EMG HZ-7

Humbucking passive pickup. Don't know the specs.

I have a Schecter Damien 7 that came with these stock.
Bridge and neck.
Changed these pickups as soon as I could. They are total crap.

The Output, I would say is considerably high compared to normal stock passive pickups. They can overdrive a clean amp and handle high gain at least as far as rhythm playing goes.
I have used this with Ibanez solid state amps, B-52 tube amps and a Framus Cobra.

Tone: Decent at first but as you use these more and more they begin to show their flaws. They are tight in the lows and fairly articulate but the sustain is non-existent. Lead passages cut out and fall totally short. I've never had this happen with even the crapiest stock pickups in a guitar before. Even with high gain you have to hit every note really hard to get them to ring out properly. There are virtually no dynamic qualities about this pickup. The tone on a clean amp is flat at best. With too much distortion they get muddy and won't cut through the mix of a full on band.

I play progressive metal and these pickups have no where near the performance character I need. I think it would only be good for players who do nothing but speedy 16th note power chords. For rock or more progressive styles I would never use these. I endedup replacing them with active EMG's, which are way better on sustain and clarity, yet still lack dynamics. I'm beginning to think EMG is just not the company for me.

I really don't know what EMG was thinking making these things. Since I've replaced mine, I have tried 5 different times to sell them on ebay and not gotten even one bid on them. I've been playing for over 13 years and have been a tone junky forever so I know what I'm talking about when I say these things are horrible. I honestly think the only reason anyone could want them is because they look cool. And after having real EMG's I think I'm pretty set on staying with a passive pickup but definitely from a different company.

Pickup features: Passive Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP/LTD MH-307 7-string
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Jazz/ Metal/ Blues/ Prog Rock/ Fusion mainly.
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone: All round, quite muddy. A somewhat 'shallow' sound.
Sonic evaluation: The pickups came mounted as defaults on the LTD MH-307 guitar. For output I'm currently switching between a Marshall JCM-800 amplifier and my Soundblaster Live!1024 soundcard on my PC. On the computer the sound sounds more controlled and all small noise levels can be carefully tampered with, however I must admit that the pickups lack a certain powered-up feel which the Ibanez AH gave me.

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

Comments: If someone had to steal my pickups (which I doubt), it's wouldn't make that much of a difference as I'm currently searching for pickups giving me the same 'punch' as the Ibanez AH give. The guitar however is plainly amazing. Pity such cheap pickups are the factory defaults for a superb instrument as the MH-307 is.