EMG ZW

Pickup features: Active Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: Dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson SG Gothic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: The stock Gibsons
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Sepultura, Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Deicide, Slipknot, Metallica, Zakk Wylde, Ill Nino, Old Man's Child, Halford,Soulfly ,etc.
You musical style(s): Metal(Sepultura, Pantera) a some prog rock.
Reason for pickup change: The stock PU's were a bit lame.EMG's have a great reputation so I decided to try them out. Now I know where the reputation comes from!!!!

Perceived output level: The 81 is hot'n'crunchy.Lots of distortion. Low noise(No noise at all.Even with high gain and high volumes)), long sustain, clear so you can hear every note you play.The 85 is everything mentioned before excpect it's perfect for the bridge position.
Tone: Balanced. Brigth with great low end.
Sonic evaluation: I play my Gibson Gothic Sg through a Marshall JCM200 DSL100 all tube head and I have to say, my guest for the TONE is over. The EMG's really make the difference. They really woke the gear up. Everythings better with these PU's.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly Metal(Sepultura, Pantera)(that's what i have been playing for years) and some prog rock.

Comments: The bottom line is, these PU's kick major ass, I have been playing for years so i know what I'm talking about. After changin these PU's to my Gibson, everything got better. Longer sustain, NO noise, A LOT MORE gain yet they are so clear that you can hear every note you play, it doesen't turn in to a big mosh, better clear tone, I mean everythings better!!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 25k pot etc

Model of guitar or bass: Left Handed Fender Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Fender Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG
Artists using this pickup: anybody associated with metal (zakk wylde)
You musical style(s): Metal, Classical, Blues, Rock
Reason for pickup change: wanted to fix up my axe and give it an awesome tone

Perceived output level: Alot more beefier than stock pickups.
Tone: EMG81 is fairly trebly but still provide a full sound. The 85 has a very deep full sound.
Sonic evaluation: LH Fender Strat>Boss DS-1>DOD Tec 8>Randall RG75
Sounds much better than old pickups. A fuller sound is present now. The bass and treble both are outstanding.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal and it works quite well for this. I've never tried any other pickups on my guitar so i'd recommend it. Seems to work good with the 81 in the bridge and the 85 in the neck.

Comments: If it were stolen i'd pray that I could get my guitar back just how it is. I have been playing for four years and this is my first and only guitar so far.

Pickup features: Active Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: Go to the Web Site.

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Custom
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Gibson Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: Uhh, That's it
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Me
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Blues
Reason for pickup change: Gibson pickups were VERY weak and NOISY as a Son-of-a-Bitch, and would Feedback out of God-Given Control!!! Good for Classic Rock and some blues, but DEFINITELY NOT High Gain modes!!!

Perceived output level: ULTRA MEGA HOT, BAD ASS, WOW!!!
Tone: Beautiful Well-Balanced Tone, A+++++++++++
Sonic evaluation: 1986 Black Gibson Les Paul Custom (With EMG ZW set), Marshall JCM2000 DSL50 Head through Marshall JCM900 1960A (at 4 ohms), Signal sent to a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive pedal, and sent right to amp, NOT TO effect loop!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: GREAT FOR HEAVY METAL, ROCK, BLUES, COUNTRY, CLASSICAL, ANYTHING YOU WANNA PLAY!!! Good For both Rythm and Treble Positions!

Comments: These Pickups COMPLETELY changed my shitty weak sound that the Stock GIBSON pickups provided for my HIGH GAIN approach. I can get that Zakk Wylde BLS, DOWN sound PERCECTLY, or I can get that early Metallica sound if I want. Also, I can get a GREAT SRV blues sound if I run through my SD-1 through my clean channel. One bad thing is that these bastards were kinda difficult to install, infact, the instructions were wrong about a couple wires, and caused my pickups to be controlled in opposite, (which kinda sucked), but a couple quick solders and it was easily fixed!!! (Hey, Guitar Center wanted $60, YEAH RIGHT!!!) Hey, these pickups REALLY quiet my amp, Which is run at a VERY high setting, and they sound great. If I broke these pickups, I'd probally beat myself senseless, If they were stolen, I'd find the asshole and shove my Guitar Case up is ass. In both situations, I'd DEFINITELY end up buying a new set. Hey, GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS, GET OFF THE INTERNET, GO TO GUITAR CENTER, AND BUY THESE PICKUPS, you'll like them!!!!!!!!!!!

