It's BS. I think EMGs are very warm. They are very, very clear, and perhaps this is what strikes some players as being "cold". They just show so many dynamics without mud that I can understand how they could come off as abrupt. But you get used to them. I can't live without them. They have such an even, wonderful cut-thru tone no passives can match. Nothing against passives, I have scads of DiMarzios and Duncans, and both companies make great pickups, but my main guitars have EMGs. They just work so well for me. Been using them since 1986. And NO, I didn't get into them because of Metallica, but rather because I loved the tones I was hearing from Lukather, Gilmour, Knopfler, and many other outstanding players. Gary Moore was using them too. They are very versatile. I love the 81TW/89 set. Just fantastic. If I had to only use one brand of pickups I'd stick with EMGs.
If we’re talking that 50’s blues or pop sound definitely but i mean think of clapton’s woman tone, or the intro to bring it on home by zeppelin, Duane Allman’s sound, Jimi Hendrix, etc. isolated the sound is actually much brighter than it sounds on the record but in the mix it sounds really big, warm, and throaty in Hendrix’s case. To be fair the mix and the player is a majority of whats created the misconception that “vintage means bright” but to me its an understandable misconception
@@angusorvid8840 I am treating myself to a DG20 set that I will put into the cheapest Harley Benton ST20 CAR maple fingerboard Stratocaster - will be comparing on channel. I put EMG J Pickups on a cheap J & D bass - £125 bass and £122 pickup. Awesome bass. No need to shield. I really love my other basses with Alnicos etc but I keep going to that dirt cheap anti tonewood bass.
That’s what I have on my ‘85 Squier strat. Except mine is 3 SSS instead of HSS. EMG SLV set. OMG! What a big difference in my sound! EMG’s are great! Love ‘em.😌🎶❤️👍🏾
The comma after the first "very" makes no sense, and for "those pickups" (which is plural) it should be "sound", not "sounds". Learn a language before you use it. I wouldn't use Italian if you weren't fluent in it for example. A bit disrespectful and arrogant :P
A very nice review and great playing. I’ve played EMG’s since 1985 and I’ve pretty much played them all. Plenty of variety for any player or genre. Big fan of the Alnico 85’s and 57’s and the Retroactives. I used to play the 81’s for years but over time I’ve gravitated from the ceramics to the Alnico pups. Anyone worried about battery life, forget it. I change my batteries once a year and never had one die on me in over 30 years. Just don’t leave them plugged in when not playing.
Thanks @danranger and @michaelnugent for info on the battery life. I just picked up a Roadhouse Deluxe Strat swapped to EMG SAs and I was curious how often to check the 9V.
I tried EMGs yesterday and was blown away by the active tone circuit!! For a jazz fusion dark clean warm sound, the tone was amazing on a Squier, absolutely brilliant!! Even with the tone on zero, the guitar retained clarity and warmth. I'm swapping my 2017 Elite strat pu with some EMGs. That's for sure. CRAZY TONE CIRCUIT!! Kind of a revelation to me, I only slept 4 hours, already up checking out EMGs.... Great demo man, I love it!
now thats the kind of thing I like to read when I'm on the fence with something. Most people just repeat whatever the popular fad is at the time and that is why so many comments are just annoying. I would much rather read a comment like yours..no b.s. just pure enthusiasm
The EMG 57/66 combo on my LTD EC-2015 Anniversary carried me through the whole of The Voice (of Bulgaria) franchise with almost no need to reach for another guitar. Given the range of styles we had to cover, that must mean something. Fit great in the band, was a joy for the FOH guys and was fab on television. Can't complain :) RJ's observation about the judicious use of volume and tone controls is the key here! Well done!
I played only passive pickups from age 16 up until age 45. Picked up an LTD EC1000 with EMGs and holy shit, I’m kicking myself for not having done it sooner. They are so incredibly responsive, and sound amazing both clean and with distortion.
I use EMG Pickups since my whole life as a musician. I also use guitars with other (passive) pickups, mainly DiMarzio. And i must say, that i often prefer my EMGs. Especially in recording. I don't understand the general hate against actives.
It's like driving a manual transmission some people like it some people don't..... If you haven't done it your whole life it's not going to be fun for you....
@@keithadams812 learning how to drive manual makes you a better driver, too. Because you HAVE to properly control your vehicle even while you're multitasking (changing gears)
@@cheeseUout i feel like EMGs hides my mistakes when soloing vs my passive pickups. Passives taught me to better my muting/pickinf technique when playing solos
I have the Ernie Ball BFR Luke first generation with the EMG set. I love the guitar but have not been crazy about the sound until after watching this video. I rolled the tone and volume way down and it sounds AMAZING!! Can’t believe I’ve been so dumb all this time!
I played guitars with passive pickups for 20 years. I got my first guitar with EMG's a couple years ago. I didn't like them at first. Once I learned that I had to EQ the amp differently I started to really like them. I immediately noticed how much quieter they were. I used to get feedback from my amp if I turned toward my cab. I still really like my guitars with JB/59 combo but I think I will convert one more to Actives.
@@mitchconnerandsometimesjlotoo I am talking about noise and feedback. I play with a full 100watt stack and my passive guitars always want to feedback.
I was always kind of against active until I got a guitar as a gift with the 81 85 set and that is now my metal guitar tuned to B standard and I swapped the pickup order
Dude! I can't tell you how many times I've tried to explain what active pickups ACTUALLY do to people that just read forums and think that they know. Now I just have to send a link to your video! Thank you. Great vid, sounds great
Little tip. I've bought this set 10 or so years ago and I've put the 9v battery under the backplate tremolo cavity. If you straight out the springs and put two one side and space out the other to the other side,you have the right amount of space to fit the 9v block. And you have easy access to the battery without removing the strings. Just 6 little screws and you have access.
Meh, there are issues with that setup. First of all, the spring configuration is really important depending on the setup & the style of music a person plays. String gauge is also another major factor at play here. The heavier the strings, the fewer springs can be taken away, & anything over 10's requires every spring to be in place or the trem won't function properly. Another major possible hang-up could come from the type of tremolo. Many Strat players prefer aftermarket trems, that in many cases wouldn't allow this scheme to work. Lastly, most Strat players I know, including myself, don't keep the backplate on. Taking it off opens up resonance & lets you feel the string vibrations against your hip or chest, where ever the guitar sits on you, allowing for a more intimate playing experience with haptic feedback so to speak.
@@JeighNeithergood to know thank you. I have a strat in my collection and it was originally a fender bullet. Which was my first real new guitar back in 98. Now it’s a 59 Strat. Thank to an amazing tech.
What a beautiful sound came from your guitar! Wonderful subject for this review Ronquillo! Steve Lukather, David Gilmar and Mark Knopler can't be wrong!
@@michaelsteven1090 No his black strat had passive pickups but he did use EMGs in his red strat that he used extensively throughout the '80s and early '90s
Man you play so beautifully ! It’s so melodious to listen. Others must learn how to play honestly. ! It’s not only about crazy distortion and extreme shredding
Great, intelligent review! I'm an "older" guy and have used EMG's in some of my guitars since the 70's. They do require you to get familiar with your amp. I have some vintage passive's that are brilliant but I've grown increasing sensitive to the 60 cycle hum. (combined with tinnitus!) The newer EMG X series is impressive- very natural sounding and crazy versatile. I recently put an EMG 89XR in the neck position of a prototype guitar I snagged on eBay and can now capture the sweet spot for single coil neck position. Pure bliss/ no noise / crystalline clarity / articulate attack - I'm sold.
There's the fact that you have to half disassemble the guitar to get at the battery. :O What's the life of the battery anyway (if you don't forget to unplug)? Love the playing/tones, btw.
