasteofo2
Oxygen-Enriched Tonologist
Re: Might try Emgs...
I recently played an Epiphone LP with the 81/85 in it. The 85 sounded VERY dark and pretty muddy, the 81 was pretty clear sounding, a bit like a JB (there's a JB in my SG's bridge), but MUCH higher output. These things distorted the Blues Jr. to ridiculous levels when the amp's master volume was at 4, my JB came nowhere near to doing that.
I recently played an Epiphone LP with the 81/85 in it. The 85 sounded VERY dark and pretty muddy, the 81 was pretty clear sounding, a bit like a JB (there's a JB in my SG's bridge), but MUCH higher output. These things distorted the Blues Jr. to ridiculous levels when the amp's master volume was at 4, my JB came nowhere near to doing that.
TwistedSoul
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
I was thinking about putting the Zakk set in one of my LP Custom because I was trying to get at his tone. I got a lot of good advise and suggestion and went with the duncan distortion in the bridge and the 59 in the neck. Along with the dunlop pedal he uses I have been able to get really close. I have found that this combo really works for me and gives me a lot of versatility.
I was thinking about putting the Zakk set in one of my LP Custom because I was trying to get at his tone. I got a lot of good advise and suggestion and went with the duncan distortion in the bridge and the 59 in the neck. Along with the dunlop pedal he uses I have been able to get really close. I have found that this combo really works for me and gives me a lot of versatility.
Re: Might try Emgs...
EMG's are awesome pickups IMO. For metal they are great with unmatched clarity with a good tube amp. Don't get a Peavey Bandit and expect these to work wonders.
I have a Les Paul with an 81/60 combo and it does the heavy stuff and the cleans. Why you would put an 85 in the neck is beyond me unless you could actually shred with the neck pickup like Zakk. But I can't play like him and I'd rather have the cleans.
With that being said, I do think some of the passive pickups have a little more personality so to speak....and I don't mean the Duncan Distortion either....I'm talking pickups like the JB, or PAF Pro, Demon, or Super 3. But EMGs are great for what they do IMO. I never regretted putting them in.
EMG's are awesome pickups IMO. For metal they are great with unmatched clarity with a good tube amp. Don't get a Peavey Bandit and expect these to work wonders.
I have a Les Paul with an 81/60 combo and it does the heavy stuff and the cleans. Why you would put an 85 in the neck is beyond me unless you could actually shred with the neck pickup like Zakk. But I can't play like him and I'd rather have the cleans.
With that being said, I do think some of the passive pickups have a little more personality so to speak....and I don't mean the Duncan Distortion either....I'm talking pickups like the JB, or PAF Pro, Demon, or Super 3. But EMGs are great for what they do IMO. I never regretted putting them in.
Xeromus
Tone Ninja
Re: Might try Emgs...
If you don't have a tube amp, don't bother. EMG's sound worse than crap with solid state amps.
with that said, I like EMG's, but they are a one trick pony. I am happy with my Jazz and '59 necks, and my JB and Distortion bridges. I find the Distortion to be sweeter and nastier than the 81 in the bridge when you want it to be.
EMG's are great, you get a great deal of chunk and sustain, but I HATED HATED the cleans. Also it doesn't matter what guitar you put these in, it seems to mask all characteristics of the guitar they are placed into. It could be made out of plywood.
For that reason, down the road when I have a little extra cash I'll get an inexpensive axe and put EMG's in just to have that sound. I sold my Schecter C-1 plus with the zakk wylde set just recently to buy an ESP EC-1000 with Duncans and I couldn't be happier. I was getting pissed as hell with how two dimensional the sound was.
Like the other guys said, don't be a bandwagon yuppie and contribute to this nu-metal lack of tone and ability crap. Just because someone else uses them doesn't mean you have to.
I'm not slamming OR supporting them, just giving you my opinion and observations from using them. Surpringly though, I was able to get a pretty good jazz clean tone from the 85 in the neck with the right amp settings. They DO get super clean. Say jazz around a metal guy and that's enough to give them an aneurysm. Reminds me of this one time I brought a tele to an open jam and this METAL guy with his BLACK bronze series BC RICH made fun of my wimpy ugly Telecaster. That is until I ran circles around him and shredded better than he could, on a tele no less. That right there made my day.
Moral of the story, don't forget endorsements mean companies pay people to use their products so yuppies go out and buy them because their favorite player uses them. They never use those products exclusively either. Also, stereotypes suck. You don't have to own a black pointy guitar with EMG's to be a good metal player. Spend more time practicing than trying to look the part.
last part of the rant:
don't sling your guitar down by your knees, #1 you look like an idiot and people are making fun of you, #2 it's bad for your hands, wrists, arms, back, etc. If you still want to be able to play when you get older, don't do it.
If you don't have a tube amp, don't bother. EMG's sound worse than crap with solid state amps.
with that said, I like EMG's, but they are a one trick pony. I am happy with my Jazz and '59 necks, and my JB and Distortion bridges. I find the Distortion to be sweeter and nastier than the 81 in the bridge when you want it to be.
