Seymour Duncan Pickups

**phinsbama** · 11-30-2014, 08:57 PM

Has anyone replaced their pickups with Hot Rails?

**SAguitar** · 11-30-2014, 10:46 PM

I have replaced a bridge pickup once with a Hot Rails pup. It worked pretty good!

Oh, and welcome to the Forum!

**CustomWes** · 12-01-2014, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by phinsbama

Has anyone replaced their pickups with Hot Rails?

Yes, sir. SD has sold a many of 'em. Welcome to the forum.

**phinsbama** · 12-01-2014, 10:04 PM

Thanks. I think I've decided on the EMG DG20.

**tele savalas** · 12-01-2014, 10:17 PM

Is that active or passive? Would love to hear a clip.

**CustomWes** · 12-01-2014, 10:23 PM

Dimarzio makes some really great rail-type high output buckers too. They are worth checking out if that is the sound you are after.

**SAguitar** · 12-01-2014, 11:10 PM

I'm sorry to hear you're goin' for EMGs! To me, they are dull and lifeless, but to each their own.

**badxmpl** · 12-02-2014, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by SAguitar

I'm sorry to hear you're goin' for EMGs! To me, they are dull and lifeless, but to each their own.

Didn't Teleman77 use EMGs? Seems to me I remember him defending them kinda vigorously..... Maybe his were active?

**Littlefloor** · 12-02-2014, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by SAguitar

I'm sorry to hear you're goin' for EMGs! To me, they are dull and lifeless, but to each their own.

Not necessary... it depends of body wood and strings, I checked it, made some probe and got this conclusion. In my V2 are Seymour Duncan Blackout AHB-1 set (active HB) and sound very decent as clean (alder body and EB slinky strings) but growl nasty when cranked and distorted... not all active PU are for clean, classic, blues.., like not all passive PU aren't for everything too (high, mid or low output)... that's big science IMO based on "try before buy" or "to each their own" as you say

**Srini** · 12-03-2014, 09:46 PM

I've always liked EMGs, and the DG20 set is very nice. Three SAs with the SPC and EXC controls, right? One nice addition to that is a bypass switch that disconnects either one or both controls. This way, you can set the controls the way you like them for, say, a nice midrangey lead tone, then switch them off for rhythm playing.

That said, I know lots of people find EMGs very sterile. I myself got rid of the DG set in favor of DiMarzios, and at the moment, I'm very happy. But I won't knock EMGs, having used them for many years. Still, there's a lot to be said for the organic, passive sound.

Also, to add to CustomWes' comment, I used to be a major DiMarzio hater, mistakenly associating them exclusively with metal guys. I discovered, after watching Steve Lukather's clip and several Andy Timmons clips (who, by the way is one BAD ASS!) that these beasts did way more than metal. As I mentioned above, I pulled out my EMGs and put in Cruisers and a Transition in one guitar, and one Chopper, a Fast Track and an HB I can't remember the name of in my swamp ash strat, and couldn't be happier.

Srini