EMG DG20

Pickup features: Active Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: mid boost, and presence control

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mexican Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock pickups
Other pickups on guitar: n/a
Artists using this pickup: David Gilmour
You musical style(s): Hard Rock, Progressive
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups sounded good, but as we all know, when you get a fender strat with standard pickups, they are going to be noisy. Also, I've been wanting to upgrade my strat for sometime now, and along with the pickups I added 6 sperzel locking tuners.

Perceived output level: Hotter then the pick ups I had in them.
Tone: Tone is very versatile, When you have distortion, you can turn the mid boost to get a humbucker type sound, and with clean, you can turn the guitar expander up, and the tone is just really crystal clear.
Sonic evaluation: well have a marshall 1959 SLP, with a digitech rp7, and an Ernie Ball Volume Control.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: My style is mainly Hard Rock, prog. I think it is suitable for my style of playing, but if you're wanting to be like megadeth heavy, this may not be the pickup system for you.

Comments: I would be upset if they were stolen, I would buy them again in no time flat. I've been playing for about 10 years, and I've already given my eqiupment list. The thing I love about it is that I'm not limited to what I can do like I was with my last set. The last set was so noisy that I had to take alternate routes when I used distortion, I would use the bridge and middle pickup combined with the tone knob turned all the way down, but now I can just use the bridge pick up with the midboost turned all the way up. It's really expanded my horizons. I was thinking about getting some dimarzios, but I figured if I was going to get something I may as well go for broke and get the DG20, and to say the least I'm glad I went that route.

Pickup features: 3 active single coils plus preamp
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: fender standard japan strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock?
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Dave gilmour I hear, so it can't be all bad
You musical style(s): blues/rock/jazz/prog, in other words, my own
Reason for pickup change: came w/ guitar

Perceived output level: good strong out put, but strangely enough, not what I would call hot
Tone: Good and clear
Sonic evaluation: Using w/ a Trace elliot super tramp, which I'm, not extremely happy with. But the guitar itself is great,plus the preamp boost knob is great, the high end is not too trebly, but still plenty bright, the lw end is a little unclear at times, but unless you get a good combination, single coils aren't always great or low end, unless you're Ty Tabor of course.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great all around single coil pickup, I like much, probably not great if you're into slayer though

Comments: I like it a lot, great for a strat type sound, absolutely silent, great output, EMGs have been used by some of the best, and my favorites, Knopfler, Gilmour, Hammet etc... Ihad some EMGs in my old tele, they beat the stock Mexi PuPs, but they didn't have a great high end, I still miss that guitar though. Enjoy. Email me for advice, especially if you look like Cameron Diaz, then I can help you out real good, me like Diaz woman.

Pickup features: Single Coil Pickups With Active Electronics--- with 9 volt battery
Impedence or other specs: EXG and SPC Tone System

Model of guitar or bass: Fender 60's Reissue
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Fender Single Coil Pickups for the Fender 60's Reissue
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: David Gilmour
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal, Rock, Pop,Jazz-Fusion, Country, Traditional Jazz
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to buy a pickup with universal options for all styles of music, for I play in a Cover band that plays every style of music. IMO, this is the best pickup system you can buy out on the market.

Perceived output level: The output level has many output ranges especially with the EXG and SPC system. This allows you to configure your own sound from a more blues based sound to a hot heavy metal sound. The EXG allows you to cut or boost up your Bass sound(with a tone control), and the SPC allows you to boost or cut your mids and highs. Which is a great tool if you want versitility, especially when your playing many different genres of music. The only thing I wish this system would include is a tone roll off.
Tone: This system allows you to change your sound like a built in GRAHIC EQUILIZER. Very clean sound, no muddiness, crispness of regular single coils without noise. Singing output with sustain.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Fender Strat with the DG-20 system, plugged into a Fender Twin with a Korg AX1000G(Which I also recommend for a Foot Processor. I also play a Paul Reed Smith with Passive humbuckers, but prefer the DG-20 system over this for its versatility. Playing all styles of music I never go wrong with these EMG's. It has so much to offer. The only type of style these may not fit with is Jazz. If you configure your amp, and effects to the way you like these pickups will change your mind about other pickup systems.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: All styles from Metal to Jazz. Good for all styles except maybe for Jazz.

