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Nowt wrong with them at all. If I were putting EMG's in, I'd go with 81/85, the Het set is based around them, and is what Hetfield and Hammett both used for a long time.
The LTD I picked up today has the 81/60 set, and they're fucking awesomes.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
I have to seriously smash the hell out of my low strings to clip my 81 with no tone pot, this is in drop B with a .064 low string.
The Hets and 57s have less dynamic range than the 81 (all at 9v). They clip noticeably sooner. I think the reason people think they're more dynamic is the increased upper harmonics. Old style EMGs don't really have much going on in the upper harmonic range, they're very flat sounding. The Het set and 57 have more of that passive sizzle in the high end... but they do not have more dynamic range at 9v unless your guitar setup or playing style isn't clipping them. In standard tuning I could see this being the case, but a typical metal player drop tuning I reckon it'll get noticeable at 9v
18v mod increases highs which I don't like. It also lets the lows extend deeper, which defeats the point for me. I've never bought the X series for this reason. I can understand why someone who plays lead or a lot of clean would prefer them, the dynamics are more pleasing, but for straight up metal (especially drop tuned) the 81 is my favourite as far as tone goes.
It's basically a set of passives ran on a 250k volume and 250k tone. Plus a high pass filter and an amplifcation IC.
There's plenty to choose from: arched top, single cutaway, RG shape, telecaster shape, multi-scale, 6 to 8 strings, long scale. Most have EMGs as standard and at least the RG goes as cheap as £200 used.
But yeah i would say look at the LTD EC1000 or as Carlos says the Ibanez Iron Label stuff.
I will add though that i much prefer the 81/85 set the 'wrong' way around.
81 in the neck (its much too shrill other wise) and 85 in the bridge.
I love an 81 neck for leads. I think the 85 neck is too hot and fat sounding in comparison to an 81 bridge but it can work for some people. The 89 splits the difference nicely (it's like a slightly brighter 85 with less output) and you get a usable single sound too.
85 bridge is super fat with a cool crunch to it and again has tighter lows than a typical passive, the only time I'm less sold on it is quite low drop tuning and heavy handed playing. Again it's way hotter than the 81 so clips sooner at 9v
Hard to give any specific info on clipping points as it depends on setup and playing style, and doing the 18v mod will help the clipping though it does change the tone. A lot of people do like 18v tone and it's cheap and quick to try. I just find the tightness of 9v to be preferable because it chops off more of the sub low woof you get from palm muting low notes. It also keeps the highs fatter (or duller, depend on your tastes) I'll accept it's less dynamic in 9v but for some styles that's preferable as it keeps the guitar confined to a particular frequency range more easily.
if you have more of a classic rock approach then the 85 makes a far better bridge pickup than the 81.
https://speakerimpedance.co.uk/?act=two_parallel&page=calculator
Other active pickups are available from alternative manufacturers. Seymour Duncan Blackouts have their champions. One or two artistes have signature versions. I like the Live Wire Classic II neck/Rhythm position humbucker. For you Metal mofos, the Blackouts Metal humbucker is absolutely crushing.
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt9/StormshadowGuitars/Mobile Uploads/7CF68529-E983-4F50-A050-CF0E0306C455_zpsbtzjnyyz.jpg
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/101590/fs-esp-japan-eclipse-i-ctm-model-in-gloss-black-with-emgs#latest