Your opinion about EMG's?

[Erlend_G]

Hehe, i know i'm on the SD board now, but i was just wondering what your opinion on EMG's are?

I've heard alot of good things about them, but also alot of bad ones, like "EMG's have an extremely sterile, artificial sound".

I'm listening to one of Fenderiarh's songs, where he supposedly plays a EMG 85, and i must say it sounds migthy good!

So, what do you say?

Cheers!
-Erlend

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

For me, EMG's have a very sterile, overly compressed sound. I've heard that adding two 9 volt batteries alleviates this problem, but A) no way im loading two 9vs in my guitar and B) I'd rather just have a set of duncans. I know there are a few metal bands out there that get great tone with EMGs, but they're not for me.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

My EMGs are killer pups for nearly all kinds of playing(60/89/81 combo is extremely versetaille).They sound great if yopu ask me and i don't think they sound steril or artifical(maybe the case in lighter/thinner guitars but not with my B.C Riches).

 

[Rotten Guitar String]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I like the EMG 81's, they give an awesome metal sound. However, I've heard that those EMG HiZ pickups are pretty &%*#.

IMHO, EMGs are metal-only pickups, I don't think they're very versatile.

That's why I like Duncans.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I like the EMG 81's, they give an awesome metal sound. However, I've heard that those EMG HiZ pickups are pretty &%*#.

IMHO, EMGs are metal-only pickups, I don't think they're very versatile.

That's why I like Duncans.

I'll go with that. My friend's got a LTD viper with EMG HZ's in it, and I dont care for those at all. Its really just a matter of personal taste, but duncans seem to be much more versatile

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

Well, i ordered myself a EMG85 rigth now! Can't wait to hear what it sounds like when i get it

 

[BornToShred]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I'm not into actives because...

1) Your guitar needs batteries! How ridiculous is that?
2) No one needs that much output.

They work for some people tho. To each his own.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

People that say EMGs are sterile, or are completely artificial sounding don't really know what they're talking about. EMGs do impart alot of their personality onto a guitar but then again so does a JB. EMGs are the clearest sounding high output buckers I have ever come across....not to mention the quietest.

Play some nice mellow leads with an EMG60 in the neck then tell me they are sterile and not versatile.

Sorry.....but EMGs are GREAT pickups. The 81 *can* be a bit brash in some guitars/setups but hell...so can any pickup. What EMG really needs is more tonal options that work with more setups IMO.

And David Gilmour uses EMGs.....tell me his tone is sterile.....yeah.....

And one battery will last a LONG TIME in your guitar....who cares if you need to put a nine-volt in their guitar....does it really matter?


With all that being said, I do think the EMGs excel at high gain stuff and I would rather use Duncans or Dimarzios for lighter vintagy type stuff. But EMGs do completely fine for hard rock as well....they're a little more than a one trick pony.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

They have their uses .

I actually find them to be not that hot at all. The 81 hits an amp about as hard as the Custom.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

They have their uses .

I actually find them to be not that hot at all. The 81 hits an amp about as hard as the Custom.

yes 81 is wound at a lower impendence(around 10K) but then is boosted by being active.
I LOVE EMG's! they allow the clarity to really shine and are tight.
not all love this though, it is really a matter of opinion.
if you tell me that you want a zakk wylde,slayer type metal tone i say EMG is for you.
If you told me you are after a more versitle tone that covers Van halen to metal
I say duncan JB all the way.
as far as EMG's being sterile?
well if that means they have unbelievable definition and clarity then i guess they are "sterile" :laugh2:

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I actualy like the 81 and 85. Great sounding pickups. That sterile ting is just bull, IMO. I think they are great for heavy / hard rock, but many use them for country clean as well. To much output for me though. Check them out.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I like some EMG pickups.

And I really like their bass pickups.

But if I was planning to upgrade, it's about 99:1 I would choose SD. Even if I discount the unbelievable tone of SD pickups, I would probably choose them out of loyalty to a great company.

The one possibility of me choosing a different company would most likely be a custom wound pickup from Melancon Guitars.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

IMHO, EMGs are metal-only pickups, I don't think they're very versatile.

That's definately not true.......i use emgs in two of my main guitars and I HAVE NEVER PLAYED METAL in my life...........there is a little knob on your guitar which is called volume and another one in your amp that is called gain..........you can use them............

 

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

That's definately not true.......i use emgs in two of my main guitars and I HAVE NEVER PLAYED METAL in my life...........there is a little knob on your guitar which is called volume and another one in your amp that is called gain..........you can use them............

AMEN!!!

I could resurrect my rant....but I won't for fear of ticking people off here.

ERLEND YOU WILL LOVE THE 85!! Im thinking of even trading my 81 for another 85.

Bjorn Gellote from Inflames uses dual 85s. Several Metal bands now are discovering the 85 as well.

Just like Fenderiarhs said turn the VOLUME KNOB down on the guitar....and GAIN down on amp. People talk about how HOT they are get rid of the gain/distortion pedals and give EMG a Unbiased opinion not hear/say.

I plug straight into my amp....though it's a Line 6 Flextone 3 I don't need any other pedals and junk to try to discover my tone.

People get on here and judge them without ANY experience with them. Otherwise they wouldn't have anything to say.

 

[RiffGuy]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I think EMG's (81s) are fun, but not organic enough blah blah blah. Pretty much what everyone says.

And, yeah, they kill for crunchy tight metal tones.

I definitely prefer passives though.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I´LL HAVE an opinion VERY SOON
ahahaha when i will have my 81/85 set Instaled
Q
I´ll let everybody KNOWS

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

I love the Dave Gilmour set in my ash '77 strat. I like them as much as the APS-2 set in my '62 RI.

They do squeaky cleans extremely well and really shine with overdrive.

BTW, I've never played ONE metal song in my life. :burnout:

 

[felipe_alonso_ruiz]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

i have 2 EMG HZ humbuckers in my jackson, im into all styles, it gives a great rocker tone in the bridge, personally one of the loudest pickups i've ever tried, and clean in the neck pickup i use it for jazz, it has a great bright punchy tone, however i dont like distorted tone with the neck pickup, overall EMG are great, tone comes from ur hands, gear is just a tool
peace.

 

[vinterland]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

Shouldn't all these active pickup threads be vaulted or something? It seems like at least once a week there is a active vs passive thread or likewise.

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Re: Your opinion about EMG's?

EMG's definently serve there purpose and if i was a strictly rythmn metal player i would use the 81/60 combo without even batting an eye. They are very clear, tight , and loud. The 81 is a nasty SOB! But when it comes to leads, thats were the trouble for me. Great sustain, harmonics, and burning tone... But very unresponsive to the touch and way to compressed and yes sterile, when you bend a note you get none of the harmonic subelty that brings the sound to life, none of that for lack of a better word "life".

However, some players have somewhat of a remedy for this. Think of the best lead sounds youve heard with 81's... ok so what do Kirk Hammet and Zakk Wylde have in common... They almost always have a wah when they play lead, Zakk Wylde finds the "sweet spot" and leaves it there and Hammet just goes nuts.

In regards to David Gilmour's tone, the classic Floyd tones are not done with EMG's...