Unofficial Engl forum

[Hexer]

the X2N is still in use in my Marathon ProSeries, but I think I like the Dimebucker better!

anyways: I'll probaly need a new saddle for the marathon..... last time I changed strings and put the clamps back on the saddle, one of the 3 screws cut out a few windings of the inside threading in the saddle. So my 2 lowest strings are not locked anymore and keep going out of tune when I play for a while...
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I am always on the run!
I'm possessed by a beautiful sickness!
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[crayzee]

I got an EMG 81 in my old Jackson RR (Concept Series, CHEAP), tons and tons of distortion, works well with downtunings (right now to C), very clear though, cuts through everything. Definetely an A++ upgrade for this guitar.
For the Duncans: I've installed an SH6 Distortion(Bridge) and SH2 Jazz(Neck) in my Ibanez (RG Prestige, older Model); it's tuned to B right now, basically like a 7 String without the high E. In comparison to the EMG, the SH6 has a little (really, just a little) less high end and a bit more mids and lowmids; as the name says, LOTS of distortion. It screams very nice, easy to produce pinch harmonics. The SH2 is very dry and direct, you get what you put in, it doesn't color the sound much.
A friend of mine let me play his LTD EC-1000 in practice room and on stage, also equipped with EMG81s, same as stated above: together with an ENGL you'll cut through anything, I needed almost no guitar on my monitor.
My 2 cents, hope it helped, greetz

Niels

[aldog1330]

I have EMG's in my 3 Jacksons - 85b/81n in the SLSMG, 85b/60n in my SL2, and 85b/s/s in my 93 soloist pro. I love the 85 in the bridge, it just has a thick, ballsy warmth compared to the 81 in my rig. I could never get the 81 to sound like I want no matter what the eq settings...the 85 always ended up perfect. It has a little more low end and more lower midrange than the 81, but still has balanced highs and can cut through. Surprisingly, the 81 sounds good in the neck for cleans as well, though I prefer the 60 in the neck. Also, all of my EMG equipped guitars run on 18v instead of 9v - 18v seems to provide more headroom and seems to increase the clarity for me on high gain settings. It's a simple mod to do, and I think the benefits are definitely worth it. But the 85 is a monster in the bridge - very thick, but can still do thrash metal with no problem.

[DAMAGED]

I own an LTD-H207, i got sick of the shitty stock pups so went online and bought an EMG 707 at this time the 81-7 wasnt out yet but i wanted something that didnt sound like an 81 anyway.

So first mission was to make room for the new pickup in my guitar which i did by hand with a small hammer and chisel, i took the neck off so as not to damage it while the work was in progress. I spent 2 days carefully making the hole the right size but got a bit too carried away in the final moments and chipped a little too much away anyway turns out i needed the extra room to center the pickup under the strings into the magnetic field so that all strings were being "picked up". ok after all this bullshit i reasembled the guitar wired up the new pickup and gave it a test run.

So, i like it, ive had emg's before in my other guitars but not 7 string until then. the sound was much cleaner than the stock pups and i think the overall improvements made it guitar worth keeping. i dont think i could sell it anyway because it doesnt look fully pro, metal \\m//


So if you dont want to do what i did, pay a tech to do it for you or get a replacement pup that will fit in your guitar with no mods.
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[Megadeth7684]

I much prefer the 85 in the bridge over the 81. The 85 has a warmer, fuller sound to me. The 81 is brighter and isn't as thick sounding to me. Plus the 85 handles low tunings better IMO.

[thorvonclemson]

+1000 for an 85 in the bridge. My Luke has one of those along with two SLV's and it sounds amazing! Very clear, warm, and overall great. It really brings things to life.

I know the 81 works well for metal too but i have found the 85 to work better for me.

[morrissey]

How does the EMG's sound with the Engl fireball or powerball?

[andylaroquerules]

I have 81's in my RG550 and in my Kramer V through a fireball. I like the 81 especially when I do pinch harmonics. Still there is something I also dislike about the 81, kind of like something is missing. I dont get that with my passive pickups.

Adam

[jguzmos]

Look into the new EMG X series. I put in a 81-X in the bridge of my Jackson and it is giving me that gnarly crunch I was looking for . More organic for sure. Next up is an 85-X. Sounds like I will try that one in the bridge.