Need something with better tone than EMG's

[mindbender]

Helllo dudes, been away for awhile, but I've got a new guitar in need of pickups. I've acquired a Shecter C-1 Hellraiser with Floyd Rose. Mahogany body, maple neck (I think), rosewood fretboard. And with EMG 81/85 combo. I DON'T LIKE THE EMG's. I'm comparing the tone with my other Schecter C-1 plus which has a Duncan Custom in the bridge and a DM PAF Pro in the neck. My dream tone. Anyway, the EMG's in the Hellraiser are thinner sounding than the Custom and the PAF Pro in the C-1+. No low end, no 'punch' (especially in the bridge position, where I need it). And not very 'crisp' either. And did I mention less output too.....I hope it's the EMG's and not the guitar. So....I'm looking for some pickups (active or passive, preferably active so I don't have to rewire too much) that have more low end AND high end than the EMG 81/85, as well as more output (comparable to the Custom). The obvious thing would be to try a Custom and PAF Pro in the Hellraiser, but:
1) I've found that the Custom is very picky. I've tried it in several (mostly heavier) guitars, and the only one I liked it in was the C-1 plus.
2) I'm hoping there's some active pickups out there that'll do what I want, because I looked in there and it looks like I'll have a lot of rewiring to do if I go passive.

Any ideas?

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

what's in the bridge the 81 or 85? i don't like the emg 85 personally, but hte 81 is very hard to beat IMO. the 81 is not thin if you don't go scooping all the mids. i say boost the mids and cut the treble a bit and you'll get a better sound i think.

i really like the 81. right now, i use an SA set with the spc control. you can use the spc control to fatten up the 81 and give it what you think it's missing. if i were you, i'd definitely try that before giving up on it. that's your best bet i think.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

If you want to stay active you might consider the Duncan Blackouts. I've heard that they are excellent active pickups.

 

[mindbender]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

I believe the 81 is in the bridge and the 85 is in the neck.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

thick, output, ask around about the invader, I hear good things about it. If you want thick though, I have a custom custom (custom w/ A2) in my strat, and it is thick like queen latifah, I've never heard my strat sound thicker than my lester. But it's output is much less than an emg's from my experience (mostly guitar store guitars that have what I've been told to be active EMG's), but you can compensate with a good booster pedal. But the low end is loose (like Britney Spears, I couldn't resist) and if you're into metal, the custom custom will NOT be your cup of tea. I don't play metal, check with people who do to get a better reccomendation.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

So....I'm looking for some pickups (active or passive, preferably active so I don't have to rewire too much) that have more low end AND high end than the EMG 81/85, as well as more output (comparable to the Custom).

Τhrow away the 81 and put in the bridge pos. the 85......Much warmer, more natural sounding with plenty of tight bass, nice low mids, not piercing as the 81, and try in the neck the emg60.......The 85 has more output than the Custom.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

The 85 will give you a very thick tone. Personally I hate it but as people said, just moving the 85 to the bridge might have you covered for the bridge.

Send me an offer for the 81

 

[CGord]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Wow. I have a HellRaiser, & the 81/85 combo to my ears is perfection.

 

[theodie]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

EMG 60A's, now that is a good EMG bucker that dosent have your usual EMG qualitys (thank god). Well, it has the clarity, tightness, and outout but, it is far more organic than the 81/85's. It has a classic kind of flavor with a ton of output.

Also look at the Duncan livewire lineup of actives.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

i don't like the 85 in the bridge personally. i think it sounds muddy and too heavy on the bottom. to me, it's too bottom-heavy, mid-scooped, and i don't like the top end. it's like a muddy active version of the tone zone or something. the 81 is a more articulate and balanced sounding pickup, IMO.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

But mindbender actually wants that fat sound, and he has it right in the neck position, just one swap away.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Need something with better tone than EMG's

Thats pretty much every pickup ever made besides EMGs mg::laugh2:


J/K...sort of. I like the 85 in the bridge. I love the feel of an 81 but that is (as my southern relatives would say) "about the most near-nothing thing I've ever seen" (or in this case, heard).

I would swap the 85 in the bridge before purchasing more pups and then go from there.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

But mindbender actually wants that fat sound, and he has it right in the neck position, just one swap away.

the spc control will fatten it up plenty and still have that nice emg 81 sound. i'd try that before putting and 85 in the bridge. then again, that's just me. i'm not a big fan of the 85 in the bridge.

 

[lex666]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Blackouts will drop rite into a guitar already equipped iwht EMG's... I'd give that a try. I have a set in an explorer and they have more "body" and are more full than EMG's... It has tone similar to that of a non-active pup.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Jb?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Thats pretty much every pickup ever made besides EMGs.

+1. Horrible-sounding PU's. Why do people buy them? I guess they bury them under so much distortion & effects they can't tell.

 

[theodie]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

the spc control will fatten it up plenty and still have that nice emg 81 sound. i'd try that before putting and 85 in the bridge. then again, that's just me. i'm not a big fan of the 85 in the bridge.

The SPC is awsome but, the EXG will fatten it up more. Hell, run both of them!

 

[theodie]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

+1. Horrible-sounding PU's. Why do people buy them? I guess they bury them under so much distortion & effects they can't tell.

I typically agree. The 60A and their onboard preamps are really nice though. Run a SPC, EXG, or RPC with passives when you need that little extra "something its missing"! Works like a charm.

BTW, Gilmore made a set of SA's sound really good. Of course, he was running through a gazillion effects like in usual Gilmore fashion.

 

[TSE]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

I had EMG pickups for a short time and I switched back because I could no longer tolerate the 81. The 60 is not a bad pickup though, it was wonderful as a matter of fact. It was very clear and fluid, but still had a metal vibe to it. Great neck pickup, sounds amazing with shredding/solos.

 

[theodie]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

I had EMG pickups for a short time and I switched back because I could no longer tolerate the 81. The 60 is not a bad pickup though, it was wonderful as a matter of fact. It was very clear and fluid, but still had a metal vibe to it. Great neck pickup, sounds amazing with shredding/solos.

The 60A not the regular 60.