EMG Pickups. Yuck!! | I'm kidding! Must Watch!!!
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- Опубликовано: 2 ноя 2020
- For a while I loved EMGs then suddenly REALLY disliked them. Hahaha! I yanked them out of my guitars and my buddy Steve shared this link with the 24volt "mod" which is just a battery compartment that uses two 12v batteries and WHAMMO! Instant amazing EMGs for ever!! Steve, thank you so much and here's a link to the ebaY store I bought mine from! ENJOY!!
► EMG 24Volt Mod Link:
tinyurl.com/ebay24voltmod
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Louis Torres is a New York based metal guitarist who
formed DARKWRENCH and Muerte De Dios
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► NY Hatecore - darkwrench.com 
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99% of why people dont like EMGs is because they read on a forum and are following hype. Close to 90% of everyones favorite metal records are all recorded with emgs. It's not by accident.
I agree with you, for metal, it has to be the most popular pickup of all time
I'm okay with the standard 9 Volt setup and have an 81/85 pair in my Schecter. But I don't use them in any other guitars. I am pretty much a Duncan player. I love the Nazgul, Distortion, Custom, Full Shred, etc. Actives have their advantages, but I don't feel they are great enough for me to go full EMG. I prefer the natural dynamics of passives most of the time.
Yep! And that goes for those who no longer listen to music with their ears but with their eyes. In other words, without a video to accompany your music you go nowhere these days. Fucking MTV is to blame.
@@pteeng1 But MTV doesn't even show music videos anymore, let alone metal artists...
@@louistorres Zakk Wylde is probably _the_ main metal guitarist who put EMG pickups in the spotlights back in the 80s
I used to dislike EMG's too because I read everyone hates them. In my first guitar I had them but I got rid of them.
Recently I aquired a Jackson RR24 with an EMG81 in the bridge. And I fell in love. Great pickups for me.
Plottwist. I still think they are great. But.... I ordered a Bareknuckle ceramic Warpig to replace it :D
@@JasperPost46how does the noise floor compare between the two pickups? Is the Warpig hotter?
@@dudeguyman27 to be honest. Wouldn’t know anymore because another plottwist. There is a DP100 installed into it right now. Got a little tired of the fizz high end of the Warpig. Now considering to replace the dp100 for an evo2.
Randy Rhoads had EMGs lol? 🤔
@@noahchasinguitar5831 How did you jump to that conclusion?
I love Emg's. I have them in every guitar I own. In the SG's I use one 9v battery due to space. In the others I use 2 9v for 18v. It lowers the amount of compression giving you more dynamics.🤘🏼😎🍺
I can fit 2 9V’s in my SG
I also love emg pickups this guy is crazy I love does pickups
EMGs have never let me down. I really wanna try some Fishmans tho.
Everyone loves the Fluence too! Watch the full video and check out that 24V boost dual battery thing I mention. Or click on the link in the description. It's $10 and works like a regular battery.
I tried fishmans . Went back to emg 85
@@snapascrew same. They're good, but they sounded a little too "digital" for my taste, except for the "passive voicing". But, I felt silly having 2 voicings, and only using the "passive" one. And, why emulate "passive" tone with an active pickup? That just seems silly af.
I’ll always have a guitar with Emgs, are they my go-to? No, but they serve a purpose and they deliver a consistent, time-honoured tone. I’ve found that they’re super loud when I’m using amp-sims and they are one dimensional.
Used to run the EMG 81s in basically all my guitars back in the day till i tried the EMG HETSET. They sound amazing, can be found for a good price and come in great colors. I'm more of a Bare knuckle Ragnarok guy these days but still use the EMG HETSET for recording.
I really love EMGs, i play a dsl 100 and it sounds great with those, real oldschool
Such a great amp
Old school and active pickups dont work in the same sentence 🤪
@@idontgivea1769 so like early metallica, slayer, exodus these guys arent oldschool?
Honestly like the tsl more than the dsl
Is there more chord clarity with distortion after the mod? That's my biggest gripe with my 81-7/85-7 , absolute monster for chugs and pinch harmonics but somewhat muddy on the complex distorted chords
Nope, not my thing either. I do like the DiMarzio DActivator though, it’s a passive with some active dynamics. The 7 string version turned my Ibanez into a monster.
