EMG's for...... Not metal?

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sinestro

sinestro

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Anyone using EMG's in a guitar for something other than metal? I know they have the rep at excelling at that, but inroad that originally they were designed to be studio use ultra responsive low noise pickups for guys in the seventies.

Seriously thinking a set in just to see how I like them. Mostly playing classic rock with a touch of punk and indie mixed in for good measure. Almost all the guitars I have now use low output PAF styles of one sort of another. Found I preferred them to screaming demons and JB's. Hoping that they may have a quicker response with better clarity.

What are your experiences?
 
I wrote a jazz song on my Charvel model4 that has EMGs SSH configuration. Nice warm tone.
 
I pretty much only like emgs for metal or heavy rock, theres other pickups i like better for everything else.

waylon jennings used the single coils in a few of his teles.
 
sinestro":34t29ein said:
Anyone using EMG's in a guitar for something other than metal? [...]
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Mark Knopfler, extensively, during the 80's at least. And he always had (and still has) great tone.
 
David Gilmour :thumbsup: Used EMG single coils alot but I have seen clips of him using EMG humbuckers also. He supposedly used them to reduce noise in his rig.

While they certainly do have their uses, I was never fond of EMG humbuckers overall since I have never played a set in a guitar before and felt truely happy with the sound I was getting. The guitar always sounded like "EMG" instead of "a guitar with EMG" as i felt the guitar lost its tone with them.

Humbuckers I would look elsewhere, but the single coils are worth a shot.
 
I had an S/S/85 system in one of my Strats for the longest time. those S EMGs really sound good and "warm". I couldn't see myself using any EMG humbucker for anything other than hardrock/metal. too "tight" and sterile
 
emgs were made for metal but they can do anything in the right hands

i just started using the SLV single coil in the neck of one of my kamikazes and it sounds awesome. deff my fav single coil they make, i even like it more than the SA. check it out
 
I use S and SAs in my Strats exclusively and have been doing so for 18 years. And, no, I don't play metal with them - only blues and rock, and they sound GREAT.....
 
I've got SA's in my strat and they sound great for metal, rock , whatever. I love them.
 
The single coil ones are pretty good, but the humbuckers aren't really voiced for that in general.
 
Gilmour, Vince Gill, Larry Carlton did, and many others. I like the 85 humbucker in the bridge and they have a decent clean sound, and can even get some nice bluesy tones with the volume rolled back. Clean up well also.
 
I use EMGs for everything, but that's because I can't afford to change.
 
For non-metal applications, look at the EMG X series or wire for 18v. The lack of dynamic headroom in the old EMGs is great for thrash metal, but a detriment for pretty much everything else. The X series preamp fixes those problems, as does wiring for 18V.
 
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