Anyone use EMG's in their PRS ??

[TattooedCarrot]

I just picked this up and its yelling at me for EMG's for some reason (81/60). Anyone try them in a PRS? I've had them in other guitars and like them a lot. Incidentally this PRS purchase is being paid for by my selling my main EMG equpped guitars - an ESP viper in camo.

http://members.aol.com/cmarr89834/prs22std.jpg

[Donk70]

Love the look of the all natural mahogany body. I'm sure a 81 in the bridge and a 85 in the neck position would sound awesome. BTW, how is the CU22 you bought from me treating you? I'm sorta missing her.... :(

[Erik]

If you were to do it, please try a different combo than the typical 81 bridge/85 neck. (No disrespect to Donk. ;) ) More and more people are realizing that the 85 sounds much better in the bridge as it isn't as focused sounding as the 81. (It is also a higher output pickup.) Try a 60 or 60a in the neck (lower output and warmer sounding) and the 85 or even 89 (splitable) in the bridge.


Just my opinion,
Erik H

[Dan Desy]

If you were to do it, please try a different combo than the typical 81 bridge/85 neck. (No disrespect to Donk. ;) ) More and more people are realizing that the 85 sounds much better in the bridge as it isn't as focused sounding as the 81. (It is also a higher output pickup.) Try a 60 or 60a in the neck (lower output and warmer sounding) and the 85 or even 89 (splitable) in the bridge.


Just my opinion,
Erik H
I was going to suggest using an 89. No question the 81 in the bridge will be pretty hot and rocking, but I kind of like the idea of going with an 89 in the bridge position... Are the 60's splittable as well? In which case I would definitely say 89 B/60 N.

[Erik]

Dan,

The 60 isn't splitable, the 60A might be...not sure. I have a Jackson soloist that I put EMG's in and did the 81 b/85 n and didn't like it. I then put the 85 in the bridge and really liked it...once I put the 60 in the neck I stopped messing around. (Except for the 18v mod...)

I must admit that I'm interested in the 89.

Erik H

[Dan Desy]

On my Atilla (see my sig) Iput in an 81 and an 89. I love being able to split the neck pickup. I think the 89 is basically a splittable 85.

[Erik]

Hmmmm, I may do the 89n/85b switch.



Okay, I'm done hijacking this thread...for now. ;)

[TattooedCarrot]

BTW, how is the CU22 you bought from me treating you? I'm sorta missing her.... :(
That is the straightest playing guitar I've ever owned. The intonation is dead on no matter what tuning I use.

If I go EMG it will be the 81/60. I find the 85 overpowers and muddies up the neck with gain and is really much better suited in the bridge, especially in a brighter guitar.

Other combos I was considering (I'm just not a fan of Dragon II's - too sterile for vintage and not enough balls for metal) are the HFS/Vintage set, or a WCR Herc with something like a Pearly Gates neck.

[TattooedCarrot]

The only splittable EMG hummer is the 89. Actually its not even split, its two pickups in one housing being like an 85 in hummer mode and an SA in single. The thing is, it costs a lot more and is hard wired to the push/pull pot. So it doesn't have the quick clip connector like the rest of the EMG's.

[guitrr]

Carrot,

I recently asked a similar question on here, in regards to EMG's in a McRosie. The reaction was pretty negative all around, "It'll ruin/negate the character of the guitar", "When you put EMG's in any guitar, it just sounds like a guitar with EMG's", etc, etc.
Personally, I like EMG's a lot. They push my amps very nicely, overdrive superbly, and I love not having pickup hiss, especially from single coils. (I currently have a 3-pu Tele, a Strat, and a 'bucker equipped hollowbody with EMGS.) I've found them to be incredible versatile tonally, and pretty much hassle free. I still may try a set in the McRosie, just to see how it goes.
Anyone who doubts how good they can sound should listen to Michael Burkes, a great Blues player who also happens to be a big fan of high end pro amps. He plays a Flying V (his main guitar) and a strat, both with EMGs, and gets tremendous tone through a Dr Z and a Dumble (made for him by the man himself).
Your PRS looks great, love that finish. In it, I would recommend the combination of a 85 in the bridge, and a 60 or 60A in the neck.

Good luck with it!

Kane

[richedie]

Is that a Custom 22 or McCarty???

I think the 85/60 set would be best!

I am surprised you find the Dragon IIs don't cut it! I think they sound great! My friend has a CU22 and LOVES the DIIs and he plays a modern heavy style and man does it sound huge live. This is a link...www.jadedfaith.com

[GaryNattrass]

I would also recommend the 89's as they are great for true single coil tone and for humbucking.

They come with a dediacated push pot for eack pick-up so you can switch to single coil on each pick-up.