EMG's are great, you get a great deal of chunk and sustain, but I HATED HATED the cleans. Also it doesn't matter what guitar you put these in, it seems to mask all characteristics of the guitar they are placed into. It could be made out of plywood.
For that reason, down the road when I have a little extra cash I'll get an inexpensive axe and put EMG's in just to have that sound. I sold my Schecter C-1 plus with the zakk wylde set just recently to buy an ESP EC-1000 with Duncans and I couldn't be happier. I was getting pissed as hell with how two dimensional the sound was.
Like the other guys said, don't be a bandwagon yuppie and contribute to this nu-metal lack of tone and ability crap. Just because someone else uses them doesn't mean you have to.
I'm not slamming OR supporting them, just giving you my opinion and observations from using them. Surpringly though, I was able to get a pretty good jazz clean tone from the 85 in the neck with the right amp settings. They DO get super clean. Say jazz around a metal guy and that's enough to give them an aneurysm. Reminds me of this one time I brought a tele to an open jam and this METAL guy with his BLACK bronze series BC RICH made fun of my wimpy ugly Telecaster. That is until I ran circles around him and shredded better than he could, on a tele no less. That right there made my day.
Moral of the story, don't forget endorsements mean companies pay people to use their products so yuppies go out and buy them because their favorite player uses them. They never use those products exclusively either. Also, stereotypes suck. You don't have to own a black pointy guitar with EMG's to be a good metal player. Spend more time practicing than trying to look the part.
last part of the rant:
don't sling your guitar down by your knees, #1 you look like an idiot and people are making fun of you, #2 it's bad for your hands, wrists, arms, back, etc. If you still want to be able to play when you get older, don't do it.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Might try Emgs...
This goes for anyone who uses or is thinking of using EMGs... the 18 volt mod is unbelievable! Its too easy, and if you ever thought they sounded good before, you won't believe it after that second battery is installed. It makes them louder, and fills out the tone a little bit.
This goes for anyone who uses or is thinking of using EMGs... the 18 volt mod is unbelievable! Its too easy, and if you ever thought they sounded good before, you won't believe it after that second battery is installed. It makes them louder, and fills out the tone a little bit.
Imp
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
i've posted this before, but people agree with me. solid state distortion interfaces much better with EMGs than tube distortion, especially if its into a wound-up valve clean channel...
i record with my 89, straight into the back of my pc... i love the sound i get for so little outlay, especially when it's filled out with reverb
i have a plywood guitar with the EMGs in... its my main gigging guitar. its funny how you can tell someone who doesn't own the damned things, stuff you never hear about them :
- They CANNOT feedback microphonically, since theyre epoxied. your amps tubes will squeal before the EMGs do
- you CANNOT get reverse polarity shocks (e.g from a mic) since the strings aren't connected to the earth circuit. this is a major plus point for me at least
don't get me wrong, the 81 sounds trashy clean... but you wouldnt use a bridge hot rail for cleans either, would you? :32:
People who say 'EMG's are sterile' are stereotyping the entire range based on the 81 IMO... if you have a half-decent amp and knowledge of how to use it, you can get all kinds of sounds out (look in the tips n clips section)
and EMG bass pickups? they are gorgeous. ive just installed a 35P and 35J, and i wouldnt swap them for the world. no feedback, no noise, and more tonal range than i could possible use
Xeromus said:
i've posted this before, but people agree with me. solid state distortion interfaces much better with EMGs than tube distortion, especially if its into a wound-up valve clean channel...
i record with my 89, straight into the back of my pc... i love the sound i get for so little outlay, especially when it's filled out with reverb
i have a plywood guitar with the EMGs in... its my main gigging guitar. its funny how you can tell someone who doesn't own the damned things, stuff you never hear about them :
- They CANNOT feedback microphonically, since theyre epoxied. your amps tubes will squeal before the EMGs do
- you CANNOT get reverse polarity shocks (e.g from a mic) since the strings aren't connected to the earth circuit. this is a major plus point for me at least
don't get me wrong, the 81 sounds trashy clean... but you wouldnt use a bridge hot rail for cleans either, would you? :32:
People who say 'EMG's are sterile' are stereotyping the entire range based on the 81 IMO... if you have a half-decent amp and knowledge of how to use it, you can get all kinds of sounds out (look in the tips n clips section)
and EMG bass pickups? they are gorgeous. ive just installed a 35P and 35J, and i wouldnt swap them for the world. no feedback, no noise, and more tonal range than i could possible use
HarrisonDavid
New member
Re: Might try Emgs...
I had to ressurect this it's one of the most funny post I have ever read in my life!!!
Jake - "When I asked a guy how to hardcore dance at a show, he told me "Fight the invisible ninjas""
Xeromus said:
I had to ressurect this it's one of the most funny post I have ever read in my life!!!
Jake - "When I asked a guy how to hardcore dance at a show, he told me "Fight the invisible ninjas""
