[soldierkahn]

Let me know your guy's opinions. Me personally, I love the 81-7 cuz im an 81 addict, and the 707 is the 7 version of the 85, so let me know YOUR thoughts. What one do you prefer, and be ellaborate. No detail is too small, im a tone junkie.

[Ryan]

[B Lopez]

Originally Posted by Ryan

But, I hate my 81-7. I had a 707 in the bridge for a while, its much more rounded, and overall the 707 is just ...better. It doesnt sound the same as the 81's in my 6s.

[Dendroaspis]

EMG 81-7? Tone?! Sure if you like the hybridized pickup equivilent of a chainsaw and pavement-scraping tin. After doing probably about a hundred 81(&7) installs, I liken the sound of these to be the Lars' St.Anger snare drum of the guitar world.
The 707, with it's alnico magnets, is far and above that raspy shit.

[GWD]

81-7 to me is a tighter more clear pickup than a 707 but the 707 has more dynamics and less compression. I switched out all my 81's for 85's in my 6 strings due to that difference.

[Ryan]

Get both.. They can be easily changed out with EMGs Quick Connect thing. Then you cant use the best of both worlds for different applications.. I made a DM song with my old COW7 (which Dendroaspis owns nowadays and its way more full-sounding... Which is good and bad for DM.. When its Morbid Angel power sludge riffage you probably want that 707 and when its notey precise faster metal the 81, to me, can be beat (without a lot of help). I have comparison clips but i think i dont feel like posting that song lol.. it's pretty juvenile.

[zimbloth]

The 81-7 sounds really good through my rig, nothing chainsaw or whatever like it. Are you sure you've played the 81-7 or just the 81? Cuz they're not exactly the same. The EMG 707 is okay too, depends on the rig being used really.

[D-EJ915]

When I played a 707 vs 81 through a Dual Rec (2x12" + 4x12" V30 loaded) the 81 totally and completely slayed it. The 707 was like...I dunno it kind of had this annoying brightness to it, I can't really explain it...but that experience really turned me off from the Hellraiser...like...the first time I played it, it was awesome...but this time it was lifeless and sounded like crap...I dunno, it might have been bad, but I had my V-250 to go against which I know well.

Variables:
C7 Hellraiser: 2x 707s, fixed bridge, mahogany neck, set neck, 56 gauge low A
V-250: 1x 81, trem, maple neck, bolt on, 58 gauge low A

However...the first time I tried a Hellraiser through a Fender FM212 or whatever it was very creamy sounding, really smooth. It sounded completely different than the time I was using it with the Dual Rec. I can't really say that's the best test, though...bc I used the VB-200 and VB-400 through that same amp and thought the HZs sounded better through it o___O!! Crazy, yes.

So basically...

I think you have to try it out first...

[zimbloth]

My bandmate uses a 707 equipped Jackson thru his Dual Rec and it sounds great, better than the 81 which is just very dry and sterile sounding. But through my amps, the 81-7 sounds better.

[LilithXShred]

Some time ago i actually started a poll if i should change my bridge pickup into a 81-7. I didn't end up doing that. I actually tweaked my amp settings a lot and found a pretty badass tone. After some time i played my MH-400 6 string which has a 81 on the bridge through that amp again and though : dang what happened to the tone?? I didn't really have the chance to play an actual 81-7 so i can't really compare, but i'm really happy with the 707 tone. It's nice and tight and well rounded, maybe i'll get another 7 and will try it out but right now i don't see the use of changing my bridge pickup.

But first i will get the C7-FR in white to string it up with some 54-9 strings and upgrade it with a set of 707 to get a nice shred machine