Didn't know Lukather played active pick-ups. Prince did as well in his Cloud guitars. I have his Cloud and I love the active pick-ups in it. Yes, you need to roll back the tone knob more on the active pick-ups I find as well.
I love my EMGs I have them in both squires I've got just an 81 in the bridge on one. On my other I've got a 60 in the bridge and two singles and the amount of tone options is epic.
I dont see why people hate them. I've used them for ages. I can get a Death Metal tone with low gain. It basically saves you the need for a boost pedal on your pedal board. Purists are just way too close-minded. Sounded great to me. 👍👍
@@An2oine So do a lot of pedals. Plus, they also look nicer than most open humbuckers. Take Fishman pickups and the recent EMG lineup where they've been doing stuff like brushed chrome or gold which all look beautiful.
@@An2oine depends on the pedal and what kind of gig I’ll be running but in short, I prefer not to use either. What I usually run though is an amp sim on my laptop output to the speakers for a live show with a foot switch connected to the sim. Foot switch is also connected to an outlet for power. Most PSUs are made for a bunch of pedals at once and I always have to deal with a ton of wires which I don’t want on top of what I already have to deal with. Just one pedal and a computer keeps the set up nice and clean.
Damn! This sounds nice! I was one of those people who thought active Pups was only for really REALLY heavy tones, but the clean sounds are really good! Kind of twangy as well
The secret to getting rid of 60-cycle hum is to move to the UK. Presto-change-o! 50-cycle hum. 😅 Jokes done, I think the pickups sound fine, but I don't think I'd ever be inclined to want to worry about batteries, especially a drop-in solution where access is only by removing the pickguard.
@@Mykkus Still not inclined to go in that direction. In the 20 years I've owned my Strat, I've never removed the pickguard. The day I do would only be to install a set of CS '69 pickups or some other repair.
EMG batteries last 3-4 years. I change mine after 3 and the battery that I remove still have lots of power. I have had EMG's in my Tele since 1991 and Have never ran a battery dead yet. It is also the best tone that I have ever heard in a Tele.
For what it is worth, you don't necessarily have to remove the pickguard. A normal Strat has a pretty flexible pickguard. The battery is likely to fit under the pots, and if that is the case it will be enough to unscrew three screws or so to lift it up.
I have EMGs in my vintage Steinberger, (S,S) Tele, (S,H) Duo Sonic, (H,H) Les Paul. Really want them in a Strat. Great for modulation effects. Very quacky cleans! Thank you R.J for giving active pickups another go!
I added an extra battery and switchable 9v/18v mod, which {in 18v} makes the clean tones sound less sterile and gives them more headroom. I do prefer 9v for high gain though.
I play at weddings, EMG is my way to go, I love the sound and the vince gill set lets you have SSS configuration with an additional boost(in the tone knob) that not just adds volume but fatness. Love it!
I moved to EMG's in the late 80's with my '86 Strat and those are still in there today (SA's). I just swapped out the pickups in another Strat going back to the SA's after trying 3 different sets including Fender Pure Vintage Custom Shops. This time I went with the David Gilmour set and I LOVE them. The tone controls act as pretty much presence and a mid boost and they're the first tone controls I've ever found useful. I can get almost any sound I want out of that set. I have Fishman Fluence in one of my Tele's (Greg Koch set) and I LOVE those in that guitar as well. That said, the Fishman Fluence Strat set is one of the ones I tried in the Strat I put the EMG's in and I hated those in the Strat. I have close to 20 other guitars and they're all traditional pickups, but of the 4 guitars I use most, it's the 2 Strats with EMG's, the Tele with the Fishmans, and another Tele with custom shop pickups that I love.
I have a Japanese strat with SA's in a DG20 set up and an American 52 reissue Tele with EMG T's. I can play any style on either Axe and they sound awesome.
I love this channel. You have some great info.. I love Active pickups.. Love them.. I'm 61 and when I started playing back in the day I gigged a little and I played at these bars that were in buildings where the electric wires and wiring in general sucked. I was shocked a couple times, and that was it.. Passives you become the ground when touch the strings. I've heard the arguments that they're too compressed, but I think that's not true. I think people like to be mad at something.. hehehe I love them. I have the old soldered 3 EMG SA's and I'm probably going to get a new pickguard and use a EMG 85x in the bridge and one of my SA's in the neck, because I like a Humbucker / Single coils setup. The middle pickup gets in my way and I rarely use it as I play mostly blues, rock, hard rock and metal.. Been playing for 45 years almost.. Great channel man and thanks for the info.. Very cool. Sounds great to me all the tones you were getting.. Thanks again. Tim (Southern Indiana. USA The heartland)..
This video and Fluff’s Beard files video are exactly why I’ve gutted all pickups from my guitars and strictly use EMG pickups. They are an amazing innovation, but most importantly very consistent, quiet, dynamic, clear and durable from elements and sweat that would cause them to short or even go microphonic. They are indeed balanced, but balanced in a way that lets you sound like yourself; a put in left field reference would be transparent OD’s like Timmy, Klon and the Dumble sounds. They let you’re playing come through and allow you to add or cut whatever you need on the volume and tone knob and mainly let you focus on adjusting your amps character sound to your hearts content. They are very misunderstood and very underrated piece of gear and I personally have enjoyed the ability to just pick up a guitar and focus on playing rather than fiddle with tone on the guitar for hours on end. Thank you for making this video and I hope people consider actives in their setup. :)
Dang, this actually legitimately made me re-think how I looked at active pickups... I kinda want to try them now, for versatility reasons Thanks for the super informative video!
Thank you for this video. I really recommend that you check out what the tone controls do when you are considering active PUs. E.g. I have a Strat with the EMG DG Pickguard on it. It has two tone controls, one is a midboost and the other boosts the low and the upper frequencies. With the controls all on zero it is almost like a passive Strat with the tone controls on 10. Then in switch positions 1, 3 and 5 with the midboost you can really nail down DG, EC and SRV tones. In positions 2 and 4 with the low / high boost you get the most lovely in-between-sounds I have ever heard from a Strat. If you don't use your tone controls on your guitar active PUs don't make sense I believe.
Love'em. For most of my purposes, they fit so much better in the mix than other pickups I've used.. I love love love the sound of p90s, jazzmaster pups... really, there are a lot of things that sound super good. But for the past couple years, I've really been bonding with EMGs and Fishman Fluence Moderns.
I love actives. I also love passives. For me, depends on the guitar, and the general mood of the day. I like the tight precision of actives, but I also love the musicality and personality of passives. That strat sounds AMAZING btw.
I mostly associated active pickups with metal and thought it was the best for that, but not much else. But this video makes me think I should consider them more seriously for other genres, especially since you mentioned David Gilmour uses them
Soon as the chorus pedal came on everything totally made sense for me. Personally, I would never replace those pickups in that guitar. That was a really good sound.
I'm so glad I found this review. The only time I've ever used active pickups was on a bass for recording. They evened out all the levels almost like someone was riding the levels and it was awesome. I build guitars and just finished my first with a Lukather set up, as per customer request. I plugged it in and was kind of shocked by how toppy and harder to really drive they were. That being said, after watching this and messing around with the tone control and some effects, it sounds fantastic. Thanks for all you do. You got a new subscriber.
Just wanted to let you know this: somehow I stumbled upon this video while investigating about active pickups. Not much to say until there. The thing is I saw the video with my 6 months old boy and found out he loves the demo. I play it out for him almost daily haha. So there, you have a little fan.
Thank you for this demo video! Even if EMG pickups aren't for the everyday tones I am chasing, I really dig some of the tones you got here. While listening I realized this is the kind of set I would need for some specific tones I've not been able to get with passive pickups.
I have the same set. Tried lots of passives but these shine. They make me play different. I love how they sound in low gain. The dynamic range is awesome.
