EMG pickups - general experiences? (Active guitar pickups discussion)

LastMantra

I put some passive emgs in a cheap ibanez once (ssh). They were pretty good actually. 

guitargeek62

@ToneControl yep, Suhr uses a lovely split circuit on their stuff, although I don’t generally like the sound of their guitars!

FelineGuitars

ToneControl said:

guitarfishbay said:

So has anyone tried the EMG RPC control?  http://www.emgpickups.com/rpc.html

It basically is a pot that controls a high boost and low cut.

I took a look at the graph in the manual (PDF on link) and created something similar using an EQ block on my Axe FX.  I actually prefer what it does to the highs than what the 18 volt mod does.  I don't need any extra low end smack as I'm actively trying to reduce it - playing in drop B creates more than enough low end already.  I've been thinking about buying one for my SC, as that guitar with the JH set seems to benefit most from the EQ block.  Would be useful to have the control on the guitar itself I think so I could dial it in as necessary.

no, but I have active bass/treble, which I use to do the same thing

@tonecontrol I have the RPC on my Dredd guitar with an older model: EMG58 (which sounds like a P90)  which got painted over by the airbrush work.

It lifts the top end and kind of adds a bit of tele like clarity  to the top end . I quite like it for leadwork or if I need more bite in a sound.

Funkfingers

Like any sort of pickup, EMGs suit some host guitars better than others.

I could dismiss the original EMG-81 as a generic Rock/Metal pickup but, in some contexts, that is exactly what is required. 

guitargeek62 said:

the Epi Bjorn … with its EMG 81/85 set

Somebody I know had the same combination in the Matt Heafy signature model LP Custom. They suited it perfectly,

On the LTD EC-401 that I used to own, I preferred the EMG-81X/-60X pair.

If I ever finish my Patrick Eggle Berlin Wall project, that has Fishman Fluence Classic humbuckers and some fancy wiring options.

On another guitar, I liked the Seymour Duncan Live Wire Classic II humbuckers with an EMG-SPC active mid booster.

FelineGuitars

I find that as ever some guitars sound better than others with certain pickups - the old wood, hardware, scale length and string gauges affecting part of the tone too and it's a question of tailoring what pickup to what timers etc.

ToneControl

FelineGuitars said:

ToneControl said:

guitarfishbay said:

So has anyone tried the EMG RPC control?  http://www.emgpickups.com/rpc.html

It basically is a pot that controls a high boost and low cut.

I took a look at the graph in the manual (PDF on link) and created something similar using an EQ block on my Axe FX.  I actually prefer what it does to the highs than what the 18 volt mod does.  I don't need any extra low end smack as I'm actively trying to reduce it - playing in drop B creates more than enough low end already.  I've been thinking about buying one for my SC, as that guitar with the JH set seems to benefit most from the EQ block.  Would be useful to have the control on the guitar itself I think so I could dial it in as necessary.

no, but I have active bass/treble, which I use to do the same thing

@tonecontrol I have the RPC on my Dredd guitar with an older model: EMG58 (which sounds like a P90)  which got painted over by the airbrush work.

It lifts the top end and kind of adds a bit of tele like clarity  to the top end . I quite like it for leadwork or if I need more bite in a sound.

I got the scoop and mid boost set in my DG20 setup. Amazing sounds, but I wanted to have a bit more control, so tried the Bass and treble set.
Ideally I think Bass, mid, treble would be best 

Gassage

Well the Red Strat project is complete with EMG DG20's and I absolutely love them.

More power and clarity than most and the mid boost (SPC I think) is enough to drive a tweed amp into Clapton territory.

Didn't bother routing it but had to refret it.

Original 1984 Fullerton Strat, CAR, 57 RI. Welcome to the machine.

skullfunkerry

Back when I was gigging in Skullfunk all my guitars (LTD EC1000 and three Jacksons) all had EMGs and I loved them. Now my orange Performance has an 81/85 set and my Strat has Squier active pickups, not sure what they are exactly. They're a bit thinner-sounding than the EMGs so I'm thinking of swapping them out, but since my GJ2 has passive pickups I'm not quite as fixated as I was before... that said though, I really want to try the Hot 70 set so I think a trip to Peach in the not too distant future is in order, as they have a Schecter in stock that has them fitted. I'll report back!