torn between SD and EMG

[thereveilleroot]

I've been trying to decide between these two brands for quite awhile. I play on a jackson slsmg and peavey 5150 half stack. Im looking for more of a european metal sound (arch enemy, soilwork, etc). I purchased a hot rails/n and a duncan distortion/b. Im thinking about returning them and getting emg 81 and 85. What do you guys think? which one will give me the sound im looking for.

 

[Jessica]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

Well...the guys from Arch Enemy are Duncan endorsers.....Chris uses the following: SHR-1n, SSL-1, SH-12, LW-HMETb . Michael uses the 59 neck JB bridge combo with a booster pedal. I have heard that one of the guitarists from Soilwork is into Duncans, but I can't confirm which models. The guys from Opeth are also Duncan guys.....Mikael uses the SH-10 Full Shred. You can definitely get some great metal tones out of Duncans and in my experience, I have found passive pickups to be much more versatile.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I agree that Seymour's passive pickups are more versatile than EMG's, though EMG's (at least the 81's) will more than likely give you that all out blistering metal tone... and probably only that.

It's common consensus that the active EMG pickups are rather sterile due to their perfect and pure character - aka. not as much character as passive pickups will give you due to their sonic imperfections (which I believe is ideal).


As prior mentioned, Chris from Arch Enemy uses neck Hotrails (SHR-1n) so if you're not getting a good tone it is most certainly not the pickups which are depriving you from sounding like you want it to sound.

But do give it a try, if you still don't like it - it's always useful to have a guitar with EMG's in it for some occasion or another.

 

[itbepopples]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

i tried EMGs and i really didnt like them at all. even for metal they lacked character and were just too hot to let the power amp do any overdriving, just the preamp which made it sound thin and tinny. one thing a lot of metal players neglect to try is low output pickups. your amp will do metal very easily so theres no reason to use high output pickups. i think the combo u have will be just fine if adjusted correctly. also, bob at eurotubes www.eurotubes.com has done some crazy **** with 5150s which i think u might be interested in if ur tone is lacking balls. try messing with the amp before u spend 200+ dollars on EMGs cuz it doesnt matter what pickups u have if ur amp is slugggish ur metal sound will be lacking.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I think you should try both options and see what fits your ear better. I have heard 10000000000 times the cliche "emgs are sterile" but i still haven't found any pickup that i like more than the emg85.....through any amp. What is the perfect choise for someone might be the worst for somebody else. So trust your ears and go over many shops and try as many different guitars with as many different pickups you can untill you find what suits your style and preferences better.

 

[Artie]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

You can sorta have your cake, and eat it too. GuitarElectronics.com sells the SD pickup booster in a circuit board form. If you were going to put in actives, it means you don't mind installing a 9-volt battery anyway. Use passives, with the booster, with a push/pull pot to activate it . . . and you get the best of both worlds. Character and drive.

 

[papersoul]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

EMGs are very clear and transparent (not sterile) so you better like the natural tone of you guitar before purchasing EMGs. The 85/60 may be a great set and I myself have looked into this set many times and still may have to bite sooner or later. Oh, and they seem plenty versatile to me.

 

[ranalli]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I don't think you can go wrong with either setup really. Both are a little different but both do metal very well IMO.

 

[BS123]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I have heard 10000000000 times the cliche "emgs are sterile" but i still haven't found any pickup that i like more than the emg85.....through any amp.

I agree with fenderiarhs. The EMG 85 is like an EMG version of a Duncan Custom. Very versatile and full of tone. I am still biased toward Duncans though. I just like their personalities better.

 

[papersoul]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I agree with fenderiarhs. The EMG 85 is like an EMG version of a Duncan Custom. Very versatile and full of tone. I am still biased toward Duncans though. I just like their personalities better.

It is like a Custon - good call but a little more transparent and thick. I find the Custom too cold and icy. I like the C-5 more than the Custom.

 

[rocker_71]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

. Im looking for more of a european metal sound (arch enemy, soilwork, etc).

If those bands use Duncans, so do you.
Be aware that a pickup is only a part of the sound chain.

Check out their other setup: effects, amps etc....

 

[thereveilleroot]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

thanks for all the help. when you say emg's are sterile do you mean that the tone is alittle "muddy". The stock pickups in my jackson are the emg-hz. I'm looking for pickups that are really gonna cut through. which set up would be better for that.

 

[thereveilleroot]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

oh yeah just another question, i've noticed alot guitars come stock with seymour duncans (or lookalikes). Which pickups are installed in these guitars usually? thanks

also i've gotten a hold of a sh-27f pickup from a caparison guitar. Its a single coil meant to fit in a humbucker just like the hotrails. What do you think about wiring that with a hotrail together?

 

[ranalli]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

thanks for all the help. when you say emg's are sterile do you mean that the tone is alittle "muddy". The stock pickups in my jackson are the emg-hz. I'm looking for pickups that are really gonna cut through. which set up would be better for that.

EMGs aren't muddy at all...they are amongst the clearest pickups you can get IMO.

Some people say they are sterile because they do have a somewhat compressed nature to them that is unlike most passive pickups.

Either path you take will cut just fine IMO. It's really a toss up....for high gain, I like both.

 

[some_dude]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

thanks for all the help. when you say emg's are sterile do you mean that the tone is alittle "muddy". The stock pickups in my jackson are the emg-hz. I'm looking for pickups that are really gonna cut through. which set up would be better for that.

Sterile meaning clean and clear. Some people complain they're too hot, then again, some people don't seem to understand how to use a volume knob.

My suggestions for EMGs are to use to use either an 85 (thick and heavy) or an 81 (screaming and cutting) in the bridge. For the neck I suggest a 60 for rhythm players and an 85 for lead players.

 

[ratkent]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I used 85s for years. 81s never worked for me. I found the 85s to be much fatter sounding and just as hot to my ears. I got some great tones but I switched back to passives about two years ago when I began using better amplifiers. Now I use Customs and Custom Customs and I can get just as aggresive a tone as I ever could with EMGs plus the dynamics are much better.

 

[Imp]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

+1 with most of you fellas, i've always preferred an 85 (or an 89, thats a nice choice) over the 81... no matter where it is.

i like the 89 as a 'come one, come all' pickup.. in guitars where there's only one pickup, it'd be either the 89 or the JB.. nice pickups for 'across the board' stuff, rock included.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

The guys from Opeth are also Duncan guys.....

They're EMG users, and stock PRS users, also

I've been doing the "EMG vs. Duncan" battle for awhile, and realized that there's only one answer. Get two kick ass guitars. Load one with Duncans, load the other with EMGs.

They both sound killer, and will get the job done.

If you wanna go active, go EMG. If you want passive, go Duncan.

 

[italic zero]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

No Livewire Heavy Metal?

 

[Guitarist]

Re: torn between SD and EMG

I purchased a hot rails/n and a duncan distortion/b. Im thinking about returning them and getting emg 81 and 85.

Trying to fit the 85 where the Hot Rails was would be a little difficult, don't you think? Humbuckers are bigger than Single Coils - aren't they?