Good alternative pickups to EMG's

[roadifier]

I just got a new explorer that has the stock pickups, and they aren't great for what I do. I was wondering if there are any good passive alternative pickups to EMG's that have high output, but less than EMG's, Very aggressive, and cost less? I'm on a tight budget for new pickups, and I want to try something other then EMG's this time. I also want them to look pretty good in a satin black guitar.

 

[petejt]

Try the Suhr Aldrich

 

[Spaceboy]

There are almost endless options for high-output passives out there, but they aren't going to fit EMG routings with covers or pickup rings.

 

[roadifier]

There are almost endless options for high-output passives out there, but they aren't going to fit EMG routings with covers or pickup rings.

I don't need them to fit EMG routings or anything like that, It is a guitar I just bought that has pickups in it I don't like, and want to replace them, it has standard sized humbuckers.

 

[Tawlks]

There are almost endless options for high-output passives out there, but they aren't going to fit EMG routings with covers or pickup rings.

Shit. I want to replace my LTD MH400's EMGs with passives, and you're saying they won't fit?

 

[roadifier]

There are almost endless options for high-output passives out there, but they aren't going to fit EMG routings with covers or pickup rings.

Shit. I want to replace my LTD MH400's EMGs with passives, and you're saying they won't fit?

I replaced some passive pickups in another explorer with EMG's and they fit fine in the standard pickup ring.

 

[Ventura]

I'm in the midst of dumping my 81/85s in my ESP FR-II and installing a set of calibrated Miracle Mans (Bareknuckle). Aside from the electronics that need to be sorted out, everything else is a piece of piss. Remove the battery, route the new conductors through the same channel that the active cable used, change the pots. Done.

No sweat.

V.

 

[spirit7]

I'm in the midst of dumping my 81/85s in my ESP FR-II and installing a set of calibrated Miracle Mans (Bareknuckle). Aside from the electronics that need to be sorted out, everything else is a piece of piss. Remove the battery, route the new conductors through the same channel that the active cable used, change the pots. Done.

No sweat.

V.

+1. Just save up and buy some BKPs, honestly. The MM set are the closest to the classic EMG 81/85 combo but I'd actually recommend trying out (or at least listening to the different clips on the BKP website) of the Ceramic Nailbomb, Painkiller, Cold Sweat and Aftermath pickups. All chugtastic.

C

 

[vultures]

There are almost endless options for high-output passives out there, but they aren't going to fit EMG routings with covers or pickup rings.

Shit. I want to replace my LTD MH400's EMGs with passives, and you're saying they won't fit?

Chances are they will fit, the EMG routes have a tighter radius on the corners but that's it. If EMGs are in it now, almost anything will fit in there fine.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

if your Explorer has the 500 Bridge, it'll take some effort to find a better pickup.


my 2 cents is to chop the Tone Cap out of the circuit before giving up on the pickups you have.

 

[travis bickle]

another vote for bareknuckle. if you're patient, you can find em used for a little over 100 bucks.

 

[Spaceboy]

Are 6-string EMG routings about the same size as passives? On 7 and 8 strings EMGs need much larger routings.

 

[Motorpud]

Maybe Tone Zone/Air Norton? I've never tried them in mahogany so I can't say but I know in certain guitars it's a killer combo and others it can get muddy. Maybe someone with experience (with them in mahogany) will chime in. An Evo or Evo2 might be worth looking into as well. Check out the the Dimarzio website, they're one of the only companies left that are reasonably priced.

 

[LP Freak]

These are killer and passive. I've had a bunch over the years and have a used one if interested.

http://www.apcpickups.com/index.php?p=p ... 4&parent=3

 

[Ventura]

Are 6-string EMG routings about the same size as passives? On 7 and 8 strings EMGs need much larger routings.

Depends on the guitar. In the case of ESP, they make a NT-II and FR-II that are the same bodies, with slightly different routings factory direct. Any adept tech can do the job....regardless of the axe in question (well, providing it's not a hollowbody or acoustic or something zany like that ).

V.

 

[noob_pwn]

Bareknuckle miracle man has a similar voicing and the Dimazio Dactivator sizzles like an active to me