Ordered mine today!!! I have an 81/60 set in my Schecter Hellraiser. Thanks for the vid!!!
I install EMG’s in all my builds. Have had people say they do not like them but they do not have any examples of songs or idea who has used them. Yeah, the battery sucks but you loose the hum in single coils. I love the ease of installation also. I put DiMarzio covers on a guitar with EMG’s and some thought it sounds better with those in it. They also think a black guitar sounds better than a red one , or some crap like that. I’ll keep my EMG’s! Man you got a lot of cool stuff!
Can you give me a brand to check out for emg potentiometers. I want to replace mine with some new ones to see if it makes any difference too
Nice. I’ll have to try swapping the pots on my EMGs to see if their sound improves
Dude! I got a few of these off of ebay about 2 months ago!! I love emg's and with this battery mod, I love them even more! It is a necessary improvement!
EMG pickups are a selective taste however they are not only active they make passive pickups too and they smash however i find somthing like the Het Set from EMG is a good blend of passive and active id suggest you check them out
The first pickup upgrade in went was EMG 81.
I used to love it, I even experimented with the 85. Then i moved to SD and since 2016 I’ve been using fluences.
I've turned more to passive these days. As others have said though, they do serve a purpose.
I hate worrying about batteries and all I really want from actives is their chugging goodness in the bridge and the cleans can sound so good and clear, but you can pretty much get there with power in passives and the lovely cleans of passives as well anyways. There's just nothing like rocking out with those passives and the right amp though.
It's an everyday struggle on finding a balance to what suits you in one guitar/rig as many others face.
You can power EMG's through a stereo cable no? I'm still waiting for my first set to arrive, but if i feel i want more voltage i would go that way rather than trying to cram more batteries into my guitar that hasn't got enough space and I'm not routing.
Yeah man, I'm with you. You can go as high as 27 volts, as per EMGs website and manual, so doubling with 12v batteries is ideal. These make such a huge difference too!
If you swap to passive pickups, can you just solder onto the original pots, etc?
No , EMG pots are 25k and pots for passive humbuckers 500k so u need to swap everything in the control cavity. And also the jack...
"Beep. Boop... Beep"
- Louis Torres, 2020
Love your vids, mate!
Thank you so very much for that info . I bought 2 of them AWESOME. Thanks brother
Dude, I was the same. Till I came across the X and Retroactive series. Also, I do love the Mick Thomson SD blackouts.
I like the mick Thomson black outs, got them on my Jackson. But I feel like ( for me ) they pick up a lot of “ outside noise” regardless. Awesome pick ups, they were my first active pick ups I’ve ever used so I’m still new to them.
I recently picked up an LTD ST-1 with EMG’s (stock). First time using EMG. I was pleasantly surprised. They certainly sound more compressed than passive pups and offer better sustain. I did notice the amp settings need to be adjusted for actives. String Clarity on wholesome chords, like D G E, is fantastic.
I had 81/85 or 60 in all of my guitars. Then I tried the Hetfield set and was impressed. Then I found the 57/66 set. I found even people that hate actives like those. The 57/66 set goes in all my guitars.
I tried them for the first time (EMG JS) when I installed the Jet Set on my guitar and became my main guitar now I wanna put them in all my guitars, instantly fell in love with them!
This is super cool. After seeing your video I mentioned this to a buddy of mine who actually had one of those battery holders. He pulled it out of a guitar he bought and didn't want it so I grabbed it. I feel like my eclipse is so much more versatile now. I can go from the compressed emg vibe (which I do actually like) to a more open, passive feeling thing in 30 seconds with a battery change. Thanks for the tip!
I just got an LTD Deluxe in the mail today with EMGs, threw in the extra 24v boost and love it!! I'm glad you like it too! It's a big difference, right! Crazy!
@@louistorres enjoy the new axe!
@@louistorres wtf I just bought a LTD ec-1000 deluxe from guitar center (its used on hold) and i'm picking it up tomorrow. I really gotta get this mod now.
I use EMG selects whenever I can, reason being as an 80's kid I thought they were so cool and different once I got 3 of them I really just kept enjoying them. I just enjoy their dark sounds, and they remind me of a BC rich and super strat time period of my life.
