The Dragonator
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2020
- Messages
- 25
Tried a set of EMGs back a few years ago. Pulled them out a week later and threw them in the trash where they belonged. Sterile. Horrible. Fake. I only use real pickups.
Why so much hate for EMG active pickups. Reaction here (and elsewhere) to them seems to be tantamount to farting in a reception line to see the Queen.
I just picked up a stunning CU24. It has a set of EMG 89s in it (their double coil/single version of the 85). It was a huge bargain (probably because of the EMGs) and I was all prepared to yank them out immediately upon receiving it, but I plugged it in and gave it a test drive...and I didn't hate them at all. I should say here that I am NOT a metal head by any definition. My lead tone does use a lot of overdrive, but it's more to get a sustaining violin quality. I really loved the added sustain, and although a little more ragged in the distortion area, backing off the amp gain helps that.
But the big surprise, and the reason I'm really thinking of hanging on to these, are the single coil tone. When clean, these things just sparkle...damn near Tele like. I've never cared a whiff about the coil-tapping setting for any of the PRS pickups I've had, but I'm over the moon with these 89's.
So what am I missing? Is it the battery. I used to own a Gibson RD Artist; it wasn't the end of the world. Is it the horrible tone that the metal hordes spew forth? I agree, but Homey don't play that. I know the decision is ultimately mine, but I'm curious if I'm missing something:dontknow:
Tried a set of EMGs back a few years ago. Pulled them out a week later and threw them in the trash where they belonged. Sterile. Horrible. Fake. I only use real pickups.
They were immensely popular for a time, considered by many to be the only real pickup a serious guitarist would use. Anything that gets that popular is going to draw the ire of “the crowd” once the wave passes. Do a little reading on pop culture and you’ll see why this is. Hint: It isn’t based on fact or reason.
It’s a pickup. It will sound a certain way in a certain guitar. If that sound is good for you, use them!
Well I dont know what to think about some of these replies. You can tone match anything with effects so I guess we are talking about dry voicing. I see a lot of comments saying they "did not like them". I dont think you cant not like pickups you just paid for can you? I mean if they lack treble, turn the knobs, or whatever. I think alot of these replies are opinions based on research only. I cant see anyone putting a set of active pickups in a previously passively wired guitar and simply saying MEH NOT FOR ME..... you didnt play a guitar with them in it or go online and listen to them or anything and you bought them and just decided they were not good for you. That's totally not what a guitar player does....they tweak the knobs until they find the damn sound they like and then come to forums and say "yeah they are great"!
Some of these are lunacy.
If I like a pickup in a guitar or not starts by it's "dry" sound. I then go further with effects but not usually too deep, much like SDs sound samples clean, crunch, and dirty. If I don't like it clean I have to love it somewhere else to even think about keeping it. I listen to sound samples or watch youtube to get a general idea but really so many of them are bad and you can't often tell what they'll sound right through your rig. Or I'm on my laptop or phone which doesn't give the greatest sound variance. SDs samples are good example of this. If I don't have my headphones on it's hard sometimes to tell much difference if at all between pups on their pickup finder.
Myself, I do like EMGs. They aren't my end all be all choice but not many pickups or brands are. I have a HSS strat I love with EMGs I'd never take out. My girlfriend doesn't typically care for strats but that one she's a major fan off. My Torero with 81/85 I never really bonded with the 81 bridge and was about to do a pup swap to some DWs, but when I went to remove the EMGs I decided to try the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck first. Now, I love the way it sounds! Granted I liked the 85 in the neck a hair better than the 81 but the 85 in the bridge is exponentially better than the 81. I now suggest it all the time to people to try 85/81, It's a winner!