A neck pickup similar to EMG81/85...

[danstap]

so.. i know they're active, but which of the BKPs would sound most similar to an emg85 in the neck? I'm looking for something with a high output for my squire stagemaster.. now before you start heckling i bought it on ebay last week (£45!) because i needed something cheap with a floyd rose that i wouldn't mind scratching up! I've already replaced the cheap stock bridge pickup with a kent armstrong motherbucker that i had lying around.. not only alot louder but i think the rails work better with the tremelo.

Anyway, i'm hopeless at deciding on pickups, i currently have a nailbomb in the bridge of my custom tele, which sounds fantastic through my jcm800, but I literally chose it at random out of the miracle man, warpig and the few other BKPs that were available a few years ago.

I remember reading something about the miracle man being most similar to an emg... any truth in that? I always think its going to be simply a matter of personal oppinion, especially as the guitar itself will shape the sound too.

I noticed there's a new pickup too, painkiller, how does that compare?

Thanks!

[Daniel G]

I'd say Miracle Man.

[ericsabbath]

I'd say Miracle Man.

i had both
the miracle man neck sounds more like a tone zone than an emg 85
the warpig neck too

[Jonny]

From what I hear the Painkiller is the Mids Monster.

And I would go for a Miracle Man.

[Daniel G]

I'd say Miracle Man.

i had both
the miracle man neck sounds more like a tone zone than an emg 85
the warpig neck too

Ok, let me rephrase that.
I have both an MM set and a Zakk Wylde set.
They're somewhat similar to me, but the MM's sound a LOT better  

[ericsabbath]

I'd say Miracle Man.

i had both
the miracle man neck sounds more like a tone zone than an emg 85
the warpig neck too

Ok, let me rephrase that.
I have both an MM set and a Zakk Wylde set.
They're somewhat similar to me, but the MM's sound a LOT better  

the bridge mm has a similar voicing to the 81, but the neck version is different
it has a ton of output, bass and mids, but not too much treble
it makes it sound smoother and lose some attack (like a tone zone, as is said)
the gibson 496r reminds me more of the 85
i had them all in the same guitar
maybe the painkiller neck would be a good substitute for that kind of tone

[ilÿti]

As far as I know, the 85 is super smooth, hot and AV (apart from being completely toneless and sterile). That would be very close to an MM wouldn't it? (except the toneless and sterile bit) And in a bright guitar it would probably be good to go for a warm pickup.

[danstap]

what does a warpig sound like in the neck, dare i ask?

[danstap]

As far as I know, the 85 is super smooth, hot and AV (apart from being completely toneless and sterile). That would be very close to an MM wouldn't it? (except the toneless and sterile bit) And in a bright guitar it would probably be good to go for a warm pickup.

AV?

i saw some old footage of ratm the other day and was looking at the blue guitar morello has, that has emgs i think, im guessing 81/85 combo, quite like his neck tone but if the emgs are as sterile as you say perhaps its all just down to his old marshall head

[Jonny]

AV?

Alnico 5 magnet.

[Roobubba]

Every time I read this thread, I think "Mules".

The pickup, before anyone gets funny.

Dunno if it's really what you're after, but they're a touch warmer and thicker than the MM, I'd say! ;)

But I am almost certainly very wrong. I am wrong about most things (with a few musical exceptions, including telecasters and the Beatles, but I digress).

Roo

[MDV]

Painkiller.