Emg Pickup Shootout With Fluff Options

[Todd Simpson]

Ryan Bruce recently did a pickup shootout with several EMG sets. Can you hear the difference in these sets and which do you like if any?

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[klasaine]

I couldn't hear too much, if any(?) difference other than when he changed positions, string sets and doubled or octave'd and hamonized parts. That's a textural thing more than anything else. I'll take his word for it that they 'feel' different.
I have many pickups that react differently to my touch.

That being said ... I'd choose the Het set. Probably because I like what he played every time those p'ups were in.

*Good mic the Sm7b is!

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[Todd Simpson]

Didn't think I was going to get a reply so thanks for taking the time to listen and respond!!

I agree 100 percent!! I couldn't tell much difference at all!!!

I'd heard that all these pickups were supposed to sound very different and have their own character but I'll be darned if they didn't all sound pretty much like the standard EMG set to me?

I could hear a bit more mid and bite in the het which I liked but it wasn't very major. I was thinking about swapping the EMG in my Cooley for a different EMG set but now I don't think I will.

I couldn't hear too much, if any(?) difference other than when he changed positions, string sets and doubled or octave'd and hamonized parts. That's a textural thing more than anything else. I'll take his word for it that they 'feel' different.
I have many pickups that react differently to my touch.

That being said ... I'd choose the Het set. Probably because I like what he played every time those p'ups were in.

*Good mic the Sm7b is!

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[klasaine]

If I wasn't listening for even a subtle difference I would not have noticed anything and honestly I'm not convinced there is any difference - ?

EMGs (actives) are a pretty specific and unique breed ... whatever the model.
I would imagine that in order to 'really' hear a difference between models you'd have to start clean and then increase the gain gradually.

As I know you've experienced - once you put that much gain on a solid body with humbuckers, regardless of the brand, active or passive - you're pretty much gonna be able to sound like that if that's how you play.

The great thing about EMGs is that they are totally noiseless.

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This post has been edited by klasaine: Jul 8 2014, 01:23 AM

[Todd Simpson]

Well said Although as a hardcore gain nut, I can tell the diff between passive alnico and ceramic magnets under heavy muting/high gain. I typically like the way alnico will sound more metallic/grindy rather than ceramic which almost sound a bit tubey/compressed under strong muting. But for emgs in general, I can't tell any diff no matter what the mags are. The preamp on board seems to crush much of the distinctiveness/color the mags might give it.

But as you mention EMGs have one HUGE advantage and I really enjoy it. VERY QUIET!!! On the same setting my other guitars are very noisey indeed. On my EMG cooley, I can pull back on the noise gate and get more sustain which is nice

Todd

If I wasn't listening for even a subtle difference I would not have noticed anything and honestly I'm not convinced there is any difference - ?

EMGs (actives) are a pretty specific and unique breed ... whatever the model.
I would imagine that in order to 'really' hear a difference between models you'd have to start clean and then increase the gain gradually.

As I know you've experienced - once you put that much gain on a solid body with humbuckers, regardless of the brand, active or passive - you're pretty much gonna be able to sound like that if that's how you play.

The great thing about EMGs is that they are totally noiseless.

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[Mith]

Its like the best and worse thing about EMG's in a guitar, Thy pretty much always sound like EMG's so if you have a average guitar and drop in some EMG's huge improvement but if you already have a nice guitar there are alot of other options to make it shine. But for some people that EMG tone is exactly what they want.

I have one hardtail and one floyd equip guitar with EMG's so I got my bases covered with EMG's I find, I'm pretty much going to avoid them and look for more boutique passives.

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[Hajduk]

I didn't notice a difference either. This will be my second guitar that has EMGs 81-85s. Actually like the sound!

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[liveOASISforever]

I just sold my Schecter Hellraiser that had Emg 81 and 85 in it. I simply just couldn't take to them at all.I would like to try out Seymour Duncan blackouts. Has anyone tried them and if so how do you think they compare to Emg pickups

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[jstcrsn]

IMHO (I hate when people say that ),but, (i hate when people say that too),I am a big fan of upgrading pick ups from stock, from every side by side comparison ,That I have heard, the subtleties between pick-ups geared towards the same style are so small they could easily be eq'd to match.To me , I focus on the guitar that feels good ,and even though I have various pick-ups ,I am comfortable playing them all,cause I can get the sounds I need from any upgraded Pup

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[Azzaboi]

The youtube vid doesn't give enough justice, you can't make heads or tails on the tone difference from that to be honest.

I personally use the EMG JH Set - it's very similar, almost the same as the 81/60 set while distorted.

However it shines under different playing styles too...

The cleans is much more smoother and usable.

However what really comes into play and what I love about them, is the palm muting and angle of picking attack. Suddenly you get passive qualities with your aggressive distortion! The best of both worlds. In the video, he should of varied picking styles - really choked up on that pick vs digged into it for a more varied range of tone out of those JH pups. Perhaps a solo would of helped hear the diff. Something the other EMGs miss out on.

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This post has been edited by Azzaboi: Jul 13 2014, 12:21 AM

[Todd Simpson]

Now that's a crucial point Where the 808 emgs fall down for me is palm muting and pick attack. I am constantly muting and doing intricate picking and the while the emgs are forgiving, they just lack some detail that I get from passive Alnico pickups.

They seem to sort of blur notes together and remove the attack from single notes. This is fine for "tremolo picking" where each strike isn't tied to a note, but I rarely play that way so it's of little use to me.

This is the second guitar I"ve had with EMG 808s which are based on the original EMG spec. Either the pickups will have to go or the guitar will. I'm still working that part out.

The youtube vid doesn't give enough justice, you can't make heads or tails on the tone difference from that to be honest.

I personally use the EMG JH Set - it's very similar, almost the same as the 81/60 set while distorted.

However it shines under different playing styles too...

The cleans is much more smoother and usable.

However what really comes into play and what I love about them, is the palm muting and angle of picking attack. Suddenly you get passive qualities with your aggressive distortion! The best of both worlds. In the video, he should of varied picking styles - really choked up on that pick vs digged into it for a more varied range of tone out of those JH pups. Perhaps a solo would of helped hear the diff. Something the other EMGs miss out on.

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Jul 13 2014, 04:56 PM