Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

[Despised]

So after selling off most of my guitars due to needed auto repairs, I have landed another project that I am in planning stages for. And as always, it comes down to pickups. I am normally an EMG 707 user religiously, and had been dead-set on getting the new 81-7H & 85-7H set in the brushed black chrome finish. But after seeing that the finish is easily scratchable off, I am now changing my mind on those, and can't make up my mind as for what I want to get and use for this new project...

I have fallen in love with the tone of the 707 in tunings all the way down to G, and have recently discovered the 707 and the SA-7 pair surprisingly well together. So i am looking for input as to which passive Duncans would be closest in tonality to these particular EMG's. I was kinda thinking the Invader 7 bridge, and either the SSL-6 Custom Staggered -OR- the SSL-4 Quarter Pound Flat single coils - either of which would have the tapped option for the 2 different output levels.

My initial thought on the Invader is because the guitar seems to be fairly bright - brighter than your typical basswood bodied guutar would be, and the added warmth of the Invader would balance it out nicely. For the single coil, I want something a brighter than a typical neck position model, as I can't stand ANY kind of muddy tonality at all from any pickup, especially in the neck position. So I was thinking a middle position pickup for this task.

The guitar is an ESP LTD M-17 (basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, tune-o-matic/string-thru...), and is going to be for strictly metal. Tuning is going to most likely be Eb with low Bb (Cannibal Corpse, Pig Destroyer, Morbid Angel, etc...), with 11-58 guage strings. Control pattern is gonna be a concentric (stacked, dual) volume pot, blend pot for the single coil for the 2 different output levels, and a 3-way blade switch...

So which Duncans would be my best choice? The Invader and either the SSL-6 or SSL-4, or something else???

Thanks again folks!

 

[oneblackened]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

Doesn't EMG make a passive sized 707 now? As such, why not go with what you know you like?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

I don't think there's going to be anything very similar.

The Invader is going to have more lows and output than the 707. The ceramic magnet is also going to give the attack a different feel compared to the 707's alnico.

The JB is going to have more lows, highs, and, especially, high mids than the 707.

The Custom 7 is going to be even further away from the 707.

Pretty much anything passive Duncan is going to have more highs and lows than anything active EMG.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

I'd say invader with bright equalization and cutting down on the lows..

 

[oneblackened]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

Maybe a mag swapped (A5) Nazgul might do it?

I have no idea on the single, mind you.

 

[moshuajusic]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

You'd be spending more on pickups than that guitar costs brand new. Does it really sound that terrible as-is? Is the pickup finish really that important?

Despite what someone else posted, I think the Custom would be closest. It's big on chunk and bite, with somewhat scooped mids. Like the 707. And most importantly, it's grimace-appoved:

 

[Despised]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

Doesn't EMG make a passive sized 707 now? As such, why not go with what you know you like?

Sadly, EMG can NOT make the 707 or the 707TW in the new passive sized housings. The coils themselves are too big, and why they went with the soapbar housings for them to begin with. If they did offer them in those housings, I would have already had them. Wishful thinking my man...

You'd be spending more on pickups than that guitar costs brand new. Does it really sound that terrible as-is? Is the pickup finish really that important?

Despite what someone else posted, I think the Custom would be closest. It's big on chunk and bite, with somewhat scooped mids. Like the 707. And most importantly, it's grimace-appoved:

I found the thing for $100 like new, and it plays immaculate compared to all the others I have tried. Not concerned about the price of the pickups, new hardware or anything else i plan on loading into it. I actually enjoy making a custom out of a lower end model and making it into something I want.

The stock pickups are the darkest and muddiest i have ever played, and the finish isn't a big deal as long as they are black. And for possibly staying with actives, i am considering a Dino Cazares Retribution Phase 1 for the bridge and still running the SA-7 in the neck - if not doing the Retribution Phase 1 set that is... but I wanna try something different besides DiMarzio for passives for a change, and am not about to spend the stupid amount for a set of Bareknuckles.

 

[Despised]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

And @ Rex: i do know that the magnets and output are going to be different on the Invader vs. the 707. But i figured the warmer tonality of the Invader might work to help balance the brighter than normal tone of the basswood body this one has. I could always tweak the EQ on the Line 6 Vetta it's running into for that specific guitar if I have to... trying to see what option are before I pull the trigger on something for it.

 

[Despised]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

Well, after a lot of bouncing back and forth between the various models I was considering, I think I am still leaning more towards the Retribution Phase 1 set and staying active. I am not really finding anything else that appeals to me. I wanted a set of the new 81-7H EMG's, but the finish looks like it will easily scratch off like I was afraid of. The AHB-1'S are way too damn hot for my liking, and I have yet to find a passive I really like or want to try in any of my 7's. I have given up on trying to get anything from the Custom Shop anymore, since nobody can follow up on emails to get me pricing or confirm options. Fishman can't get back to me on whether or not the new Fluence 7-string passive sized models are available or can come in a standard black plastic housing... the LAST things I want to do is either try and paint a set of pickups, or spend stupid money on a set of Bareknuckles or Lundgrens.

 

[oneblackened]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

With the custom shop you'll have much better luck calling them.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

I reckon I can help you, mate.

 

[Despised]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

I reckon I can help you, mate.

I saw your ad in the trading post section, and am curious about it. I also got your PM, and replied back to you. Biggest issue is how your pickup was mounted, either ring mounted or direct (like on an Ibanez RG7...). Can't use the direct mount ones due to the bigger screw holes, makes trying to mount them back into a ring a total waste of time and money on the pickup itself...

Check your inbox, get back to me and let me know...

 

[oneblackened]

Re: Which passive Duncans would be similar in tonality to the EMG 707 & SA-7???

I saw your ad in the trading post section, and am curious about it. I also got your PM, and replied back to you. Biggest issue is how your pickup was mounted, either ring mounted or direct (like on an Ibanez RG7...). Can't use the direct mount ones due to the bigger screw holes, makes trying to mount them back into a ring a total waste of time and money on the pickup itself...

Check your inbox, get back to me and let me know...

Replacing baseplates is pretty easy. I did it to some Full Shreds I have in my ESP.