This is one of the reviews that finally made me purchase a set. I think it's going to give me what I've been searching for. I want a smooth consistent sound, that allows natural and pinch harmonics to really pop.
Your description is very correct. I myself have the DG set, so I don't have a tone knob, but I find the SPC does a great job of adding some meat when you need it. I'm not completely sold on the EXG yet, but maybe I'll find a use for it some day. That said, your point about these being great for the studio is spot on. Then again, I love that 80s stuff, so maybe I'm biased..😄
One thing that is not often mentioned is that EMG makes passive pickups as well. I know EMG is widely known for the active humbuckers for that heavy metal sound, but the EMG passive HZ' are out there.
I think this is one of the very best sounds I heard from you, and you are just playing and checking them out, wait until you know them well.... great pickups
Love it I just ordered EMGS for my 7 string as it was a childhood dream but was always too poor lol 😂 love this channel everytime i tune in. You make just good quality demos man, salamat po
wow man, I gotta say I've seen your comments on almost every single guitar video I've been watching over the last month. I must have watched every video about schecter guitars on youtube! I've been shopping for my first guitar (just recorded my entire album with my bandmates guitar, and they want it back!) and I picked up a schecter reaper 6 and i'm not super sold on the pickups. so I impulse bought a used LTD ec-1000 with these active EMGs and its arriving sunday... lol Im only keeping 1 guitar, but if i gotta switch out for duncans, I might as well try these EMGs first. Anyway, that's my story, thanks for listening lol. rock on dude I'm sure I'll see you around XD
@@DruNature LOL i definitely spend way too much time these days on UA-cam browsing through gear vids lol those EC-1000s are always quality. I legit think that it doesn't get much better past that in terms of craftsmanship and quality. but yeah gotta say Duncans I like more than EMGs but i also just like passives because i like to swap out pickups when im bored and with actives it's process unless you stay active. GL on your gear journey!
Thanks for the video, this is without a doubt the best video on this subject I’ve ever watched and I have watched hundreds over the years, this is also the first time I have watched one of your videos, you are a very talented player and unlike most videos on this subject don’t try to trick someone into agreeing with your opinion. Good luck keep playing and will try to keep following your channel.
I bought a fender squier telecaster affinity and replaced the pickups with EMG t-series (specifically for telecasters). A big tip is that the squier version of thr tele is a little different from a real tele. You can pop these pickups right into a telecaster no problem, but on a squier tele you can’t without routing out more space for the battery and volume control. Even after routing it out some, it’s a very tight fit. I would 100% recommend doing this. The pickups were about as expensive as the guitar was, but doing thr work and slowly replacing the parts with good stuff makes you feel closer to the guitar and more important to me. I still haven’t quite figured out what a good height to have the pickups away from thr strings but just used my judgement. Guitar transformed from a dud to a stud.
Knowing almost nothing about pickups at the time I bought a used strat with EMGs in it in 1996. I've always loved the sound of that guitar, then bunch of years ago I started watching a lot of guitar UA-cam, which has given me this nagging feeling that I should swap them out for "real" strat pickups. I can't quite bring myself to do it though! This was a great demonstration as to why.
I’ve had a set of emg dg20’s in mine for a couple of years now and, I couldn’t be happier. I get a more vintage tone with the pu’s lowered and a p-90’ish tone when they’re raised. I haven’t noticed anything close to a “sterile” tone from them.
Excellent demonstration as usual RJ. I have a set of Gilmour EMG's on one of my Strats. They just have that hi-fi sound that is enjoyable to me...and they're noiseless which always bothered me too about traditional single coils.
The way I feel about my guitars with EMG active‘s is that none of them are my desert Island guitar. But they can be incredibly fun with beautiful tones and are just another tool to have in your arsenal. They do something that passives don’t. Whether that is good or bad is subjective. I personally use them for looping and mixing with electronic music and they are great because of all the noise you would get from a passive doesn’t stack up in the loop, especially with tons of effects. You can still get them to feedback and do all the tricks you would with a set of passives.
First of all, great and brilliant playing! Second, I am surprised at how versatile these pickups sound. They are really great! Has me thinking of getting some for sure.
Used to own a Valley Arts with EMG HSS pickups, anMusic man Alberts Lee signature that I installed some old EMG Overlends in, and a custom Tele with EMG-T's. Excellent even response, and all the nay-sayers had to agree it sounded great. Of course I don't use a lot of overdrive, being more a sort-of Amos Garrett and Cornell Dupree guy. BTW Mr. Ronquillo, excellent work! Love your vids!
Being an occasional bass player guitar players really miss out with active pickups. A 3 band EQ really blows the doors open tonally with actives. With a guitar an EQ pedal really helps with actives. Set up the EQ pedal for a warm clean tone and engage for cleans. For dirt turn it off and run the tone knob for EQ. That's for indie rock and goofball metal rhythm work. They make some great bluesy/funk rhythm tones as well. The extra clarity sits well with greasy blues/Dorian solos.
I was just like to add, there is a tiny bit of "sterleness" on the cleans, compared to great passive pickups, but I believe that can all be "dialed out" a bit with EQ pedals and or just tweaking knobs
Man you're saying exactly everything I have said this year. I love modifying strat bodies, I always change out the pups in my guitars. only guitar right now that I have that have stock pups is my 2021 60's standard Epi I got from my daughter for Xmas this year. And that's cause actually I think they sounds great and I haven't had time to swap them. But as I get older and my eyes get worse I'm finding it harder to solder, so been looking into this whole "EMG" solderless thing this past week.. Only problem with trying to find a good demo for EMG's on youtube is everyone tunes down and just chugs the crap out of it and it's just noise to me. Although I did hear Faulkner do a demo for 57/66s which sounded nice. and I do have a strat that I was thinking about his Lukather set.. I have never owned or played active pups in the 40 years I've been playing.. I always told myself I will never get EMG's. but never say never..i wish Seymour would make their pups solderless. That would be awesome.
I been thinking of building a franken-strat using a baritone neck off of another fender then sticking EMGs into it for metal. Not sure if its safe though.
I love this EMG set, have the early version which still use soldered switch and pots. I put the battery in the back cavity by using only 2 tremolo springs for easy access.
For a live situation they're probably the best choice to me, cause they fix most of passive pickups "problems" and they give you the perfect range of frequencies to fit better in the mix. In a studio situation we can debate what's better but i think taste in guitar tone is always different among guitarists.
Long time EMG fan. Grew up on those live recordings of Lukather and Gilmour, which sold me the pickups. Played my entire life with guitarists who used EMGs. I mainly prefer mid gain on distortion and all of my guitars sound so tasty! My most favorite classic rock recording on EMG single coils are Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell and Toto’s live show at Montreux in 1991. SLV, I believe is actually 6 poles but overwound to make it sound more like a P90. Where SA (Gilmour version) is a plain rail bar. THanks for a fantastic jam/demo of these!
This is great. Really helped me decide on giving active pickups a try. I love that you can dial in the preamps there the same as you would anywhere else in the signal chain.
EMG pickups are the best. I've used them for 20 years. Started with a 81/85 set (the ones you actually had to solder) and then installed a T-System on a custom made Telecaster. A year ago I got an SA set for a strat and now a 60/81 set for a reverend. They sound great, no noise, batteries last years and they look cool. I think in the future all my guitars will have emgs
ironically EMG active singiels are very good to the vintage tone. I love this company because they made good pickups for different styles of music: starting with blues to metal
I love my ltd te1000 (charcoal black) with emg 81 in bridge, 60rw in the neck (all stock). I also have the same pick up set up in my LTD te401. The covers on the emgs on the 401 are plastic, the ones on the 1000 are brushed nickel.. both guitars sound absolutely amazing. Drains very little power from battery to. Noiseless. I think they're fantastic pickups for heavy metal distortion and they also sound really good clean in my opinion
Just throwing this in. Mark Knopfler had EMG’s on his Pensa Suhr’s. He had the 85/SA/SA set with the SPC boost on a push pull. One of those guitars (the quilt maple topped one) sold for over £500,000 recently at his massive guitar auction. He retains at least one more which is in black he’s retained and used on his 2024 album on the song ‘Scavengers Yard’. The song just oozes compressed EMG goodness.
