Question on pickups

mc nuggets

Hi. I have no experience whatsoever here so all advice is welcome, Im looking for a set of humbuckers for a Epiphone Lp, i would mostly be playing metal so i'd be looking for something that can use high distortion but still keep individual notes clear.

I've heard that EMG's are good for this, are they any good?

Would these be what im looking for
http://www.thomann.de/ie/emg_85_guitar_pickup.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/emg_81.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/emg_89_humbucker.htm

or does anyone have any better suggestions?

Thanks for your time

feylya

I have one guitar with 2 EMG 81's, one with 81(B)/85(N) and one with a 85(N)/60(B) combination. I find the 85/60 combination is the most versatile but having an 81 in the bridge the most "metal" and best at keeping the high end. What sort of sound are you looking for from the neck? The 60 is the most versatile EMG pickup and the most underrated.

mc nuggets

I'd be looking for the kind of sound of bands like Opeth so it would need to have a decent clean sound as well. i'd be looking for a kind of heavy distortion sound from the neck and a cleaner sound from the bridge so would the 85(N) and 60(B) be good for this

feylya

Well, it works for me It's not the usual set up. Normally, people have an 81 in the bridge.

Karl Hungus

mc nuggets wrote: »

I'd be looking for the kind of sound of bands like Opeth so it would need to have a decent clean sound as well. i'd be looking for a kind of heavy distortion sound from the neck and a cleaner sound from the bridge so would the 85(N) and 60(B) be good for this

I had EMGs before, and for the Opeth kinda sound, I thought they didn't suit at all.

I'd recommend Seymour Duncans if you're going for an Opeth-y tone, I had a guitar with a Duncan JB and 59, and it was definitely the closest I got to their sound. Although I believe Mikael uses the Full Shred pickups, so those might be ones to go for.

Johnny Storm

FWIW The EMGs in my 'berger sound very powerful but smooth (2 89s and an SA). The split coil thing on the 89s might be an option for cleaning the sound up (or, probably better, turn off some of your pedals )

Patricide

i woulnt recomentd emgs for an opeth type of sound, there nice pickups and i think there versitile enough but no matter what your playing i feel that you always know that THAT is an EMG. Like karl was sayig id reccomend seymore duncans, or the full shread pickups. Itd really help if you gave us more bands that youd want to be playing.

Also bill lawrence xl500, it just has to be mentioned, savage pup.

mc nuggets

Could someone post a link to the Full Shred pickups and the Duncan JB's please.

I'd mostly be playing bands such as Gojira, Paradise Lost, some thrash, and some lighter Metal and Rock, Does this help?