Pickup features: Two active Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RGDX320
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Neck and Bridge position Humbuckers
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Me, other people, Zakk Wylde...
You musical style(s): metal, classical, reagae, rock, blues....
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups just werent cutting it. Id been hearing good stuff about EMG's, so I went for it.

Perceived output level: Ultra Responsive, dead silence at the drop of a dime. The sound is crystal clear.
Tone: Bassy, Trebly, crunchy, hot, fuckin bad ass,
Sonic evaluation: I play my Ibanez through a POD Line six, which I run through a Marshall Valvestate 65 watt amp. Ive played it through a half stack as well, I couldnt ask for a better sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I like to play aggressive, trasparent, melodic, heavy music. EMG's are pretty versatile for the most part. If you turn the tone down, they sound good clean.

Comments: This EMG's are the best investment Ive made since I started playing about 6 years ago. If I lost them (knock on wood), I would definitely buy more. Pf course, if someone steals the pickups, theyd probably steal the guitar to. In that case, Id have to buy a Gibson Les Paul Custom, and Id eventually install some EMG's. EMG's are dope as fuck. If you like hot, crunchy, trebly, sound, with alot of sustain and harmonics, get these pickups.

Pickup features: 2 Active humbuckers EMG81 & 85
Impedence or other specs: site

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock pick ups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: zakk wylde? metallica, slayer, cold, tim narducci & adam ruppel(systematic),Max Calvera , steph carpenter, godsmack, dope(they suck), fear factory
You musical style(s): Metal; old metallica to nu-metal
Reason for pickup change: i bought the guitar from guitar center adn i always wanted the ZW set so i just put em on. i didn't even hear how the stock one's sounded!

Perceived output level: HOT HOT HOT, the 81 is by far one of the loudest pickups out there and the 85 is a little (verrrrrrrry little) lower but the bass makes up for it
Tone: perfect, balance
Sonic evaluation: my set up is quite simple but sweeeeeeeeeet. Les Paul >> Mesa Boogie TRIPLE rectifier >> 4X10 Recto cab. no gadgets or pedals. that just fucks evrything up. strait up tube distortion and with these puppies my guitar sounds like a million bucks

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i would be stupid to say that this p/u set is UNsuitable for ANY genre of music. just because most metal and hardcore guitarists use it dosent mean that thats its only purpose. its gets the job done for anything from blues to country to jazz to classic rock to deftones. VERY versitile pickup set

Comments: if this was stolen i'd prolly shoot myself in the face with a shotgun. i'd definetly buy it again but i'd have to get some $$ afgter it went all out on the boogie. i've been playing for 4 years and i think i've found a kindred spirit in EMG. nothing else compares to this product. just take kirk hammets example. he gets a gibson les paul custom which is the cream of the guitar crop, and what does he do with it? he takes out those pickups and puts in EMG's!!! i'm telling you, you could take a 200$ olp and make it sound like zakk wylde's bullseye les paul custom. this p/u works wonders. period

Pickup features: Humbucking, active
Impedence or other specs: Check out the website I just play em, not design em! :)

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Really old stock Epi pickups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, and a bunch of othe people
You musical style(s): Everything from Metal to Country
Reason for pickup change: I bought this old Epiphone from a friend for next to nothing and discovered that this guitar is an older Japanese model and built like a tank. I swear it is so close to a real Les Paul it is unbelieveable. It even has the Gibson headstock not the Epi designed one. Anyway, the pups were ok, not great, but ok until I got a Boss GT6 guitar processor. God did they sound bad, so I decided to go for the ZW set.

Perceived output level: Like all EMGs wonderfully big, bright and nice and quiet.
Tone: 81, crunchy, clear, and smooth as glass. 85,big, heavy and warm a very natural sound.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using my trusty Crate gx212 and a Boss gt6 processor, and I will tell you that these pickups made all the difference in this old Epiphones life. I use EMGs in my other guitars and they always made a difference in sound, but in this guitar it was unbelieveable! This Epi was to me just a fun little mess around guitar, I never thought of it as a serious gigging guitar, just one to drag around the house to mess with. But with the change to EMGs I can't believe the amazing change in it. It sounds incredible no other way to describe it. The 81 85 combo it just brilliant! The 81 has the teriffic bridge crunch that all guitars should have, and the 85 is so big and warm that its a great compliment to the 81s crunch and snarl.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Like I said I try to play it all. A lot of people say that EMGs are only good for metal, and hard stuff, I disagree I think they are suitable for anything you can come up with. These pickups are good for any style and guitar whatever you want they'll deliver.

