Author Topic: EMG/B.K. (Read 6967 times)

StefanPrice · « **on:** June 05, 2006, 09:58:57 PM »

Hi, Howdy and Hello.
I was just wondering if any of you look at this the same as me.

I think that alot of the time people miss the piont and compare EMG pickups directly to passive.
I think, well actually I KNOW that Bare Knuckle pickups are the best passive pickups in the world, but with my other favourite pickup, the EMG's, I don't compare them
to passive pickups like some people do because they are SO different.

Its like comparing a violin to a trumpet, you would use which ever sound you wanted, I use BK when I want "the best" passive pickup sound, and if I want the smooth compressed EMG sound I will use those.

What do you think.

OD-Black_Fire · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2006, 10:20:35 PM »

I agree. EMG's aren't totally useless. That open organic sound isn't always the best option!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2006, 10:54:48 PM »

I replaced the EMG's that I had had put in my Strat with Apaches. You are right they are a different beast altogether and that is why I changed. I am not knocking the EMGs as they had their sound but I prefer the Bk's- just my taste.

deg0ey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2006, 10:56:04 PM »

^ +1...except the bit about actually having the BKP's, i'm to poor at the moment - but they're next on the cards when i have money :)

j7899 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2006, 04:26:06 AM »

I have used every active pickup EMG makes for guitars(58, 60, 81, 85, 89). They all sounded cold and sterile to me, when I first got them they were great but they wore off and sounded the same. Now they sound great if you are pushing a 100W tube amp. They just do not seem to pickup the tone of the guitar's wood, but rather override it with their own. The only pickup I liked by them was the 60 and the 89(which does not sound like the 85), but I didn't like either enough to stay with EMG.

StefanPrice · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2006, 10:03:05 AM »

Thats what I am saying, If you have got one guitar, then Unless you love the EMG sound I wouldn't use them, but if you have got several several guitars, its good to have one with the EMG sound because they do have their own sound.
Someone mentioned them sounding sterile, the EXACTLY what I was talking about when I was talking about people compairing them, you can't because they are not like a normal pickup thats just trying to be noiseless, like Fender vintage noiseless, they are a completely different pickup altogether and when I want the pure tone I use those, when I want another sound its BK's etc.

MDV · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2006, 10:50:48 PM »

No doubt about it, EMGs are great pickups. I have a set of 81/60 in a yamaha SG. They go well with the mahogany (very dark gutar, even for mahogany; my expreience is contrary to popular opinion: EMGs do sound different in different giutars, just not as different as many other pickups: I've had my 81 in 4 quite different guitars and got 4 different flavours of the EMG sound).

The sound I go for them for is very compressed, dry metal. The 60 does a good impression of blues, too.

I use my BKs most of the time (80 or 90%) but theres no reason to pick one sound only and exclude any others. If you have the guitars for it, I say go for whatever variety of tones turn you on. There are lots of great sounds out there. BK is one, EMG another. its all good 8)

deg0ey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2006, 11:07:16 PM »

Just got back from a gig where they were playing an EMG loaded les paul through a miked up marshall MG50...It did NOT sound pretty

It's people like that who give EMG's a bad name - I've never tried them myself, but i'm sure they'd sound great through my ENGL (anything does :P )

Davey · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2006, 12:53:37 AM »

dude...

dont dis the pups if the amp blows chunks... MG50? and you are wondering why it sounded horrible?

emg's have their time and place. not for all use, but they have their uses.

deg0ey · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:38:08 AM »

^ Yeah, i know...I've never heard EMG's through a decent amp, all I know about them is either hearing this band with them through MGs, and people on various forums talking about them...My point is that on many forums people are slating them, but I don't know what amps they'd been using them through, and that could be the root of all their bad tone

Having said that, I'm glad I found this forum - It's the only place where people don't spout shite because it's what they think they've heard someone else say (ultimate guitar is especially bad for this)...

For example, once at another forum I asked whether I could play bass through my screamer if I disconnected the speaker and plugged it through a bass cab...All I got was "it's dangerous because the speakers aren't built to take it" like people were reading from a script instead of reading what I asked

Oh well, I love you guys :D - wow this is in the region of a Dave length post by the look of it

ztevie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:50:53 AM »

People are bashing EMG's cause actives are considered fake and artificial sounding, you are supposed to play through "real" passive pickups.
I think it's bull, every pickup has it's advantages and disadvantages...

deg0ey · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:53:57 AM »

I agree with that mr ztevie, but unfortunately I don't have the money (or guitars) to get the hardcore EMGs lol

hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2006, 09:03:07 AM »

Just to agree with some others here. I had a 81/85 set in my Hamer, put back the old passive ones (van zandt and JBsh4).

Had P81/P60 in my Gibson (these arer P-sized EMGs) and threw them out for BK P91/92s. Anyone wanna buy the EMGs?

For me, EMGs are nice for a little while, but they get me bored quickly.

ztevie · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:50:00 AM »

I have a Schecter with a 81 and a 89, and I'm very pleased with them...
It's just that I found the MiracleMan which I have in another guitar, and soon in a third, sounds better than anything I tried before, including well known brands as SeymourDuncans etc...

But sure, the EMG's has their rightful place in the world of pickups.

gingataff · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2006, 12:41:20 PM »

Thinking of pro EMG users, who really has a great tone? For metal rhythm they work but not many lead players get a good sound. Zakk does a reasonable job but Kirk Hammett? Nah!

Steve Lukather can get a good tone from a toilet brush but even he sometimes has a slightly fuzzy sound, his tone on No Substitutions is great, I'm sure that knucklehead with the bass cab helps there! Larry Carlton had a great sound with EMGs but again, his fingers are made of gold and he uses Dumble, and he's back with passives now anyway.
So what about Vernon Reid? AMAZING PLAYER! But again his tone is weird, so fuzzy but it works for him.

If I was just playing downtuned metal rhythm I'd probably go for EMGS but I try to get above the 5th fret now and again