Gimme your go to active pickups !

[midnightlaundry]

Played EMG's for a LONG time. I liked the 85x, 707x, 707twx.. For the most part I think I like pickups with Alnico V's vs Ceramics.
I'm on passives now because you can wire them in many different ways.

 

[dave74]

is so true. I like them alright, but I really wonder how they became THE metal pickup.

Well at the time they arrived amps did not have the compression/gain they do now, so the emgs really took them to a whole new level of perceived gain.

 

[midnightlaundry]

is so true. I like them alright, but I really wonder how they became THE metal pickup.

pfff, one word.. Metallica..
It's the only reason I started using them because they were my favorite band in 86'.
Turns out gear endorsements sell gear..

 

[acceptance]

 

[Rex Rocker]

Well at the time they arrived amps did not have the compression/gain they do now, so the emgs really took them to a whole new level of perceived gain.

Yeah. And no.

Yes, they're hot and compressed. But I think it's more to do with how they're EQ'd.

The Duncan Distortion drives the amp way harder than an EMG 81 because it is way highter output. But the EMG 81 is voiced tighter and more polished. It's almost as if its got its own little boost built in in terms of EQ shaping and compression.

But that's just my theory on why they became as popular.

 

[the rossness]

If I could do it all again, I’d do an EMG 57 in the bridge and a Fishman Fluence Classic in the neck.

The Fluence KSE pickups also kick ass with the right setup.

 

[mcstinger]

I tried the Duncan AHB-2B. I sold it right away. Annoying midrange, clucking like a flock of hens. Regarding to EMGs, I have a 57/66 set in my Charvel SoCal, running it at 18V and I am completely happy. I use 81 as well, but I like 57 more, it's smoother.

 

[dave74]

It's almost as if its got its own little boost built in in terms of EQ shaping and compression.

It does.

 

[The One]

Have you tried the Xs? Big fan of those.

The X Series was EMG's Answer to everyone using them at 18V. I remeber speaking to Rob Turner about this once back when those were first released. They were meant to be more open souding with more clarity.

 

[The One]

All my main Ibanez RGD guitars have EMG 81-x bridge pickups.
My 7 stings have EMG 81-7x bridge pickups.

The X series blows away the older 81.
Way more headroom, crystal clear, not sterile,
If you haven't tried the 81-x, you are missing out on EMG's best pickup. IMHO

The X Series was meant to Mimic the pickups running at 18V since so many people back then were doing that. I Spoke to 3 Different people at EMG that confirmed this back when the X series first launched. That was back when EMG still had some of the best customer service in the pickup game.

 

[wIsEbLooD]

Emg 81

 

[thenine]

My 1987 81’s kicks major ass!

If you are calling about that Showcase Goldtop LPC, I’m pretty sure those are 85’s, both bridge and neck.

 

[peterc52]

If you are calling about that Showcase Goldtop LPC, I’m pretty sure those are 85’s, both bridge and neck.

You think?

 

[thenine]

You think?

Yeah, they were in the one I had. Came from factory that way.

 

[Rex Rocker]

If I could do it all again, I’d do an EMG 57 in the bridge and a Fishman Fluence Classic in the neck.

The Fluence KSE pickups also kick ass with the right setup.

IMO, the Fluence Classic Neck is the weaker of the two in that set. IMO only, of course.

It works great with the Classic Bridge as long as the Classic Bridge is in Voice 1. But then move the Classic Bridge to Voice 2, and it GREATLY overpowers the neck, which I bet might be the case with the EMG 57 too. Also, the Classic Neck Voice 2 is... odd... Kind of super mega round with a weird spike in the treble. I don't get what they were going for with that voicing, TBH.

But I like balance in output between the two positions. Perhaps you prefer a tamer neck position.

Each to his own.

 

[Rex Rocker]

BTW, the Fluence Classic Bridge is also FANTASTIC. Voice 1 is like a less weak Duncan '59B, and Voice 2 is like a tighter, clearer, hotter JB.

 

[kurtsstuff2003]

EMG 85's Done..

 

[The One]

Yeah, they were in the one I had. Came from factory that way.

Not all of them came from the factory that way. A guy i know has the SG Version & it came with 81 in the bridge. Rob Barrett from CC Has the Silverburst one and that one he bought brand new with an 81 in the bridge.

 

[dave74]

pfff, one word.. Metallica..
It's the only reason I started using them because they were my favorite band in 86'.
Turns out gear endorsements sell gear..

My first exposure to emg was the "Ozzy's new guitarist!" Zakk Wylde ads for emg selects, but very shortly after, like a couple months, he was seen using the 81/85 set. I can't recall any Metallica ads for them, but when the One video really launched them to the mainstream I do think it greatly benefited emg.

 

[Dan Gleesak]

IMO, the Fluence Classic Neck is the weaker of the two in that set. IMO only, of course.

It works great with the Classic Bridge as long as the Classic Bridge is in Voice 1. But then move the Classic Bridge to Voice 2, and it GREATLY overpowers the neck, which I bet might be the case with the EMG 57 too. Also, the Classic Neck Voice 2 is... odd... Kind of super mega round with a weird spike in the treble. I don't get what they were going for with that voicing, TBH.

But I like balance in output between the two positions. Perhaps you prefer a tamer neck position.

Each to his own.

The only place I’ve found the classic neck voice 2 to make sense, is with very clean tones. It has a bit of quack to it like position 4 of a strat but still kinda full like a humbucker