Comments: I would absolutly buy these again great value well constructed great sounding pickups. If the guitar were stolen I'd be really bummed because like I said its nothing like the other Epiphone Les Pauls I've played. I have all kinds of other guitars, ESPs and Jacksons they all have EMGs in them and I couldn't be happier about it. These pickups have really helped me find my sound and I think that they are without a doubt the best pickups out there period.

Pickup features: active humbuckers
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Studio
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock ones
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81 bridge, EMG 85 neck
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield, Slayer..
You musical style(s): whatever come my mind.. mostly classic heavy/metal
Reason for pickup change: the stock one were weak and I didn't find myself from them..

Perceived output level:
Tone: EMG 81, bit trebly less bass, EMG 85 very very warm full clear tone
Sonic evaluation: Gibson Les Paul Studio
Crate GX2200H head
Marshall JCM900 Lead 1936 cabinet

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal, heavy, rock.. anything with balls!

Comments: If got stolen I'd definetly buy them again..
These pickups see directly to the guitars heart, you can get any tone you can imagine and they really are very silent when you take your hands of..
You do need a battery to run these babies, but I'm still using the first one and it's been 4 months now.. I've played several hours a day, so they wont drain out that fast.. (just remember to unplug the guitar after playing)
I've tried several other pickups during the 11 years I've been playing guitar.. but none of them had the feel and the crunch that these have, you definetly need to try these yourself to realise the sweet tone..
I will never go back to passive pickups again, now that I've got spoiled there's no way going back to those awful weak humming things..
I love these, because it really gives me MY sound and you really can hearm every note that you are playing.. there is no way the sound to get muddy, not even the tones turned all the way back!
The weakest link on my setuo now is the amp, that gets changed someday.. but for now, I'm more that satisfied..

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Morgan Monroe
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Duncans
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett, me...
You musical style(s): Hard Rock, Blues, Jazz, Metal...
Reason for pickup change: I was looking for that little something extra that makes you not want to put the guitar down.

Perceived output level: HOT!!! Way more aggressive than the Duncan JB and Alnico Pro that I had on the guitar.
Tone: Balanced for the most part. The 81 has a slight push on the highs.
Sonic evaluation: Guitar -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Pre -> Carvin Tube 100 Poweramp -> two Carvin 2x12s loaded with greenbacks. I also have a Lexicon MPX-500 in the effects loop of the Boogie that is mainly used for some delay.
Ok, this is the "overdrive you amp to the point where you think it might explode" sound that I have been looking for. The notes just sing. I can hear all of the voicings in a minor 9 chord at full distortion... impressive. Think Vito Bratta's tone from "wait." That's it... I've got it! These pickups will mop the floor when it comes to playing metal. Plug in, tune down to drop-D and watch heads turn to see who the new metal god is.
Ok... here's the reality check. I've lost te clean channel on my amp. These pickups are just way to hot for me to get a really sparkling clean sound. However, I've learned to live with the slight clip. The tubes breakup a little to produce a pleasent warm/slightly fuzzy clean sound that I kinda like. If you are into absolute cean.. these might not be for you.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Anything that does not require you to be 100% clean.

Comments: I really enjoy these pickups. The combination of the 81 and 85 works very well. It's a nice blend of cream and bite. EMGs will be finding their way onto all of my guitars. I love how quiet these things are. If you're not playing there's no annoying hum coming from your rig.
I've had Duncans and DiMarzios in my guitars. Both of those companies make good products. I just wanted something different, and I got what I was looking for. EMGs are not for everybody though. It takes a couple of days to get use to their sound. Really hard core vintage buffs are not going to like them. But if you're looking for something that will make you sound different, and let your personality come through, you should give EMG a try.

Pickup features: active humbuckers (set)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul DC Pro
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Duncan 59 & Duncan JB
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup: alot
You musical style(s): hard blues & rock
Reason for pickup change: unsatisfied with seymour duncans

Perceived output level: Hot but very versatile
Tone: Balanced, a little trebel heavy but not big deal with a little amp adjustment
Sonic evaluation: Les Paul DC Pro, ASI rackmaster 125w,Mesa 2-12 bottom, korg gt-5

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I heard these were only good for metal, I think you can use them on everything.

Comments: I would buy again, The kit consist of an 85 + 81, very easy to install. did it in about an hour. I never had active pickups before but an sold now. I thought they might clip my equip. not so. also I can get a real nice natural clean sound. I love em.