Tips for using Emgs?

[ex-250]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

yeah, opens it up, gives more headroom. makes it more articulate, ive found.


ive been switching mine between the 81 & 85 in the bridge back and forth, not sure which one to stick with. 18v makes the 81 more passable for rhythm stuff, but takes out the compression that i like in it for leads. the 81 in 9v is intolerable for rhythm through my XT though. the 85 in 18v has much better rhythm tone on there, but has the most insane low-mid chewiness that sounds a bit weird through a real amp.

i should just switch that guitar over to passives. haha. id be much happier. maybe ill try a new set of blackouts. my one that shorted when i tried it in that guitar was one of the first models shipped out, maybe i need a fresh set. haha. i dunno.

 

[Curt]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

90% !!!



So, you play on stages with 1000000$ worth of light and passives are not quiet enough? I don't think so...

500xl is quiet and very transparent, without the light
We tested 81 and l500xl with these amps:
6505+
Triple Rectifier
JMP 50 '73
JCM800
Various cabs, guitars and boosters, OD...

I don't have to play on large stages with tremendous amounts of equipment to know that passives can be noisy under a few circumstances, and their clarity and quietness is what I PREFER i'm not saying oh, everyone play actives because I said so, i'm saying that okay, if you like passives, play em, if you like actives, keep using them too. he's asking on tips for using emg's you're telling him to rip the actives out and put passives in. thats not really giving him the tips he's looking for. and admittedly, i've not helped at all either.

and when I play on stage, I play in small venues, with very little equipment, speaking in dollar value, but I do have about 10 pedals in my chain, and that adds to the noise, and clarity issues as well. and in the small venues I play, they typically have bad wiring(thats this town for you) which causes extra noise issues.

the reason being that I choose passives more often than actives, is because my guitar typically has passives, and when i'm looking to change my sound, it is cheaper overall(I can't afford to buy actives for all my guitars, so I buy a passive and wire it in and be done with it) not because I find them superior.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

A couple of things...The setup on this guitar is outstanding.. I unplug and put guitar in case after every play.. Im not too lazy to change battery..haha
Had it over 2 yrs and never changed. Only played maybe 15 times.. (that is changing!!)

Ive thought about puting a 60 in the neck or an 85 in the bridge, but they are kinda expensive. I hate to buy a $90 + pup when Im not sure on the whole system.
I love my Custom 8 loaded axes and wonder if this paul wouldnt sound unreal with a really sweet set of pups .. But, its wicked heavy and thick and could be a real ripper this way too..

Go with the H60A in the neck bro not the 60!!
Moving the 85 in the bridge will help a BUNCH and swapping those is such a snap if they are the modern ones as they just plug in and out from the rear.
Try the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck first and then if you need more meat in the neck go with the 60A.
That is what I have in my Grover Jackson handbuild Washburn proto and it KILLS!!

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

Go with the H60A in the neck bro not the 60!!
Moving the 85 in the bridge will help a BUNCH and swapping those is such a snap if they are the modern ones as they just plug in and out from the rear.
Try the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck first and then if you need more meat in the neck go with the 60A.
That is what I have in my Grover Jackson handbuild Washburn proto and it KILLS!!

I've never tried the 60A, but awhile back I had an 81/60 set in an Ibanez SZ520. I really liked the sound of the 60 in the neck; it was a full and fat tone both clean and driven. I've thought about sticking it in the neck spot of my Schecter with the Steve's Special in the bridge.

Anyway I'm glad to hear you tried out the 18v mod and that you noticed the positive difference. Enjoy those EMGs.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

are they not quite the same?

i feel the diffrence between the old metal/hot livewires end the emg to be way better, but the blackouts are a not really improved version of those, right?
and since they're back on 9 volts.. not that i tried blackouts, but the emg can't be massively sold worldwide just for it's large 'name' right?

no they actually arent very alike tonally at all. i was expecting hotter EMG's when i put by blackouts in and was completely thrown off by what i got instead. they are a completely different beast and honestly people should stop comparing them. SD isnt so much going after the EMG lovers, but going after the people who want the advantages of actives but dont like the EMG offerings or are just mildly pleased with them

bloodrose: you are right, EMG's require us to adapt as they are very hi-fi sounding compared to passives. but the changes you'll make to your technique will help you all across the board. you'll play cleaner, for one. as for whether or not its pointless using EMG's if you alter your settings to get your passive like tones, i think its absolutely worth it. while your tone will still be somewhat similar after all that tweaking, the EMG's will still have something very different about them, much like comparing various passives at similar tonal settings. your attack will be punchier and clear, and you'll sound more articulate under gain.

have you tried swapping the pickup positions yet?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

no they actually arent very alike tonally at all. i was expecting hotter EMG's when i put by blackouts in and was completely thrown off by what i got instead. they are a completely different beast and honestly people should stop comparing them. SD isnt so much going after the EMG lovers, but going after the people who want the advantages of actives but dont like the EMG offerings or are just mildly pleased with them

bloodrose: you are right, EMG's require us to adapt as they are very hi-fi sounding compared to passives. but the changes you'll make to your technique will help you all across the board. you'll play cleaner, for one. as for whether or not its pointless using EMG's if you alter your settings to get your passive like tones, i think its absolutely worth it. while your tone will still be somewhat similar after all that tweaking, the EMG's will still have something very different about them, much like comparing various passives at similar tonal settings. your attack will be punchier and clear, and you'll sound more articulate under gain.

have you tried swapping the pickup positions yet?

No, havent swapped positions yet.. Been VERY busy last few weeks and havent had time to pull put pups and all.. will try in a week or so..

Yeah, I figure this will help me tighten up my playing..Nothing but benefit there!!

 

[ponch]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

the washburn in that picture has an 85 and 2 SAs plugged strait into the volume, wired up by a close friend, and truth be told just like ben said you have to adjust to the pick up. They mimic every aspect of your playing. I dredded playing that guitar but it made me get better. EMGs arent sterile, the rig is. I play it with a 70's bassman an a 70's vox cab and it sounds so huge. It rivials my friends Hamer into a riviera duo twelve. just mess around some more with the EQ and i guarantee you will love them!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

Well the more I play it, the more I LOVE the guitar itself..What a Killer player! But man those pups are ALIVE!! I had things dialed up today and sounded terribly sloppy.. Gonna have to back down the pup I think.. but the tone is growing on me.. Drop D sounded huge

 

[ranalli]

Re: Tips for using Emgs?

I've never tried the 60A, but awhile back I had an 81/60 set in an Ibanez SZ520. I really liked the sound of the 60 in the neck; it was a full and fat tone both clean and driven. I've thought about sticking it in the neck spot of my Schecter with the Steve's Special in the bridge.

Anyway I'm glad to hear you tried out the 18v mod and that you noticed the positive difference. Enjoy those EMGs.

The EMG 60 is one of the BEST neck pickups out there. People give EMGs a bad rap because they only do the ZW route....81 in bridge and 85 in neck...TERRIBLE SETUP. Then they wonder why the cleans suck....have you ever heard ZW do good cleans?


Depending on the brightness of your guitar go with an 85 or 81 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck. That's giving EMGs a fair shot.


But they worked fine for me and always sounded great.