pickup dilemma...help me choose!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter NinjaRaf
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NinjaRaf

NinjaRaf

Well-known member
So, I switched from passives to EMGs about a year ago. This wasnt something I wanted to do...I really dig passives, but I did it because I was promised that we would play in Drop C in my band if I switched to EMGs...so I switched, and I got shafted, and we never went to drop C . Anyway, Ive got a dimarzio breed that I threw in my new EC401, and I really dug how it sounded. Also, grabbed a dominion and threw it in there, too. I dig both...they are essentially the same, but the dominion is tighter. However, Im now considering swapping the EMGs out of my ninja and putting the dominion in there, putting the breed back in the EC, and getting another HFH to put in the neck of the ninja. Here are a couple of clips to give you guys an idea of the EMG 81 compared with the dominion...dominion guitar is tuned drop C#, 81 guitar is tuned drop C...What do you guys think? Im torn because I did how all 3 of these pickups sound, but I REALLY think I like the passives more than the EMGs...which is how Ive ALWAYS felt anyway...

EMG: http://tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=13356
Dominion: http://tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=13355
Breed: http://www.tonefinder.com/index.php?sec ... alue=13360
 
Dominion for sure. To me the EMG sounded flat and dead.
 
Get yourself a set of Dimarzio D-Activators. Best of both worlds
 
haha word. Thanks for the input, guys. So far, its pretty evenly distributed...Personally, Im leaning toward the dominion in the ninja and the breed in the EC and letting the EMGs go. I do like the EMGs, though...but I never wanted them in the first place...Just not quite sold on which I like better, yet, though Im really leaning toward the passives...they have a lot more character to them than the EMGs, IMO.
 
racerevlon":7bu7kdar said:
Get yourself a set of Dimarzio D-Activators. Best of both worlds
Click to expand...

Im not really looking to switch it up too much right now. Maybe Ill try those one day, but Im digging the shit out of the breed...if I stick with all passives, Im just gonna use the breed and buy a second HFH for the neck....but yeah, right now, Im considering my options to be either dimarzios in the EC and EMGs in the ninja, or using what I have and getting another passive for the neck of the ninja...
 
What relevance does the tuning have to do with what pickup you are using ? :confused:
 
I have not tried the emg x series.

I guess none, really, other than to let you know they are gonna sound different because of the tuning...really gonna pick on that?

I updated the OP to include a version using the breed. I put it back in the EC. Im gonna just go with the dimarzios...EMGs are gonna be outta there as soon as my neck pup for the ninja comes in.
 
rbasaria":hl23l773 said:
I did it because I was promised that we would play in Drop C in my band if I switched to EMGs...
Click to expand...

rbasaria":hl23l773 said:
I guess none, really, other than to let you know they are gonna sound different because of the tuning...really gonna pick on that?
Click to expand...

I just wondered why you needed EMG's to play in drop C, based on information you supplied...I wouldn't call it picking.
 
Fair enough...just seemed like a strange thing to randomly ask...I just mentioned it in case any one was wondering why they sound different. One is just tuned lower...As far as the band is concerned...I wanted to play in Drop C because the singers range fit that tuning better. I fought and fought. I was super digging my passives, and the other guitarist and singer had been bugging me to switch to EMGs for a while. I said Ill switch if we can play in drop C....that tuning woulda made the whole band sound better and fit the singers range better. I dunno man...they were so picky and finicky...they basically made me get a 412 when I joined....went from having a vader 212 and an earcandy buzzbomb to a 6505 412 pretty quick, and it was pretty sad to sell off those 212s...
 
I think a MCP Hellbaby would be right up your alley, I got one still that I never installed in my git fiddle yet. :thumbsup:
 
if you want a pasive pup that can handle low tunings, can sound both active and passive, I'd check out the Lace Alumitone Deathbuckers.

The SD Mick Thompson Blackouts are worth a shot too.
 
I happen to love the HFH as a neck pickup, especially with a mega-switch to do multi-splitting so I say go for it. CLIPZ!!!
 
I did love the hellbabys haha!! Im going for cheap these days, though, because I gots a kid coming out in 2 months haha, and I gotta focus on that as a priority.
 
I hear you there, I still need to slip those pickups in and give them a try in my ESP horizon or Explorer. Did they fare well with mahogany bodies, and high gain amps? They have a lower resistance of about 7.8 on my meter. I think it would probably be fantastic sounding with my VH4... hopefully!
 
I ran them in mahogany guitars with a jsx, 5150, 6505+ and 6505 212 combo.
 
Did they produce the goods, or were there better pickups for the value that you have tried? Hopefully your memory serves you well. Ill have to drop them in and let you know what I think when I get around to it.
 
I loved them. I mean...I had one in each of my guitars, and 2 just hanging out waiting to be used haha. I only started selling them because 1. I sold of my guitars, 2. I needed money to help out a friend, and 3. my band dictated that I use EMGs. It has been about a year since Ive had one, but I dug them alot.
 
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