Hey all
First of all, I don't want to start another debate heh since I know there's been a lot about EMGs sounding sterile and etc.. but well, I need advice of
some people who knows them well.
I recently bought some EMGs for my Ibanez S470DXQM.
I know that a lot of people says mahogany + EMGs = **** but after a LOT of readings and listening to sounds and videos on youtube etc, I decided to go
for them. ( I can hear some people laughing from here )
So I ordered my EMGs, paid an huge 250$bucks for them for the KFK set ( because I wanted to try the +20dB boost switch - turns it's waaay too tight in the
electronic part of the body, especially since I added a second 9V battery in, to see if it solve my problem ).
I've been pretty damn deceived with the result, so much to a point it'S boring to play now ... I can't let my guitar like this for much longer.
The sound is actually so horrible and weak that I would appreciate some advice, since I can't beleive that THAT is EMG.
BTW like mentionned above, I run this under a 18V circuit, and I double checked with a multimeter all my connections, and also checked that I really DO have
18.5ish Volts at both pickups. According to the sound in general also I doubt it's a ground problem or something .. but yea well the palm mute and
harmonics are just too horrible - I really need to know now what's up with that anyway it's either I fix them, or I change them.
I got a few links below showing some example and a few of my old setup using my stock INF1/INF2 pickups. All the comparison are made with same guitar, same
string, same effect ... etc..( stock ibanez pickups INF1 and INF2 ), which sounded much better to me, even though they are more noisy obviously since they
are passive.
I would have love to have a comparison with my stock pickups for all of them if I knew I would run into this I would have one no doubt heh
First here's how some powerchords sound almost sound normal - even not too bad, even though there's much less bass then with my previous pickups.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yxytmgmzloy
Then here's a sample of Enter Sandman the weak palm mute are quiet noticable if you listen closely, and the string screaming is fairly normal.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nzncwwvvdtm
Here's a sample of Master of Puppet ( sorry for the lack of originality heh ). Excellent example of the weak palm mutes I'm talking about. BTW, all notes are
downstroke for the heavier possible, and of course my hand is as close it can be to the bridge to mute the strings.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zzwjnhxdinj
Open string harmonics doesn't sound too bad ( dive bomb style )
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?itfodyzzjny
But fret notes are very hard to get to scream, also the biggest string even played open.
Here's me desperatly attempting to make my open E string scream like it used to. You can notice I'm really trying all the places it can scream when picking
- either closer to the bridge or neck - but the sound just totally lack of output and sustain ... horrible.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zqmzla0w4dj
Now INF1/INF2 VS EMG81/85 pickups ..
This one is a mix of both. Starting with my stock Ibanez INF pickups, than it changes for the EMGs back and forth .. they sound much brighter and the
change is pretty noticable.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?cziwndzxyy0
This one is Canon riff played with my INF pickups.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mnikzmnyiqz
And this one, is err an attempt to play this riff after switching for EMGs ... I really can'T get the same sound and like you see, I can't play it's
too weak and boring ...
After many try of recording it ( I didn't bother to get it perfect, and did it first try with my stock pickups ), I realized this would be more
representative of what I'm actually talking about heh
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zmxwjollzvw
I'm sure there's a lot of EMGs user ( and used to heh ), so .. I'd love to get some advice.
I am guessing either 3 of those ...
1. Bad or wrong installation ? ( missed ground or w/e, even though I doubt it'S the one I'm praying for though ! )
2. Bad equipment ? ( Guitar wood, Tube Amp ? )
3. Not the pickup for me ?
For those wondering, I'm using a pretty simple setup just plugged directly into my Zoom 505 II pedal, into my computer. Playing with headphones always.
Please, if anyone got any kinds of advice all of them are much appreciated.
Thanks !
Apologies for my bad english
**
I don't know how much times it stays on mediafire, but it should be long enough hopefully
First of all, I don't want to start another debate heh since I know there's been a lot about EMGs sounding sterile and etc.. but well, I need advice of
some people who knows them well.
I recently bought some EMGs for my Ibanez S470DXQM.
I know that a lot of people says mahogany + EMGs = **** but after a LOT of readings and listening to sounds and videos on youtube etc, I decided to go
for them. ( I can hear some people laughing from here )
So I ordered my EMGs, paid an huge 250$bucks for them for the KFK set ( because I wanted to try the +20dB boost switch - turns it's waaay too tight in the
electronic part of the body, especially since I added a second 9V battery in, to see if it solve my problem ).
I've been pretty damn deceived with the result, so much to a point it'S boring to play now ... I can't let my guitar like this for much longer.
The sound is actually so horrible and weak that I would appreciate some advice, since I can't beleive that THAT is EMG.
BTW like mentionned above, I run this under a 18V circuit, and I double checked with a multimeter all my connections, and also checked that I really DO have
18.5ish Volts at both pickups. According to the sound in general also I doubt it's a ground problem or something .. but yea well the palm mute and
harmonics are just too horrible - I really need to know now what's up with that anyway it's either I fix them, or I change them.
I got a few links below showing some example and a few of my old setup using my stock INF1/INF2 pickups. All the comparison are made with same guitar, same
string, same effect ... etc..( stock ibanez pickups INF1 and INF2 ), which sounded much better to me, even though they are more noisy obviously since they
are passive.
I would have love to have a comparison with my stock pickups for all of them if I knew I would run into this I would have one no doubt heh
First here's how some powerchords sound almost sound normal - even not too bad, even though there's much less bass then with my previous pickups.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yxytmgmzloy
Then here's a sample of Enter Sandman the weak palm mute are quiet noticable if you listen closely, and the string screaming is fairly normal.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nzncwwvvdtm
Here's a sample of Master of Puppet ( sorry for the lack of originality heh ). Excellent example of the weak palm mutes I'm talking about. BTW, all notes are
downstroke for the heavier possible, and of course my hand is as close it can be to the bridge to mute the strings.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zzwjnhxdinj
Open string harmonics doesn't sound too bad ( dive bomb style )
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?itfodyzzjny
But fret notes are very hard to get to scream, also the biggest string even played open.
Here's me desperatly attempting to make my open E string scream like it used to. You can notice I'm really trying all the places it can scream when picking
- either closer to the bridge or neck - but the sound just totally lack of output and sustain ... horrible.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zqmzla0w4dj
Now INF1/INF2 VS EMG81/85 pickups ..
This one is a mix of both. Starting with my stock Ibanez INF pickups, than it changes for the EMGs back and forth .. they sound much brighter and the
change is pretty noticable.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?cziwndzxyy0
This one is Canon riff played with my INF pickups.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mnikzmnyiqz
And this one, is err an attempt to play this riff after switching for EMGs ... I really can'T get the same sound and like you see, I can't play it's
too weak and boring ...
After many try of recording it ( I didn't bother to get it perfect, and did it first try with my stock pickups ), I realized this would be more
representative of what I'm actually talking about heh
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zmxwjollzvw
I'm sure there's a lot of EMGs user ( and used to heh ), so .. I'd love to get some advice.
I am guessing either 3 of those ...
1. Bad or wrong installation ? ( missed ground or w/e, even though I doubt it'S the one I'm praying for though ! )
2. Bad equipment ? ( Guitar wood, Tube Amp ? )
3. Not the pickup for me ?
For those wondering, I'm using a pretty simple setup just plugged directly into my Zoom 505 II pedal, into my computer. Playing with headphones always.
Please, if anyone got any kinds of advice all of them are much appreciated.
Thanks !
Apologies for my bad english
**
I don't know how much times it stays on mediafire, but it should be long enough hopefully