A few years ago was in LA walked into a GC played a sun valley guitar that had active pick ups. Through a Fredman amp. Really love the sound that they had. I bought that guitar later. As years have gone by the active pick ups or trash. Maybe it’s the age on them or u have changed. My goal is to get rid of those and regular pick ups in the guitar. Probably Seymour Duncan’s buckers. The actor pickups sound better if somebody else playing them, but they are not for me.
I've had this exact set in my strat since 2011, and along with a Baggs bridge it has made that strat my most gigged, most versatile guitar. People bag on EMGs, but the right sets / combos shine. I have an MJT build with an SLV single and 89R hum which I very much looking forward to getting back from the luthier completing the build! Thanks for a very fair, informative review!
Thought that was very cool. Nice demo. Never realized how much variety of tone was available, especially from just tweaking the volume and tone knob. Thanks for the review.
Been lusting for a Reb Beach sound. I don't need active all that time, but that cool compression of actives with an locked Floyd Rose. Fuck, I just sooooo goey greasy good!
I play recently a masterbuilt strat wiv 81-S-S EMGs, first impression wasn`t that great but daily musical work now shows `em in a very advantageous way. Love their controlability and now prefer actives to passive. Great for pop music genres.
I always thought that the old Eric Clapton Signatures with the Gold Lace Sensors sounded great. Contemporary to be sure, but just a great tones all their own both clean and with the mid boost. Also liked being able to control the amount of breakup from the guitar. You can also do that from the volume knob, but these are two different sounds. Gives you a lot of sounds before you even think about a pedal. Makes it easy to plug in anywhere and still sound good. The new Claptons sound good too, but I like the gold sensors better.
I recently upgraded my Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe 60th Anniversary with Lace Sensor Gold pickups and the Mid Boost Circuit and I'm in love with the sound now! The EMG SL20 sound great as well...just wandering what an EMG SPC would add
I have a mix of active and passive pickup guitars and though I like both, my favorite guitar is my ESP\LTD Cult 86 with EMG 85\SA\SA pickups. It's pretty much a lawsuit Stratocaster so it sounds pretty identical to the guitar you were demoing in this video. I have the same thoughts about the pickups too, the volume really acts like the master volume on a stereo system or a mixer and bringing it up or down doesn't change EQ attenuation at all which makes it REALLY easy for recording and makes for killer volume swells. They also sit really nicely in a mix if you are playing rhythm guitar for heavy music and it doesn't step on the bass player's toes when your chugging away or doing lower note runs. I don't hate passive pickups! I like to use them if I want a solo to pop out and stand out and I don't care where the frequencies go or what they cross over onto when jamming or recording or if I'm just simply in full show-off mode trying my best to be a shredder lol. When I'm playing with musicians or recording the foundation of the music I prefer to use active pickups simply to have more sonic control.
Great review! You can get this model and the Gilmore model left handed if you call EMG. It cost the same but it’s a special order. Just ordered my SL20.
I love my (old) EMG's... I have an old SA-SA-85 set from 1986 and a set of the same from 2009. The old ones sound a lot less compressed and have a lot more headroom, for whatever reason. But I love the new ones too. they just sound a bit different. All types of pick-ups have their place.
I used EMG SAs in a super Strat in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and they worked great. I recently put that old set into an Ibanez AZ244F with a basswood body and they sounded fuller and better IMHO than the Duncan Hyperions it came with. The full-range quality is what makes them useful. By the way, rolling off the tone can give a pretty decent jazz tone, too.
I bought my Schecter C-1 Platinum with an EMG 85 at the bridge. I played it as is for a year. Just couldn’t warm up to the pickup. Tried many different ways of trying eq it to suit my taste. It isn’t a criticism to say that it just had neither the bite nor the depth I wanted. Nor did it have the ability soften down the way I wanted. I replaced it with a Lace Sensor Nitro Hemi. More range. Very responsive. Better highs, better lows (actually any lows) , great mids. It allows me to choose my sound as I play. More… depth. Glad people have found their sound with these. I sold the EMG 85.
Really appreciate you going into a deeper dive on this setup (and great playing as always!) Would be interested to hear what you make of some of the other EMG control configs, such as those in the Dave Gilmour set (mid boost & bass/treble boost setup)
Great playing and a great review! I’m building a travel guitar in the steinberger style and changing out the pickups for active style. Since it’s mostly playing through headphones while in a hotel or late at night I didn’t want any 60 cycle hum or buzz in my ears... thanks again for the review!
I have no clue where this "vintage warm tone" shit came from lol. Most vintage guitar tones were bright as fuck. Great playing and great tone btw.
Maybe because when they old the sound get warmer
It's BS. I think EMGs are very warm. They are very, very clear, and perhaps this is what strikes some players as being "cold". They just show so many dynamics without mud that I can understand how they could come off as abrupt. But you get used to them. I can't live without them. They have such an even, wonderful cut-thru tone no passives can match. Nothing against passives, I have scads of DiMarzios and Duncans, and both companies make great pickups, but my main guitars have EMGs. They just work so well for me. Been using them since 1986. And NO, I didn't get into them because of Metallica, but rather because I loved the tones I was hearing from Lukather, Gilmour, Knopfler, and many other outstanding players. Gary Moore was using them too. They are very versatile. I love the 81TW/89 set. Just fantastic. If I had to only use one brand of pickups I'd stick with EMGs.
If we’re talking that 50’s blues or pop sound definitely but i mean think of clapton’s woman tone, or the intro to bring it on home by zeppelin, Duane Allman’s sound, Jimi Hendrix, etc. isolated the sound is actually much brighter than it sounds on the record but in the mix it sounds really big, warm, and throaty in Hendrix’s case. To be fair the mix and the player is a majority of whats created the misconception that “vintage means bright” but to me its an understandable misconception
@@angusorvid8840 I am treating myself to a DG20 set that I will put into the cheapest Harley Benton ST20 CAR maple fingerboard Stratocaster - will be comparing on channel. I put EMG J Pickups on a cheap J & D bass - £125 bass and £122 pickup. Awesome bass. No need to shield. I really love my other basses with Alnicos etc but I keep going to that dirt cheap anti tonewood bass.
@@angusorvid8840 I have a 81/60 bridge neck 1985 ? in a ES-335 clone ( Yamaha SA2000) everyone that hears it is amazed.
That's how a pro makes a review. Very, very well done. And, those pickups sounds awesome to my ears. Thanks
Reading this comment before the video started and then hearing "active pickups, wtf." is the highlight of my week xD
@@therealgrapesoda 😁
That’s what I have on my ‘85 Squier strat. Except mine is 3 SSS instead of HSS. EMG SLV set. OMG! What a big difference in my sound! EMG’s are great! Love ‘em.😌🎶❤️👍🏾
The comma after the first "very" makes no sense, and for "those pickups" (which is plural) it should be "sound", not "sounds".
Learn a language before you use it. I wouldn't use Italian if you weren't fluent in it for example. A bit disrespectful and arrogant :P
That's strange. My "self absorbed, xenophobic, language bitch" stream get crossed with my "professional thoughtful guitar reviews" stream get crossed?
A very nice review and great playing. I’ve played EMG’s since 1985 and I’ve pretty much played them all. Plenty of variety for any player or genre.
