Most remarkable thing about the Emerald - more than with any other pickup I've come across - is how crunchy it is on the low strings but stays mega thick when you widdle up the dusty end of the neck - most other pickups can go thin on the top strings/frets when you have a crunchy setting, not the Emmie!
Would you say it's mostly an LP-friendly pickup, or do you think it would work in bolt-ons as well?
That's a good question Phil. Thinking about it I would think its character is quite similar to the DiMarzios in my Axis, so if it's for a rock axe à la Charvel or so, it would surely work. I wouldn't put it in a guitar that's already overly bright. My Edwards is rather bright sounding for a LP and it works well there.
Think of it as a meatier/slightly more compressed VHII or a BlackDog with tighter bass and/or more top end.
I think taking a covered version fits that pickup nicely, as it rounds off a bit the inherent crunchiness.
In the description of the Emerald it says something of added wounds with thinner wire, I wonder if that creates the mix of crunchy rhythm and thick treble strings tones.
Played it again last night and it doesn't seize to impress me. I am getting used to the looks of the burnt chrome, wonder if I should burn that VHII in the neck myself to make it match - how does Tim do the burning?
8)