EMG KH-21

Pickup features: humbucking passive pickups (dual 81's)
Impedence or other specs: not sure

Model of guitar or bass: Squier Affinity strat (limited edition w/ aztec gold paint)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 3 stock single coils, noisy, all around crappy
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Lots of pros use these pickups, i don't even know all of them. Mick Thomson from Slipknot, Kerry King from Slayer, Kirk Hammett from Metallica, Tom Morello from Rage uses Emgs but im not sure which model, and of course I use these.
You musical style(s): I play everything, metal, rock, ska, punk, classic rock, soft stuff, anything my fingers will allow.
Reason for pickup change: Anyone that ones an affinity strat knows that the pickups are crappy, it's a budget guitar with budget pickups, they are noisy, soung terrible with high gain, and very weak.

Perceived output level: These pickups deliver, very loud but not uncontrolable like i've been told seymour duncan live wires are.
Tone: . At high gain they sparkle and on a clean setting they give you anything from sharp to moderate overdrive. In the neck possision you get tight bass and the bridge gives you the treble needed to make your solos (or attempts) come through razor sharp. The tone control is the one of the best features because it gives you so much flexibilty, you can dial in almost any sound you want.
Sonic evaluation: I am usually using a cheap practice amp, a Peavey Backstage, 25 watt solid state. I run a Digitech Genisis 1 into it along with a cry baby wah. Between the distortion the unit puts out and the gain the pickups give it's really too much for the amp. I also use a late 60's to early 70's Fender Pro Reverb (awesome), it is 40 watts i believe, all tube, and that amp will handle all that the unit and the pickups can put out, even with the wah engaged. The guitar I use is a Squier Affinity strat w/ a maple neck and gold paint. It is equiped with the Emgs and is the best budget guitar ive played.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The pickups are good for all types of music. Some morons tells you they are exclusivly for metal and matal alone, they aren't. The we're designed as metal pickups and are very good at producing metal sounds but with the right settings they are versital enough to create a good sound for any type. For the hardest of death metal power chords to the softest fingerpicked patern they with accomidate. They are best at metal though.

Comments: If these were stolen i would show the pickups stealing thief my definition of justice. I've been playing for a while and i've owned many Squiers, they are in my opinion the most underated guitar. I also own a no name acoustic. The thing i love most about these pickups are the great harmonics it produces which are amazing, and the straight ahead crashing sound they produce at high gain, high volume. I was looking into pasive humbuckers like the Dimarzio X2N, but that would require routing, with the KH-21 pickup system it required no routing (altough with the Fender standard strat and other Fender made guitars it does) all i had to do was drill a couple holes and tuck the battery up in the mess of electronics, not a problem. The thing that realy pissed me off though, besides having to wait for Emg to send them to guitar center who i ordered them from, was the fact that the screw holes in the pickguard did not line up right with the holes already drilled in the guitar from the factory. So i had to drill new holes (i hate drilling into good looking paint). Other than that I am satisfied with this pickups system and i recommend Emg whenever someone is looking for new pickups. This loaded pickguard usually coasts 240$+ but guitar center matches prices so i found it online cheaper (170).

Pickup features: Dual active EMG 81 humbucking pickups mounted in a pearl pickguard for easy installment in most strats
Impedence or other specs: Listed on their website, www.emginc.com

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mexican Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock neck and middle, S. Duncan JB jr. bridge
Other pickups on guitar: uh...
Artists using this pickup: the smart ones
You musical style(s): Rock, metal, loud
Reason for pickup change: First off the stock ones were crap and the JB jr. wasn't cutting it. I was stuck playing the JB for a long time and needed a change. My first time ever on ebay I found the KH-21 up for auction, so I of course bid even though I didn't have the money for them. Money was made and I got the set in no time. I would have paid more than what I did but there was no need.

Perceived output level: Obviously high output, blew the JB out of the water with ease. The sustain is unbelievable, notes end only when you let them.
Tone: They are very trebly but have good bass and mid if you listen for them. You can control the tone by turning the treble down and the mid and bass up on your amp.
Sonic evaluation: You already know the guitar I have and I play thet threw a DOD GS30 and an Original Dunlop Crybaby pedal into a 20ish watt Stone amp. Don't ask me why but I have been playing with this same setup for about four or five years. With these pickups the amp sounds HUGE. I usually play along with a stereo or alone and it sounds great with the new pickup set. The sound isn't lost in the mix and stands out really well. Every note is heard when playing full chords and they are all clear as something that is really clear. With simple overdrive they sound damn good. I thought I would be stuck playing with only distortion but the sound is amazing. As for clean tones, they sound crystal clear. It is almost like playing an acoustic without having to deal with the .12 gauge strings to get a bright attack. They just sound great with every setting, simply put.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a lot of Metallica, Ozzy, Black Label Society, and various others. I play a little bluesy stuff like Hendrix and SRV but not that often. These pickups cover it all well though. I'm not sure about country though, damn that noise.

Comments: If it was stolen the theft would probably take my guitar along with it so, I would probably get a Jackson/Charvel and fit it with EMG 81s. If my guitar were still there I would get another KH-21 set instantly and would have no problem throwing down the retail price. I wouldn't get a KH-20 because I would miss the bridge humbucker too much.