Can We Talk EMG's? or Just Active Pickups?

[linthat22]

I am curious about the splittable EMG pickups, but I'm having issues with finding decent demos about them and was curious if anyone on here had any recommendations?

I'm not a fan of the 81/85, but figured I haven't explored their catalog enough.

Also, any Seymour Duncan active pickup users? I guess I shouldn't rule out Fluence, but they seem to be everywhere.

[ninjaraf]

I’m also not a big emg fan. Funnily, my kid loves emgs lol.

I liked the old Duncan livewires back in the day but it’s been forever since I’ve tried them. I liked the blackouts too. Way more output than most of the others. More similar to the hetfields.

Used fishmans for a couple of years. I liked them a lot with marks but hated them with 5150s. So they didn’t stick around when I back to 5150s.

I’m sure there are other options I haven’t tried.

[Guitarbilly]

I like EMGs. I think that for active tones, they're hard to beat. I love the 85 in the bridge position. Or the 89, which is a dual voice pickup that let's you alternate between the 85 and the SA.
The 81 has its place too, especially for heavier stuff.
I can't stand the Fishman though, they sound like nails in a chalkboard to me, they have this very fatiging mid hump.
It's been a long time since I've played the active Duncans but they were good IIRC.

I'd probably just go with EMGs tbh. I don't think I could have only active guitars, but it's good to have one in the collection.

[ninjaraf]

I don't think I could have only active guitars, but it's good to have one in the collection.

If I ever want to remember why I don't like EMGs, I grab one of James guitars and play it for 13 seconds and throw it back in his room lol.

[Guitarbilly]

I don't think I could have only active guitars, but it's good to have one in the collection.

If I ever want to remember why I don't like EMGs, I grab one of James guitars and play it for 13 seconds and throw it back in his room lol.

good thing you don't like EMGs or he'd have no guitars

[ninjaraf]

[Endtime]

In the right guitar the Duncan Blackouts really are my favorite. It’s in my yellow Fender Strat with the 2 Duncan single and everytime I play it, it’s like damn this is brutal. But they FEEL like a high out out passive In that guitar. They seem to be as picky as EMGs. But when it’s right it beats EMg , Fishman…

For splittable stuff i only know the 89. I mean it does split so there ya have it. I don’t know if there are many others besides Fishman that do a single coil sound

[RaceU4her]

I love my 81’s for pretty much everything, the 57 in my tele is kind of hit or miss, works well with a couple of my amps and not so much with others. I really gotta try laxkouts and fishmans

[linthat22]

I think I'm gonna try the Het set in my Berzerker, since it may provide the sound my ears are looking for. I appreciate everyone's opinion and experiences

[fastredponycar]

I've never been a huge fan of the 81/85 but I wouldn't mind giving the Jim Root set a try.