Comments: I will definitley buy these again, but these are only made for strat style guitars. I have tried many other pickups before, and IMO EMG's are more benificial than all others. The DG-20 system brings so many more color sound options to your pallet. I strongly recommend this system to anyone, especially those of you who play many styles.

Pickup features: SC Active
Impedence or other specs: Blah, blah, blah...

Model of guitar or bass: 1990(?) Fender Strat Plus
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fender Lace Sensors(gold)
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: David Gilmour maybe?
You musical style(s): Blues, Classic Rock
Reason for pickup change: Lace sensors were great for sounding like lace sensors, but... Who really wants to sound like lace sensors? Ok. Maybe Eric Clapton. And Jeff Beck. But what do they know? :)

Perceived output level: This system is extremely versatile. Can be as clean or dirty as you like it. And even at it's dirtiest, they're still noise free. I've heard some people add a PA2 preamp, but I haven't felt the need. This system really makes your amp sing.
Tone: Any tone you like except "Tone control rolled off." As there is no traditional tone control.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Rocktron VooDu Valve pre through a Fender solid state. My guitar is a maple/rosewood neck on an alder body strat plus. I have the bridge blocked and bar removed. The guitar itsself is a bit dark sounding, but the emgs REALLY brought it to life. These pickups will play any sound from the cleanest "acoustic"-type setting, to Metallica rhythm and leads. (Hint-put the bridge pickup as close to the strings as you possible can for a great shred sound! If you aren't quite getting it out of the system, this will probably do it!)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play lots of classic rock, but dabble in all rock styles. The DG system will give any basic sound that requires single coils, humbuckers or anything in between. What more could you ask for... well, maybe a tone control. A concentric pot for the circuit boards would be nice and a regular tone control to roll back for that Santana sound...

Comments: I'd buy this again because it allows you to walk to any gig with just your one guitar, plug in and dial in your (or David Gilmour's) sound. Literally any sound is attainable. Some people complain that emgs have no soul. Granted, they do lack that scratchiness you hear on passive pickups, but that's cause they're EMGs! They are supposed to be ultra-clean! No complaint about lack of noise can be legitamate when you buy a system advertised as being noise free! Anything you loose by switching, you won't miss for long. The exg is kind of like how a strat is supposed to sound, while the spc is almost like a gibson, or as close as a strat with single coils could come. If you want a Gibson, pay the $2000 for it instead of the $300 or whatever the dg20 goes for these days! This is definitely a better bargain.

Pickup features: Single coil (active)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Usa Standard Strat (Maple Neck)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: No
Artists using this pickup: Gilmour and ...
You musical style(s): Medium Rock
Reason for pickup change: The unbelievable sound of Steve(n) Rothery on the Marillion Album "Made Again"...

Perceived output level: They produce more output than the stock pickups. Sometimes almost Humbucking Quality (concerning the output)
Tone: With SPC and EXP down, I think they are somehow voiceless. But don?t think they have no tone then, it?s only that they don?t sound like other pickups i ever used. maybe that?s just EMG. I like the EXP . It gives me the middy singing (!!) tone I always looked for. Herad the solo in Marillion?s "Easter" a thousand times and always wanted this tone. The Clean sound is very nice, but I have to say that the SPC Control is almost useless to me. The sound get?s to glassy in my opinion. I think the pickups themselves are clear and bright enough. Ok, for special sounds, it?s always nice to have something in reserve.
Sonic evaluation: After ten years of playing I found my Amp: The ENGL Sovereign 2x12 (old Model). I play the USA Strat (maple neck) and a Ibanez Jem (555) with Stock Pickups. I use a Boss GT-3 in the Effect Loop (half/half).
I have to say that anybody tries out a lot equipment in ten years, so did I. Top/Box; Preamp/PowerAmp/Box; Combos; Effects (incl. Ts 808) etc etc. But I wanted the Rothery sound and had it once but with unreliable Equipment. Ended up with my current Equipment. (and I?m very happy)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I like to play Medium Rock (Marillion, Hothie and the Blowfish, N.Merchant) to Hard Rock (Peral Jam, even Dream Theater). The pickups are perfect for light and Medium Rock. And they sound really good with the Pearl Jam style stuff.

