EMG HZ

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: LTD viper 301
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: came with guitar
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup: hopefully noone professional
You musical style(s): precision punk, hardcore, metal
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone: muddy as hell, way to bass-y, no clarity, no punch, overdistorted...the first time i used it i thought i was going through the neck pickup
Sonic evaluation: I'm going through a 5150 II amp...i've had to compensate for the lack of treble by turning the high up to 10 on my amp and it still sounds like shit...I've eq-ued it every which way and am not having any luck...the pickups in my epiphone sounded like a dream compared to these things...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play lots of hardcore and punk. that's not to say i know know a good tone though...lots of the stuff i play requires presicion picking speed and clarity because i like to use weird chords and stuff...i guess if you were a nu metal kid you'd like these, because they are all bass...i can't deal with it though

Comments: if it was destroyed, id do a naked dance of joy..i'm probably going to get an emg81...ive had much more success with those...ive been playing for about ten years and i'm pretty solid about what kind of tone i expect....i love the guitar it came in but i hate this pickup...it's the wose shit ive ever heard...the pickup is catering to a trend in tone when it should be more of an all-around pickup...i'll give it a two because it looks cool

Pickup features: Humbucking Passive (H3)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Steinberger GT-PRO
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Select SEHG
Other pickups on guitar: Select SES
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, Blues, Hammering (Eddie Style)
Reason for pickup change: Selects just don't cut it

Perceived output level: Louder and firmer than I expected
Tone: Firm and well balanced, not enough Mid
Sonic evaluation: I run it through a Boss VF-1 into a Marshall Valvestate VS100R. The tone is firm and clear not soggy and soft like the Selects. For Soloing and hammering, it could use some work, harmonics have a much fuller sustain than the Selects.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The neck really punches and the difference in the bridge is less noticable

Comments: I think it may be too expensive for what it produces but the design similar to its active counterparts is much more appealing than Seymours or Dimarzios with exposed poles and coils. The sound works really well with the GT-PRO (I think they should come with these in the first place) but I guess it wouldn't fit the class of guitar although the GT-PRO is an AMAZING guitar even compared with the similar GL series of the Steinberger Graphite editions I own. Sharp sound but still lacks the mid in the drive

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD Kh-502
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): metal, classic rock, and rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: They are good for metallica sound and bands like that. The clean needs a bit of work.
Tone: The tone is about that of a Les Paul.
Sonic evaluation: I use a POD for a preamp into a crate 120 watt tube amp. The pickups in my Kh-502 are very good but I would replace them if I ever got to play live with a band.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metallica

Comments: If the pickups were stolen then my whole guitar would be stolen and I would probably kill the person that stoll it. I've been playing about 2 years and its way better then my crappy squire strat and its crappy pickups. To summerize I like the sound and it is a good cheap pickup so I would buy it.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Classic rock,metal,blues...ROCK!! labels suck!
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups gave me the runs...they were SHIT,SHIT,SHIT!!

Perceived output level: Fairly hot...I would'nt expect them to perform like 81's or 85's...they're not active. They ARE alot less of a hassle to install, however. The price was right.
Tone: Tone is decent. Usually anything is an improvement over stock. We were impressed. Me and my friend who owns the local music store.
Sonic evaluation: I'm running them through a custom 50 watt tube head designed by Lee Jackson and a crate 4x12 that is loaded with greenbacks from the factory. Did crate make alot of celestion cabinets? With greenbacks no less...suprises me...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These are well suited for blues and/or rock. I don't think these are available for resale as of yet. Only as a stocker 4 esp. When toggled in the middle,it stepped up the low end. They seem to work well together.

Comments: If the guitar they were in was stolen or leaped off a cliff and plunged to it's death,i would probably replace them. IF i ran across another used set for about the same amount of money...or less. Like i said, i don't believe they're available outright as of yet. Still a good pickup for the money.I've been playing on and off for 20 years or so,and i've heard worse. YES i am running these through a dst4 by art, but i have plugged directly into the head with these and they do sound decent. As long as your intelect dose'nt rival that of a dead bush and you don't get your little screwdriver out and crank the fucking thing's up against the strings, they won't squeal. Shit man, iv'e heard Rio Grandes squeal and beome microphonic when you cank em' up too high in the body, and those are GREAT pickups. Don't do that shit... don't be that guy. Even or slightly above your pickup rings will do for these hot bastards. For the money these were a pretty good value.The guitar body did need a little routering to make em' fit, but that wuz cool. It's not a high end guitar anyway.For anything high end i would go with rio grande bbq's. Kick ass pickup's,but ya pay 4 em'.Worth it though.Hating any pickup would be futile. It's just a pickup, not a fucking boy band. They're also a easy replacement for stockers without all that pot and input switching shit as well as all the 9v shit that comes with actives. The actives DO sound better though. So don't expect ta sound like Zac!! You won't anyway. He has his own style. So stop acting like a fucking sheep and create your own. Originality rulezzz!!! There's only 1 Zac...Long live BLACK LABEL SOCIETY!!!!!! I'll rate em a 10 for price and to kick the overall rating up a bit. People, these are not bad pickups. There are better, but there always are. It's just like speed... how how much rubber you want to coat that fucking pavement with is just a question of how much money ya wanna spend. Ya want a nitro kick, try rio grande or the like. One thing i have learned is that more than pickups affect tone so...don't expect your kmart-level amp to wail like a mesa just cuz ya change pickup's. Jeeeeeez...
LONG LIVE ROCK AND FUCKING ROLL!!!!!!!!
Help stomp out pop in yur lifetime...you, yes YOU!!!!!!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Only the garbage man knows

