I have a set of EMG's (81 and 89) in my Charvel and I've bought those pickups somewhere back in the mid 1990's, IIRC. Do they age (in a bad way)? Do newer one's sound different (better)?
Are 20 yr old EMG's still good or do they age?
- Thread starter RiF
- Start date
atoragon
Member
if they're in good conditions, they're still good. it takes much more time for a pickup to lose a bit of its magnetic power.
sprack
Thread Killer
They look and sound fine, but they are active pickups of the first generation. That's the reason I am (or should not be?) concerned.
Some sources mentions that coils are almost normal, like some kind of PAFs.
For example: http://www.electrosmash.com/emg81
FWIW, I have a friend with an 81 from 1994 that sounds just like his 81 from 2005. I'd say use it until you can't.
abt
BT
I have absolutely no experience with emgs this old but I'd say EMGs would probably be the least likely pups to age due to the way they are sealed.
+1 They should be just fine.
I've sometimes read how pickup gurus work hard to mimic very old vintage pickups they say have experienced a "tonal aging".
What magnets are most prone to sound change over time?
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