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Clay K
Member
I have to lower the pickups way away from the strings in order to clean up the signal. It’s like there is a slight overdrive on. Are these pickups THAT much hotter than the 81 85 set?
angelspade
Well-known member
They definitely "feel" hotter is a certain way...Not as refined or polished as the 81 / 85. The additional hair presents as gain if that makes any sense.
thegame
Well-known member
They’re stupid hot. And stupid
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Clay K
Member
So it’s normal that they distort on a clean channel?
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Avi8r2005
Active member
Yes. I've got the Hetset in one of mine and they're pretty hot as well. The bridge distorts pretty easily in clean channels. The neck p/u seems to clean up better though. If I remember right the 57/66 were the predecessors to what eventually became the Hetfield pickups so them being hotter would make sense.
Shask
Well-known member
Run them at 24v for less distorting.
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Clay K
Member
If I wanted to trade them out for an 81-85 set, would I have to remove the wiring too or just swap pickups?
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Avi8r2005
Active member
If theyre modern EMGs they have a quick connect wire harness on them. Should be able to just pull them out, disconnect the plug from the pickup, reconnect to the replacement EMG and you're in business.
thegame
Well-known member
I’ve utilized the quick disconnect method for every modern EMG I’ve tried. It’s like EMG already knew people would be swapping out their newer products frequently…
D-Rock
Well-known member
Nah, it just went inline with their total change over to their solderless quick connect system. Even the pots have the same quick connect.
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Clay K
Member
Anyone want to trade for an 81-85 set? They sound very good but I gotta have clean cleans.