EMG 60

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ??

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson DR-2
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock pu
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfeild
You musical style(s): Metal, dark/goth metal
Reason for pickup change: Getting new sounds, never heard the guitar w/out them. Bought them and the guitar at the same time wanted to have a guitar with active pu's.

Perceived output level:
Tone: smooth, nice blends for cords, great bass
Sonic evaluation: Ran it through every thing from a JMC2000 triple super lead to a vox pathfinder and keeps sounding great.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play metal(from Metallica to white Zombie) and more dark moody goth like metal. Could use it for any thing I've let guys I work with try it and they get it sounding great with what ever style they dig.

Comments: I buy another one in a hart beat, this thing is awsome. I kill the guy who'ld try to steel this. I've got lots of guitars with lots'a tones but this one's my main axe, between the 60 and 81 i've got all I need to go from cool to hot

Pickup features: active mini humbucker in standard humbucker housing
Impedence or other specs: http://www.emginc.com/Specs.html#EMG60

Model of guitar or bass: Carvin DC127
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: I've been through most of the EMG, Dimarzio, and Seymour Duncan lines (as well as the stock Carvin M22V and M22T pickups) in this axe alone.
Other pickups on guitar: This guitar is equipped with neck and bridge EMG 60's.
Artists using this pickup: "Jaymz" Hetfield has used it in the neck on some of his ESP's... and me of course!
You musical style(s): eclectic and ethereal pop/dance rock: I'm heavily influenced by the music of The Cure, Garbage, Hum, A Perfect Circle, Rasputina, The Rentals, Steve Vai, and the Dance Dance Revolution video game series.
Reason for pickup change: I've been on a pickup-centered tone quest (like countless other players) for about four years. No other pickups have been as well-suited to my playing as this one.

Perceived output level: Specs say the output ranges from 1-3 Volts. Potentially one of, if not the, loudest pickup on the market, but output is adjustable through pickup height of course. Perfect level.
Tone: Focused on the mids...exactly where the guitar is. Balanced response across the board. Ideal.
Sonic evaluation: Carvin DC127 (maple neck through alder body, ebony fretboard) into Line 6 Flextone II Head (I prefer modeling and solid state amps due mostly to their superior clarity...I'm not vintage at all). Carvin Legacy full stack (the actual Legacy amp head is my backup) with Celestion Vintage 30's. Effects vary...nothing too great for now.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I'm a guitar principal at the Berklee College of Music, so versatile pickups help me out a lot for classes. I've never encountered another equally versatile pickup. As another guy said below about this thing: this is a "Holy Grail"...for me, anyway.

Comments: I really have no desire to use any other guitar pickup than this one now...quite an impressive feat for this thing, seeing as how I've soldered different pickups into my instruments approximately 57,190,375,823 times. When I first tried EMG's, I thought they sapped subtle nuances out of my playing. I now realize that those nuances weren't really mine, but those of passive pickups with pole pieces.

The bar pole magnets, along with whatever other EMG magic is going on, eliminate a lot of the peaks and quirks in traditional passive pickup frequency response. Thus, they provide a better field for putting your own emotions into your playing. Unfortunately, the 81 and 85 models are the EMG humbuckers most users are familiar with...they're both excellent, but the 85 uses Alnico instead of ceramic magnets, which muddies up tone just a bit too much for me, and they both have something of a mid-scooped EQ. While I feel this clears things up a good deal, the majority of the nuances guitar players put in themselves are centered in the mids. Hence, there is anti-EMG sentiment out there, as many people find these pickups are "sterile", or "lacking feel and emotion". The EMG 60 is focused in the mids, however, and yields ungodly tone and ability to cut through the mix.
As I said, I'm not a vintage guy...my tastes have evolved a lot over my 6-7 years playing, and I love this pickup because it allows me excellent control over my sound, and picks up what I put into it better than any other pickup I've used. I use active EMG's exclusively now on all my guitars and basses: they all are wonderfully clear and powerful. The 81, 85, and S models are in my backup guitars, but I'd never get any of those again now that I've discovered the 60.
This thing does everything from rich, pristine clean sounds to searing SaTaNiC distorted sounds, and sounds great every time. A lot of the excellent tone quality comes from the fact that inside, this thing is a mini humbucker (think Les Paul Deluxe), but while vintage minis were pretty weak, the active circuitry allows the 60 to cover the entire frequency spectrum of the guitar, and still have perfect power.
This pickup deserves a 10...it's the best ever, but each one is about $90; a little hefty compared to most other pickups. If Carvin could put these things in stock (Carvin gear is top-notch and the best value on the market), I'm sure it would end up being a "Fantastic value", but for now, the price point drops its score a point.

