ZW EMG Active 81/85 Set

[Kevzmusic]

I'm just curious,

are any of you guys using this pickup combo, and if so, what do ya think of it?

I know Zakk 'supposedly' uses 'em (hype, hype, hype .... but his tones, sure do sound powerful, clear & warm/smooth too...

http://www.zakkwylde.com/index_content.html

Any comments,

Cheers,

KEV

[gvarko]

I had these and they were powerfull and clear, no noise at all. I did feel they lacked warmth though...

[Kevzmusic]

Originally posted by gvarko
I had these and they were powerfull and clear, no noise at all. I did feel they lacked warmth though...

Qvarko,

OK,

Very clear & noise free is important to me...

I can always warm up the tone with EQ, so long as they aren't totally harsh/brittle (?)...

KEV

[Scottgman]

I have the 85 and 81 in one of my Ibanez Artists. I love these pickups. When you strum a chord you can hear every note in the chord (even with distortion). The biggest complaint I've heard about EMG humbuckers is that they sound pretty sterile-- and I would agree with that. However, if you want an aggressive rock sound, I doubt you would be disappointed.

[gvarko]

They were not harsh nor brittle. The 81 is more powerfull than the 85 and therefore makes the 85 sound a little muddy. I did have better results with different strings and the sound from the 85 did improve. The 81 is a great PU, I had one in an Ibanez prestige as well and it sounded phenominal. Overall if you like the Zack Wylde sound there is no way you will be disapointed. I did find it much easier to pull of pinched harmonics with these PU's, perhaps just a mental thing..

[Kevzmusic]

Hmmm,

One always gets a mixed bag response when asking these kinda questions - just coz tone, etc., is so damn subjective!

Just about everyone I have spoken to, so far, has been very adamant, that I do NOT buy the EMG's......most folks seem to think they are VERY harsh and sterile sounding, with no character....

I must admit, although I Do love great 'clarity' and clearness in a pup, I also want/need 'warmth' too....

For my 'direct recording' work, I run the Line6 XTRO straight into the audio interface, which is a tad sterile (digital) in itself, thus I certainly don't wish to add any further "harshness" to that scenario.

So, I think (assume) the EMG actives may be a little too HOT and over the top metal-ish, for my needs, with this particular guitar.

BUT, probably great for straight hard-metal crunch rhythm tracks & screaming leads only...'

Over....

KEV

[gvarko]

Perfect observation.. That is why I no longer have my set... Would be great if you were in a Pantera cover band though...

[Scottgman]

I would disagree that these are "metal" pickups, I would consider them "aggressive" pickups. Granted, the EMGs will excel in a metal application, but they won't make you sound like Slayer if you don't want to sound like Slayer. I don't play metal, but when I want an aggressive distorted rock sound (think Foo Fighters), these pickups are perfect.

Kevsmusic, you may be asking for too much out of one guitar/pup. I think it's difficult to get a killer aggresssive rock sound and a nice warm clean sound out of the same guitar. It's basically like the Les Paul/Stratocaster dichotomy-- Les Pauls are great for some things, Strats are great for different things. I've got another Ibanez Artist with Lace humbuckers that I use for more "warm" clean sounds.

Anyway, as you said, it's real subjective-- one man's trash is another man's treasure. But if your main concern is getting a kick-ass clean sound, maybe you shouldn't even be looking at humbuckers?

Cheers!

[Scottgman]

By the way... I'll post a couple short samples of the EMGs in action-- both clean and distorted. Give me a couple hours... I've got some stuff to do first....

[Kevzmusic]

Scott,

Cheers!!!!

KEV

[GONZO-X]

http://www.billlawrence.com/

[Scottgman]

Ok, here's the link:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=3498&alid=-1


The first clip "One Last Time" is me playng a clean part using the 85 with a little bit of distorted lead using the 81. If I remember correctly, I recorded this direct.

The second clip "Dodging Bullets" is my buddy's band and is all distortion. We doubled the guitar part using the 85 for one take and then the 81 for the other take.

I wouldn't consider either of those clips as "metal" but I'm happy with the results the EMGs have given me.

I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to sell you on the EMGs because I really don't care what PUPs you get. I just know how impossible it can be to shop for PUPs because you can't go to Guitar Center and pop them in your guitar for a test-run.

Just for reference I've attached a pic of the guitar/amp the clips were recorded with (1982 Ibanez Artist w/EMGs and Budda Superdrive 30 2x12).

Hope this helps!

[Fishmed]

I have an LTD EC-1000 with two EMG 81. If I roll the tone down, the neck pickup sounds very nice clean, I could imagine how an 85 would hear since they are lower output. EMG 81 are great for guitar rigs with lots of processors where a good strong guitar signal is required. The pickup does not have much character when it is on its own; therefore, it can sound a bit sterilel.

[Scottgman]

Doh! The pic didn't upload... take 2:

[Kevzmusic]

Scott,

thanks for posting the clips,

The second one sounds better to MY ears, quite a nice tone.

Not exactly my style of music, which is much more 80's type guitar......however, I DO like the NU-Metal stuff too, I may be old, but I'm not a fart!!! - yet!

Take a listen to my tunes MASADA, and Irish Duplicity, that will give ya a good idea of the Soldano sounds I use.

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=78884&T=7082

Cheers,

KEV

[Scottgman]

Yeah the first clip is a song in progress and I wasn't trying to "seriously" record it. But I think it demonstrates my point that these pickups may not be the best choice if you are wanting a kick-ass clean sound.

I listened to your stuff... talk about a blast from the past! Sounds very 80s but cool. I was just at a friends house last night watching old Marty Friedman and Jason Becker videos-- your licks kind of remind me of those guys.

Anyway, good luck on the quest for new PUPs.