The thing I like about EMG pickups is ...

[darkandrew]

Now, I know I'm going to divide opinion on this but the thing I really like about EMG pickups is the quick-connect system. For example, I keep one of my Eclipses stocked with EMG pickups, currently it's a 81/66 combination but I also have a 57 and a 60 in the cupboard, so if I want a change of tone it's a case of undo a few screws, clip in the new pickups, do a few screws back up and retune - whole job takes 5 minutes. I was wondering why other pickup manufacturers don't have a similar system? I have no doubt that if BKP did I'd be buying a whole lot more of their pickups so that I could swap them in and out as and when I fancied.

(I should probably point out, as this is a BKP forum afterall, that my other Eclipses have Nailbombs and Crawlers in.)

[gwEm]

That quick-connect system is an absolute joy. Agree!

[Slartibartfarst42]

One of the reasons I haven't changed the pickups on my Gibson Les Paul is because the stock items simply plug into a PCB and if I replaced them I'd need to start changing pots, caps and doing all that soldering nonsense. I can't help thinking that the more I change in that guitar, the more it might lose that special 'something' that makes me love it. Eventually of course I will change the pickups but they won't be BKP unless they can make them with the correct connections for the PCB. I imagine I'll probably have to go to a custom winder to get that done.

[everyemptyvein]

Can we petition for BK to develop a quick connect system?

[one]

I'd be great but it wouldn't work for the guitars and bkps we already have, right?

[Yellowjacket]

One of the reasons I haven't changed the pickups on my Gibson Les Paul is because the stock items simply plug into a PCB and if I replaced them I'd need to start changing pots, caps and doing all that soldering nonsense. I can't help thinking that the more I change in that guitar, the more it might lose that special 'something' that makes me love it. Eventually of course I will change the pickups but they won't be BKP unless they can make them with the correct connections for the PCB. I imagine I'll probably have to go to a custom winder to get that done.

Heh.  My LP didn't have any of that PCB garbage in it and honestly, switching the pots, caps, and wiring to vintage spec. makes the guitar sound even better.

As for classic LP tones, it depends on what pickups you put in it.  The Rebel Yell set worked well with that guitar for rock mojo.  The A-Bomb in the bridge gives something with more of a customized or 'modded' tone to it.  I would gather, based on clips, that Mule / Riff Raff works best to preserve the classic LP sound and you'd probably get more of that Mojo that you like so much. 

BUT, I do agree that there is something uniquely 'gibson' about stock everything.  Whether that is a good or bad thing exists in the ear of the player.

[Chris Rowberry]

We feel that the soldered joints offer a better connection. We have no problem with anyone putting plugs on the end of the conductor but it isn't something we're looking into doing to be honest.

[darkandrew]

Do Gibson use standard plugs and if so it might not be a bad idea to offer the option of buying the pickups with the plugs already on.

[AndyR]

Are Gibson still using the PCBs? I had the impression that they received little love over them and were reverting back...

I've had one Gibson with PCB, and several since without (could be the models, though, I guess).

The one with, no longer has it. I must admit, even if BKP had offered the option of "plugs on" at the time, I'm not sure I'd have gone for it - I wanted the plug based stuff gone as quickly as possible.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I can only speak for my guitar, which is a 2013 Les Paul Studio. I'm happy to keep it because when I played that guitar it had a very definite 'something' that none of the other single-cut guitars I tried had. When you play it, you simply 'know' it's a Gibson and while I'm not sure what makes this happen, I know I want to keep it and that makes me very wary of any kind of change.

[gwEm]

Are Gibson still using the PCBs? I had the impression that they received little love over them and were reverting back...

I've had one Gibson with PCB, and several since without (could be the models, though, I guess).

The one with, no longer has it. I must admit, even if BKP had offered the option of "plugs on" at the time, I'm not sure I'd have gone for it - I wanted the plug based stuff gone as quickly as possible.

They are in a few models certainly. The ones which have the more esoteric switching options I think.

I can see the argument for better audio quality with soldering, but many mixers uses push on connectors internally, plus of course the guitar lead jacks themselves. Its ones of those things I'm keeping an open mind about. I quite like the smell of solder so ;)

[GuitarIv]

The quick connector system is certainly nice, especially for doing any quick swaps between pickups. I recall that even Duncan Blackouts accept the EMG solderless lugs. I don't mind doing soldering work however, it's a good way to relax imho and after all there's still the argument with the "tone loss". How much truth's in that, I don't care too much to be honest 

What I really like about EMG is the 81. It's certainly a one trick pony, but it's amazing at what it does. You have a consistent and tight sound for all things metal and there are days where I just need that. I love my BKPs but the 81 certainly has it's place and purpose 

[Ultimate-deFender2015]

The thing I like about EMG pickups is... they're quick and easy to remove and replace with non-active pickups...

Only kidding, not a big fan myself tried them a few times the quick change is handy and as for tonal consistency they do the job well.

If I had one issue with them I'd just say they sound too sterile for my taste but thumbs up to you if they're what floats your boat if we all liked the same old things then we'd all probably still be playing Gibson PAF's (not a bad idea in some peoples opinions)