Comments: I bought these Pickups one and a half years ago but wasn?t sure when to pose this comment on the Webpage. I bought the ENGL Amp and other equipment in between and had to check out the Pickup/Amp combination again. These Pickups have the sound I always wanted !

Pickup features: Active Humbucking Single Coil sound.
Impedence or other specs: Active tone controls: EXP and SPC

Model of guitar or bass: Warmoth Hollow Mahogany Strat/Maple top. Maple/Rosewood neck. Wilkinson VS100 Bridge.
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None, bought this setup to stick on my newly-assembled Warmoth Strat.
Other pickups on guitar: N/a
Artists using this pickup: Lots
You musical style(s): Blues, Reggae, a Little Jazz, Rock.
Reason for pickup change: N/a, First set of electronics on guitar.
I picked these EMGs since they seemed easy to install, plus I heard lots of rave reviews, and heard Gilmour's tone on the "Delicate Sound of Thunder" Live Tour.

Perceived output level: Output noticeably higher than Delta Tone Stockers.
Tone: Tone with SPC &EXP at Zero: Lots of Bass, No Mids, Lots of Treble.
Sonic evaluation: Tube, Solid State, and Digital 10-60 watt amps. (Pathfinder, DG60, Super Reverb Reissue, Stealth 50, POD)
HI-FI sounding, 20-20,000 Hz. (almost)
These pickups are noiseless, great for playing in bars with bad electrical, and for recording in front of a computer monitor. You can hook your guitar directly to the mixing board, no DI box needed. Low Impedance Output.
On their own (guitar-to-amp), without effects or overdrive/distortion, these pickups have no character. But with a lot of effects, the tone cuts through the mix without the muddiness that you're used to with normal passive pickups. Very Flat Sounding, but I assume thats the whole EMG idea.
The SPC and EXP can widen out the flat sound, thicken it up, brighten it up, etc, but they won't make the guitar sound unique.
Use effects to add character.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good if you need to sound very very clear when using a lot of effects processing. For Blues, they just aren't expressive enough if you're a guitar to amp guy.

Comments: I replaced them with some Fender Custom Shop passive single coils.
They were nice to try out, and very quiet, but just not for me. I don't use any effects except for delay, reverb, and a little overdrive, so I don't need to have these exceptionally hifi clear sounding pickups in my guitar.
Probably great if you use a ton of effects.

Pickup features: Three SA single coil w/ EXP and SPC contols
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1989 Japanese Fender Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Lace sensor gold (neck & middle) Duncan JB Jr (bridge)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Well... I can think of one...
You musical style(s): Modern, classic rock & blues
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to try EMGs. Like the idea of the EXP & SPC controls as opposed to useless tone controls.

Perceived output level: A bit hotter than stock
Tone: Much more presence and clairity than stock or the lace pickups I had.
Sonic evaluation: Playing through Digitech RP2000 into PA and Tech 21 Power Engine 60.
Sounds fabulous. Much more presence and "cut" without being too loud.
Makes the acoustic emulation in the RP2000 come alive. Actually sounds like a steel string acoustic when you urn up the EXP a bit. The lace pickups didn't sound like this. The SPC boosts mids, fattens up the sound, but doesn't sound like that JB jr humbucker I had in the bridge position before. I will miss that, but I am so pleased overall that I'm willing to live without it. The EXP boosts highs and lows and cuts the mids. With the patch setups in the RP that I use, if I turn it up past half, I get hiss and it's way too bright. I suppose this depends on what you are playing through. Great for SRV sound or ratty overdrive sounds. Smooth distortion sound. Even gets good clean sound (Turn down the SPC). Another nice thing is, when you back off the volume, you don't lose the high end.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play old and new rock, blues and worship band at church. It works for this. Probably not good for extreme metal.

