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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Les Paul Pickups

Posted by: Robwylde Dec 30 2007, 10:58 PM

I've got a Epiphone Classic Les Paul with Factory pickups. I'm thinking of putting in some custom pickups. I'm leaning toward the EMG's 81/85's. Is anyone currently using the EMG's? Does anyone have ony other suggestions?

Posted by: Hisham Dec 30 2007, 11:01 PM

you can put Demarzio as i have in my Guitar also you can put semor
duncan or EMG but i think the epiphone already comming with AMG
form fabricue

Posted by: Toni Suominen Dec 30 2007, 11:10 PM

Well, it depends on what kind of music you play. EMG's are good for metal, put not for anything else really (just my opinion), so if you play just metal you should be fine with EMG's. Although there are some great other pickups out there for metal, and it doesn't always have to be a very high-output pickup to sound good for metal.

Hope this helps smile.gif

Posted by: Robwylde Dec 30 2007, 11:31 PM

I guess I'm looking for pickups that cover Metal, Blues and Rock. Are the EMG's a one dementional pickup? I just love the sound that Zakk Wylde gets.

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 30 2007, 11:37 PM

Put the Seymor DUncan JB in the bridge man, thats like a legendary humbucker.

Posted by: Goliath Dec 31 2007, 02:27 AM

If you put a JB in the bridge you'll be fine. It's got a very warm tone and can provide plenty of grunt if you want it. Put a '59 at the neck and you'll be in good shape. EMG's are pretty one dimensional. The 60 is more versatile than the 85.

The Live Wire Duncans are great actives that aren't too hot but still pack more punch than passives. They can be played clean. Give them a shot if you're really looking for a more versatile active.

Posted by: dogman Dec 31 2007, 03:34 AM

QUOTE (Milenkovic Ivan @ Dec 30 2007, 05:37 PM) *
Put the Seymor DUncan JB in the bridge man, thats like a legendary humbucker.


Amen Bro....

If you're gonna swap out the pickps in your EPi, I would go with the Seymour Duncan combo of a Jeff Beck in the bridge and an Alnico II (slash)pickup in the neck.

Excellent pair and very versatile for anything you wanna play. From jazz & blues to classic rock and modern metal. They both give a nice bite when digging in on the strings and clean up extremely well when rolling off the volume and easing up on the attack.
(dont forget to swap out the nut and bridge saddles with gibson parts and wiring & electronics with CTS stuff when you replace the pickups. They are just as important as the pickups for overall quality of tone & sustain)

Add a good setup and your epi just might play & sound as well as any gibson out there.

I should know. I have 2 that play and sound better than my real LP Customs. wink.gif

Posted by: blindwillie Jan 1 2008, 12:48 PM

QUOTE (Toni Suominen @ Dec 30 2007, 11:10 PM) *
Well, it depends on what kind of music you play. EMG's are good for metal, put not for anything else really (just my opinion), so if you play just metal you should be fine with EMG's. Although there are some great other pickups out there for metal, and it doesn't always have to be a very high-output pickup to sound good for metal.

Hope this helps smile.gif

+1 on the 81/85 combo. If metal is your thing, and your only thing, go for it.
I'm swapping my EMG 81/85 for a Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz combo. The EMG's will end up in the second Schecter instead.

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Jan 1 2008, 08:25 PM

QUOTE (Hisham @ Dec 30 2007, 10:01 PM) *
you can put Demarzio as i have in my Guitar also you can put semor
duncan or EMG but i think the epiphone already comming with AMG
form fabricue


u spelt dimarzio wrong again sad.gif sorry its just i dnt like it when people spell company names wrong lol
anyhow just thought id say it b4 i go crazy

Posted by: Toni Suominen Jan 3 2008, 03:15 PM

In my opinion the Duncan Jazz pickup is much better than the '59 pickup, it just has a warmer and smoother tone to it! smile.gif so if you want a great neck pickup, I suggest the Duncan Jazz pickup smile.gif

Posted by: Sabbz Jan 5 2008, 07:38 AM

EMG's IMO are a lot more versatile than people give them credit for. All you have to do is back off the guitars volume a little for a more bluesier/less distorted tone. But, I also see where people can be turned off by them, as well.

Posted by: blindwillie Jan 8 2008, 07:35 AM

QUOTE (Toni Suominen @ Jan 3 2008, 03:15 PM) *
In my opinion the Duncan Jazz pickup is much better than the '59 pickup, it just has a warmer and smoother tone to it! smile.gif so if you want a great neck pickup, I suggest the Duncan Jazz pickup smile.gif

+1 again biggrin.gif
That's my conclusion too after trying different Duncan's. I was originally going for JB/'59 but I changed my mind in favor of the Jazz for that reason.

Posted by: KloCkWorXx Jan 10 2008, 01:58 PM

emg 81 bridge and an emg 60 neck is a good set up, with a good overdrive i can get good blues and neoclassical tones and metal.. i use the boss overdrive n chorus for wylde sounds and the malmsteen pedal for the blues n neoclassical

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