Model of guitar or bass: LTD M300
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: This is the stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: Just the two HZs
Artists using this pickup: No one, I hope
You musical style(s): Hard rock, a dabble of metal and a bit of everything else
Reason for pickup change: I changed these out 2 hours after I first plugged in the guitar ... read on to find out why.

Perceived output level: Very average, I would say a little less or the same as a Seymour Duncan Jazz or 59 (neither of which is very loud) and a lot less than an EMG60/81 or Seymour Duncan JB, Custom, Distortion or Full Shred
Tone: I can't say that I can identify 'tone' in what these things put out. They are simpy put: dead. The bridge makes some harsh popping sounds, the neck sounds completely muffled and undefined. Anyone who praises these pickups will no doubt have in their review that, in addition to their amp, they use a distortion pedal, wah pedal, Woogie Boogie Super Cube, some Digitech product and whatever other crap exists out there.
Sonic evaluation: M300 straight into a Marshall 8040 or JTM60. With the 8040 I get whiny muddled crap, with the JTM60 I get growly muddled crap. In all cases, switching to a pair of Duncans provided excellent sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup works for death metal only, and that's because there is no tone there, just a digital patch that creates noise everytime a string is played.

Comments: I currently own an LTD H200 with Duncan Custom and Jazz, and Dean V Select with Duncan JB and 59. I ended up selling the M300, but both of these setups sound great going straight through the JTM60. The M300 with the HZs coouldn't make a good sound to save its life. I put EMG60/81 into it, that had its moments for the brief metal bits, but I ended up not playing the guitar much so I sold it. I have been playing for 5 years, been thru 6 electric guitars (Jackson Dinky, LTD H200, LTD M2, LTD M300, Dean V Select, a custom ESP HSS strat - all with their stock pickups AND upgrades) and played other models extensively. The HZ is probably the worst pickup I have ever heard.

Pickup features: Humbucking Passive Pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP M-300
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None...This was stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: No one with ears for real tone
You musical style(s): Rock, metal, even some soft stuff...I love it all
Reason for pickup change: Didn't change em....these were the stock pickups in my ESP

Perceived output level: Slightly hot...not as hot as an 81 of course
Tone: Harsh and sterile...trebly
Sonic evaluation: I use these pickups through a Lne 6 AX2, and a Peavey 5150 II. It sound bearable through the AX2 only becasue that thing will make every guitar out there sound exactly the same. The Peavey lets the true tonal characteristics shine through and these pickups are HARSH TRASH! A nice PRS or Gibson sounds beautiful through the amp...so I know the amp isn't at fault. And talk about microphonic! These things are more microphonic than...a......MICROPHONE! Well ok its not that bad but man do these things squeal. I'm replacing both of them with SD '59s. These just are thin and lack balls.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: They can match noisey metal crap that is all power chords because who needs tone when all you are hearing is a wall of noise?

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen, I would celebrate it's loss. I have been playing for 6 years and I am searching for that perfect tone. I give these pickups a 2 becasue they actually make some sound. Nothing else.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 13k

Model of guitar or bass: ESP MH-300
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Was stock bidge and neck
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Fast picking and lots of scales
Reason for pickup change: No change

Perceived output level: Is a high output pickup, more than an Dim. Evo. but a little less than a S.D. Hot Rail
Tone: Is well balanced though could use a tad more character, excellent in the neck and also very good in the bridge although a bit more highs and harmonic content would be welcome.
Sonic evaluation: This is an ESP MH-300 and the EMG HZ's are stock. Crate tube VC-120H
and Celestion 4x12 G12-65's. No effects. The sound is very powerful and crisp for stock pickups in a $500 guitar besides being truly a
high output pu. They are what they're supposed to be. The only thing i'd ask for is a little more harmonics and definition out of the bridge position but this is also the guitar's physical composition at work as it has a dark sound to begin with.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Is a good match overall for the instrument and what it was designed for. It sounds good clean too but would benefit from some coloring since its somewhat bland.

