software

OK...so here goes another EMG question. And before you get reading, yes, i did look at many many emg related threads for about an hour on the forums, i searched and searched, so dont be mad at me....

Info: My main and only guitar is a Schecter 006 Elite currently equpied with a Duncan Distortion set. I have a marshall MG100dfx 100 watt combo. I play metal, and metal only! I use Zakk Wylde Strings and I tune 1/2 step down. I also have an active SPC mid-booster that i think every metal player should get.

Question: I have come to the point where i am seriously considering to make the jump to actives, and from hearing a lot about the pups, i have narrowed to EMG 60 neck, and EMG 81 Bridge. I chose these because the guitar itself is very heavy and dark sounding and the 81 is less bassy and better for heavier guitars. I want the 60 becuase people say it sounds great for fast picked leads and such and its extremely versitile and is clean. Also another member with a schecter has the pups i picked and he said they are incredible in it. I want to know how the EMG's I choose would compare to the Distortion set, since the Distortion pups have high output and are very hot compared to most passives. With my srings and my tuning, i cannot find a good sound at all with the neck pup, its wayyy to bassy on the lower strings, and i dont like the lead sound AT ALL from the high strings. The bridge is very sweet, but it takes me a long time to adjust it how i like it, every time i change the strings it never sounds the way i had it last. Thats not a huge deal, and sometimes its fun messing around, but from what I've read and from just about every metal band i like, EMG's are perferred.
I know this is the duncan board, but I just want to know what is better for ME, that why i posted my whole info. Im not asking for other suggestions on pups or anything to add to my rig, just straight up, form what I've told you, would I like EMG's more. I know you can't tell me what I like, but If you were me than put it that way if it helps, you know. I am taking this seriously because it is a fair amount of money that could be spent on other things or saved, but if I like the outcome, its worth it.

P.s. I have an Ibanez Weeping demon wah, and the only effect i use is delay and a bit of reverb. I play stuf like Lamb of God (yes i know they use passives), Hatebreed, Zakk wylde, Sleep, Burn the Priest, High on Fire, Byzantine, As I lay Dying, Sabbath, Unearth, Tool, and Winter Soltice. LOL, pretty much like everyone else, xcept i like stoner/doom metal and incorporate that in to my playing. I am just a fan of any heavy and angry, distorted, screaming, loud music! PLEASE HELP ME!


Originally Posted by Schecter006Eliteand Winter Soltice.goddamn! ive known the guitarist in that band for a long time. never thought id see the day where they were listed as a main band that somebody listens to (i cant stand em to be honest, but whatever ) to be back on topic, as far as i know he's still using EMG 81's. a lot of the bands you listen do you EMGs, but with stuff like sabbath and high on fire (as you said, you like to incorporate stoner/doom stuff) i think would be not so easy to get that kinda sound with EMGs. actually what you could do is get an EMG 85 in the bridge position, which is supposed to have a fatter kinda tone, which would probably cover all the bases better (it would be better for stoner/doom stuff than an 81). i guess at the end of the day it comes down to what you play more- hatebreed/zakk (active) or sabbath/high on fire (passive). thats just my opinion though

im guessing you live in VA too. yes i like em a lot. The stuff i like about stoner/doom stuff is how its slow and melodic while still being metal, so like, you can let the crushingness of the distortion get to you cush its slow, that what i like atleast. But for the most part i play fast, sometimes extremely fast, its like totally rediculous....lol.

EDIT: also, everyone who i read about that has a schecter and emg's siad that the 85 was toooo basyy and muddy like hell, i believe it, the guitar is bassy and heavy, and dark as hell.

nah dude, im in jersey. haha. anyway, theres a big fanbase of the 85 in the bridge position here. i hear a lot more people say the 85 is bassy and muddy in the neck position though, that might be what you read. but its supposed to be great in the bridgethough one of my most favorite stoner/doom kinda bands, crowbar, just switched over to all EMG 81's on their current tour (but i think it has a lot more to do with them being stock in the LTD's that crowbar is now endorsed by. i think this is the first time ive seen kirk windstein play a guitar other than that gibson goth SG in about 4 years haha)

To be honest, I switched from an EMG zakk wylde set to Duncan Distortions in a guitar I had about a year ago and liked it a whole lot better. Everything just sounded so much better.


Originally Posted by ex-250but with stuff like sabbath and high on fire (as you said, you like to incorporate stoner/doom stuff) i think would be not so easy to get that kinda sound with EMGs.

I use EMGs for that type of stuff. I use an 85 in the bridge because it blends in both tone and output with the neck 60 I'm using, but I honestly prefer the 81 and I'd use it if switching pups wasn't such a big jump with it.

I play alot of sludge, and the 81 with the tone turned down to zero is killer. You get that thick, sludgy chord tone, but you still keep note articulation.

I'm currently using a 60/85 setup in my LP (standard tuned) and an 81 in my Strat (C#).....I prefer the 81, but I like to be able to flip between pickups in the LP.

A pair of 81s is pretty sweet, too.

I've got a Schecter (C1 ). I use the 81 in the bridge and it's just great.
I guess the 85 would be better in a guitar that has a lighter sound.
But my Schecter(and obviously Elite's too) is pretty dark sounding in itself, so I think the 81 is a better choice than 85.
For soloing I use the 89 in the neck, I use it splitted into singlecoil. I't supposed to be like a SA, it's very clean and articulate, perfect for soloing... With the 89 in the humbucker mode(supposedly like an 85) it's way too dark and muddy... At least in my guitar and I suppose that being in the neck position adds to the muddiness?
But your original question whether you'll like the EMG's better than the Distortion, I just don't have a clue...
My original choices were between Distortion/Jazz and 81/60. I decided to go with the 89 instead of the 60 because of versatility, but now I find I don't use the 89 in humbucker mode very much. I like it clean in the neck...
I'm happy with my EMG's. One thing that is a huge advantage is that they're dead silent when sitting in front of the computer recording. With passives you get a lot of buzz/humm...

It's funny, I recently bought the Ibanez Weeping Demon too, LOL!!

ya i hear alot of metal guitarists hav 81 85 or 81 60 or 81 81 but still log uses duncans

would it make a big tone difference i switched? cuz the DD's are hot...?


Originally Posted by Schecter006Elitewould it make a big tone difference i switched? cuz the DD's are hot...?

Yes. The DDs and EMGs each sound and react differently to your playing.

edit: repost

...i think ill stick with my DD, i fixed some stuff up and i was reminded of how much i love my tone. I just wanted to see if i could make it better. Is there a pup that would blend well? its usally hard to find one because of the higher output. Anyone know from experience what would go well to replace the DD neck pup?

And I am from NJ too, i moved to VA a few years ago. I was born in AC and moved around south jersey. most of my fam is in EHT and mayslanding.

Schecter Distortion Bridge Jazz neck = jerry horton, papa roach

just saw a connection there, do you like the tone on papa roach's albums?

tom

no i dont like papa roach, and also isn't that dave mustaines old setup? my friend said so. i had that, and i hated the Jazz sound, tooooo bassy and didnt blend well at all, sucked IMO, but jazz is still a good pickup. I went back and fixed some stuff and i fixed the neck pup to sound good, so ill stick wiht it for a while till i hve a major complaint.