EMG vs. Seymour Duncan

[BURNTHISCORPSE]

EMGs are great pickups, but I find them to be a little too "dry" and sterile compared to Seymour Duncan passives. I would choose EMGs if I had nothing other to play then metal, but I mix around what I do and Duncan's add a little more colour into it, same as any other passives. I'm comparing the EMG 81/85 to Seymour Duncan SH5/59 and I also prefer Dimarzio X2N/PAF pro over the 81/85. But that's just me, I feel EMGs are too compressed for anything else..

i do hear good feedback on the x2n. What is your take on it?

the X2N was good enough for Chuck Shuldiner (R.I.P.) enough said.

 

[wkl]

Let me just finish with this
the following artists use Seymour Duncan:

-Slash
-yngwie malmsteen
-Paul Gilbert
-Gus G.
-Max Cavalera
...

Might want to take Yngwie and PG of of that list as they're both long time Dimarzio users.

Oops! Sorry, you're right...

 

[Frolid]

I use it in a basswood Ibanez, it's articulate yet thick at the same time. On the site it's supposed to be the highest power pickup or some bullshit, but it's on the same par with Super Distortion, just more mean. This isn't really a GREAT clip, but I recorded this with X2N through a PODxt;

How do you think it would do in an Agathis body guitar? I ask this because my les paul is made out of agathis and Dimarzio.com does not have agathis as a wood choice.

 

[Frolid]

These are great replies that I am hearing. The majority of you seem to be SD users/fans. I thought about replacing my SD blackouts in my ESP with EMG 85/81

Or I would try putting the 85 in the bridge, as i heard that is a great move. I also hear that the seymour duncan custom/jazz combo is a great combination.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Being an EMG man, I'd say if you already have Blackouts, just keep them instead of getting EMG's. There proly won't be a huge difference unless you want to get into the dual coil like a 89.

 

[vultures]

I use it in a basswood Ibanez, it's articulate yet thick at the same time. On the site it's supposed to be the highest power pickup or some bullshit, but it's on the same par with Super Distortion, just more mean. This isn't really a GREAT clip, but I recorded this with X2N through a PODxt;

How do you think it would do in an Agathis body guitar? I ask this because my les paul is made out of agathis and Dimarzio.com does not have agathis as a wood choice.

Agathis is tight grained, and similar to mahogany. It's used a lot as a substitute for mahogany, which is why it would be in your Les Paul.. It should be darker than basswood, so the X2N should go good with it..

 

[duodecim]

[...]

we're talking active emgs vs passive Seymour duncan

Yes... No... Still don't get it. So active vs. passive or EMG vs. Seymour Duncan?

I prefer passive pickups for versatility and especially not having to mess with batteries. People can obviously get great tones with both active and passive pickups, or both brands. Did you have a specific pickup in mind?

 

[Frolid]

[...]

we're talking active emgs vs passive Seymour duncan

Yes... No... Still don't get it. So active vs. passive or EMG vs. Seymour Duncan?

I prefer passive pickups for versatility and especially not having to mess with batteries. People can obviously get great tones with both active and passive pickups, or both brands. Did you have a specific pickup in mind?

Seymour duncan custom vs. an EMG 81
for bridge position in an agathis body guitar

 

[Frolid]

But really what i'm comparing is seymour duncan passive vs. EMG actives in general.

 

[anomaly]

Depends on the week, day, hour...

 

[Frolid]

Depends on the week, day, hour...

week day and hour?

 

[Plexihacker]

These are great replies that I am hearing. The majority of you seem to be SD users/fans. I thought about replacing my SD blackouts in my ESP with EMG 85/81

Or I would try putting the 85 in the bridge, as i heard that is a great move. I also hear that the seymour duncan custom/jazz combo is a great combination.

If you are going for a really heavy tone, you'd be going backwards by changing the Blackouts to a custom/jazz combo. The Blackouts are REALLY good pickups for heavy material. I have built quite a few guitars and use SD almost exclusively in my guitars. Recently a lot of people have been requesting the Blackouts and I love how they sound when testing the guitars. In fact, I may be replacing some of my pickups with the Blackouts.

As somebody said previously, you are better off concentrating on getting a good tube amp. Rectifiers can be really good but are sometimes difficult to dial in a good tone. I've seen quite a few groups using Splawn amps live and have been impressed with the tones! I use a variety of Marshalls in my bands but mainly use a JVM410H because of its tone and versatility. It can sound as heavy as you want it to, yet it still cuts through the mix, unlike what I've gotten sometimes with Mesas. Forget the boutique stuff for now since they're likely too expensive. You can get a used Splawn or JVM on eBay for just over $1K.

If that's too much $$$, give a Peavey 5150/6505 a try. They can get a good metal tone and are pretty cheap these days on the used market. If you need a clean channel, make sure to get a 5150 Mk-II (or the 6505+, which is the same amp).

 

[anomaly]

Depends on the week, day, hour...

week day and hour?

My taste in pickups can literally change in hours, maybe minutes. I'm mental. But it's usually a weekly phase where i'll just be playing my EMG loaded guitars or just my Passive guitars.

Lately i've just been playing my Acoustic.

 

[mctallica1]

I think Pickup choice depends on A LOT of different things.

Personally, I like Mahogany or black limba/korina guitars with no maple cap.

In my experience, I really like EMG 81's in the bridge of these guitars and either an 81 or a 60 in the neck.


If I were using a brighter wood, I may prefer some passives or maybe an 85 in the bridge, but the combination above just works for me.

 

[Frolid]

Depends on the week, day, hour...

week day and hour?

My taste in pickups can literally change in hours, maybe minutes. I'm mental. But it's usually a weekly phase where i'll just be playing my EMG loaded guitars or just my Passive guitars.

Lately i've just been playing my Acoustic.

Yeah sometimes that happens to me. But lately I have just been wanting to get "that sound".

A neverending mission that may last my whole life

 

[Frolid]

If that's too much $$$, give a Peavey 5150/6505 a try. They can get a good metal tone and are pretty cheap these days on the used market. If you need a clean channel, make sure to get a 5150 Mk-II (or the 6505+, which is the same amp).

yeah for a while i have been looking into a 6505. I hear they sound really great

 

[Frolid]

Personally, I like Mahogany or black limba/korina guitars with no maple cap.

So you like emg 81 in the bridge of explorers then too?

 

[Frolid]

Any one else use blackouts?

 

[jsintek]

EMG 58 in the bridge & EMG 60A in the neck...

 

[Frolid]

EMG 58 in the bridge & EMG 60A in the neck...

How's that sound for you?

and btw nice axes