Pickup features: Humbucker/active
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul studio
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: ENG-85 @ bridge
Artists using this pickup: Dunno
You musical style(s): Metal-core, rock, blues, power ballads, and worship.
Reason for pickup change: None really

Perceived output level: Medium-High output
Tone: Huh-Duh-Buh-Boo-Bam-Tinkle-Tinkle-Salivate-Drool
Sonic evaluation: Lp through a marshall. SOOOOO much sustain I almost DIED, Killer tone and an awesome vibe with the perfect midrange and all the cut that youd ever need.Inexplicably awesome. I play metal but I play Christiam metal-core and dont think that its neccessary to use so much profanity in a reveiw, cause all it does is give people a stereotypical image of an idiot/angry metalhead, so I get branded as one too which I dont appreciate....But I still love ALL metalheads alike. If dont need Tone than dont bother to waste your time with this, Instead go and get a POD or some other solid state amp and sound like the rest of the world,...But if you crave that perfectly smooth/airy/hot/rich tone than get this. I usually dont dig active stuff but this aint bad.
P.S.-Im only 17 too.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: ^^^^^^^^

Comments: Like-em

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson DX-10D
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Jackson Stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: Jackson Stock pickup in the neck position
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield, Metallica
You musical style(s): Metal, baby!
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to upgrade from the stock pickup. Something with less noise, more sustain - and a move closer to Het's sound!

Perceived output level: H-O-T
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: Using a Jackson DX-10 with a new Peavy Bandit 112.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock and metal, which it is ideal for.

Comments: The problem (???) with these pickups is that my stock neck pickup can't be wired into the system - i need another emg for the neck (not a problem, i just need to save up again!). The abscence of a magnet in this pickup adds to the sustain and the preamp circuitry included means i can plug it into my cat (not tried this yet) - and still get a great sound. Very happy with this pickup, and can't wait to have the neck position with another one or an emg-51.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD M-100
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: crappy EMG select PU
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield and myself
You musical style(s): Heavy mother fuckin metal
Reason for pickup change: EMG select pickups are crap.

Perceived output level: pretty hot, almost as much as the 81, it still distorts on my clean channel
Tone: bassy in the neck
Sonic evaluation: Running my M-100 straight into my AVT50. This pickup distorts my clean channel slightly, not as much as the 81, but just a little. pretty bassy output. This pickup gets really muddy when I kick in the distortion. I only use this for clean, as the 81 does a much better job of handling distortion.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play heavy metal, mainly Metallica. This is a great match (obviously) for their sound. I think this pickup may work ok in the bridge, but I have no idea if it will still give a muddy response.

Comments: I would buy this pickup again. Despite the muddiness when distorted, I think the 85 in the neck would be even worse. I like the clean w/ the 60, much better than the 85 and the 81. I'm happy w/ my setup right now.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Hot, I guess?

Model of guitar or bass: ESP Strat... Ash body I think
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock single coil
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81
Artists using this pickup: No idea...
You musical style(s): Indie/space rock/hardcore thrash/emo
Reason for pickup change: The single coils really lacked output, sucked when distorted, and I'm a much bigger fan of humbucker clean.

Perceived output level: Pretty hot, almost as hot as the EMG-81 to my ears
Tone: It's pretty bassy in general, good cleans, but a little STERILE to my ears!
Sonic evaluation: I've been playing four years now I think, and while I am in love with the distorted tone of the EMG 81 at the bridge, I was a bit disappointed with the 60. I am a big fan of fat organic warm clean sounds, and maybe this was the wrong guitar to put it in (a bright tonewood) but it's a bit too sterile and thin. It's good nonetheless, very clear in its notes, but it doesn't seem to have much character. I'm not very good at describing tone, but my Dimarzio PAF Pro in my other guitar makes my Carvin Legacy clean channel drip and sound like a VOX AC30, while the EMG 60 keeps it very clear and warm, but just not too much character and tone.
It's pretty good distorted though, the rythm distortion was surprisingly nice. I can get nice Kirk Hammett lead tone (think Fade to Black intro solo) and lead tones in general are pretty nice.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Indie/emo/screamo/hardcore/metal

Comments: I've been playing four years, have three guitars, and was just a bit disappointed with this guitar. I won't be changing it out anytime soon and it serves my needs very well, but it's just a bit too sterile for me. I like how it makes your notes very clear, but it just lacks the character. I love my EMG-81 however. Maybe if I had put it in a darker tonewood my sentiment would change, so perhaps my advice here is be wary of getting a bassy organic tone out of a bright tonewood with this pickup.

