EMG Fat 55

[PDC]

Quick review of the EMG Fat 55. Very, very cool pickup with lots of low/moderate output passive pickup vibe. I had previously tried a Hot 70 (Ceramic Magnet) and found it to be unbearably ‘muddy’ on the low end. That was right before I went back to passives for all but 2 of my guitars. I had recently read a review of the Alnico Magnet 55 and was intrigued. I then saw a used Fat 55 on Reverb for $50.00 and figured I’d give it a try. I’m glad I did.

The Hot 70 went into a Mahogany Super Strat that I no longer own. That body always sounded really ‘soft’ no matter what was in it - 81, 57, Hot 70. I ultimately sold that body before switching back to (mostly) passives. The Fat 55 just went in an Ash super strat with a Hipshot 2-point trem and an open nut with locking tuners. The guitar sounds really, really cool. Like a really clean, tame PAF - but with a Spark Mini on all the time. Lots of signal - but not with the same degree of squish and compression that the other EMG offerings provide. I’m digging it.

 

[thenine]

Spark mini heart s a killer pedal! I have a few for different pedalboards

 

[DanTravis62]

The Fat 55 is my favorite EMG pickup of all time.

I prefer passives (normally Jim Wagner Icebuckers and godwoods) and that's what's in most of my guitars.

But I have a set of fat 55s, and as soon as I can find another retroactive harness I'm putting them in another guitar.

 

[danhops]

I dig the Fat 55. I hate most EMG’s, but the RetroActives sound pretty good. They are like passives with a little more control on the low end and a touch more single coil like presence on the top in my guitars. The bridge might feel a little piercing like a single when using some classic rock tones (that’s what the tone control is for) but the added clarity in high gain mode is great.

 

[PDC]

I’m really digging this Fat 55 in the ash strat. I have come full circle and truly prefer passive pickups - having played EMGs for decades. Right now, I still have an EMG 57 in one of my workhorse guitars and I will always dig that pickup. The 55 seems more dependent on the guitar it’s in where the 57 just seems to shine in any guitar. For passives, I really like the Jalen Franky and the Duncan SH / TB 18 ‘Whole Lotta Humbucker.’