Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

[evan47]

I currently play a washburn parrallaxe pxl20tbm with a seymour jb/jazz combo and love the sound of it but I am looking towards a second guitar in the new year, namely an ltd ec1000 of which there are a number of options.
The options I have for consideration have different pickup configurations; JB/Jazz, JB/Jazz+Fishman powerbridge and also EMG 81 bridge and 60 neck.
I am leaning towards JB/Jazz+Fishman model for sheer versatility but would like to hear peoples opinions on how the EMG 60/81 combo would compare with the seymours.
I play mostly hard rock but do have my more jazz/fushion moods from time to time.
Another option is the ltd ec1001 which has the EMG combo (which I could change to the seymour set) plus a Floyd Rose trem. I am a little worried that the Floyd Rose may thin the tone out a bit, any thoughts on this too?

 

[357mag]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

If you are playing Jazz on the Jazz then that's fine. But the Jazz pickup does not work for Rock or Metal.

 

[evan47]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

If you are playing Jazz on the Jazz then that's fine. But the Jazz pickup does not work for Rock or Metal.

The Jazz would be in the neck position and that is where I go to get my clean sounds.
The Jazz I have ATM can rock well enough too.
Didnt you get a kicking on a previous thread where you stated something similar?
People have been using and also swear by the Jazz as a good rock neck pickup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

I'd say the the Jazz is *great* for rock or metal, and not as great for actual jazz. For more reedy fusion, I tend to use something with A2 magnets, like the Alnico II Pro.

 

[gregory]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

Tight, bright and SCOOPED.

Not too tight to still have great cleans. Great for rhythm with pretty much any amount of gain.

If you like the Jazz for lead work, more power to you. I don't.

I did the 81/85 thing for a little while and did a JB for a long while. Both in basswood, both with a Floyd, with no adverse effects. If I were going to rock the EMGs again I would put the 85 in the bridge and the 81 with its narrower sensing window in the neck. Haven't tried a 60, though I know what they're about. Not my thing.

I'd go with passives, though not the SD Hot Rod set.

 

[gregory]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

Didnt you get a kicking on a previous thread where you stated something similar?

Might makes right, I guess.

People have been using and also swear by the Jazz as a good rock neck pickup.

Lots of people swear by lots of things.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

What's an EMG 60? As far as I new EMG had a very simple system for naming pickups 81 means that the pickup is an active bridge pickup, 85 means that the pickup is an active neck pickup, and SA means that it's a single coil. I was totally unaware they sold anything else.

 

[gregory]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

Wow. No. Just no. Go visit their website.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

Wow. No. Just no. Go visit their website.

That was a bit of a joke. It's just that EMG advertises them way more than any other pickups they have and almost every EMG loaded pickguard is some sort of variety of those three. But I guess they have done quite a bit of work to deserve that level of recognition...

 

[gregory]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

Ah, gotcha!

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

They don’t really compare. The JB/Jazz set doesn’t sound anything like the 81/60 set. I like the Custom with the Jazz and the Mick Thomson Blackout set is tighter than the 81/60 set.

 

[themeansr]

Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

My opinion is EMG’s are the most sterile sounding Pickup ever and I would never use them again


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[dave74]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

That was a bit of a joke. It's just that EMG advertises them way more than any other pickups they have and almost every EMG loaded pickguard is some sort of variety of those three. But I guess they have done quite a bit of work to deserve that level of recognition...

85 actually is a great low-powered alnico5 magnet with the same active-boost as the 81 (ceramic).
It was designed for the bridge position and can really excel there in a bright/tight guitar, especially in a bright maple/alder/ash bolt-on.

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

If you are playing Jazz on the Jazz then that's fine. But the Jazz pickup does not work for Rock or Metal.

What are ya smoking dude? The Jazz is a great all around pickup for just about any style of music. I have one in the neck of a ES335 clone and it slays!

OP- get the guitar you want first, then worry about its pickups. you can replace pickups easily, not so much the guitar.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

If you like the JB and Jazz, get the Dave Mustaine set. Its suppose to be the active version. EMG also has the Marty Friedman version of the JB and Jazz, but I don't think its active.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Which pickup combo, JB/Jazz or EMG 60/81?

EMG pickups aren’t sterile, but they do sound different. Their SA pickups are quite warm. It really depends on what you are looking for in a pickup. Their active bass pickups are quite good.