[zimbloth]

Ive had numerous guitars with EMG 707s, 81s, 85s. Certain amps (ie: Peavey) do a great job of coloring the tone to such a great extent that it actually sounds awesome. But most of the time I grow quickly bored of them, they just seem to have a squishy artificial compressed undynamic sound. To my ears they don't have the musical harmonically rich midrange that just brings your tone to life. I guess passives just feel more "alive" and musical to me. Some of my favorite albums feature EMGs, and certainly in the right mix they can sound fantastic...it's just alone they don't cut it for me.

It does depend on the amps though certainly. My Peavey 5150 and Ultra Plus made EMGs sound great for metal. A lot of digital amps tend to favor them as well. Most Mesa's I've tried them through (especially 707s), were buzzy, flubby and harsh... characteristics which Mesa amps sometimes have to begin with, meaning the EMGs seem to be exaggerating their weaknesses. I feel more organic sounding pickups like Seymour Duncans and DiMarzios bring Mesa amps to life.

To each their own, I like EMGs sometimes, but in general whenever I hear guitar tone like Zakk Wylde, Slayer, Metallica, Shadows Fall, etc... I just hear squished compressed thin tone that just really bothers me. I know countless great bands who get great tone use EMGs, but usually its through those specific amps which take advantage of it, like 5150s or VHTs.

[D-EJ915]

I will say, my 81 with my V-250 was edgier and a bit tighter, but the SD Scott Ian Diablo/Iommi Bucker in the Bond Rhoads tore ASS when played through a dual rec, it was so freaking raw sounding, I was amazed...it just sounded so awesome.