It's what I put in my custom built thinline tele.

I disagree that if you put EMG's in a guitar all you hear ios the pick-up, I put an 89 in the tele and it sounds like a tele on steroids and an 89 in a strat and it sounds just like a strat on steroids.

One other thing is that people say EMG's are clinical, I find that the tone pot is best seen as a centre zero pot increase it to get more modern tone and decrease it to get a more vintage tone.

[Phil Bennett]

I just picked this up and its yelling at me for EMG's for some reason (81/60). Anyone try them in a PRS? I've had them in other guitars and like them a lot. Incidentally this PRS purchase is being paid for by my selling my main EMG equpped guitars - an ESP viper in camo.

http://members.aol.com/cmarr89834/prs22std.jpg
Hey there Tattooed carrot, are you the same one from the ESP / LTd forum ?

Regards

[richedie]

Tattooed...

Is that a mccarty??Weird that it has the chrome tuners and the selector switch.

r

[richedie]

I would also recommend the 89's as they are great for true single coil tone and for humbucking.

They come with a dediacated push pot for eack pick-up so you can switch to single coil on each pick-up.

It's what I put in my custom built thinline tele.

I disagree that if you put EMG's in a guitar all you hear ios the pick-up, I put an 89 in the tele and it sounds like a tele on steroids and an 89 in a strat and it sounds just like a strat on steroids.

One other thing is that people say EMG's are clinical, I find that the tone pot is best seen as a centre zero pot increase it to get more modern tone and decrease it to get a more vintage tone.
Do you play a lot of heavy music?? The EMG 85/60 with 18v mod set seems very versatile and warm!!

[richedie]

I think the CU22 is one of the most perfect guitars I have yet to play. From the design, comfort, feel, tone, intonation, you can't beat it.

Is that a mccarty??Weird that it has the chrome tuners and the selector switch.

[Disco Scottie]

I just picked this up and its yelling at me for EMG's for some reason (81/60). Anyone try them in a PRS? I've had them in other guitars and like them a lot.

Looks like someone's been shopping on eBay recently. :D

(I almost "Buy It Now"ed that very guitar...)

I have an original EG model that I've had the 89/SA/SA setup in for years. If you like EMGs, I think you'll be very happy with them in a PRS. I'm actually getting ready to pull my EMGs out and try some current PRS pups to give things a little change... I've had the same set in there since '92!

My only suggestion is give the stock pups a little time and see how they sound. You might end up diggin' on 'em...

[TattooedCarrot]

Hi guys, and update. I added a Duncan Pearly Gates neck with a tap and whoa does that sound sweet. I also put a WCR Herc (17k) in the bridge and I'm not so sure about that one. Great pickup, ust not sure if it's voiced for my current mood (and I"m not even sure what that is, LOL). Because there's no maple cap on the standard, It's a bit on the warm side. I have a JB laying around, I might try that. I'm also considering e Distortion, Custom, or even taking the cover off the original Dragon II and reinstalling that.

This is a Standard 22, not a an MC.

Yes I'm the same TattooedCarrot from the ESP board (and a number of other boards). I think any Tattooedarrot you see on any guitar forum is safe to say it's me, not a very common moniker.

[Phil Bennett]

Nice to see you here, but your avantar on the ESP board is better.:D

Nice geeetarr, though.

Regards

[TattooedCarrot]

Nice to see you here, but your avantar on the ESP board is better.:D
Thanks for reminding me, I just fixed it. Pain in the A$$ though as the size limits are pretty low here, I had to shrink it, crop it, lighten it, and lower the quality just to get it to work.

[Phil Bennett]

The quality is just fine.:D

Regards

[richedie]

Hi guys, and update. I added a Duncan Pearly Gates neck with a tap and whoa does that sound sweet. I also put a WCR Herc (17k) in the bridge and I'm not so sure about that one. Great pickup, ust not sure if it's voiced for my current mood (and I"m not even sure what that is, LOL). Because there's no maple cap on the standard, It's a bit on the warm side. I have a JB laying around, I might try that. I'm also considering e Distortion, Custom, or even taking the cover off the original Dragon II and reinstalling that.

This is a Standard 22, not a an MC.

Yes I'm the same TattooedCarrot from the ESP board (and a number of other boards). I think any Tattooedarrot you see on any guitar forum is safe to say it's me, not a very common moniker.
Did you ever settle on a set for that Standard? I wonder how close it is to my McCarty which is also warm and thick. I know the Standard has a thinner guitar body, but the solid mahogany should make up for that aspect.

You liked the PGs in the neck? You might also want to try the Rio Grande BBQ/Texas set and I can asure you the Texas neck will be thicker and richer than the PG. You might like 'em. They are my favorite current set.