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: visit www.emginc.com

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Explorer '76
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 496R
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 89
Artists using this pickup: Don't know
You musical style(s): pop-rock-metal
Reason for pickup change: stock pickup sounded too muddy

Perceived output level: slightly more than stock PU
Tone: Balanced, rings like a bell
Sonic evaluation: Exporer into Tube Screamer into Yamaha DG-stomp

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play all kinds of music, this pickup is great for clean to medium distorted sounds.

Comments: I recently installed the EMG PI2 (phase inverter) and this pickup out of phase with the 89 in humbucking mode sounds better than anything I ever heard before.

Pickup features: active humbucking
Impedence or other specs: low (i think)

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson SG Standard
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: 490R
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-81 (bridge)
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield
You musical style(s): metal with hardcore influences
Reason for pickup change: wanted to match output level and character of 81 in bridge

Perceived output level: very hot, more than the gibson, actually more than the 81
Tone: crunchy in bridge, perfect at neck- warm and smooth
Sonic evaluation: i play my sg into a Marshall JCM 2000 Triple Super Lead head with a boss overdrive (the newer, yellow version) and a noisegate. my cabninet is the one from the original vavlestate series (8412, i think)- great for metal, esp with the tube head

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: to be honest, i have tried this in the bridge position and did not like it at all- too crunchy, no bass. HOWEVER, i bought it to put it in the neck and it is perfect there. with the tone all the way down on clean, it sounds like an acoustic guitar. overdriven, it is warm and smooth, almost jazzy. maybe even good enough for country, but you're asking the wrong guy about that

Comments: i've been polaying for six years, seriously for only about two and a half. honestly, i don't use the neck position much, never enough time in my songs to swith between the two and it's just not my style. but when in the mood, i'll plug straight into the amp and play some clean stuff or jazzy stuff using it and this is perfect for that. i really only got it to make a good match to my bridge position. i don't like the 60 in the bridge at all. also keep in mind the gibson is mahogany and the pickup will sound different in a different wood. i have an 81 in the bridge of an alder bc rich and my gibson and they really do sound pretty different (and both guitars are fixed bridges that don't run through the body, so it's not that)

Pickup features: Active Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: Don't know

Model of guitar or bass: 1989 Gibson LP Studio Lite with Floyd Rose
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85 in the bridge
Artists using this pickup: Who knows, and who cares?
You musical style(s): Rock, maybe Blues, Rock, and Rock.. did I say rock?
Reason for pickup change: Wanted quiet output, more sustain, less chance of shock, etc.. I have had an EMG 85 in another guitar and it sounded pretty good

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Balanced.. Great in the neck position, and I may try it later in the bridge it is so cool
Sonic evaluation: I tried it on both a POD amp.. The spider I think it is.. at the shop that installed the pickups for me.. and I tried it thru my Peavey Classic 30 tube amp..and in my Digitech Amp Modler

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I would say a great blues pickup and rock

Comments: I'd buy it again for either the neck or the neck and the bridge.. Only in the bridge of a guitar used for blues for the most part though, or classic rock

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: I like pie

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Korina Explorer
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85 in bridge
Artists using this pickup: I guess the obvious would be James Hetfield
You musical style(s): Hardcore/metal/emo
Reason for pickup change: Epiphone stock pickups aren't good. I guess that's about it.

Perceived output level: Moderate to Hot, nothing crazy
Tone: Balanced, really nice
Sonic evaluation: Explorer into a SansAmp into a Peavey Bandit with a Boss ME-30 in there for delays/reverbs/chorus/flange/phaser/etc.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Hardcore, metal, emo, classic rock, blues.... I end up playing alot on this guitar. My band is a melodic metalcore band in the vein of GlassJAw, Thursday, Poison The Well, etc.

Comments: I couldn't believe how perfect this pickup was when I first played with it. It sounds great for single notes and chords and it's amazing for cleans overall.
Basically I'm using the 85 in the bridge for distortion. I was just using that and I wasn't completely satisfied with it for clean, and I've always loved the sound of a neck position single coil for clean. Someone told me these are close to that sound so I figured I'd buy one just to have a neck pickup I'd actually use. It's great, it has that smoothness of single coils but it's rounder and fatter at the same time. Very, very nice.