Members SoundCity120 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Yay or Nay: EMG 81 in Fender Strat? I wonder how this would sound. The body is alder and neck is maple. Right now the guitar has 3 single coil pickups. I want to reroute it for a humbucker but I don't know which one. I want something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JesterRace51 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 In before the "it will sound like a guitar with emgs" comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ¤ Matt ¤ Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I had one. It was very tight but didn't have much "tone". You might be better off with a higher output passive pickup like a BK Miracle Man or a Suhr Aldrich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dthraco Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I had the KH-20 EMG kit in my strat for a while (EMG81, S, S). Sounded Great for heavier stuff. meh for bluesy and bluesy rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BornUnderBadSgn Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 In before the "it will sound like a guitar with emgs" comments. this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Yay! I parted together the Strat on the left a few months ago. It rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DirtyBird Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I dont like 81's unless they're in dark or warm guitars. If that strat is in the middle range towards bright, stay away. dont believe the idiots who think EMG's always sound the same, they sound different (though distinctive) in every guitar I've put them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brick Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Ehh, I would vote nay, Alder+Maple+EMG=Ice pick highs and ear piercing treble yuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Ehh, I would vote nay, Alder+Maple+EMG=Ice pick highs and ear piercing treble yuck I don't know about that. My 2 EMGed guitars are Alder and they while they are bright, they aren't ear piercing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dewysoss Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Get an 85. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dolf Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I can't stand EMG's for anything other than metal/industrial. You simply cannot get the dynamics of a passive pickup with an EMG humbucker. It's not just the huge output, but when you dial back volume on EMG's, they become anemic and thin, not just cleaner. I think they're some of the better pickups out there for that really ON/OFF kind of sound as they're very very quiet pickups (stuff like Mindless Self Indulgence, etc) Anyway /rant. In reference to your question, the 81 is a pretty bright pickup. In an alder/maple guitar, I found that I liked the 85 quite a bit more (I tend to prefer AlNiCo pickups anyway). Warmer, clearer, not as harsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JesterRace51 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Get an 85 if it's a bright guitar. Definitely. I put an 85 in my alder jackson and it really balanced out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixtonoize Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Get an 85 if it's a bright guitar. Definitely. I put an 85 in my alder jackson and it really balanced out. That's exactly what I was going to say.I'd imagine that an 81 would sound pretty thin...I've got an 81 in an all mahogany guitar, and even in THAT, it could stand to be fatter. I really like the 707s in my Loomis, and that's a maple neck with ash, so it's pretty bright. The 707s are more like 85s...it's a good balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ruppert240 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I dont like 81's unless they're in dark or warm guitars. If that strat is in the middle range towards bright, stay away. dont believe the idiots who think EMG's always sound the same, they sound different (though distinctive) in every guitar I've put them in. yep, varying levels of crapiness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brick Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I don't know about that. My 2 EMGed guitars are Alder and they while they are bright, they aren't ear piercing. Really? I would think otherwise, maybe not. But then again, my idea of bright, and your idea of bright are probably very different. I hate Bright tones, so Mine are usually dark and thick, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JesterRace51 Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Really? I would think otherwise, maybe not. But then again, my idea of bright, and your idea of bright are probably very different. I hate Bright tones, so Mine are usually dark and thick, You're not fooling anyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 5150GSX Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I'm not a big EMG fan but a buddy of mine has EMG's in his strat and it's not bad. Granted the bridge is an 85 not an 81 so the highs are tamed. For tight metal stuff it works well. Stay away from the 81 though. It'll be too shrill I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Really? I would think otherwise, maybe not. But then again, my idea of bright, and your idea of bright are probably very different. I hate Bright tones, so Mine are usually dark and thick, This is very true. I mostly play my Recto through a Mesa oversized 4x12 so maybe that tames some of the harshness you are taking about as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixtonoize Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Do you have another strat with passives? If not, I'd wait until you have another guitar that you can keep passives in.EMGs really aren't for everyone, and you might be kicking yourself if you spend a bunch of time and money putting them in your guitar and don't like the results. If you've got multiple guitars, though, it's always good to have the option of using actives. They're DAMN good at being tight and focused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joeytpg Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 I have a strat with an 85/S/S combo, and it sounds really good. Those S single coils sound very very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brick Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 This is very true. I mostly play my Recto through a Mesa oversized 4x12 so maybe that tames some of the harshness you are taking about as well. Most likely, I'm sure those low mids help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rameumptom Posted June 4, 2009 Members Share Posted June 4, 2009 Do it. Mine sounds {censored}ing killer. 81/sa/sa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reauchambeau Posted June 5, 2009 Members Share Posted June 5, 2009 I have an early 90's Mexi Strat that I put an 81 in. I only use it for br3wtalz and it delivers the goods. I wouldn't suggest it for anything but metal though, I'd get a passive paf style for anything else. EMG's do take over your tone a bit but it works for metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TU BE Posted June 5, 2009 Members Share Posted June 5, 2009 Do it. Mine sounds {censored}ing killer. 81/sa/sa Holy {censored}ing {censored} dude!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BrendanO Posted June 5, 2009 Members Share Posted June 5, 2009 In before the "it will sound like a guitar with emgs" comments. Uh, wouldn't that be because it's a guitar...with EMGs? Just throwing it out there, dude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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