EMG VMC

Pickup features: 12db to -12db @ 300-3000Hz
Impedence or other specs: double knob bottom ring selects the frequency and the top ring cuts or boosts 12db

Model of guitar or bass: esp-kh-2
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: i replaced the tone
Other pickups on guitar: two emg 81's one bridge one neck with a volume for each and th=vmc= befor the output
Artists using this pickup: this is the rarest emg modual used,,
You musical style(s): modern tight metal, fusion
Reason for pickup change: the -vmc- stands for (vereable midrange control) but since a guitar pickup is mostly low end to high trble this unit can ad or subtract what every you want

Perceived output level: lots of control,, i keep my bridge emg 81 close to the strings and man i can add just a bit at the high end and it adds definition and edge, or roll off the high end and darken the 81 for big time classic crunch, or boost the midds so high it will whistle midrage solos like a half cocked wah pedal.
Tone: i keep me neck 81 flush with the body for a squeeky clean sound and i will boost the low treble and i can get great single coil tones ,, you can really clone a lot of sounds
Sonic evaluation: i use a bogner =UBERSCHALL FULL STACK,,,BOGNER STRAIGHT UBER = X = CABS TO MATCH DBX NOISE GATE IN THE LOOP AND A BAD HORSIE TO WAH, THATS IT, I THINK THE EMG=VMC= IS THE COOLEST ON BORD MODUAL, I HAVE A GIBSON SG WITH THE EMG=SPC, THE ,, EXG, THE, RPC AND THIER ALL COOL, I ALSO HAVE THE 20db BOOST SWITCH,, I ALSO HAVE A VIPER WITH 81,s AND AN EMG AFTERBURNNER AND THE =VMC= IS THE MACK DADDY OF THEM ALL BECAUSE YOU CAN MORF A PICKUP INTO UNFAMILUR TERRITORY, I REALLY LIKE THE AFTERBURNNER BOOSTER ALSO BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A =JCM=800 BREATH FIRE,,, LIKE ALL THE EMG MODUALS WHEN SET OFF OR TO THE MIDDLE NOTCH IN THE CASE OF THE VMC THE TONE OF THE PICKUP IS AS TRUE IS IF THEIR WAS NOTHING IN THE PATH,

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I THINK THAT THIS MODUAL IS GREAT FOR ALL TYPES OF MUSIC BECAUSE IT CAN REALLY CREATE ALL DIFERANT LANDSCAPES OF TONE,, I THINK OF IT AS A POWER TONE CONTROL WITH CUT BOOST AND SWEEPABLE FREQUENCYS

Comments: GREAT UNIT IT IS DEEP THOUGH THE CHIP BOARD HAS A LOT ON IT AND IT WOULD BE TO DEEP TO PUT IN A THIN GUITAR LIKE A GIBSON SG,, REPLACE YOUR TONE CONTROL ON YOU'R =EMG= AND YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK REALLY A HIDEN SECTET WEPON,,,, ZEMJLA2000@YAHOO.COM

Pickup features: Ability to change into a groupie!
Impedence or other specs: Also serves doughnuts when hungry

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Fusion PRO
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock tone control
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SA (neck), EMG SA (middle), EMG-85 (bridge)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal (At the gates, cannibal corpse), rock (yngwie, vai), classical (15th century)
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a parametric mid control! And the morons thought it was a POT, and were selling it for $10!!! Couldn't pass it up.

Perceived output level: +12db to -12db @ 300-3000Hz
Tone: Mid range control
Sonic evaluation: Jackson -> MT2 (yuk!) -> Digitech GFX1 (it's pretty good) -> Digitech GSP5 (GFX1 doesn't have reverb) -> recording equipment (CarDdeluxe).
It's really quiet when @ +12db. That is, until you start playing. This can make ANY QUALITY pickup (meaning NOT some stock Mexican strat/copy junk) sound BETTER than an EMG 81 or 85 (I know; EMG's are all I use!). GOD of tone! Awesome when used WITH an EMG 81 or 85 (also works EXCELLENT with passive PU's) and a good mid to high gain TUBE amp. If you're a metal head (like me) and are stuck with some crappy low-gain, solid state amp (like I was), then this WILL make it sound really good. Now, if you're using a high-gain solid-state, be forewarned: If you use EMG 81's or 85's, don't play rhythm with it set to +12db. It mushes like crazy on palm-mutes. Heck, with this, try using a quiet single-coil in the neck for rhythm; it sounds KILLER.
Other than that, if you've got nice passives or EMG actives, this is a MUST-HAVE item!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: See above for music styles. Yes, it suits me very well. When I go into a barrage of black-metal riffs, I flip to the neck position. When doing searing 80's style leads, I put it in the bridge position. When doing classical stuff, I turn it "off" (top knob clicks into the bypass position in the middle), click over to my neck or middle pickup. REALLY versatile.

