EMGs...

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:19 pm

I haven't heard enough pre/post EMG work by either artist to judge them by anything other than that silly headband Knopfler wears and the fact that Gilmour is a bit of a tubby bugger these days.

They were both using regular single coils when they recorded the tones they're known for.

euan · Post by **euan** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:20 pm

Brother in Arms era Knopfler was when he was using the Pensa MK1 with 85/SA/SA combo.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:22 pm

euan wrote:Brother in Arms era Knopfler was when he was using the Pensa MK1 with 85/SA/SA combo.

Brothers in Arms has "Walk Of Life" on it. I hold those pickups directly responsible. I'm sure they're also the reason for "Twisting By The Pool"

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:29 pm

Mike wrote:I know a good heavy rock sound (Metallica's Master Of Puppets)

EMG 81 and 85, same as nearly all their albums.

MIKE BACK HANDEDLY ADMITS HE LIKES EMGZ!!

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:30 pm

I think you'll find Hetfield was nowhere near EMGs on Master of Puppets

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:41 pm

No, he used Angry Duncans with Ceramic Magnets and followed Hammet onto EMG for Ride the lightning.

Some EMG active's use alnico magnets, they are not intended for high gain as such, more of a volume boost. Gilmour moved to EMG because he got fed up with external interference mainly from the lighting rig. Without re-reading his techy's book im not sure if he resolved this with a Pedal of sorts when he moved back to passive pickups. I know he uses a Rocktron Hush.

Post by **dots** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:18 pm

Fran wrote:No, he used Angry Duncans with Ceramic Magnets and followed Hammet onto EMG for Garage Days Re-Revisited.

fixt

ride came before puppets, and james' switch to actives was in the garage/justice era. he's tended to stick to the 60/81 config on all his guitars since with few exceptions ('52 b-bender tele and a '63 sg for example).

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:00 pm

Well, Hammet used EMG on Master and if anyone can pick his guitar out on the tracks and say "that's shit" then that's lolworthy.
To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:28 pm

Fran wrote:Well, Hammet used EMG on Master and if anyone can pick his guitar out on the tracks and say "that's shit" then that's lolworthy.
To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.

Aye.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:20 pm

Fran wrote:Well, Hammet used EMG on Master and if anyone can pick his guitar out on the tracks and say "that's shit" then that's lolworthy.
To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.

All the rhythm stuff (the stuff that sounds good) is Hetfield. I don't like the widdlies.

Hammett has never played a rhythm guitar track on a Metallica record - in fact he can barely play them live.

Hetfield, however is probably the best metal rhythm guitarist to ever chug a chug.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:21 pm

Fran wrote:To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.

That's amusing. You seem to have no problem when the shoe is on the other foot.

What was that "anyone who uses pedals is a n00b?". Yeah good one.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:33 pm

Mike wrote:
Fran wrote:To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.
That's amusing. You seem to have no problem when the shoe is on the other foot.

What was that "anyone who uses pedals is a n00b?". Yeah good one.

That was a joke, clearly(?) I've always used pedals myself as you know.

Your negative dismissive attitude towards EMG is based on two models at best without any interest or reasoning, despite the other products. You even brushed aside there could possibly be any merit even when its pointed out some of the worlds greatest (Non-Metal) players have used them.
Whatever, think what you want.

Leisureclub · Post by **Leisureclub** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:57 pm

I had a friend with an ESP metal guitar, EMG equipped and it was a feedback nightmare, dude was physically distraught, kind of funny actually. He complained to me about that guitar every time I saw him for like 6 months. I never heard it though, probably something stupid causing the trouble.