Great stuff. Thanks Louis!
i just replaced those volume knobs from 25k ohms to 100k ohms and it changes the sound on more head room and punchier tone and installed additional treble bleed.
I suggest you to try out the fishman fluence modern pickups. Not only because are active pickups too, but also you have the option to install a rechargeable battery pack using an usb cable
i have them. im having trouble getting the tone i like on them.
Louis also don’t discount trying the 85 in the bridge at 9V and at 24V. The 85 is warmer and less fizzy.
Where is the link for the battey box? Twentyfour volts huh. I'm gonna convert a preamp stomp to 24 volts.
I never could get the chug I was looking for until I got single 81 in my jackson warrior
I use DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickups in all my guitars. They are a nice output but not too high and they split well. They can go from blues to death metal.
Ive got the same battery set up in all my emg guitats. Amazon has packs of batteries for the battery pack pretty cheap
I equipped my ‘92 Les Paul Standard with EMGs about 17 years ago. 81 in the bridge position and 89 with coil tap in the neck position. I love them! They are great with high gain, yet sound clean and tight through the clean channel. They replaced a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and a Duncan Custom in the neck. I loved those too, but the EMGs are far more versatile.
I’m that weird guy who likes the clean tone out of the 81.
Hey man big thanks for this. bought it and it works famously. World of difference.
Isn't that battery pack crazy!! Hahaha! I'm glad you got it! You can order replacement batteries on Amazon or at any Lowe's/ Home Depot! Glad you like it, it makes a big difference. :)
but i do agree with what you say, changing 9vs becomes annoying because it happens at anytime or anyplace and can ruin a jam session. but i’ve been looking to get RE-chargeable 9v batteries so i can save money
I have tried all 3 combos. Running my 81/85's on 9v, 18v, and 24v. The best sound is running on 18v. 24v you lose a lot of the low end. 18v gives you that true bone crushing sound.
I'll have to try the 18v then. I love the 24v but my bass is always set to ten, so maybe that's why it sounds good to my ears. :)
I always see ppl complain about having to change batteries all the time with EMGs but they last 1,000 hours according to their specs. If you played guitar for 2 hours every single day that’s 1 year 4 months before needing a battery change. Like seriously give up the battery argument. All you gotta do is swamp out a battery every 6 to 8 months at worst. It takes less than 5 mins. You have to worry more about your phone battery more than your guitar battery. Now if you dislike the tone, that’s a valid complaint. I personally think EMGs have their place like anything else.
For some reason, my batteries would drain OR maybe I thought they were drained and really weren't. Hahaha
@@louistorres maybe that’s a lot of what it is for people, they replace it way sooner. The old battery on the tongue test never failed me.
@@louistorres just check stereo jack, and remove cable after play.
Yep and unplug the guitar when done playing
@@louistorres Hey brother, just pull out the jack from the guitar when you're not playing. That saves the battery. Thanks for your tip and all the hard work you put into your videos.
I’ve always liked EMG pickups. Great for classic metal tones which is what I like although people don’t like it anymore.
Yo Louis
Dam son your still kicking ass. I remember when I first started with you when you had 500 subs. Congrats on the 6,000 man!!! I just bought a guitar with EMGs 81&85 gonna try you advice. Thanks man
San Antonio Texas
EMG 81 bridge and EMG 60 Neck pickups sound beyond good. i have emgs in a lot of guitars
I am waiting on a sa/sa/81 kit for my 90 mij jackson kinda expensive but hopefully it makes it sound better also just ordered this 24v thing too
I find EMGs work really nicely with amps that aren't super high gain. I used to have an ESP Eclipse loaded with an 81 in the bridge and 85 in the neck I played through a JCM800 into a 4x12 with greenbacks and got absolutely killer tones. Plenty of gain, nice low end thump, and good high end that wasn't too piercing. Probably my favorite tone I've ever had. I've owned other amps, guitars, and pickups over the years and I'm still trying to get back to those killer tones I got with just EMGs into a JCM800 through greenbacks.
it's true. Emg81/85+ tubescreamer or Rat +jcm 800 (especially Kerry king Slayers signiture)= One of the greates metal tone. Although other marshall amps like jcm900,2000 and JVM 410 have more gain ( but not very much, you know marshall is not famous for modern metal tone) jcm 800 has greater legacy in metal ( and ofcourse in hard rock)
I love almost everything omg does. I grew up in the metalcore era and all my favorite albums were recorded with emg's. I can totally see why people wouldn't like them though. They have their place
I use seymour duncan ahb-2b blackout metal on the bridge and a ahb-1n on the neck but the best tone pot capacitor value for my preference is the 224. 0.22uf 250volt's
EMG makes passive pickups that sound very good and you might want to explore that route.