Big fan of the Alnico 85’s and 57’s and the Retroactives.
I used to play the 81’s for years but over time I’ve gravitated from the ceramics to the Alnico pups.
Anyone worried about battery life, forget it. I change my batteries once a year and never had one die on me in over 30 years. Just don’t leave them plugged in when not playing.
Exactly. I went for years without changing my batteries. Such a nonsense argument.
Thanks @danranger and @michaelnugent for info on the battery life. I just picked up a Roadhouse Deluxe Strat swapped to EMG SAs and I was curious how often to check the 9V.
I tried EMGs yesterday and was blown away by the active tone circuit!! For a jazz fusion dark clean warm sound, the tone was amazing on a Squier, absolutely brilliant!! Even with the tone on zero, the guitar retained clarity and warmth. I'm swapping my 2017 Elite strat pu with some EMGs. That's for sure. CRAZY TONE CIRCUIT!! Kind of a revelation to me, I only slept 4 hours, already up checking out EMGs....
Great demo man, I love it!
If you have the tone at zero, you literally only have warmth xD
now thats the kind of thing I like to read when I'm on the fence with something. Most people just repeat whatever the popular fad is at the time and that is why so many comments are just annoying. I would much rather read a comment like yours..no b.s. just pure enthusiasm
The EMG 57/66 combo on my LTD EC-2015 Anniversary carried me through the whole of The Voice (of Bulgaria) franchise with almost no need to reach for another guitar. Given the range of styles we had to cover, that must mean something. Fit great in the band, was a joy for the FOH guys and was fab on television. Can't complain :) RJ's observation about the judicious use of volume and tone controls is the key here! Well done!
I played only passive pickups from age 16 up until age 45. Picked up an LTD EC1000 with EMGs and holy shit, I’m kicking myself for not having done it sooner. They are so incredibly responsive, and sound amazing both clean and with distortion.
I use EMG Pickups since my whole life as a musician. I also use guitars with other (passive) pickups, mainly DiMarzio. And i must say, that i often prefer my EMGs. Especially in recording. I don't understand the general hate against actives.
It's like driving a manual transmission some people like it some people don't..... If you haven't done it your whole life it's not going to be fun for you....
@@keithadams812 learning how to drive manual makes you a better driver, too. Because you HAVE to properly control your vehicle even while you're multitasking (changing gears)
@@cheeseUout i feel like EMGs hides my mistakes when soloing vs my passive pickups. Passives taught me to better my muting/pickinf technique when playing solos
because no one likes batteries.. the desire to throw them into the ocean is too powerful for any man to resist
Seymour duncan blackouts are way better
I have the Ernie Ball BFR Luke first generation with the EMG set. I love the guitar but have not been crazy about the sound until after watching this video. I rolled the tone and volume way down and it sounds AMAZING!! Can’t believe I’ve been so dumb all this time!
I played guitars with passive pickups for 20 years. I got my first guitar with EMG's a couple years ago. I didn't like them at first. Once I learned that I had to EQ the amp differently I started to really like them. I immediately noticed how much quieter they were. I used to get feedback from my amp if I turned toward my cab. I still really like my guitars with JB/59 combo but I think I will convert one more to Actives.
@D. A. I like the Jazz in the neck too. Can't go wrong with either one.
Strange, my passive sounds quieter.
@@mitchconnerandsometimesjlotoo I am talking about noise and feedback. I play with a full 100watt stack and my passive guitars always want to feedback.
I was always kind of against active until I got a guitar as a gift with the 81 85 set and that is now my metal guitar tuned to B standard and I swapped the pickup order
My other electric guitar has a JB in the bridge and the slash alnico pickup in the neck with a five-way switch and it's pretty versatile
Dude! I can't tell you how many times I've tried to explain what active pickups ACTUALLY do to people that just read forums and think that they know. Now I just have to send a link to your video! Thank you. Great vid, sounds great
I recently tried the tele and I'm hooked..still love my strat but I don't pick it up very often....thanks for this info
Little tip. I've bought this set 10 or so years ago and I've put the 9v battery under the backplate tremolo cavity.
If you straight out the springs and put two one side and space out the other to the other side,you have the right amount of space to fit the 9v block.
And you have easy access to the battery without removing the strings. Just 6 little screws and you have access.
Meh, there are issues with that setup. First of all, the spring configuration is really important depending on the setup & the style of music a person plays. String gauge is also another major factor at play here. The heavier the strings, the fewer springs can be taken away, & anything over 10's requires every spring to be in place or the trem won't function properly. Another major possible hang-up could come from the type of tremolo. Many Strat players prefer aftermarket trems, that in many cases wouldn't allow this scheme to work. Lastly, most Strat players I know, including myself, don't keep the backplate on. Taking it off opens up resonance & lets you feel the string vibrations against your hip or chest, where ever the guitar sits on you, allowing for a more intimate playing experience with haptic feedback so to speak.
@@JeighNeithergood to know thank you. I have a strat in my collection and it was originally a fender bullet. Which was my first real new guitar back in 98. Now it’s a 59 Strat. Thank to an amazing tech.
What a beautiful sound came from your guitar! Wonderful subject for this review Ronquillo!
Steve Lukather, David Gilmar and Mark Knopler can't be wrong!
I'm eyeing this exact set at the moment and come here and find that the perfect guy has done a rundown. Thanks Ron, love your reviews.
I have the David Gilmour DG-20 set in one my strats and I love it.
Just popped that set in one of mine last week, and wow! What an awesome set of pickups! Any sound you want is at pinky length with the tone controls!
so....Did his black strat have active pu's?
@@michaelsteven1090 No his black strat had passive pickups but he did use EMGs in his red strat that he used extensively throughout the '80s and early '90s
This DG set brought my MiM strat to LIFE.. (while i do still enjoy the old pickups in a reliced strat copy, sometimes)
I put in the DG20 in my 1981 Squier Stratocaster. The old PUs were beginning to die. Totally new guitar!
Man you play so beautifully ! It’s so melodious to listen. Others must learn how to play honestly. ! It’s not only about crazy distortion and extreme shredding
For real. This dude kicks ass
I love videos debunking misconceptions! and I love both passive and active pickups, they're just different sounds.
Great, intelligent review! I'm an "older" guy and have used EMG's in some of my guitars since the 70's. They do require you to get familiar with your amp. I have some vintage passive's that are brilliant but I've grown increasing sensitive to the 60 cycle hum. (combined with tinnitus!) The newer EMG X series is impressive- very natural sounding and crazy versatile. I recently put an EMG 89XR in the neck position of a prototype guitar I snagged on eBay and can now capture the sweet spot for single coil neck position. Pure bliss/ no noise / crystalline clarity / articulate attack - I'm sold.
My only issue with active electronics as I often forget to unplug my guitar and the battery dies, But that’s more my issue than the pick ups fault 🤘🏽
Don’t do that!! Lol
Yep. Learned that the hard way🤘
NINE VOLTS STOCK UP ON THE NINE VOLTS LOL
yeah- that's the only downside i see so far...
There's the fact that you have to half disassemble the guitar to get at the battery. :O
What's the life of the battery anyway (if you don't forget to unplug)?
Love the playing/tones, btw.
Didn't know Lukather played active pick-ups. Prince did as well in his Cloud guitars. I have his Cloud and I love the active pick-ups in it. Yes, you need to roll back the tone knob more on the active pick-ups I find as well.
Do you have the Schecter?
@@carvinblack yes, the Schecter. You'll see it on my channel in the videos for my Right Here Waiting cover and My Little Red Corvette cover
You should start building guitar pickups with a name like DiMuzio.
@@angusorvid8840great idea 🤘😋
Hey David, big fan!
