Metal Pickups in Les Paul?

RockGuitarX · #1 05-10-2007, 02:31 PM

I have been researching pick-ups/humbuckers for the past 3 months and I am still searching for the right pair to buy! I have the EMG-81/85 set and I despise the compressed "artificial" tone I get from them. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom and Marshall (Mode Four) MF350 half-stack. Does anyone have any ideas on what pick-ups would sound good through this set-up? I really like a Symphony-X, Nevermore and Arch Enemy type of tone. Dimarzio's and Duncans are what I'm thinkin?

**Ayrton** · #2 05-10-2007, 02:54 PM

Your question is so open ended that it is impossible to answer. You need to start with what you do not like about the EMGs. Both DiMarzio and Duncan have tone charts to aid you in your search. Other than that I would suggest the search button to read the multiple threads here on pickups.

RSVampire · #3 05-10-2007, 02:57 PM

try doing the 18v mod to your EMG's by running 2 9v batteries. Supposed to help all kinds on dynamics like night and day.

If you're still dead set on buying new pickups I'd say you should get something like a Steve's Special-Air Norton combo or a Norton-Paf Joe combo.

**jaxadam** · #4 05-10-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

try doing the 18v mod to your EMG's by running 2 9v batteries. Supposed to help all kinds on dynamics like night and day.

+1 on that, although I personally think the 18V mod works better with 81 and 60.

I was going to suggest 81/60 w/ 18 V mod.

But other than that, I'd go the Duncan route. JB/Jazz combo is really great. Duncan Hybrids tend to be pretty good for metal (IMO) because they have a sharper attack.

All kinds of stuff to try out there.

RockGuitarX · #5 05-10-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

Your question is so open ended that it is impossible to answer. You need to start with what you do not like about the EMGs. Both DiMarzio and Duncan have tone charts to aid you in your search. Other than that I would suggest the search button to read the multiple threads here on pickups.

Well I love the bottom end and rythm of the emg but the lead sucks. For some reason I get a really compressed sound. I want the pickups to breathe open tone ya know?

RockGuitarX · #6 05-10-2007, 03:04 PM

How do you put 2 9volts in? What else do you have to buy to do that?

mockjam · #7 05-10-2007, 04:44 PM

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mgollihur/emgmod.html

I was thinking of doing the 18v mod to my guitar, are there any disadvantages to it?

**jaxadam** · #8 05-10-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockGuitarX

How do you put 2 9volts in? What else do you have to buy to do that?

Just get another 9V clip, and hook it up in series (red wire from new clip to old clip black wire that was on ground). Then connect new clip's black wire to ground, pop another battery in there, and have a ball.

EMG 60 in neck with 18 V sounds very, very good for lead.

**jaxadam** · #9 05-10-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mockjam

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mgollihur/emgmod.html

I was thinking of doing the 18v mod to my guitar, are there any disadvantages to it?

Nope, and if you don't like it, it takes about 30 seconds to reverse.

thadood · #10 05-11-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxadam

Nope, and if you don't like it, it takes about 30 seconds to reverse.

The only thing that's a disadvantage is having to replace two batteries rather than one. I believe that link about the mod posted a few spaces up says to use two NEW batteries when you do this.. you really should. You don't want one battery to die before the other.

I've done the mod to my EMG 85/81 (bridge/neck) equipped Schecter Omen 6, and it did make a night and day difference. The sterile tone associated with EMG's was diminished and almost neglible.. and the tone was MUCH more defined and usable. It depends on your ears, too. My lead guitarist just shrugged and said he didn't notice a difference, haha.

Algiman · #11 05-11-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockGuitarX

Dimarzio's and Duncans are what I'm thinkin?

Widen your thinking - A set of bare knuckle pickup Warpigs sounds in order:
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-warpig.html

Kind of pricey but I've tried a few of their range so far and I've not yet failed to be impressed.

markg5150 · #12 05-11-2007, 04:55 PM

What about Suhr Doug Aldrich - his Whitesnake tone is killer
http://www.suhrguitars.com/pickups.aspx

rvai · #13 05-13-2007, 12:45 AM

I would consider JB/Jazz as my main choice, though i do lile EMGs

RockGuitarX · #14 05-15-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvai

I would consider JB/Jazz as my main choice, though i do lile EMGs

I dunno though only because I tried the JB/Jazz in a SG and it sounded amazing but it was really bassy on my amp... so it makes me think of my Les Paul which = more bass

Roadstar · #15 05-15-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockGuitarX

Well I love the bottom end and rythm of the emg but the lead sucks. For some reason I get a really compressed sound. I want the pickups to breathe open tone ya know?

in duncans get a 59 set
in dimarzio the virtual PAF set

the rest is up to your amp