Comments: I would have to say first, that I am not particularily a huge fan of David Gilmour or Pink Floyd, although I do like their music. I was drawn to this because it seemed that it would have a lot of versatility, and it does. This thing is unbelieveable. First off, being EMG it is quiet. When I play in church, we have flourescent lights and track lighting on dimmers. These pickups do a great job of rejecting the noise these things can cause. I can back off the noise gate in my effects now. It wasn't as radical as I thought, which is good. I was afraid it might be too hot, incapable of clean sound. It wasn't. Also someone said here it didn't have the crispness of stock pickups. This is simply not true.(for me anyway) Nor have I found the EXP control to be too bassy, as someone else said. Of course a lot of this depends on what you play through and how you set it up. I've found that running the EXP up a bit and using the SPC to fatten up for solos or more crunchy rhythm works well. Want clean Stevie Ray? Turn up the EXP and turn off the SPC. The variety of sounds is pretty much endless. As I said earlier, it doesn't quite get the bridge humbucker sound I had with the JB jr, but close enough. The best thing is that it makes your sound so much more "there" in the mix. If you own a Strat, you need one of these. Maybe if you want a twangy clean country sound,(buy the Vince Gill model) or play thrash metal,(get the Kirk Hammett model) this wouldn't be for you, but for most rock & blues it fits the bill perfectly. I would give it a higher rating, but they only go up to ten! One warning. This may make your other guitars sound bad!

Pickup features: Active single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Standard Mexican Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: David Gilmour
You musical style(s): Rock, blues
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more sustain, power, tonal versatility, loved Gilmour's tone.

Perceived output level: Much hotter than stock strat, but not too hot, still has a nice clean tone
Tone: Varies widely with the tone controls...
Sonic evaluation: Standard strat into a Marshall JCM2000 DSL 401, 40 watt tube combo.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Sounds great for blues and classic rock, not necessarily good for really heavy stuff, but for single coils it comes close.

Comments: I've been playing for almost a year and a half. I would definitely purchase this pickup set again. It's a huge improvement in tone and versatility over the stock pickups. There is no buzzing. It goes from a light and bluesy clean sound with the SPC control to a fat, almost humbucker sound with the EXG. It doesn't do everything, but I don't think I could be more satisfied with a set of single coil strat pickups. You can definitely get pretty damn close to Gilmour's tones with this after some fiddling.

Pickup features: Single coil - Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 79 Fender Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Gilmore
You musical style(s): Jazz and Metal
Reason for pickup change: Curious

Perceived output level: Much louder
Tone: Muddy
Sonic evaluation: Fender Strat, Pod 2.0.

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

Comments: My jury is still out on these. They are much louder with awesome sustain and distortion, so that's pretty cool but gone is that nice clean stock strat pickup sound. Gone also is the hum and buzz. With the SPC and EXG both turned up it sounds like all kinds of mess. The SPC hisses when nothing is being played. I like to have the EXG all the way up the the SPC about a third or half way up. The more I play them I start to like them better. I have not plugged into anthing real loud like a Fender Twin or Marshall yet, just a Pod.

Pickup features: ACTIVE
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 95 AMERICAN STRAT
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: ORIGINAL STRAT PICKUPS, WITH ADIMARZIO SUPERII ADDED TO BRIDGE POSITION.
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: SEEKING CONFESSIONS
You musical style(s): GILMOUR/TROWER/JEFF BECK/CARLOS
Reason for pickup change: ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A "PRODUCED" KIND OF SOUND... SWEET AND SUSTAINABLE... HOPEFULLY UNIQUE.

Perceived output level: QUIET, BUT NARROW RANGE
Tone: MIDDY
Sonic evaluation: STRAT INTO ROLAND GP-16 INTO BOOGIE MARK III.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: DIFFERENT STYLE... A MIX OF THE ABOVE ARTISTS.

Comments: I GOT BETTER RANGE WITH MY OLD SETUP, BUT THAT GP-16 DOESN'T CO-EXIST WELL WITH ANY OF MY PEDALS, SO I'M NOT SURE THE DG-20 IS TO BLAME. I REMOVED THE DG-20, BUT WILL RE-INSTALL IT WHEN I FIND THE RIGHT DISTORTION PEDAL TO ADD TO MY OTHER PEDALS.