EMGs

[alman]

Any thoughts on these guys? specifically the EMG 81 & 85s, i've heard their reputation just wondering if anyone's got first hand experience. Been looking at this Les Paul which tbh i think's bloody lovely (and pretty cheap too) http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_les_paul_custom_...

[JaymzDead]

Depends what you want really, they sound awesome if you just want to play rock/metal all the time, but they're not the most versatile pups in the world.

[paulmurr]

I've got EMGs on my Explorer. Awesome rock metal tone, plenty of sustain too but the clean tone leaves a little to be desired. If you need cleans then either Wizard or Bare Knuckle are excellent. They’re easier to fit too because you don't need a battery pack in the volume/tone pot cavity.

[SaliMali]

EMGs are great for heavy tones, harmonics and legato playing. Cleans sound better with chorus and delay. For more organic tone I'd go for Bare Knuckles.

[bga]

SaliMali said:

EMGs are great for heavy tones, harmonics and legato playing. Cleans sound better with chorus and delay. For more organic tone I'd go for Bare Knuckles.

I agree on both counts. BKP's are great

[alman]

Sounds cool, that's pretty much what i'm after. Already got a strat for the kinda normal/clean/bluesy stuff. This would just be for scaring grannies etc.

[JaymzDead]

alman said:

Sounds cool, that's pretty much what i'm after. Already got a strat for the kinda normal/clean/bluesy stuff. This would just be for scaring grannies etc.

That ad looks like a cracking deal too, most EMG active guitars are about twice that. Might have to look into that meself!

[Ali_T]

It depends whether you like the sound of EMGs to be honest. They have a very specific, compressed sound. If you want to play tight low end riffs they're great, but if you want to play more open, airy sounding chords (think Van Halen) then I'd look elsewhere. I had an EBMM Luke with the 85 in the bridge and SLVs in the middle and neck. It was a good guitar but just not versatile enough. It always had a definite EMG sound to it no matter how you tweaked the guitar or amp. I sold it last year, along with my EBMM Axis, and got a Suhr Carve Top Standard (alder) which is infinitely more versatile. The 81 is just an 85 but allows a coil tap. The only downside is that it sounds a bit let ballsy when acting as a humbucker.

If you're looking for heavy pcikups for a Les Paul or other mahogany bodied guitar, look at Suhr's Aldrich bridge and neck humbuckers. When I've saved up another pile of cash, I want a mahogany Suhr Carve with those babies in it.

Be warned. With guitars you do get what you pay for. Cheap guitars have low quality woods and poorer build quality (and Gibson have been on the slide for a while now). EMGs are less sensitive to wood quality than passive pickups but I'd still see what you can pick up secondhand at that price. Plenty of really good instruments on eBay for the same amount.

Oh, and EMG 85 and 81 tend to be a different fit from standard humbuckers so replacing them with passives in the future might leave you with some nasty bits of open wood showing and the prospect of wielding a chisel on your pride and joy!!!

Edited by Ali_T on Thursday 13th March 14:35

[ih8thisname]

Yeah I though about this a little while ago but I opted out due to the need of driller passages and a battery cavity. I was inclined to go for the Passive pups but in the end I just decided to get a better amp!

[SaliMali]

81s and 85s sound quite different to my ear.There are subtle differences in certain frequencies. I love 81s-I have one in my Suhr Reb Beach Custom , but have never liked 85s.

Each to their own. WRT Aldrich pickups- I tried them......and then bought BKP Cold Sweat and Mule 'buckers

[Ali_T]

I prefer the 85 It's a more rounded mid range and less trebly. Though I suspect it depends on what wood you combine it with as well. The Aldrich p/ups work well on Mahogany but not on Alder or Ash. I ended up getting an SSH+/V60LP/SSV combo for the Alder/maple body and maple/pao ferro neck.

The RB is a lovely model though. Very good choice.

[SaliMali]

Ali_T said:

The RB is a lovely model though. Very good choice.

I bought it to have a Suhr to play with whilst taking time specc'ing my standard

What spec is yours?

[Ali_T]

I can do better than list them. It was finished in January so it's on the Suhr Gallery pages:

Here's 7778:

http://gallery.mac.com/suhrguitars#100319/7778-012...

and the spec:

http://gallery.mac.com/suhrguitars#100319/7778&amp...

Absolutely love it. But I'm already saving up for a brother for it!!! This time a carve top in mahogany with mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood board, probably with the Aldrichs or DSH+/DSV with a V60 in between again, to get a Les Paul vibe with more versatility.

Edited by Ali_T on Friday 14th March 22:19

[MonkeyWrench]

I have the HZ's (passive ones) in my LTD, and although it can be kinda hard to get a decent clean out of them they give a really warm, crisp response to distortion.