EMG pickups - have they no soul?

glw · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: EMG pickups - have they no soul?

The other night I saw a certain band, who were all perfectly competent but for me the whole thing was ruined by the guitarist's sound. He had a Gibson Les Paul which had been loaded with EMG pickups. WHY do some people do this? EMG pickups just sound like EMG pickups. You could put them on a shovel and they'd sound the same. They don't seem to transmit any of the natural nuances of sound from the guitar itself, hence putting them into a guitar such as a Les Paul is, in my book, complete sacrilege. Why bother with the Les Paul. Stick them on a piece of crap if all you're interested in is that horrible sound.

I suppose they are OK for digitally processed sounds as they don't really have any soul, and are completely lacking in any vibe. But on a Les Paul going into a tube amp? No thanks!

Sorry... rant over. (For now).

Michael · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:57 am Post subject:

Wasn't metal or some trollap was it?

glw · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:17 am Post subject:

Not sure what you mean, Mike.

HOWEVER, last night I saw The Damned, and Captain Sensible was playing an EMG-loaded ESP LTD Viper guitar. It sounded fine to me, although he was playing through a whole load of Line 6 gubbins. So perhaps this is what it's all about, EMGs and digital processors go nicely together. Oh, and a t least he didn't have them stuck in a Gibson Les Paul.

lee_UK

glw wrote:

The other night I saw a certain band, who were all perfectly competent but for me the whole thing was ruined by the guitarist's sound. He had a Gibson Les Paul which had been loaded with EMG pickups. WHY do some people do this? EMG pickups just sound like EMG pickups. You could put them on a shovel and they'd sound the same. They don't seem to transmit any of the natural nuances of sound from the guitar itself, hence putting them into a guitar such as a Les Paul is, in my book, complete sacrilege. Why bother with the Les Paul. Stick them on a piece of crap if all you're interested in is that horrible sound.

I suppose they are OK for digitally processed sounds as they don't really have any soul, and are completely lacking in any vibe. But on a Les Paul going into a tube amp? No thanks!

Sorry... rant over. (For now).

So the EMG's are off your christmas list?
And this coming from a man who thinks it is perfectly OK to have holes in the body of his strat, and also owns agiant Goodies style cat.

1bassleft · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:08 am Post subject:

There's at least a valid point here. I'm not sure about EMGs and their built-in leccies either. I was going to "upgrade" a bass but was warned (eerily, just like glw described), that I'd get "something that just sounds like EMGs"

Anyone else tried them and got "tastes like chicken" out of their instrument?

lee_UK · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:16 am Post subject:

Ive never even been tempted to try an EMG loaded guitar in my local shop.
As glw says, you know what you are going to get, there wont be any surprises, i don't like them, im no shredder and ive no intentions on taking up a 3 year shredding course, although... ive heard the course comes with a free 'Michael Anglelo wig' the same one Angelo wears and a pair of his finest spandex... no im still not tempted.

Michael · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject:

glw wrote:

Not sure what you mean, Mike..

Sorry, just a jab at metal having no soul.

glw

lee_UK wrote:

So the EMG's are off your christmas list?

I did have an EMG in the Fernandes Revolver guitar that I used to have (the neck pickup was a Fernandes Sustainer jobbie) but the whole guitar was wrong for me, so I didn't keep it.

lee_UK wrote:

And this coming from a man who thinks it is perfectly OK to have holes in the body of his strat, and also owns a giant Goodies style cat.

My Strat has plenty of sustain despite the holes (heavy American Ash body), and Russ Ballard thought it was cool.

Lou_Ranko · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:16 am Post subject:

Hello all. Expat Manc here barging in on your forum.

<takes>

Well, I installed EMG's T-Set on my old Tele this year, and it's the best thing I've ever done. They're absolutely silent - I mean no hum - very powerful and the tone range is stunning. They can make any sound you like. I would never change back.

I've also got EMG-HZ's on me Spector Bass and they basically erm, pee on anything else I've ever used. Absolutely every tone imaginable, crystal clear and very loud if need be.

So, that's about it. Cheers!

lee_UK · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

There you go glw, one satisfied EMG customer!

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