I love my EMGs I have them in both squires I've got just an 81 in the bridge on one. On my other I've got a 60 in the bridge and two singles and the amount of tone options is epic.
I dont see why people hate them. I've used them for ages. I can get a Death Metal tone with low gain. It basically saves you the need for a boost pedal on your pedal board. Purists are just way too close-minded. Sounded great to me. 👍👍
They use these things called batteries.
@@An2oine So do a lot of pedals. Plus, they also look nicer than most open humbuckers. Take Fishman pickups and the recent EMG lineup where they've been doing stuff like brushed chrome or gold which all look beautiful.
@@wingsoficarus1139 So you are telling me you use batteries rather than PSU with your pedals?
@@An2oine depends on the pedal and what kind of gig I’ll be running but in short, I prefer not to use either.
What I usually run though is an amp sim on my laptop output to the speakers for a live show with a foot switch connected to the sim. Foot switch is also connected to an outlet for power. Most PSUs are made for a bunch of pedals at once and I always have to deal with a ton of wires which I don’t want on top of what I already have to deal with. Just one pedal and a computer keeps the set up nice and clean.
@@An2oine you scared of a battery?
Damn! This sounds nice! I was one of those people who thought active Pups was only for really REALLY heavy tones, but the clean sounds are really good! Kind of twangy as well
The secret to getting rid of 60-cycle hum is to move to the UK. Presto-change-o! 50-cycle hum. 😅 Jokes done, I think the pickups sound fine, but I don't think I'd ever be inclined to want to worry about batteries, especially a drop-in solution where access is only by removing the pickguard.
Batteries last for years in the emg set. No worries in loosing it on a gig.
@@Mykkus Still not inclined to go in that direction. In the 20 years I've owned my Strat, I've never removed the pickguard. The day I do would only be to install a set of CS '69 pickups or some other repair.
Trane Francks different strokes. I’m not a fan of the 69s (prefer 54’s) but I generally prefer telecasters or paul Reed Smith style guitars anyway
EMG batteries last 3-4 years. I change mine after 3 and the battery that I remove still have lots of power. I have had EMG's in my Tele since 1991 and Have never ran a battery dead yet. It is also the best tone that I have ever heard in a Tele.
For what it is worth, you don't necessarily have to remove the pickguard. A normal Strat has a pretty flexible pickguard. The battery is likely to fit under the pots, and if that is the case it will be enough to unscrew three screws or so to lift it up.
Having an LTD with EMGs and never want to change. The EMGs are awesome !
I have EMGs in my vintage Steinberger, (S,S) Tele, (S,H) Duo Sonic, (H,H) Les Paul. Really want them in a Strat. Great for modulation effects. Very quacky cleans! Thank you R.J for giving active pickups another go!
I will get this week my first Japanese Fender Stratocaster 1984-1987 with exactly this EMG SL20 pickup set and pickguard. 😍🎸
I added an extra battery and switchable 9v/18v mod, which {in 18v} makes the clean tones sound less sterile and gives them more headroom. I do prefer 9v for high gain though.
I have one of my guitar with emg 81 85.
I play it more than others..
EMG pups are more articulated and dinamic ..
They're simply the best for me..❤
I play at weddings, EMG is my way to go, I love the sound and the vince gill set lets you have SSS configuration with an additional boost(in the tone knob) that not just adds volume but fatness. Love it!
I moved to EMG's in the late 80's with my '86 Strat and those are still in there today (SA's). I just swapped out the pickups in another Strat going back to the SA's after trying 3 different sets including Fender Pure Vintage Custom Shops. This time I went with the David Gilmour set and I LOVE them. The tone controls act as pretty much presence and a mid boost and they're the first tone controls I've ever found useful. I can get almost any sound I want out of that set. I have Fishman Fluence in one of my Tele's (Greg Koch set) and I LOVE those in that guitar as well. That said, the Fishman Fluence Strat set is one of the ones I tried in the Strat I put the EMG's in and I hated those in the Strat. I have close to 20 other guitars and they're all traditional pickups, but of the 4 guitars I use most, it's the 2 Strats with EMG's, the Tele with the Fishmans, and another Tele with custom shop pickups that I love.
I have a Japanese strat with SA's in a DG20 set up and an American 52 reissue Tele with EMG T's. I can play any style on either Axe and they sound awesome.
I love this channel. You have some great info..
I love Active pickups.. Love them.. I'm 61 and when I started playing back in the day I gigged a little and I played at these bars that were in buildings where the electric wires and wiring in general sucked. I was shocked a couple times, and that was it.. Passives you become the ground when touch the strings. I've heard the arguments that they're too compressed, but I think that's not true. I think people like to be mad at something.. hehehe
I love them. I have the old soldered 3 EMG SA's and I'm probably going to get a new pickguard and use a EMG 85x in the bridge and one of my SA's in the neck, because I like a Humbucker / Single coils setup. The middle pickup gets in my way and I rarely use it as I play mostly blues, rock, hard rock and metal.. Been playing for 45 years almost..
Great channel man and thanks for the info.. Very cool. Sounds great to me all the tones you were getting..
Thanks again.
Tim (Southern Indiana. USA The heartland)..
This video and Fluff’s Beard files video are exactly why I’ve gutted all pickups from my guitars and strictly use EMG pickups. They are an amazing innovation, but most importantly very consistent, quiet, dynamic, clear and durable from elements and sweat that would cause them to short or even go microphonic. They are indeed balanced, but balanced in a way that lets you sound like yourself; a put in left field reference would be transparent OD’s like Timmy, Klon and the Dumble sounds. They let you’re playing come through and allow you to add or cut whatever you need on the volume and tone knob and mainly let you focus on adjusting your amps character sound to your hearts content. They are very misunderstood and very underrated piece of gear and I personally have enjoyed the ability to just pick up a guitar and focus on playing rather than fiddle with tone on the guitar for hours on end. Thank you for making this video and I hope people consider actives in their setup. :)
Dang, this actually legitimately made me re-think how I looked at active pickups... I kinda want to try them now, for versatility reasons
Thanks for the super informative video!
Thank you for this video. I really recommend that you check out what the tone controls do when you are considering active PUs. E.g. I have a Strat with the EMG DG Pickguard on it. It has two tone controls, one is a midboost and the other boosts the low and the upper frequencies. With the controls all on zero it is almost like a passive Strat with the tone controls on 10. Then in switch positions 1, 3 and 5 with the midboost you can really nail down DG, EC and SRV tones. In positions 2 and 4 with the low / high boost you get the most lovely in-between-sounds I have ever heard from a Strat. If you don't use your tone controls on your guitar active PUs don't make sense I believe.
Love'em. For most of my purposes, they fit so much better in the mix than other pickups I've used..
I love love love the sound of p90s, jazzmaster pups... really, there are a lot of things that sound super good. But for the past couple years, I've really been bonding with EMGs and Fishman Fluence Moderns.
Isn't it funny how the passive Nazi's say they're "dull" "lifeless" but then need a bunch of compression when mixing
I have a set of these in my 84 MIJ Squire that I modified years ago. I luv them.
I love actives. I also love passives. For me, depends on the guitar, and the general mood of the day. I like the tight precision of actives, but I also love the musicality and personality of passives. That strat sounds AMAZING btw.
I mostly associated active pickups with metal and thought it was the best for that, but not much else. But this video makes me think I should consider them more seriously for other genres, especially since you mentioned David Gilmour uses them
i feel the same way.. i hear gilmour and think okay maybe give em a try
I have EMG 66/57 on my 8 string. They sound absolutely beautiful for both beefy metal tones and clean tones. Especially the 57 in the neck position.
Soon as the chorus pedal came on everything totally made sense for me. Personally, I would never replace those pickups in that guitar. That was a really good sound.
