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Ok so I saw that thread about the limited edition epi. lp with the emg 81's in it, and im thinking about ordering it. the thing is, i havent been playing too long (1-2 years) and the only guitar ive had is an epi lp (jb/jazz). the local music stores around here suck, so ive never even gotten a chance to play a guitar with emgs. what can i expect, compared to an lp with a jb? if it makes a difference, i play though a line 6 flextone II. thanks

It'll be cleaner, clearer, punchier, and be more aggressive than the JB. It'll also have much better tracking, and tighter low end.

For one, a much more compressed response... somewhat less dynamics. If you play with lots of gain, it won't matter much, because gain compresses to a degree as well.

People say they're sterile, but quot;neutralquot; is a better word. They reflect less of the tone of your guitar's wood, and more their own sound.

High output.


Originally Posted by SpiderVenomFor one, a much more compressed response... somewhat less dynamics. If you play with lots of gain, it won't matter much, because gain compresses to a degree as well.

I have to call BS. They don't have quot;less dynamics,quot; they simplify amplify exactly what your fingers are playing on the guitar. What you play in, they put out. If your fingers lack dynamics, so will your sound.

I'd have to agree with DSS.....they make take a bit to get used to, but I find them less compressed sounding than a JB, and most other overwound passive pickups.

Also, increasing the headroom by doing the 18v mod further increases the dynamic range.

I agree with both Screamingdaisy and DSS. In addition, I think the EMG 81 is probably the most transparent sounding pickup ever. If the guitar sounds good, it'll show.

what do you mean by transparent? basically i just want to know what this guitar will sound like


Originally Posted by milkandmeatwhat do you mean by transparent? basically i just want to know what this guitar will sound like

Basically, it'll sound like what you already have only with less bass and a more aggressive attack. It'll still sound like an Epi LP.....just like one with EMGs in it.

What do you have for an amp? I normally don't recommend EMGs for anyone that's not running a good tube amp as they tend to make most solid state and cheaper tube amps sound pretty bad.

i have a flextone II. maybe i should stick with duncans?

on a related note, how would an 81 sound in an sg? too thin?

I'd personally go with an 85 in anything but a Les Paul, where an 81 would be optimal. I like the thicker, ballsier sound out of an 85, but the LP is thick and ballsy enough.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3I have to call BS. They don't have quot;less dynamics,quot; they simplify amplify exactly what your fingers are playing on the guitar. What you play in, they put out. If your fingers lack dynamics, so will your sound.

Maybe, but what about levels where the internal preamp saturates (this does happen, else what is the point of the 18v mod?). Dynamics go out the door then.

Well, I'll find out for sure when I buy an ESP M-II. (either that, or a Warmoth job... probably the ESP, since I don't think I can be bothered assembling something)


Originally Posted by SpiderVenomMaybe, but what about levels where the internal preamp saturates (this does happen, else what is the point of the 18v mod?). Dynamics go out the door then.

Well, I find out for sure when I buy an ESP M-II. (either that, or a Warmoth job... probably the ESP, since I don't think I can be bothered assembling something)

It does happen, sure, but when you're picking hard enough for it to do that, you probably don't care about dynamics anyways.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3It does happen, sure, but when you're picking hard enough for it to do that, you probably don't care about dynamics anyways.

In general, that's probably true, although there are times when I contrast picking softly to picking very hard, and everywhere in between... given though, that that's more a practice method for developing picking control.

I'm not saying that the preamp saturation thing even really matters... for most people, it probably doesn't. It is something worth knowing about, though.


Originally Posted by SpiderVenomMaybe, but what about levels where the internal preamp saturates (this does happen, else what is the point of the 18v mod?). Dynamics go out the door then.

There're a little funny that way.

An overwound pup compresses by making low signals stronger....and thus why it's so hard to get a jangly, uncompressed clean tone out of most high output pickups.

EMGs don't compress that way as the pickup part is low output, but the preamp has a limit to it's headroom....so it's not really quot;compressedquot;....just limited. That's the quot;squashedquot; feeling some people complain about when using EMGs.

The 18v mod increases the headroom, giving you more dynamic range, so you can pick harder before you hit the limit again.


Originally Posted by SpiderVenomIn general, that's probably true, although there are times when I contrast picking softly to picking very hard, and everywhere in between... given though, that that's more a practice method for developing picking control.

In reference to my last post, for the type of dynaics you're talking about you'll get more dynamics out of an EMG than you will out of most high output passives.

This is one of the reasons I'm trying to move away from high output passives....after getting used to the EMGs I just don't like the compression they (high output passives) have. I'm looking forward to a life of vintage output PAF style humbuckers.....and one guitar loaded with EMGs for when I want high output kick.

More agressive, whenever I play on a guitar with 81s my hands always move a lot smoother for some reason, everything I do just slides, but on a whole I don't actualy love the tone because its not capable of much and playing a very agressive distorted sound all the time gets boreing.

Keep in mind that any deficiencies in your technique will show up a lot more with EMG's. I know it took some getting used to when I just got my strat with the Dave Gilmour set (SA/SA/SA with SPC amp; EXG).

i think this thread went way beyond what milkandmeat is looking for


Originally Posted by nahfuteni think this thread went way beyond what milkandmeat is looking for

How so?

In a word, it'll sound good

I do have to say though- I prefer the jb's lead tone but that is a matter of taste.