Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's :(

[Boy_Narf]

So i went to the guitar shop today and spent 2 hours playing every type of duncan i could find (In love with the JB before today). I played a JB, 59, Custom, and some other one... Finally after a little while my friend pulled out a ESP with 81/85 in it, and it sounded amazing compared to any of the duncans i had tried. I was really wanting to go passive so i tested out the only guitar with the H4's in it, and wow sweet, also sweet sounding. To me every single JB sounded like crap (esp, schector, Fernandez (amazing till i compared it to 81)) They all sounded thin and well, boring! Everyone has been telling me to stay away from EMG's specially the passive EMG's... any advice? cause the SH-5 sounded like total ass, so it comes down to EMG H4 or a SH4JB

P.S. i dont think i want the 81, i dont have anywhere to put the batteries

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

It could be MUCH worse. You could like Lace Sensors.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

have you had a chance to hear Duncan's Live Wires?

 

[Kac]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

What kinda guitar? Sometimes there are places for the batteries....

Seymour Duncan blackouts deserve a chance to be heard as well.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Emg's are great pickups, just different. The battery will usually fit in a control cavity easy but if you like the h4 more power to ya. I like duncans for different reasons than I like emgs, so I really like having at least one guitar with each.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. If they work for you then go for it. I promise you it won't affect my sleeping at night any.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

It's ok dude, I have a set in one of my godins, and a david gilmour set might be in order for my strat. If they work for you, they just work....

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Man, trolling Lace Sensors was a lot more fun back when Donzo was here...

 

[phil_104]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Are lace sensors that bad?

 

[Boy_Narf]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Well the 81/85 was in a LTD eclipse knockoff... and the H4 was in some "metal as balls" V shaped mother... anyhow, I was just wondering if it actually matters what guitar you put the EMG's in??? cause i have heard that they sound the same in every guitar... Is this true? or does different wood/neck type have an effect on EMG PUP's?

 

[baritone]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

I like EMG passives, but I just prefer SDs. I was considering getting some EMG H4s for my baritone, but I like how the Duncans in it sound.

 

[Boy_Narf]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

oh btw i have a washburn idol... and i was a little worried that if i just left the batteries floating around in the cavity... wouldnt they bash the **** out of all of my electronics??? or is that not a major issue?

 

[PLVTONIVS FILIVS]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

oh btw i have a washburn idol... and i was a little worried that if i just left the batteries floating around in the cavity... wouldnt they bash the **** out of all of my electronics??? or is that not a major issue?

The only sound you'll get will be maracas. Fix it.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

STONE THE HERETIC.

Anyway, my first thought is that you have less than 500 Kohm potis, a too long or low-quality guitar cable or not enough input impedance in your amp or first effect. That will kill all the passive humbuckers.

Second, those are not too well-liked units in the first place. Distortion, C5, PG/Seth might have done better for exotic tastes.

Last, some EMGs are gear. Like my EMG 60.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Hey no biggie, I've got lots of guitars with non-Duncans (with 40 guitars I've got to have some variation!) I've got some guitars with stock pickups too, because I want to keep the guitar original, or because the guitar and pickups were kind of "made for eachother".

If you played the various guitars and the EMG's sounded better to you, then they ARE better...for you anyway. Making music is art. There's no right or wrong in art. Get the EMG's or get the guitar with EMG's. Or if you have room for a battery (most guitars do) then you can try the Blackouts.

 

[alashredder]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Hey no biggie, I've got lots of guitars with non-Duncans (with 40 guitars I've got to have some variation!) I've got some guitars with stock pickups too, because I want to keep the guitar original, or because the guitar and pickups were kind of "made for eachother".

If you played the various guitars and the EMG's sounded better to you, then they ARE better...for you anyway. Making music is art. There's no right or wrong in art. Get the EMG's or get the guitar with EMG's. Or if you have room for a battery (most guitars do) then you can try the Blackouts.

+1

 

[Boy_Narf]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

well yea i know... it doesent really matter what brand i use, but i just wanna know if EMG's actually react differently to each type of guitar that they are in??? or is it pretty much one generic sound across the board?

 

[alashredder]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

well yea i know... it doesent really matter what brand i use, but i just wanna know if EMG's actually react differently to each type of guitar that they are in??? or is it pretty much one generic sound across the board?

The H4's use the ceramic magnets..and they sound different in every guitar I've owned..and they're one of the few pickups that sound great in just about any wood unlike the JB's..which are very sensitive to diff. types of woods. EMG actives also sound different in every guitar I've owned as well. Brighter in some and darker in others.

 

[Boy_Narf]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

kool thanx... i have a mahagony with a setneck and a rosewood fingerboard, similar to the ESP's... so i that that they would sound pretty dark

 

[alashredder]

Re: Oh Dear, I think I like EMG's

Another thing to add. I'm also a fan of EMG H4's..and only the H4 model..the other H series really blew chunks for me. So many people dog on the passive EMG's saying that the actives sound way better and the passive EMG's are junk. Not true. I've had many passive EMG H4's in different guitars as well as actives..and I could honestly say that the passive's are just as brutal as the actives except the actives have their own tone and are have a tad more gain and cleaness to it. The actives downfall is having to use and change the 9v battery, but they last for such a long time that it's not really much of an issue as I thought it would.

I like both actives and passive EMG's. I did like the 85 in the bridge as it gave a bit more output and sounded thicker, but the 81 seems to fit me the best, since I tend to like more treble on the leads.

I used to be this huge Seymour Duncan Blackout lover when it was all the rage, just to see what it's like. It definetely lived up to the hype and the descriptions/reviews that you've been hearing about. It's a great pickup, but I miss the cold darker tone that the EMG's give..and the Blackouts don't have that. Back to EMG's I guess!!