I have EMGs on most of my basses and on my Telecaster. I love them. I have been using them since the early 80s. You certainly make them sound killer.
I'm so glad I found this review. The only time I've ever used active pickups was on a bass for recording. They evened out all the levels almost like someone was riding the levels and it was awesome. I build guitars and just finished my first with a Lukather set up, as per customer request. I plugged it in and was kind of shocked by how toppy and harder to really drive they were. That being said, after watching this and messing around with the tone control and some effects, it sounds fantastic. Thanks for all you do. You got a new subscriber.
I love actives! I have various active EMG's or Seymour Duncan Blackouts in almost every guitar I own.
This is such a great channel. I too suffer from buying too much gear online.
Just wanted to let you know this: somehow I stumbled upon this video while investigating about active pickups. Not much to say until there.
The thing is I saw the video with my 6 months old boy and found out he loves the demo. I play it out for him almost daily haha. So there, you have a little fan.
Thank you for this demo video! Even if EMG pickups aren't for the everyday tones I am chasing, I really dig some of the tones you got here. While listening I realized this is the kind of set I would need for some specific tones I've not been able to get with passive pickups.
I have the same set. Tried lots of passives but these shine. They make me play different. I love how they sound in low gain. The dynamic range is awesome.
This is one of the reviews that finally made me purchase a set. I think it's going to give me what I've been searching for. I want a smooth consistent sound, that allows natural and pinch harmonics to really pop.
Your description is very correct. I myself have the DG set, so I don't have a tone knob, but I find the SPC does a great job of adding some meat when you need it. I'm not completely sold on the EXG yet, but maybe I'll find a use for it some day. That said, your point about these being great for the studio is spot on. Then again, I love that 80s stuff, so maybe I'm biased..😄
One thing that is not often mentioned is that EMG makes passive pickups as well. I know EMG is widely known for the active humbuckers for that heavy metal sound, but the EMG passive HZ' are out there.
Yeah, but they're mostly cheaper models & not very well respected. Not sure about HZ's, but overall that's a vibe that's out there.
that is the best demo I've seen so far about that particulat EMG set ,
I think this is one of the very best sounds I heard from you, and you are just playing and checking them out, wait until you know them well.... great pickups
Love it I just ordered EMGS for my 7 string as it was a childhood dream but was always too poor lol 😂 love this channel everytime i tune in. You make just good quality demos man, salamat po
wow man, I gotta say I've seen your comments on almost every single guitar video I've been watching over the last month. I must have watched every video about schecter guitars on youtube! I've been shopping for my first guitar (just recorded my entire album with my bandmates guitar, and they want it back!) and I picked up a schecter reaper 6 and i'm not super sold on the pickups. so I impulse bought a used LTD ec-1000 with these active EMGs and its arriving sunday... lol Im only keeping 1 guitar, but if i gotta switch out for duncans, I might as well try these EMGs first.
Anyway, that's my story, thanks for listening lol. rock on dude I'm sure I'll see you around XD
@@DruNature LOL i definitely spend way too much time these days on UA-cam browsing through gear vids lol those EC-1000s are always quality. I legit think that it doesn't get much better past that in terms of craftsmanship and quality. but yeah gotta say Duncans I like more than EMGs but i also just like passives because i like to swap out pickups when im bored and with actives it's process unless you stay active. GL on your gear journey!
Just installed my...
it's up & working, a couple of days and already love them!
Thanks for the video, this is without a doubt the best video on this subject I’ve ever watched and I have watched hundreds over the years, this is also the first time I have watched one of your videos, you are a very talented player and unlike most videos on this subject don’t try to trick someone into agreeing with your opinion.
Good luck keep playing and will try to keep following your channel.
I bought a fender squier telecaster affinity and replaced the pickups with EMG t-series (specifically for telecasters). A big tip is that the squier version of thr tele is a little different from a real tele. You can pop these pickups right into a telecaster no problem, but on a squier tele you can’t without routing out more space for the battery and volume control. Even after routing it out some, it’s a very tight fit. I would 100% recommend doing this. The pickups were about as expensive as the guitar was, but doing thr work and slowly replacing the parts with good stuff makes you feel closer to the guitar and more important to me. I still haven’t quite figured out what a good height to have the pickups away from thr strings but just used my judgement. Guitar transformed from a dud to a stud.
Knowing almost nothing about pickups at the time I bought a used strat with EMGs in it in 1996. I've always loved the sound of that guitar, then bunch of years ago I started watching a lot of guitar UA-cam, which has given me this nagging feeling that I should swap them out for "real" strat pickups. I can't quite bring myself to do it though! This was a great demonstration as to why.
I’ve had a set of emg dg20’s in mine for a couple of years now and, I couldn’t be happier. I get a more vintage tone with the pu’s lowered and a p-90’ish tone when they’re raised. I haven’t noticed anything close to a “sterile” tone from them.
Man, the chorus and distortion together sound gnarly!
I've never been into active pickups but I am into that blue! Man that is gorgeous!!
85-s-s is classic. i have it in my Valley Arts and love it so much
Excellent demonstration as usual RJ. I have a set of Gilmour EMG's on one of my Strats. They just have that hi-fi sound that is enjoyable to me...and they're noiseless which always bothered me too about traditional single coils.
The way I feel about my guitars with EMG active‘s is that none of them are my desert Island guitar. But they can be incredibly fun with beautiful tones and are just another tool to have in your arsenal. They do something that passives don’t. Whether that is good or bad is subjective. I personally use them for looping and mixing with electronic music and they are great because of all the noise you would get from a passive doesn’t stack up in the loop, especially with tons of effects. You can still get them to feedback and do all the tricks you would with a set of passives.
First of all, great and brilliant playing! Second, I am surprised at how versatile these pickups sound. They are really great! Has me thinking of getting some for sure.
Used to own a Valley Arts with EMG HSS pickups, anMusic man Alberts Lee signature that I installed some old EMG Overlends in, and a custom Tele with EMG-T's. Excellent even response, and all the nay-sayers had to agree it sounded great. Of course I don't use a lot of overdrive, being more a sort-of Amos Garrett and Cornell Dupree guy. BTW Mr. Ronquillo, excellent work! Love your vids!
I have that very same set. Absolutely love them.
Being an occasional bass player guitar players really miss out with active pickups. A 3 band EQ really blows the doors open tonally with actives. With a guitar an EQ pedal really helps with actives. Set up the EQ pedal for a warm clean tone and engage for cleans. For dirt turn it off and run the tone knob for EQ. That's for indie rock and goofball metal rhythm work. They make some great bluesy/funk rhythm tones as well. The extra clarity sits well with greasy blues/Dorian solos.
I was just like to add, there is a tiny bit of "sterleness" on the cleans, compared to great passive pickups, but I believe that can all be "dialed out" a bit with EQ pedals and or just tweaking knobs
Thank you buddy.
I've never done that thorough examine either .
I needed that.
I have 2 Strats with Gilmour pickups. I love em and they sound so even.
Man you're saying exactly everything I have said this year. I love modifying strat bodies, I always change out the pups in my guitars. only guitar right now that I have that have stock pups is my 2021 60's standard Epi I got from my daughter for Xmas this year. And that's cause actually I think they sounds great and I haven't had time to swap them. But as I get older and my eyes get worse I'm finding it harder to solder, so been looking into this whole "EMG" solderless thing this past week.. Only problem with trying to find a good demo for EMG's on youtube is everyone tunes down and just chugs the crap out of it and it's just noise to me. Although I did hear Faulkner do a demo for 57/66s which sounded nice. and I do have a strat that I was thinking about his Lukather set.. I have never owned or played active pups in the 40 years I've been playing.. I always told myself I will never get EMG's. but never say never..i wish Seymour would make their pups solderless. That would be awesome.
after watching this.. I will be getting the EMG's.. my mind is made up. .Thanks for a great demo..