I played the EMG 81 since 1985 with zero issues through pretty much every amp made. I switched to the 57 5 years ago and now use them exclusively. Battery issues? I gig 40 to 50 times a year and play everyday and change my batteries every January. Never had one fail.
A set of two EMG 85's are great; I'd prefer an active/passive switch tho because I hear active is good for a live setting but passive is better suited for recording
What a great video and I even get mentioned a few times I feel like a celebrity... Anyway my and got lost in the mail and and still waiting to receive them dam it...
Hahahahaha!! Yes, bro!! You are the main character in my new quest to add EMGs back to my guitars!! You are the man, brother!!
Wow, good tip! Thanks!
Have you considered putting your emgs up for sale?
The Skull frets are so cool... I really like the EMG81's on my E-II M-II but that 24v sounds great.. gr8 vid
Glenn Tipton has used EMGs since forever, and if they're good enough for him, then, you know the rest.
They just sound sterile, without certain dynamics. I just replaced a set with a 59 neck and a Voodoo Custom Krueger bridge. That is an amazing set of pickups together. The Voodoo Custom pickup just blows me away.
My LTD E401 has EMG's and I'm constantly changing batteries. I swear I can hear the loss in dynamics as soon as the battery starts to get weak. My buddies say I'm nuts but I can tell the difference. Thanks for the video Lou, I'm going to look into the 24volt upgrade. \m/ \m/
The battery will still drain if you leave the cord in the input jack, even if your amp is turned off.
When I first started playing guitar all I wanted was emg. Now I know what I want out of my tone and I can't stand them. They have no dynamics (in my opinion) and everything sounds the same. Just trying to figure out what pickups I want now.
Hahahaha!! I was the same way! Yes, I feel like they're missing something but try out the 24V mod battery link that I added in the description. I actually like EMGs again but with that mod it's 1,000 times better!!
@@louistorres I was actually looking at it. Just out of curiosity do you have any experience with the mojotone sledgehammer or the lollar db humbucker. Those are two im looking into and all the RUclips videos are coming out of digital processors. I want to hear them in an actual tube amp.
just got a used pair of Seymour Duncan Blackouts off ebay. was actualy considering EMGs at foist, though... 57s over 81s.
Ive always liked the look of EMG pickups its probably because in my mind they were synonymous with Metal, typically you didnt load them in a guitar for grandpas country music 😂
Hahahaha!! EMGs in a banjo would be fun to hear! Hahaha!! : )
I bought this mod cant wait to hear the difference.
You'll hear a much wider range that's much more manageable with your amp. You're going to love it!
@@louistorres dude it kicks ass its amazing 👏
I yank out EMG and I stuck a DIMEBUCKER in there and problem solved. That pick up is a monster... you already know that though, I remember you did a video on it
i need a good padded strap,,, tell us,me??
I think that a dimebucker or an invader would be better, but if you are installing the pickups yourself, I would go for the EMGs for its quick connect system
What's up louis..good to see ya man.....I tried the 24v in my Esp but to me, it didn't have the same tone as 18v...but still cool...love the 81/60's @ 18v though...killer tone...
from what I remember 24 seemed a bit harsh or maybe just to much juice if that makes sense..ha,ha..anyway, Thanks man..👍
I spent 18 years avoiding them, I finally bought an Ltd EX-401 in white. It came with EMG’s and at first I thought they were shit (my main is a Gibson Les Paul Modern). But then I realize how to eq them and stuff like that. Now I’m actually addicted to it. I found love.
Hey Louis! What do you think of the Peavey Invective? I'm kind of suprised you don't own one yet 😂 I've had the mini head on preorder for about 6 months now 😒
Holy smoke, six months? I'm not a patient guy but guys have suggested that model for a while! I need two! The invective and the 50w stealth!
