For those of you with RR1's with EMG's in em ?

[paddok]

Howdy all,

Well after coming to love my RR1, Ive suddenly started to feel like her tone is a bit.. flat ? She doesnt seem to have that crunch on the bottom end im looking for. However im crazy about the neck / body style so im planning on dropping a pair of EMG's into her.

For anybody with an RR1 with an EMG setup in them, what emg combo have you use (60,81,85,etc) and what where the results ?

Thanks

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

If recently you feel the tone is flat, and you didn't think so before, maybe some other factors are to blame: Battery, Strings, Cord, Amp, Equalizer.

Matt

[Newc]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

Current taste in music [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seriously, if you've got a fairly recent RR1, I'd blame the JB in the bridge. Try a Distortion. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I thought the JB was great till I got a Distortion. Now the JB seems dull and average - like an import's stock off-brand pickup. Not too salty, not too sweet, not too hot, not too cold, just kinda average.

Regarding Matt's suggestions, it's really not uncommon for tonal preferences to change in a short period of time, especially as one is exposed to various guitar tones. Like I said, I thought the JB in my Ash King V was great till I put a Distortion in my KV Pro. While body wood does have some role in it, I did a pair of recordings a while back comparing the JB in the V to the 500T in my LP. Aside from a little more bass response in the LP, the two sounded identical. I attributed the extra bass response to the LP itself, though.
Guess I gotta replace the 500T now [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc

[RacerX]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

I've had an EMG81 in the bridge of my San Dimas Rhoads for over 12 years...I'm very happy with the setup...it sounds way crunchier than my new SL2H (w/ stock JB/59). Soon, I will install EMGs in the SL2H, then start practicing for my Slayer tribute band! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]


BTW I play through a modded Marshall JCM800.

[paddok]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

@ Matt - Actually, I finnaly was able to upgade to a decent amp. Playing through a crappy pos makes everything sound the same.

But yea, thanks everybody, it seems that everyone has good results with EMG's. now to chose, should I go 81/81 or 81/85 or even 85/85 ?! ahh the choices.

[jackson16]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

Go with an 89, its supposed to be just like an 85 but is coil tapped. lol. I love mine. I dont get why more folks dont use them. But either way you cant go wrong with EMGs.

[Vince Levalois]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

Absolutely no doubt that you need an 81 at the bridge and an 85 at the neck. The 85 is exceptional for clean tone, but the 81 beats all hands down for crisp tone and crunch.

[Black Mariah]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

I wouldn't go that far. I used to have an 81/85 combo in my King V and hated the tone. The bridge 81 was too thin and the neck 85 too wimpy. I swapped the positions so the 85 is in the bridge and the 81 in the neck and it's greatness. The 85 is PERFECT in the bridge if you prefer chunky rythm type stuff (what I do most).

[charvel750]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

As Jackson16 said, use the 89. I never understand why guys go with an 85. The 89 in full humbucker mode is the 85 but also has the single coil tone option of the EMG-SA. Even if you never use the option, just knowing that it's there is a good thing, makes the guitar better and more versatile.

[Vince Levalois]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

Originally posted by Black Mariah:
I wouldn't go that far. I used to have an 81/85 combo in my King V and hated the tone. The bridge 81 was too thin and the neck 85 too wimpy. I swapped the positions so the 85 is in the bridge and the 81 in the neck and it's greatness. The 85 is PERFECT in the bridge if you prefer chunky rythm type stuff (what I do most).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I dunno, I've been using 81s in my 1991 King V through a Mesa Boogie Mark IV for 12 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The thin tone could have to do with the amp or the wood of the guitar. A buddy had an 81 in a Demon korina and it sounded like crapola, same with basswood. Combined with Poplar or Mahogany is the best. If you don't believe me check out the tone on our album "Trinity"... not too shabby if you ask me [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[xenophobe]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

Well, I don't have a Rhoads (yet) but I do have a custom KV that had bill lawrences in it. I was completely unhappy with the tone, response, and feel that they gave my guitar. Yes, feel. Well, I opted to put EMGs in it, went with the 85 in the bridge and an 81 in the neck. !!!DAMN!!!, is all I can say.

Much improved tone, now the guitar actually feels more responsive and sounds more to my liking.

I already had a guitar, my warrior, with an 81 in the bridge, and wanted to try the 85 there, since it'd been so long since I played a guitar with an 85 there... I'm SOOOO Glad I did. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[jackson16]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

I have EMGs in my early 90s rhoads (81 and 89) and I think its one of the best playing and sounding guitars. I love it. Its all black and just sounds killer. I love the 89 cuz its coil tapped so it gives the rhoads a nice clean tone. I
love this rhoads. It kills almost any other guitar I play. Id say try a guitar with EMGs first to see if they are your cup of tea. I just thought Id voice my opinion cuz I have a rhoads with them and it sounds killer.

[MetalChef]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

I second the motion of finding a guitar with EMGs and seeing if you like them. They are great pickups,but you may notlike them. ALso, see if you can find a Duncan Distortion for a good price, and drop it up if you are not too keen on the EMGs.
That was Randy's choice!

I am also a memeber of the "why the heck are they using JBs?" club. A good pickup for a Les Paul, PRS, etc...
but for the USA selects? NOPE!!!

[paddok]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

I actually have played two guitars with EMG's in them both ESP eclipses, one with 81/81 the other with 85/85. They both sounds pretty darn good, but the 81 wasnt as crunchy as I thought. Which is supposta have a better low end and thump ? the 81 or the 85 ?

[Genebaby]

Re: For those of you with RR1\'s with EMG\'s in em ?

The 85 is the one with more low end. I have the 81/85 combo in a Rhoads and like it a lot. If I wasn't so lazy and the guitar wasn't setup so nice I'd swap them over and give it a try but I'll probably just leave well enough alone.