I been thinking of building a franken-strat using a baritone neck off of another fender then sticking EMGs into it for metal. Not sure if its safe though.
I love this EMG set, have the early version which still use soldered switch and pots. I put the battery in the back cavity by using only 2 tremolo springs for easy access.
For a live situation they're probably the best choice to me, cause they fix most of passive pickups "problems" and they give you the perfect range of frequencies to fit better in the mix.
In a studio situation we can debate what's better but i think taste in guitar tone is always different among guitarists.
Long time EMG fan. Grew up on those live recordings of Lukather and Gilmour, which sold me the pickups. Played my entire life with guitarists who used EMGs. I mainly prefer mid gain on distortion and all of my guitars sound so tasty! My most favorite classic rock recording on EMG single coils are Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell and Toto’s live show at Montreux in 1991. SLV, I believe is actually 6 poles but overwound to make it sound more like a P90. Where SA (Gilmour version) is a plain rail bar.
THanks for a fantastic jam/demo of these!
This is great. Really helped me decide on giving active pickups a try.
I love that you can dial in the preamps there the same as you would anywhere else in the signal chain.
EMG pickups are the best. I've used them for 20 years. Started with a 81/85 set (the ones you actually had to solder) and then installed a T-System on a custom made Telecaster. A year ago I got an SA set for a strat and now a 60/81 set for a reverend. They sound great, no noise, batteries last years and they look cool. I think in the future all my guitars will have emgs
I have this set in my Valley Arts guitar except I moved them to the original VA Pickguard.
I just talked myself out of buying this exact pickguard - then I heard you play it. Gosh darn you sir.
I haven't heard or played an active pickup set I've liked. The Suhr backplate thingy however, seems to work beautifully on Tom Bukovac's Senn...
ironically EMG active singiels are very good to the vintage tone. I love this company because they made good pickups for different styles of music: starting with blues to metal
I love my ltd te1000 (charcoal black) with emg 81 in bridge, 60rw in the neck (all stock). I also have the same pick up set up in my LTD te401.
The covers on the emgs on the 401 are plastic, the ones on the 1000 are brushed nickel.. both guitars sound absolutely amazing. Drains very little power from battery to. Noiseless. I think they're fantastic pickups for heavy metal distortion and they also sound really good clean in my opinion
I'll always love EMG's for Guitar and Bass, and Bartholin's for Bass.
Just throwing this in. Mark Knopfler had EMG’s on his Pensa Suhr’s. He had the 85/SA/SA set with the SPC boost on a push pull. One of those guitars (the quilt maple topped one) sold for over £500,000 recently at his massive guitar auction. He retains at least one more which is in black he’s retained and used on his 2024 album on the song ‘Scavengers Yard’. The song just oozes compressed EMG goodness.
A few years ago was in LA walked into a GC played a sun valley guitar that had active pick ups. Through a Fredman amp. Really love the sound that they had. I bought that guitar later. As years have gone by the active pick ups or trash. Maybe it’s the age on them or u have changed. My goal is to get rid of those and regular pick ups in the guitar. Probably Seymour Duncan’s buckers. The actor pickups sound better if somebody else playing them, but they are not for me.
I have 81,85,60,81tw,58 they are good in live situations and are very versatile pickups
I've had this exact set in my strat since 2011, and along with a Baggs bridge it has made that strat my most gigged, most versatile guitar. People bag on EMGs, but the right sets / combos shine. I have an MJT build with an SLV single and 89R hum which I very much looking forward to getting back from the luthier completing the build! Thanks for a very fair, informative review!
Thought that was very cool. Nice demo. Never realized how much variety of tone was available, especially from just tweaking the volume and tone knob. Thanks for the review.
Been lusting for a Reb Beach sound. I don't need active all that time, but that cool compression of actives with an locked Floyd Rose. Fuck, I just sooooo goey greasy good!
I play recently a masterbuilt strat wiv 81-S-S EMGs, first impression wasn`t that great but daily musical work now shows `em in a very advantageous way. Love their controlability and now prefer actives to passive. Great for pop music genres.
I always thought that the old Eric Clapton Signatures with the Gold Lace Sensors sounded great. Contemporary to be sure, but just a great tones all their own both clean and with the mid boost. Also liked being able to control the amount of breakup from the guitar. You can also do that from the volume knob, but these are two different sounds. Gives you a lot of sounds before you even think about a pedal. Makes it easy to plug in anywhere and still sound good. The new Claptons sound good too, but I like the gold sensors better.
I recently upgraded my Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe 60th Anniversary with Lace Sensor Gold pickups and the Mid Boost Circuit and I'm in love with the sound now! The EMG SL20 sound great as well...just wandering what an EMG SPC would add
Very informative and helpful, thank you!
I have a mix of active and passive pickup guitars and though I like both, my favorite guitar is my ESP\LTD Cult 86 with EMG 85\SA\SA pickups. It's pretty much a lawsuit Stratocaster so it sounds pretty identical to the guitar you were demoing in this video. I have the same thoughts about the pickups too, the volume really acts like the master volume on a stereo system or a mixer and bringing it up or down doesn't change EQ attenuation at all which makes it REALLY easy for recording and makes for killer volume swells. They also sit really nicely in a mix if you are playing rhythm guitar for heavy music and it doesn't step on the bass player's toes when your chugging away or doing lower note runs. I don't hate passive pickups! I like to use them if I want a solo to pop out and stand out and I don't care where the frequencies go or what they cross over onto when jamming or recording or if I'm just simply in full show-off mode trying my best to be a shredder lol. When I'm playing with musicians or recording the foundation of the music I prefer to use active pickups simply to have more sonic control.
Great review! You can get this model and the Gilmore model left handed if you call EMG. It cost the same but it’s a special order. Just ordered my SL20.
I love my (old) EMG's...
I have an old SA-SA-85 set from 1986 and a set of the same from 2009.
The old ones sound a lot less compressed and have a lot more headroom, for whatever reason.
But I love the new ones too. they just sound a bit different.
All types of pick-ups have their place.
Thanks for this info. I had a feeling they sounded different back then
I used EMG SAs in a super Strat in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and they worked great. I recently put that old set into an Ibanez AZ244F with a basswood body and they sounded fuller and better IMHO than the Duncan Hyperions it came with. The full-range quality is what makes them useful. By the way, rolling off the tone can give a pretty decent jazz tone, too.
I bought my Schecter C-1 Platinum with an EMG 85 at the bridge. I played it as is for a year. Just couldn’t warm up to the pickup. Tried many different ways of trying eq it to suit my taste.
It isn’t a criticism to say that it just had neither the bite nor the depth I wanted. Nor did it have the ability soften down the way I wanted.
I replaced it with a Lace Sensor Nitro Hemi. More range. Very responsive. Better highs, better lows (actually any lows) , great mids. It allows me to choose my sound as I play. More… depth.
Glad people have found their sound with these. I sold the EMG 85.
I have 3 active hot noiseless pickup with the Eric Clapton boost and I love the sound!!!
Really appreciate you going into a deeper dive on this setup
(and great playing as always!)
Would be interested to hear what you make of some of the other EMG control configs, such as those in the Dave Gilmour set (mid boost & bass/treble boost setup)
I love emgs and blackouts, actives are probably my favorite.
Great playing and a great review!
I’m building a travel guitar in the steinberger style and changing out the pickups for active style. Since it’s mostly playing through headphones while in a hotel or late at night I didn’t want any 60 cycle hum or buzz in my ears... thanks again for the review!
I had flashbacks from the movie Vision Quest when you played the clean chorus part.