Comments: I give it a 9, because these things retail for +/- $70! Hey, all that it is, is a tone control hooked up to a parametric preamp, not some engimatic $70-technical-marvel. Hey, if you're looking for the GOD of onboard tone control, get one of these. If you're a kid looking to impress your friends, get one of these. If you're on a budget, got a crappy amp and a decent guitar/pickup combo, get one of these. Wanna play some killer Hendrix, Clapton, Zeppelin, or SRV, GET ONE! Stop wasting $$$ on pickups and amps (unless yours suck), and get THIS!

Pickup features: n/a : the VMC - Variable Mid Control - is a parametric aqualizer
Impedence or other specs: n/a

Model of guitar or bass: Handmade stratstyle, korina/maple body, maple/maple neck, Khaller trem, EMG 89 (neck) + SA (mid) + 81 (bridge)
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: n/a
Other pickups on guitar: see above
Artists using this pickup: no idea
You musical style(s): Blues, roch; hard rock.
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to get a more versatile sound from my guitar.
The pickup selector works as follows:
1. EMG 89 (neck) in split mode = SA sound (single coil)
2. EMG SA (middle) (single coil)
3. EMG 89 (neck) hum mode = 85 sound (humbucker)
4. EMG 89 (neck) + EMG 81 (bridge) (2 humbuckers)
5. EMG 81 (bridge) (humbucker)
(pretty difficult to get that sort of wiring: you'll need a special 5-way switch - check with EMG, these people are very helpful)
Add:
- volume pot
- tone pot
- EMG EXG - bass & high expander - with mini-switch
- and the EMG VMC i'm reviewing - with mini-switch

Perceived output level: n/a
Tone: Whatever you want... The VMC is a parametric equalizer on your guitar. As they rightly say on EMG's website, 'It's a special tone control that not only lets you boost or cut a specific part of the tonal spectrum, but gives you the ability to adjust the center frequency across a wide range to tailor your tone precisely. Provided on a stacked potentiometer that allows two knobs through a single hole in your instrument, you get a big 12dB of boost or cut wherever you focus the EQ (continuously sweepable from 300-3000Hz)'
Sonic evaluation: I'm using this guitar with a brand new Line6 Vetta - a holy grail of tone and versatility.
Previously, my setup was: guitar -> OD1 -> Line6 Pod Pro (with speaker emulation ON) -> HIFI amp, 2x200 W -> 2 full range 300W speakers. Please note: that's what the Pod Pro was designed for... Don't try to drive a GUITAR amp with a Pod Pro: that's exactly like driving an amp with another one. Even with speaker simulation turned off, you won't get a good sound. Pod Pro IS a guitar amp...
Now, about the VMC. This thing is capable of completely transforming the personnality of any pickup... You may have a single coil sound as fat as an humbucker - I get my favorite 'Gibson style' sound from en mid-position single coil SA, with the mid cranked. Or a 81 bridge humbucker scream like Hendrix's bridge strat single coil - but much hotter if you want to. It is really a holy grail - total versatility.
Please note: you don't need EMG or active pickups to install this on your guitar; will work with any passive pickups, too, save you also install the EMG PA2 Preamp booster for the required low-impedence output. Of course, you'll also need a battery.

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

Comments: As said before, it's a holy grail of pickup versatility. I can get countless different sounds from my guitar, as it is today: Clapton - Vai - Knopfler - Hendrix - you name it.
I've been playing for 25 years, studio and on stage. I also own a 1969 Tele, and a Les Paul Jimmy Page signature. Used to own a 1962 strat, sold it (I now get the same sound from my handmade baby).
As for amps, I owned, Fenders, Marshalls, Mesa Boogie. Sold them out when I got my Pod Pro - c'mon, don't be such purists: it fits any need better than 100.000 box value of vintage amps :-)
As far as I know, nothing compares to the VMC. It's _much_ more flexible than an EQ pedal - but won't, of course, fully match a high-end rack-mounted EQ device.
Overall, my today's setup is what I've been looking for forever: total versatility.