Need something with better tone than EMG's

[chuckbat]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Jb?

I agree with this dude. That pickup is well rounded. I have two guitars with these in the bridge. My Dean '79 V has the 81/85 combo. I dont mind it. Alot could depend on his amp, effects, etc... I play mostly metal and get good sounds with both. But my faorite is the JB in the bridge. I have noticed you can't do the scooped midrange with the EMG setup. :headbang:

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

I almost bought myself a Hellraiser FR, it's Mahogany body AND neck.
In fact I hated the EMGs (not so much the 85n but definitely the 81b)

Since swapping pickups in actives is so easy I'd first try and see how the 85 fares in the bridge (I liked it at the neck but nothing to write home about).

Then two options come to mind.

The Blackouts, I haven't actually played them myself but they're supposed to be fuller 81/85 and crunchy where the 81/85 are fuzzy.

The 2nd choice (and the one I was going for) are the Mustaine Livewires.
These are in essence the JB and the Jazz in an active setting, seeing how the Hellraiser is the C1 classic with actives and a different paint job that sounded good in my book...

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Invader, that's what you looking for, I can get Zakk thing out of my strat anytime I want, with invader in the bridge, of course, you need heavy or extra heavy pick for that, Invader has all the umph of the battery pick ups, but it still has that organic power to it none of that sterile blah.

 

[uOpt]

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.

The 60 in the neck is a great pickup if you want to "hear your guitar" in lack of a better word. Sounds great in my very resonant Ash Strat-alike, a guitar that when coupled with a '59 neck adds way too much growl way too early.

I hate my 89, which is a splittable 85 (roughly). Want to try an 81, am semi-optimistic.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Need something with better tone than EMG's

Dunno, I never really tried them both in both positions but usually the 85 seemed to click better than the 81...

Still, I remember the best place for the 81 being the neck, not the bridge...