@@louistorres I know right? I guess covid has been pushing the MH release date back... here's a listing I found on the big 120 watt version. The ONLY listing I've found 🤷♂️
Peavey Invective 120 Misha Mansoor Signature 120-Watt Guitar Head reverb.com/item/36441186-peavey-invective-120-misha-mansoor-signature-120-watt-guitar-head?
You Might hate them but I freaking love them
Read the title again and watch the video. It's actually the opposite. So, watch the episode when you get a minute.
Dude that red ESP custom is fucking unreal! So sick!! I'll probably give that battery a shot if my sd blackouts can handle the extra juice. I never disliked the actives but i mean more voltage is has to be better right! Haha
I don’t understand why everyone’s favorite pickups aren’t EMG 81/85
With the extra boost in power to 24 volts, it's incredible! People don't know they can push the pickup and it sounds SO much better after the battery upgrade
Had tried 18V myself and i can admit it sounds clearer and better, so 24 volts should do even more. From what i see, this mod do use A23 batteries (like say, those they put into the auto alarm controls). I believe its won`t be hard to make a holder for those. Thanks for the hint!
24v sounds clearer for sure and yes, you can create a holder for the A23 batteries easily.
@@louistorres Yes, i just mean the battery kind doesn`t seem to be mentioned, but I believe that should be useful. Guys would need new batteries sometime ...
What about the passive EMG? Alexi Laiho uses Passive EMGs.
I have a set of 81-89 on an old Jem555 from the mid 90s, did the 24V mod. I think people over exaggerate how compressed they sound
It's not an exaggeration. When you record with emg and passive and put the waveforms side by side to compare you can really see how compressed the actives are. It's not a bad thing in my opinion because I end up with less post processing. The passive waveform is all over the place with spikes and valley's and I end up having to add compression to the guitar tracks. With the emg's all I have to add is some minor eq in the mix.
I have the 24 volt mod in all my EMG guitars, I run the KHBB’s, 81/81 set, 81/85 set, I just got the KH202 and it will also be getting the KHBB set! I have 2 other guitars with SD’s, Mustaine Live Wires, they will only run a 9 volt, and the Black Winter set, but I find SD’s have to many highs, and more low end with EMG’s...!
Love my EMG's. I have 81/60 on a squier Jim root, I have the 57/66 on a Epiphone Les Paul pro, I have a het set on a Ltd ec401 and I am working on a cheap Les Paul SL by adding single coil EMG pups.
Damn I would love to have an HSH configuration ESP
Bro, trust that you're fine without the single in the middle. I have it cranked to the bottom, so I don't hit it when I'm picking. :)
I've been an emg user for 15 years. Finally got a guitar with a passive (black winter), and now I can finally hear how compressed the emgs are. Ewwww lol
I feel the same way with fluencies
Black winter is literally the best Duncan bridge pickup for metal
@@thedonylama the neck gets really single coil like when split too and sound very round for leads. Favorite duncan set for high gain for sure. Like a less fizzy distortion.
I've been using a Black Winter for about two years. It's does a variety of tones and slams for heavy stuff. Very clear and punchy to my ears. I used to be all about the Duncan Distortion but the Black Winter just wins me over...
@@DR440 same here I went from the jb(boring and sterile sounding) to the distortion. The distortion is great if you play standard and maybe as low as d standard but anything below it has too much low end. The black winter was the best 7 string pickup I’ve tried. It works great for 6 in b standard as well
So why emg not selling there pickup with double battery
Actually, as I'm sure you know, EMG doesn't sell or include batteries with their pickups. As the consumer, you have to decide if you want to use 9v, 18v, 24v and up to 28v. EMG has always stated, throughout the last 30 years, that you can use up to 28v of power. Everyone seems to take the easy road and buy low powered 9v batteries.
@@louistorres where can I buy the 24 volt mod thank u
I play in a metalcore band and EMGs just fit the sound I'm looking for. I paired a EMG 35DC with a 35CS. I could of splurged a little more and got Fishman pickups though.
