Quick pickup shootout. EMG 81 vs. SD EMTY (Mick Thompson)

[Tone Monster]

Next week I'm gonna compare the 81, 85, Het Set, and EMTY. Would've today but I'm out of strings anyway, here is the 81 vs. EMTY. Whaddayall think? The 81 is thicker and more compressed while the EMTY is more open with more highs.

the clip is a VH4 thru V30s. A little bit 'O Creeping Death (Metallica).
http://www.tonefinder.com/index.php?sec ... alue=14765

 

[maddnotez]

I did like the emg better in this clip, however I voted SD because I think if you would have turned the bass down just a little the SD would have sounded better. More bite and more roar to my ears (just a little too bassy)

 

[Tone Monster]

I did like the emg better in this clip, however I voted SD because I think if you would have turned the bass down just a little the SD would have sounded better. More bite and more roar to my ears (just a little too bassy)

Very possible. I didn't touch the amp for comparison sake.

 

[Heritage Softail]

The Creeping Death tone check...

Nice

Don't have a good stereo to listen thru now. Will give it a blast once home or in the car.

 

[Tone Monster]

The Creeping Death tone check...

Nice

Don't have a good stereo to listen thru now. Will give it a blast once home or in the car.

You mean you don't want to be one of those asshats who comments after listening on their iphone

 

[Steinmetzify]

Hey, I'M totally that asshat! Sorry.

Edit: listened thru good headphones on the Mac; liked the EMGs better. Tighter, truer to the sound in my head when hearing that riff. Just my .02

 

[borninwinter]

I think if you would have turned the bass down just a little the SD would have sounded better. More bite and more roar to my ears (just a little too bassy)

I agree with this. I have standard Blackouts in one of my guitars and they're really hot. I put the pickup height way down, much lower than I use on any other pickup. Takes care of the bass issue and still sounds powerful.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I liked the EMTY a little better. It was on the bit of wiry sounding harmonics that were around the notes. The 81 sounded like the normal high gain active. The thing I like more about passives than actives is the loss of the dynamics and wiry bit of harmonics. The EMTY has some of that going on.

The Het Set is supposed to be all about retaining some of that quality.

To sound like other people more accurately, I would use 81's, for being close but more inspiring to play, the EMTY set.

When I listened to this on my phone, I could not tell any diff. In the car with a Bose system the difference was pretty significant. A shitty PA cranked to snapping point probably would make them both sound shitty..



Thanks for the demo

 

[Tone Monster]

I liked the EMTY a little better. It was on the bit of wiry sounding harmonics that were around the notes. The 81 sounded like the normal high gain active. The thing I like more about passives than actives is the loss of the dynamics and wiry bit of harmonics. The EMTY has some of that going on.

The Het Set is supposed to be all about retaining some of that quality.

To sound like other people more accurately, I would use 81's, for being close but more inspiring to play, the EMTY set.

When I listened to this on my phone, I could not tell any diff. In the car with a Bose system the difference was pretty significant. A shitty PA cranked to snapping point probably would make them both sound shitty..



Thanks for the demo

I'm excited to finish the shootout next week. I bought a NIB 85 off here like two years ago and still haven't opened it! LOTS of folks say it's their favorite active.

 

[maddnotez]

I liked the EMTY a little better. It was on the bit of wiry sounding harmonics that were around the notes. The 81 sounded like the normal high gain active. The thing I like more about passives than actives is the loss of the dynamics and wiry bit of harmonics. The EMTY has some of that going on.

The Het Set is supposed to be all about retaining some of that quality.

To sound like other people more accurately, I would use 81's, for being close but more inspiring to play, the EMTY set.

When I listened to this on my phone, I could not tell any diff. In the car with a Bose system the difference was pretty significant. A shitty PA cranked to snapping point probably would make them both sound shitty..



Thanks for the demo

Have you tried the Gus G's? I have not but I think that is exactly what they are supposed to do.

Keep passive organicness but active hotness and compression. Idk