Since switching to using using lower tunings (C#/Drop
I'm finding I prefer tighter and more aggressive tones than previously, from my bridge humbuckers. I wouldn't categorise myself as a stereotypical metal player though I do use a fair bit of gain - I use a lot of big chords across the neck and play melodies within chords so I'm not purely chugging on high gain tones, the sound of the plain strings is quite important to me in chords. I also use mid gain (volume pedal rolled back) tones a fair bit where I'll pick chords across all the strings, so I'd like something that had decent clarity in that situation too.
The idea of trying out the classic two EMG pickups 81 and 85 in the bridge position is something I've fancied, but now it looks like the newer 57 bridge might be even more up my street paired with the 66 in the neck. I've never tried an EMG loaded guitar through my own setup, only ever tried them in shops / guitar workshops, so I'm not 100% sure what to expect but have some idea.
I want to try some different pickups in my CU22, which has the stock HFS/VB set. The HFS feels like it has too much lows on the low end, and too much highs on the high end, and a bit lacking in bite for me across the mids... It has the power but the voicing isn't right for my tastes. The Vintage Bass feels a bit bassy and dull. Further down the line I want a brighter set of pickups in my singlecut which has #7s - the bridge pickup now feels a bit underpowered and congested in the lower tuning with the thicker strings, but changing pickups in the CU22 would come first.
The set on paper that looks like it'd work best for me is the 57/66, though I'd love to try out the 81/85 combo too as I know a lot of my favourite heavier players have used one of those pickups in the bridge position at some point (plus that set is cheaper).
So what are people's experiences with EMG pickups? I'm also interested in any experiences people have with the single coils and H/S/S sets in case I decide to swap out what is in my strat currently (Dimarzio BC2/Area 67/Area 61).
To date my favourite sounding pickup for lower tuning has been the Duncan Custom, closely followed by a Dimarzio 7 string pickup - I wish I'd checked which it was but from the date and appearance it was either an Evo or a Blaze 7. But yeah both ceramic and hot passives. If I was just going to grab another passive I'd probably get a Duncan Custom first, but I fancy trying something new. Ampwise I use an Axe FX 2/GT1000FX through a Mesa 2x12.
Cheers for any discussion.
Comments
But, reading your first paragraph, I thought that the Oil City prototypes that @ThePrettyDamned put in his PRS-alike (passives, admittedly) might be right up your street?
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
I found them a bit "lifeless" and bland.
I replaced them in my ESP with DiMarzio's (Fred/Virtual Hot PAF) which are much nicer to my ears (even though I like metal)
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
It's designed to roll off better and have nicer cleans iirc, it sounded huge though.
I like EMGs, fitted to 30% or so of my electrics
You'll have to try them, people have strong opinions, but it's down to personal taste really
They sound more like an acoustic tone than normal HB passives, and many passives add various distortions and gritty artefacts. I find EMGs are easier to use wuith active EQ. Mind you, passives would be too
My steinbergers have 81/85 with active bass/treble, can do most tones
89s are a good option to cover strat and HB tones
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
It's a super clear, bell like thing going - almost piano like.
Not my favourite for funk, but they're ace for arpeggiated stuff. Apparently good for jazz, too, but I'm no jazzer.