EMG neck pickup for Epi LP Custom

[ThrashPanda]

I have a 2015 Epi Les Paul Custom that came with an EMG 81/85, I hated the 85 in the neck so swapped it with a 60. Lately I've been feeling like the 81 in the bridge isn't for me anymore so swapped it for the 85 I took from the neck and the guitar sounds so much better as a result.

Now I'm left trying to decide if I should just keep the 60 in the neck or try a different EMG in that position since, while I like the 60 enough and it is better in the neck than the 85 was, it's not inspiring like the 85 in the bridge is.

The things I didn't like about the 85 in the neck is that it was very bass heavy and boomy, even backed off the strings so it was flush with the mounting ring. When on the mid position with the 81 it would very much dominate the 81. It was basically useless for cleans and leads in my particular Les Paul in the neck but absolutely amazing in the bridge.

I wouldn't mind something maybe a little bit brighter than the 60 in the neck and have been looking at the HA (SA in a humbucker shell) but I'm very open to suggestions, I just want to stay away from the 89 and TW range as I don't like push/pull.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Never tried the 60. Same as you, I preferred the 81 in the neck over the 85. Better top end and clarity.

 

[Rocco Crocco]

Try the 81 in the neck. I had an LP with 81/85 and just swapped their positions and though it sounded killer.

 

[Mikael Dez]

You don’t have anything to lose throwing your 81 in the neck and trying it.

 

[gearJunkie]

The 89 / SA / 89 + active EQ combination in my Steinberger GM7TA is .

No push/pull. Volume, concentric high/low eq, 5-way selector, and toggle to "split" 89's to SA's.

 

[ThrashPanda]

Never tried the 60. Same as you, I preferred the 81 in the neck over the 85. Better top end and clarity.

Try the 81 in the neck. I had an LP with 81/85 and just swapped their positions and though it sounded killer.

You don’t have anything to lose throwing your 81 in the neck and trying it.

Yeah I may try that next string change.

The 89 / SA / 89 + active EQ combination in my Steinberger GM7TA is .

View attachment 52492

No push/pull. Volume, concentric high/low eq, 5-way selector, and toggle to "split" 89's to SA's.

I was considering doing something similar by installing the VMC & BTS active EQs where the tone pots are, connecting them to a DPDT switch and having 1 master volume. Ironically, inspired by the Paul Masvidal Strandberg

 

[DrewJD82]

While I'm not a fan of EMG humbuckers at this point, I LOVE the SA's and would definitely be curious to hear how one sounds in the neck of an LP!

 

[FuzzyAce]

While I'm not a fan of EMG humbuckers at this point, I LOVE the SA's and would definitely be curious to hear how one sounds in the neck of an LP!

You know what would be cool... if Gibson made a legit Les Paul with SSS or SSH layout.

 

[DrewJD82]

You know what would be cool... if Gibson made a legit Les Paul with SSS or SSH layout.

Edwards makes one w/ a Floyd, I think it's a sig model-

I'm curious how it sounds but not curious enough to buy it!

 

[FuzzyAce]

Edwards makes one w/ a Floyd, I think it's a sig model-

View attachment 52500


I'm curious how it sounds but not curious enough to buy it!

 

[DrewJD82]

I'm not sure i can do a Floyd on a LP. I'd have to play one, but the part of me that occasionally wants to be a traditionalist says "No, dude! No!"

 

[FuzzyAce]

I'm not sure i can do a Floyd on a LP. I'd have to play one, but the part of me that occasionally wants to be a traditionalist says "No, dude! No!"

Yeah definitely. I've never been crazy about Floyds anyways, I'm perfectly happy only having 1 guitar with it.

 

[greatmutah]

81 in the neck is bast.

Seriously used to rock EMGs in a Epi LP and my Gibson Studio. Same setup in both. 85 in the bridge, 81 in the neck. Just sounded better to me than the other way around.

 

[ThrashPanda]

I think I'm going to get an HA for the neck, as an experiment. Throw the BQC (VMC & BTS) control set in the tone pots also. See how I get on with that setup and if I don't like the HA I'll swap it for the 81 to see how that is.

Worst case scenario I have a couple spare EMGs lying around I can use in another guitar at some point.

But... may instead do a full swap for the 57/66 instead but I'm not sure if they're great for D Standard/Drop C melodic death metal/metalcore (At The Gates to Darkest Hour to Killswitch Engage)

Basically looking for a bridge pickup that's tighter than the 85 but warmer than the 81 and a neck pickup that's not as bassy as the 85 and brighter than the 60. I like both the 85 bridge and 60 neck enough but feel like it could be better, maybe just EQing the hell out of them.