Comments: They sound very good for metal/rock and shred and are great for a stock pu in a reasonably priced guitar. They lend themselves well to
a variety of sounds and effects if you wish. Though not necessary i
may in the distant future consider changing the bridge to something
a bit brighter.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: High impedance

Model of guitar or bass: BC Rich NJ Series Warlock
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock BC Rich pickups, possibly BCR 6's
Other pickups on guitar: Just the HZ's
Artists using this pickup: None that I know of...Most would probably go with EMG's active pickups.
You musical style(s): Mostly old school punk and some metal, but anything rock'n'roll is cool...I'm almost always using distortion though, that's what I really look for in my sound.
Reason for pickup change: I was pleased with the HZ sound in the ESP, however I'd heard so much about active pickups that I had to try them. I liked the power the actives gave me, so I installed EMG 81's into the ESP and moved the HZ's into my Warlock. I hated to waste the HZ's, as they're great pickups and sound much better than the stock BC Rich ones. Plus, this way I have the best of both worlds in active and passive pickups.

Perceived output level: Pretty hot...Nothing extreme but it was definitely designed to rock. Output is similar to the BCR pickups, but with more attack and cut. Better tone.
Tone: It's pretty balanced overall. In comparison to the EMG 81, the tone is pretty similar, except everything is to a lesser extent. For example, it's trebly, but not as trebly...Not quite as loud...etc, you get the idea. I must say, however, it sounds much bassier in my heavy-bodied warlock than it did in my light ESP. Therefore the tone varies to a significant degree depending on the variables. In any case, it proved to be full-sounding and pretty even to me, being more on the trebly side and still with nice mids and bass. They rock, and they rock hard. Great for any kind of distortion, you can dial in any sound you like. It?s just not as meaty and extreme as the actives...think of it as a mini EMG-81. You do get the benefit of a passive clean tone?That is, if you don't like that of the active ones.
Sonic evaluation: I play with a pretty limited setup. I run the guitar through an Ibanez Flanger pedal, a crybaby wah-wah, and straight to my Crate Blue Voodoo 50 half stack (standard speaker cabinet, not the Blue Voodoo) which is occasionally run through a Peavey PA system. The amp is naturally trebly, but sounds great nonetheless and has great distortion. Both the amp and the pickups are good for dialing in different tones, so these pickups shine through it.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Again, I play mostly punk rock and metal, things with distortion...These pickups give you a nice, full sound. It's on the trebly side, but I love that in a pickup. Wouldn?t you rather hear the notes and melodies coming out of the guitar, rather than an inaudible bassy mess that a lot of players seem to think is an ?awesome tone?? For anything that rocks, this is a good choice.

Comments: I've been playing for around 6 years or so. I own 7 different guitars, this Warlock being my favorite 2nd to only the ESP. Again, these pickups really remind me of a toned down (i.e., passive) EMG-81. For someone who doesn't like active pickups but still wants to rock hard, these are definitely worth looking into. However, if you haven't yet done so, give the actives a try before deciding...They're definitely louder etc, more suited to my style. No complaints though, these pickups sound great...Like I said, I've got the best of both worlds!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: i make no ideia . goto www.emginc.com for more information. i think it could have just a little more Gain .

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson kelly Ps-7 model
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: J-70 Crap
Other pickups on guitar: J-70 bridge
Artists using this pickup: I think artists would go for the Active models.
You musical style(s): classic metal , punk .
Reason for pickup change: i needed ( and still looking , though ) a more jazzy and soft clean sound with that Brightness , with good chord listening and more sustain.

Perceived output level: maybe just like the Stock one . Basically , a normal clean pickup output
Tone: the tone is Middy with nice bass balance and no Screaming Treblies . nice middies.
Sonic evaluation: i?m using my jackson kelly --> Boss Gt3 --> Jcm900 + 1960A cabinet.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play classic metal , punk , rock , blues . This is a good pickup for neck position . I think the bridge one is also good , but i never listened to it carefully . But if u got a little more cash , try the combination : EMG-85(neck) + EMG-81(bridge).

Comments: i play for about 9 years. this is not the best pickup i had for a jazzy and warmth sound .i think it?s a good pickup if u dont have enough cash ( buy it from a friend?s esp-LTD ) . it can be microphonish , cause it captures the sound of your watch sometimes ( nothing serious ) . I can?t say i really love this pickup , because i still dont have the tone i?m looking for . However , the price you pay for it , and what it gives to you , is really nice , and is certainly a nice pickup for that metallica sound . If u have cash , go for the active emg?s !
E-mail me if you have any questions.

Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: LTD m-350
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: nope
Other pickups on guitar: emg single coil
Artists using this pickup: poor artists, i guess... ME
You musical style(s): metal
Reason for pickup change: i'm ghetto.. i heard you can modify these things by "potting" them i was wondering if anyone knew how this can be done

Perceived output level: they're alright.... nothing killer
Tone: um... kinda microphon-ish.... pretty hollow.... tell me how to fix this without buying new pickups... <teknolojik@home.com>
Sonic evaluation: ok... EMG-hz to cry baby to tube screamer to crate gx 30-m
sounts pretty okay... needs more warmth and like fullness

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: they need a fixin... i'm too ghetto to change them... i know it can be fixed

Comments: they're okay.... they need a fixin, though... ig you can help.. then HELP, yo.....
please... teknolojik@home.com