Which one does this?

[Slartibartfarst42]

I was looking at some You Tube videos and came across this by Andy James. Now, other than the incredible playing, I was surprised at how much I really liked his neck tone here. I'm not naturally a fan of EMG as they're too tight and surgical for my tastes but this neck tone sounds much fuller, and more creamy than that so I was wondering which BKP would give this neck tone? (Starts at about 30 seconds in)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm3QTgIdT8o

[schantist]

Why not try the new EMG 57/66 set that Andy James is using in this clip ?
Less "surgical and tight" that the usual EMG...

[Slartibartfarst42]

I had no idea what EMG pickups were used in this clip and I'm not particularly fussed about the bridge tone; it's just the neck tone I really like. I have no real desire to mix an active neck with a passive bridge so it made sense to ask which BKP would give me that neck tone (or at least as close as possible to it).

[Toe-Knee]

I had no idea what EMG pickups were used in this clip and I'm not particularly fussed about the bridge tone; it's just the neck tone I really like. I have no real desire to mix an active neck with a passive bridge so it made sense to ask which BKP would give me that neck tone (or at least as close as possible to it).

These are the new EMG active pafs.

Theyre something ill be grabbing at some point soon.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Clearly I'm not the only person impressed by these pickups and as nobody has suggested a BKP that sounds like the 66, I assume there isn't one. Pity. I was thinking of getting another guitar for more of a hot PAF feel and was naturally wanting BKP but when the time comes I may have to go with these instead.

[Toe-Knee]

Clearly I'm not the only person impressed by these pickups and as nobody has suggested a BKP that sounds like the 66, I assume there isn't one. Pity. I was thinking of getting another guitar for more of a hot PAF feel and was naturally wanting BKP but when the time comes I may have to go with these instead.

I don't quite understand peoples aversion to EMGs. They have a very specific sound but they are the only pickups that do what they do as well as they do.

I spent years trying out alternatives just to come back to EMGs.

These ones are definitely what i'll be looking at once i get a LP

[Slartibartfarst42]

I wouldn't say I have an aversion to them, it's just that I generally find passives and certainly BKP to be warmer and more organic, but then that is largely based on the 81/85 I'll admit. Even though I really like the EMG 66, as BKP are easily the best pups I've ever tried I naturally wanted to see if something in the range hit this kind of tone, especially in the neck but if there isn't, I would get the EMG set. The other reason I wondered about a BKP version of the 66 is that I wasn't as keen on the 57 in the bridge and if I got a bridge BKP it would also be a zebra finish so I'd rather be able to have a matching neck pickup in terms of finish and being passive.

[Toe-Knee]

I get you.

I think pro guitarshop did a comparison with a gibson LP with the stock pickups and they were very close but the EMGs had a bit more detail and better cleans.

I'll see if i can dig it up for you.

[ericsabbath]

I honestly don't hear anything new on these new models
they sound just like the old EMG 60
difference from the usual 81 and 85 is that they are less hot and less middy, but still sound very "active"
nothing "classic" about them, although some might like them as they sound (like EMG's!)
marketing is bitch, and as open minded as I can be, these didn't impress me as supposedly innovative products at all
also played the hetset and I couldn't hear anything people say about it being warmer, nd more organic and bla bla bla
I even prefer the regular 81, which has a stronger and unique character

back to the bkp subject...
guess the first options would be the black hawk, aftermath and painkiller neck models
and some heavy boosting

[Slartibartfarst42]

I know what you mean Eric and in all honesty, my response to the bridge was exactly the same. To me it didn't sound drastically different to any other EMG and I confess, when I first saw the video I assumed it was an 81/60 combo or maybe an 81X/60X combo. It was the neck pickup that really stood out for me as it has all of the qualities I like in a neck pickup. It seemed very articulate with a thicker sound than I normally associate with EMG. It was smooth and creamy, reminding me of early Dave Murray when he was using a DiMarzio PAF and had just enough compression. My direct experience of BKP neck humbuckers is limited to the Cold Sweat and Emerald so I wondered if there was anything else in the range that did this. The Emerald is closer to it than the Cold Sweat for sure so I was assuming the equivalent  BKP would be either from the vintage or vintage hot ranges. Perhaps the Emerald IS the closest equivalent. Having said that, I believe the Painkiller neck is very fluid but having said that, having never actually tried it, I can't say how PAF sounding it is in the way this EMG 66 seems to be. The ceramic magnet would suggest not but then the 66 uses ceramic pole pieces so who knows?

[dingleberry]

I get fairly similar tone from my vhii neck, a bit thicker but stilll same kind of fluid yet articulate sound

[EffigyForgotten]

The 66 is probably hotter than the Miracle man/Warpig neck models, and the Miracle Man neck model is often regarded as very smooth and creamy. The 57 is actually hotter than the 81, but has better chord clarity and a more even sound (this is coming from someone who actually owned both and played both side by side). TBH to me this sounds like the perfect pickup.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'm amazed they're that hot but in a weird way, you're right. I've always loved PAF tones bot I also like the compression you get from a hotter pickup so perhaps these could be the perfect pickups for me too. At the moment I have a Jackson Soloist with a Miracle Man and Sinners and a PRS SE Custom 24 with a Holydiver and Emerald. I was thinking that within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson as I'm getting too old for such a guitar and just get another Custom 24 but fit it with something like an Abraxas set for more of a Santana sound but I may just put these EMG pups into it instead.

[GuitarIv]

within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson

DIBS!!! Hit me up when you sell it ;)

[JJretroTONEGOD]

within the next year or two I may get rid of the Jackson

DIBS!!! Hit me up when you sell it ;)

me too! ...damn you beat me to it lol