Replacing EMGs

Nagash

Nagash

New member
I was wondering... many people come to Seymour Duncan by replacing their EMGs with passives, or by upgrading to Blackout actives. So...

What would you say are the "equivalents" (the most common replacements, or the closest sounding Duncans) to the 81, 85 and 60, bridge and/or neck ?
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

Just get a EMG H4/H4A. They are the 81/85 passives. I don't think any Duncans sound close to the 81 or 85.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

I'd say a DD might be pretty close to an 81, with all the mids and high end, not sure they have anything that close to an 85 (huge and woofy), and the 60 might be something like a FS: lots of highs and kinda scooped.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

if you want to keep the emg 81/85 sound then why are you changing?
If you want to install duncans, then perhaps it would be better to let us know what axe and amp you use - and what kind of sound/sounds you are after. No passive pickup will replicate an active sound (dimarzio make a thing called a deactivator that is supposed to) - but you will gain a lot more of an organic and less processed feel. You will need to re dial all your amp settings and it may take you some time to get the feel of things, but passives are great if you want more than just a huge brutal wall of crunch, or a sterile crystalline hifi clean tone.
Theres lots of knowledge here and ppl can steer you in the right direction if you give us all some more information.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

I never said I want to keep the EMGs or the EMG sound. Never. As a matter of fact, I don't. What I know is that my dual 81s give a certain sound, but I'm never satisfied with it. When I fumble around with the EQ/Gain settings in my stuff, the sound doesn't change a lot, it doesn't get better. I also know that Duncans are more versatile. So what I want is this : going from active EMGs that sound "okay" to passive Duncans who have a similar sound. So I have my actual sound, and I can easily shape it to get something different and something new.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

I would try the Blackouts Metal

Instant swap using the pre-installed EMG wiring. I did that on my Jackson Soloist. Major difference in sound quality over EMG.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

^
Almost what he said, only I changed to SD Live Wire Classic II HBs for more PAF-like dynamics and tone.
 
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Re: Replacing EMGs

I would do that, of course... but I want passives. I'll change my nickname to MrAnnoying some day !
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

Have you fiddled with your pickup heights at all? There's some magic in them thar spaces.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

I've found that the hex pole passives, like the full shred, have a bit of an emg vibe to them, in that they can handle massive gain and have very tight palm mute action. If I had to match a duncan passive to an emg 81 I would go with full shred, duncan distortion is also similar but with much more character. In my opinion any modern sounding duncan is an improvement on an emg 81, but it all depends on your personal taste.
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

Franknfilms said:
I've found that the hex pole passives, like the full shred, have a bit of an emg vibe to them, in that they can handle massive gain and have very tight palm mute action. If I had to match a duncan passive to an emg 81 I would go with full shred, duncan distortion is also similar but with much more character. In my opinion any modern sounding duncan is an improvement on an emg 81, but it all depends on your personal taste.
Click to expand...


I was already going for a pair of Full Shreds. The Full Shred has less distorion than the Distortion, right ?
 
Re: Replacing EMGs

Yup, Full Shred is lower output than a SH6. Lead sound of the Full Shred is definitely better than that of an EMG81 imho. Very tight rhythm sounds, excellent thrash sounds, works for all tunings.
Not alot of bass though. So if you're going for some thunk make sure your amp/cab can deliver..
 
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