software

Ok here is the Deal,
I have a Schecter Omen 6 with a JB/59
I replaced my the DD/Jazz in my Jackson KVX10 King V
with a Custom5/DD so I have extra pickups to play with.

I have the option of trading the Omen 6 100 bucks for a
new Damien 6 with a EMGhz H4 / H4A Set

I played a Jackson Dinky, Schector C-1, and B.C Rich Wartribe Jr. V
with EMG-HZ in all three, but I didn't like them.

Maybe I'm answering my own question here, but I haven't experimented with EMGs that much. I'm thinking maybe I should just use my old SDs and save myself a 100 bones. I would appreciated any feedback on my final decision. Sound style Death/Doom/Black Metal with alot of distortion

I thought the damien series came with active emgs. Isn't also made of a different wood? I was pretty sure the damiens were just c-1's with emgs, so they'd be mahogony. If you like the sound of the omen-6 slap the sd's in there and call it good. If you want a different guitar, trade it in. I like the active emgs quite a bit. That's what they're most known for really, and they're quite tough to beat for (extreme) metal. They do a really great job of retaining clarity.

Anyhoo- my vote= pop the sd's in and call it good unless you want a different guitar. You could always trade in the guitar and then put the sd's in that too

i have no idea about the passiv emgs but the actives are just killer pups for all kinds of metal. I wouldn't get the passive emgs but if you had the opportunity to get it with actives(preferably 81/60 combo) you should do it.Otherwise go SD

The Damien is a Basewood body with a bolt on Maple neck with Rosewood fret board, just like the Omen.

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The C-1 Blackjack I played is a mahogany body with a set neck.

The EMGs are passive in the guitars I tried,
so I can't comment on the active EMG pups.

Maybe someday I'll give the active EMGs a try.


Originally Posted by Dying FleshMaybe someday I'll give the active EMGs a try.

Good idea

stay away from the HZ series.. they're the passive counterparts of the actives and they suck IMO


Originally Posted by Daveystay away from the HZ series.. they're the passive counterparts of the actives and they suck IMO

I heard good things about EMGs... but those HZs did nothing for me.

Don't judge them by the HZ series. The 81 amp; 85 are two of the best pickups I've ever used. The passives are not without their fans, though, as Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho uses an HZ-H4.

the emg 60 slays everything used as a metal rythm pup and the 81 is great for leads. Give the actives a shot if you have the money,they rule

I say save the money, don't trade the axe. It's identical, besides pickups and inlays, to your current Omen!

I've had an ESP that came with Hz and I didn't like them, but, you really can't compare them to the active EMGs. Maybe EMG made them to broaden thier sales line.

IMO, keep the guitar line up you've got and save the $100 for something new down the road.

IMO, for most the music i like and play EMG's are just a little too smooth or something, its like they never get enough grit to be satisfying. Maybe its just my amp.

That's funny, Mephis. A month or so ago you were raving about them .

EMG's sound that way because, contrary to popular belief, they ARE NOT VERY HOT PICKUPS!

You will get way more output out of a DD, JB, Invader, Custom, or Dimebucker.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3EMG's sound that way because, contrary to popular belief, they ARE NOT VERY HOT PICKUPS!

You will get way more output out of a DD, JB, Invader, Custom, or Dimebucker.
Um, gonna have to disagree with you on this one. They're quite a bit louder than any Duncan passive, with the Invader being pretty damn close. I'm sitting here right now with a Dimebucker in my ESP, and an EMG 81 in my Ibanez, going guitar-cable-amp, with a clean tone, and the 81 is significantly louder.

They're louder, yes, but under gain, I find the passives I listed to have more output and bite, as well as being more aggressive.

If an EMG is louder, how can a Duncan have more output? Doesn't louder = higher volume = more output? I'm confused...

Not necessarily... LastWinJ explained it to Bones and I one time on yahoo, as Bones found his Custom hit his amp harder and produced more gain than his EMG's. It's something to do with the harmonic structure.

It's like how DC Resistance can't measure exactly how hot a pickup is, it can just put you in the right ballpark.

Also, EMG's are fairly underwound, it's the preamp that boosts the output.

Bear in mind that the preamp is built into the pickup... it's kind of like saying my Ferarri doesn't use a lot of gas, but the engine does.

Without having heard the explanation, I am going to go on thinking the EMG 81 is hotter/higher output/louder than any passive Duncan pickup.

The EMG 85 is the hottest pickup EMG makes with 1.25 volts of output. DiMarzio advertize the output of their pups in voltage (Which I wish SD did) and the X2N is listed at 510 mV. The X2N is arguably the highest output passive pickup on the market and it has less than 1/2 the electrical output of the 85. The 81 is listed at 1 volt output, but due to the EQing and the ceramic magnet, it makes a better bridge pup than the 85.

Anyone running EMG's, if you have room, run them with 2 batteries in series. HUGE Headroom.

A pickup like the JB can be percieved as louder because if the mid range spike in the EQ, helping it to cut through. EMG's take some amp tweaking.

Just my $0.02

Trevor


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellWithout having heard the explanation, I am going to go on thinking the EMG 81 is hotter/higher output/louder than any passive Duncan pickup.

To each his own.

I just know that I get more gain and balls out of a DD than out of an 81 or 85.