I just got my Epiphone Les Paul Standard's Pickups changed to Zakk Wylde EMGs. They are absolutely incredible. They are active, which is a DEFINITE change for me. I love them!!! They are absolutely fantastic!!!
Does anyone have any advice for other pickups that sound about as great without the large price? ($248~)
I'm looking to replace my Pacifica's pickups, and I wasn't sure if I should just spend the money for the ZW-EMG Set, or go for something else that might even be the same price or higher, but sound as great or better. I'm open to any suggestions. It's just such a change going from the stock pickups to active EMGs. I'm blown away by the sound quality!!!
Should I keep putting them in other guitars? Should I go back to regular non-active pickups? How long is the battery life on average? (According to what I've read, people said around 3000 hours, but I'm just curious)
So, does anyone have any comments about active pickups?
Thanks!
// Erik Johnson
Check out the Seymour Duncan blackouts.
They are a bit warmer and less compress, which leads to a more natural sound. And they have great articulation too.
I checked out the Seymour Duncans, but I wasn't sure whether I wanted them or not in this guitar. For my Les Paul I wanted a heavier sound, which is exactly what I got.
I loved some of the demos I heard of the Duncans, so I had a hard time choosing, especially being unexperienced.
Luckily, I didn't have to pay for any of it though.. it was a present from my uncle for being able to outplay him now. (Thanks GMC!)
EDIT: After a quick Google Search, I got my answer about them being active or not. My uncle was the one who was showing me the pickups, asking me which ones, so he didn't really say which ones were active, nor did I know what active meant before.
I just ordered the Zakk Wylde Gibson Les Paul but I havent gotten it yet...Cant wait until it comes!
I love Dimarzio X2N pickups
Well, if you would put different kind of pickups to the Pacifica, you would have two guitars with different sound each. So you could for example have the Les Paul for metal with the EMG's and the Pacifica with good passives for cleans and different lead and rhythm sounds.
This is just a suggestion though, If you want them both with EMG's, then go ahead
Since when does Erik Johnson play EMG's?? Just kidding of course
I'm getting EMG's in my RC7 so i'll let you know how they sound Never tried them before.
I've tried the EMG 81 and I've tried the SD Livewire Dave Mustaine sig. I prefer the sound of the livewire since it still utilizes the nuances of the wood for it's tone rather than just having that sterile EMG 81 sound to it. I've been dying to try an axe with the new Blackouts. I've read nothing but good things. Don't get me wrong, the EMG is a great pickup, but I prefer the SD actives. I had EMG 81's in a Jackson RR3 Performer and I have SD Livewires in a ESP Ltd DV8-R. Honestly though, if it's a 3 single coil set up, I'd say get a JB Jr for the bridge and get that maiden tone.
Thanks for the excellent advice guys!
The reason I was thinking about EMGs in the Pacifica is the nice sound I was getting when the volume knob was turned fairly low. I could still use it for metal as well, but the sound is just so . . . I can't really describe how happy I was to hear the improvement. Maybe I'm just inexperienced in the art of pickups, but I'm just in awe of the beautiful quality of my sound now.
I also thought about scalloping that fretboard since I've always wanted a scalloped fretboard to get my vibrato sounding better, and to get just a bit of practice on that type of fretboard.
I'm going to eventually get a Strat with a scalloped fretboard, so it's just some fun! Sometime in the next few years I'm going to get a nice Telecaster or Strat that I will use for only blues sounding stuff, so I'm definitely putting some pickups in it that will give me an Eric Johnson, or Hendrix sound.. depends on how I feel. I've had a nice little idea of what I would buy and when since I started playing.
About DiMarzio.. I've never really played them or heard them other than on some videos and a few lessons of Muris I guess. They looked nice, that's for sure... +1 for that!
The Blackouts look pretty nice too... I'm definitely going to have to stop by my Guitar Center and try a guitar out with them inside if they have a demo.. I'd really enjoy that.
So.. would everyone recommend keeping passive pickups in a rhythm / backup guitar? Does it mix and flow better? Thanks!
Please, keep the suggestions and comments coming! They've been nothing but great and immensely helpful!!!
// Erik Johnson
EDIT: Just fixed a few things..
Depends on the type of rhythm you're going for, it could go either way. Some high output passives are probably more versatile, like a JB for bridge. You can get it to do both if necessary and just get a PAF style neck pickup, like a '59 or a Jazz. Maybe a DiMarzio Breed.
make sure when u get your pickups for your pacifica that they are F spaced, i accidently installed a reg paf pro pickup by mistake haha oh well though..
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