My only experiences with them were in bass guitar's. I loved their standard J-bass set and I was sad to see that bass go. I played a P-bass with their standard set for those and I also loved it. J-bass neck on a P-bass body with an active J pickup near the bridge would have been my favorite instrument ever. Too bad I gave up the bass before I had the money to go hog wild.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:03 pm

our former bassist has a 70s strat with some sort of EMG singles in it, i think they're actually worth a bit of money as a set... they sound ok from what i can remember (except when the battery runs out).

i used a precision bass with an EMG on our batch of recordings last year, i have no idea if it sounded good or not, it could have been made from cardboard and rubber bands for all i know. i'll admit to turning my nose up at it slightly to begin with, but P basses sound like P basses no matter what you do to them.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:26 pm

that's interesting about brothers in arms era knopfler. didn't know he was using EMGs then. that album is fucking brilliant.

the 80s era gilmour stuff is SUPER cheesy though. it actually almost comes back around to cool again it's so cheesy. the gilmour tone worth fussing about is like, shine on you crazy diamond. THAT is a badass tone. I think he was using Duncan SSL-1s.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:14 am

Leisureclub wrote:I had a friend with an ESP metal guitar, EMG equipped and it was a feedback nightmare, dude was physically distraught,

I'd be very surprised if this was the pickup's fault. They're fairly well known for providing a very clean sort of dirt, if that makes sense.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:54 am

Fran wrote:
Mike wrote:
Fran wrote:To judge a pickup company based on two models seems naive and ignorant to me.
That's amusing. You seem to have no problem when the shoe is on the other foot.

What was that "anyone who uses pedals is a n00b?". Yeah good one.
That was a joke, clearly(?) I've always used pedals myself as you know.

Your negative dismissive attitude towards EMG is based on two models at best without any interest or reasoning, despite the other products. You even brushed aside there could possibly be any merit even when its pointed out some of the worlds greatest (Non-Metal) players have used them.
Whatever, think what you want.

I'm also joking, did you cunningly miss the part about Gilmour getting fat?

chisa · Post by **chisa** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:15 am

EMGs are ok, they just have a bad reputation for being a "metal" pickup - which they play on anyhow.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:16 am

Leisureclub wrote:I had a friend with an ESP metal guitar, EMG equipped and it was a feedback nightmare, dude was physically distraught, kind of funny actually. He complained to me about that guitar every time I saw him for like 6 months. I never heard it though, probably something stupid causing the trouble.

You know, my guitar did the same. Don't know why. Also had mad hum when it was plugged in at home, also don't know why. 81's have a bit of a reputation for microphonic feedback, if their site's support forum is anything to go by.

Also, I found this on some other forum, wonder how y'all think it holds up:

"I find passives to be a little "dry" sounding and prone to percussive "spikeyness" if a guitar isn't played very lightly. Passives with a more even frequency response are difficult to come by due to the nature of their design (unless a very weak pickup is used). EMGs have a more even frequency response because they use weaker magnets and coils which aren't wound as much. Some people hear this as "compression" but in reality it's "less inductive spikeyness" they're hearing, not a compression. The pickups just don't make certain frequencies jump out more than others--it's not like they're compressing it though. At higher volumes, the effect is quite amazing--with the more even EQ response, the amp doesn't seem to suffer "woofy lows" or "glassy highs" as easily.

With passives, the resonant frequencies of the guitar and the pickups interact and it can be tricky finding "the right pickup for the guitar". EMGs generally don't have that problem (I imagine that's why there aren't a whole lot of EMG designs). As long as your guitar sounds good, the EMGs should let the guitar sound good. If the guitar isn't that great, then you'll get what people refer to as the "lifeless sound" which they look to passives to cure. Given that passives have that inductive spikeyness, they can make a less lively guitar sound more lively.

The 81 is probably what makes a lot of people think EMGs are overall "not very natural sounding" because it's more aimed at focus and aggression. I want a classic sound, so the 85s are going in. Although they still have high output, they have alnico magnets and a warmer overall sound. I'll probably use the volume turned down somewhat--with EMGs, this results in a naturally lower output compared to when you turn the volume down on passive pickups. And I am going to put in an EMG-RPC to tame the lows and add more "twang" to the highs when I want it."

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:30 am

Interesting reading. I'd love to hear a set of BKP War Pigs compared directly to an 81/85 set.