Nostradamus
05-24-2008, 01:44 PM
I just put a set of these in my RZK-600 (in drop C) to replace the emg 85(b)/81(n) combo that was in there before.
The bridge painkiller is very open and raw sounding, much less compressed than the 85. It sounds fantastic for big chords and remains very tight and crunchy on palm mutes but is perhaps not as thick. Notes ring out very nicely and don't get lost amidst chords.
It also sounds great for the type of solos I do, sounds more like most neck pickups - very smooth and warm but with enough bite to carry through when you need it. Pinch harmonics ring out beautifuly without sounding too biting.
This is also one of the first bridge pickups I've had that I find really great for cleans - warm, rich and lots of bass without sounding boomy.
The neck pickup is a bit conservative compared to the 81 I used to have in there. I wouldn't describe it as muddy, it just doesn't seem to have the output to cut through that I would like. Most of the things I usually use the neck pickup for (cleans and solos) I find sound great on the bridge with these pickups so I have been staying there mostly. There is nothing really bad about neck pickup, it just hasn't grabbed me quite like the bridge so far.
One thing that is very important to note is that I haven't played around with the EQ on my amp at all yet, and I only just got the the pickups installed so these are just first impressions. I hope that with a bit of tweaking I can get a bit more going from the neck pickup. At the moment though I am just very impressed with the bridge, which is one of the most versatile pickups I think I've used. It seems to cover everything I usually like from both the neck and the bridge in one pickup.
I'm not going to say they are better than the emgs because that is all preference, but they are certainly a bit different and I like the variety I have now since my other guitars are still emg equipped. I find them to be EQ'd more to the mid range than the 85 and 81, which suites me just fine, while still mainting a lot of bass (that doesn't get boomy). Not as bright or biting as an 81 but I don't think there will be any trouble cutting through the mix with the amount of mid range present. I would seriously recommend these to anyone who likes the emg 85, but wants a bit more versatility, articulation and rawness.
The bridge painkiller is very open and raw sounding, much less compressed than the 85. It sounds fantastic for big chords and remains very tight and crunchy on palm mutes but is perhaps not as thick. Notes ring out very nicely and don't get lost amidst chords.
It also sounds great for the type of solos I do, sounds more like most neck pickups - very smooth and warm but with enough bite to carry through when you need it. Pinch harmonics ring out beautifuly without sounding too biting.
This is also one of the first bridge pickups I've had that I find really great for cleans - warm, rich and lots of bass without sounding boomy.
The neck pickup is a bit conservative compared to the 81 I used to have in there. I wouldn't describe it as muddy, it just doesn't seem to have the output to cut through that I would like. Most of the things I usually use the neck pickup for (cleans and solos) I find sound great on the bridge with these pickups so I have been staying there mostly. There is nothing really bad about neck pickup, it just hasn't grabbed me quite like the bridge so far.
One thing that is very important to note is that I haven't played around with the EQ on my amp at all yet, and I only just got the the pickups installed so these are just first impressions. I hope that with a bit of tweaking I can get a bit more going from the neck pickup. At the moment though I am just very impressed with the bridge, which is one of the most versatile pickups I think I've used. It seems to cover everything I usually like from both the neck and the bridge in one pickup.
I'm not going to say they are better than the emgs because that is all preference, but they are certainly a bit different and I like the variety I have now since my other guitars are still emg equipped. I find them to be EQ'd more to the mid range than the 85 and 81, which suites me just fine, while still mainting a lot of bass (that doesn't get boomy). Not as bright or biting as an 81 but I don't think there will be any trouble cutting through the mix with the amount of mid range present. I would seriously recommend these to anyone who likes the emg 85, but wants a bit more versatility, articulation and rawness.