Damnnnnn son that XMedium Chasing Yesterday tee looks legit!! Thanks for the support!! Im all EMG tho hahaha
I buy most every old emg 81 I see, just the ones with the dull yellowy white wax potting from the early 80’s (I think, I’ve never actually researched it) favorite pickups by a mile for getting fat thrash tones and b standard or c# death metal sounds.
Now I have to find an old set!! Argh!! Hahaha! Thanks, brother!! I'll try a set to hear the difference.
I got some EMGs on a 7 string and I think they are great.. just wish I could swooping with black-hawks :D nah but 81s are dope
I love my EMG 81 but internet seems to disagree lol
Get the 18v or 24v battery pack, it'll make your EMGs into amazing beasts! More than they already are!
Thanks for the mention Can't wait to see how they turn out..
Also you can search for my band we released a new album search RUclips gravel 14 years thanks
You are the man!! I had to make a video with these things you told me about! You know I was going to mention you!! You are the reason I love EMGs again!!! Thanks for always looking out and sharing with me, bro!!
Pickups are definitely a personal preference, but most players I’ve talked to who were anti active pickups were mostly afraid to deal with 9v batteries and have little to no experience with the pickups.
Dudes need to use 24v power in their EMGs. I went from hating them and literally pulling them out of every guitar to loving them. It changed everything for me. :)
I just want the Guitarmory to update their website so I can get some Devin Shidaker pickups.
Get ya some black winters
They still sound terrible, but I've been thinking; if the problem is clipping at the pre-amp, then moving the pickups farther from the strings should have a similar effect.
It just needs more power to pull in the string's vibration.
I have old walkie talkies and old amfm handheld radios from the 1960s some have those double A 9-volt battery adapters
if you still have that box of EMGS i’ll buy it from you bro
Xander! Where have you been hiding, bro. :) Funny enough, I have to install them back into a few guitars! :)
Never used active pickups until I bought a Kirk Hammett V with his signature Bonebreakers. After playing it for a week, I friggin hate them. They just don't have the dynamic range and harmonic richness I'm used to. I swapped them out for SD JB&Jazz
@justaguy2365 EMGs need more power, that's all. Next guitar with EMGs use 24v. It's mindblowing! :)
@@louistorresI own another guitar with Retro Active Fat 55s. I actually like them
The EMGX are the 24modded EMG with a 9volt
I'd rather have a set of Seymour Duncan pickups. I used to use active pickups and I never got the tone I wanted. It sounded super compressed with very limited head space. After I switched to Seymour Duncan pickups, I've had no issue getting the tone I want. Yeah, the pick harmonics aren't as good as EMG's, but I mainly play rhythm so it doesn't really bother me. The only thing I've found that's better than Seymour Duncan is the PRS HFS and Vintage Bass set. I'd put those up against anything.
Now have to look for those PRS pickups! You are the man and thank you for sharing your experience with EMGs, SDs and PRS pickups! :)
I think the red one was one that Devin Townsend sold on Ebay some time ago it was a custom.
emg 85 with 18v mod in the bridge does the trick for us
Swapped out my 81 for a 57 it sounds huge through my triple rectifier
57 it's the Best pickup ever, Even better than fishman fluence
@@darthshaggy9970 honestly wish I'd done it sooner
The 81 & 85's are the best pickups ever made. I have both in my schecter and id put them up against any other pickups. Hands down best ever! Ill never go back to passive pickups.
Yes bro! Get that battery pack for your EMGs, it's so great! I hated EMGs for a long while, now I'm back to loving them!
Duncan Dimebucker is my favorite high output pickups
Such a great pickup, bro! I'm glad you like it too!
I bought a guitar with EMGs, I was a bit disappointed, not very versatile, I read in a forum how to make them sound more "organic" by just replacing the potentiometers from 25k to 1Meg, this mod even allows you to combine them with passive pickups, to me this mod definitely makes a difference I used CTS pots and Russian paper in oil 0,1uf tone cap
Yes, replacing the pots to 1M opens up the pickup just as much as pushing the power. It basically does the same but you're not soldering anything.
People will say they hate active pickups and then go on a hunt for boost, EQ and compressors just to end up with what an active would give them signal wise. There is a reason why sound engineer really like to record with actives.
EMGs are AWFUL unless you power them with more than 9Vs then they're amazing. Such a huge difference at 24V than at 9v.