quick question about EMG pick ups

[Splawnman90]

are all emg (active) picmups capatiable with other emgs. For example, i have a Emg 707 that i dont like in my guitar and wanted to swap it for a emg 81 pick up. Just unplug the old one and plug the new one in? i think you can but i cant honestly remember

thanks

 

[dooredge]

Yep, I recently did this in my Carvin DC700. Removed the EMG707 and replaced it with an 81-7. Quick & easy!

 

[Splawnman90]

thanks bro!

yeah i mean, i like the 707 but its really "round" sounding to me and it is a bit bassy

the 81 is what ive used in my schecter but i wanted to branch out and try this 707 but i cant dig it really

its to treble sounding as well.

 

[FondledDuck]

Best part of EMG's...plug and play! A great asset for recording...record with 81's in the bridge, then round it out with an 85 in the bridge...same guitar.

 

[glip22]

Best part of EMG's...plug and play! A great asset for recording...record with 81's in the bridge, then round it out with an 85 in the bridge...same guitar.

What is the difference between the 81 and 85? I hear the 85 gives better harmonics and a more organic type sound.

 

[FondledDuck]

The 85's are more round...and yes I agree with the more organic feel. The feel/sound is more like a passive, but with the balls of an active. I tracked with an 81 in the bridge of a Les Paul, then we swapped it out with an 85 and doubled the track. Sounded killer. I no longer use EMG's or any active pickup for the matter...but back in the day I was an EMG fanatic. As soon as I bought a guitar...first thing's first...swap out the pickups for EMGs!

Best part of EMG's...plug and play! A great asset for recording...record with 81's in the bridge, then round it out with an 85 in the bridge...same guitar.

What is the difference between the 81 and 85? I hear the 85 gives better harmonics and a more organic type sound.

 

[mindseye]

After I don't know how many years of playing I just got my first guitar with EMG's, my awesome wife bought me a Jim Root Tele and it has EMG's and I'm really digging it so far and was wondering the same thing about swapping them out easly.... Kick ass, looks like I might be picking up a set of the Hetfild EMG's since they swap out so easly.

 

[glip22]

The 85's are more round...and yes I agree with the more organic feel. The feel/sound is more like a passive, but with the balls of an active. I tracked with an 81 in the bridge of a Les Paul, then we swapped it out with an 85 and doubled the track. Sounded killer. I no longer use EMG's or any active pickup for the matter...but back in the day I was an EMG fanatic. As soon as I bought a guitar...first thing's first...swap out the pickups for EMGs!

Best part of EMG's...plug and play! A great asset for recording...record with 81's in the bridge, then round it out with an 85 in the bridge...same guitar.

What is the difference between the 81 and 85? I hear the 85 gives better harmonics and a more organic type sound.

A good while ago I had and 81 bridge and 85 neck. Can't remember how it sounded. Do the tone wood really matter when using EMG's? I would think they have to but I've read they all sound the same.

 

[FondledDuck]

I had the same setup...81 in the bridge, 85 in the neck. The tone woods do matter, even though people speculate that it doesn't. If that were the case, we'd all be throwing EMG's in Korean made Fender Squires and sound like Zakk Wylde!!! I tracked a Les Paul Studio and a Les Paul Standard each with the 81/85 setup, and after soloing each guitar track you could hear tonal differences between the two guitars. So even with very similar guitars, tonal variance was noted.

The 85's are more round...and yes I agree with the more organic feel. The feel/sound is more like a passive, but with the balls of an active. I tracked with an 81 in the bridge of a Les Paul, then we swapped it out with an 85 and doubled the track. Sounded killer. I no longer use EMG's or any active pickup for the matter...but back in the day I was an EMG fanatic. As soon as I bought a guitar...first thing's first...swap out the pickups for EMGs!

Best part of EMG's...plug and play! A great asset for recording...record with 81's in the bridge, then round it out with an 85 in the bridge...same guitar.

What is the difference between the 81 and 85? I hear the 85 gives better harmonics and a more organic type sound.

A good while ago I had and 81 bridge and 85 neck. Can't remember how it sounded. Do the tone wood really matter when using EMG's? I would think they have to but I've read they all sound the same.

 

[Skrapmetal]

After I don't know how many years of playing I just got my first guitar with EMG's, my awesome wife bought me a Jim Root Tele and it has EMG's and I'm really digging it so far and was wondering the same thing about swapping them out easly.... Kick ass, looks like I might be picking up a set of the Hetfild EMG's since they swap out so easly.

I've always been on the fence about EMGs, until I got my Het Set. I love them.

 

[FondledDuck]

After I don't know how many years of playing I just got my first guitar with EMG's, my awesome wife bought me a Jim Root Tele and it has EMG's and I'm really digging it so far and was wondering the same thing about swapping them out easly.... Kick ass, looks like I might be picking up a set of the Hetfild EMG's since they swap out so easly.

I've always been on the fence about EMGs, until I got my Het Set. I love them.

Dude, how is that Het Set? The clips I have heard must not give them the justice they deserve...they sound loose and flubby to me...they sound like a quasi-passive pickup but with the high output of an active, if that makes sense...

 

[Skrapmetal]

After I don't know how many years of playing I just got my first guitar with EMG's, my awesome wife bought me a Jim Root Tele and it has EMG's and I'm really digging it so far and was wondering the same thing about swapping them out easly.... Kick ass, looks like I might be picking up a set of the Hetfild EMG's since they swap out so easly.

I've always been on the fence about EMGs, until I got my Het Set. I love them.

Dude, how is that Het Set? The clips I have heard must not give them the justice they deserve...they sound loose and flubby to me...they sound like a quasi-passive pickup but with the high output of an active, if that makes sense...

Which clips have you heard? Lasse Lammert and Fluff both have pretty good clips of them, IIRC. I think Lasse compared them to the 81 and Fluff to Blackouts.

They have a bit more of a dynamic feel like passives, but still clearly active. The best way I've been able to describe the bridge pup is 90% EMG81, 10% passive pickup.

I REALLY like the clean tones I've been getting out of the neck pup. In my mahogany-bodied MTMutt, the clean mids are very bell-like.

 

[FondledDuck]

After I don't know how many years of playing I just got my first guitar with EMG's, my awesome wife bought me a Jim Root Tele and it has EMG's and I'm really digging it so far and was wondering the same thing about swapping them out easly.... Kick ass, looks like I might be picking up a set of the Hetfild EMG's since they swap out so easly.

I've always been on the fence about EMGs, until I got my Het Set. I love them.

Dude, how is that Het Set? The clips I have heard must not give them the justice they deserve...they sound loose and flubby to me...they sound like a quasi-passive pickup but with the high output of an active, if that makes sense...

Which clips have you heard? Lasse Lammert and Fluff both have pretty good clips of them, IIRC. I think Lasse compared them to the 81 and Fluff to Blackouts.

They have a bit more of a dynamic feel like passives, but still clearly active. The best way I've been able to describe the bridge pup is 90% EMG81, 10% passive pickup.

I REALLY like the clean tones I've been getting out of the neck pup. In my mahogany-bodied MTMutt, the clean mids are very bell-like.

It's been a while...I can't remember the clip I came across. I'll have to look up the others you mentioned. But the way you describe them they sound cool.

 

[Shask]

Yup. You can also just plug in any of the Seymour Duncan Blackouts if you want to check those out as well.


I think the 707 is my favorite EMG. Maybe I just like the difference after playing 81's and 85's for years

 

[311boogieman]

Yep they are easily swappable and plug n play.

But question Splawnman - you are endorsed by Splawn but have no Splawns?