Finally, I found the best pickup comparison channel on YT. Thank you

@mikestamper

3 жыл бұрын

Enjoy and hope it helps! :)

To me, the Duncan sounds bigger and more raw, but the EMG sounds more precise. It's the difference between a battle axe (Duncan) and a scalpel (EMG). Neither one is better, just different flavors.

@AcceleratingUniverse

2 жыл бұрын

scalpel and battle axe are two of my favorite flavors no doubt

@AlecWyld

2 жыл бұрын

EMGs are tighter, better for metal imo.

@timbuk1126

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlecWyld neither is better for metal

@randymiles904

2 жыл бұрын

I use both. Depends on the guitar, tuning, and type of music I'll typically play on a particular guitar. There is no right or wrong. It just depends on what sounds good to you.

@harls7317

2 жыл бұрын

@@timbuk1126 stop the cap bro bro lay off the dust

AMAZING comparison video! Both pickups were demonstrated perfectly and clearly, making it easy to hear even the tiny minor differences. Thanks for posting!

@mikestamper

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to know you found it useful!! :)

1. You make the best pickup videos around, bar none, so thank you for that. 2. I really liked the cleans of the Duncan and the Marshall-ish Maiden riff at the end. The more modern gain riffs were won by the EMG to my ears and brain. 3. Keep up the excellent work.

I've been using both for years. For all out crunch in a passive with great clarity it's hard to beat the Duncan Distortion, but for all around headroom and clarity the 81 is hard to beat. I play my EMG loaded axes most of the time.

What a wonderful selection to play to show the differences. The fast single notey stuff and some chordy stuff to get a good view sonically of what makes each unique. Thank you so much

Awesome video. I really loved the Duncan for some of the samples in the video and loved the EMG for other samples. Each one really changes the mood of the track even when you’re playing the same sample. Duncan is a bit fuzzier and the EMG sounds a lot cleaner. Duncan reminded me of 90’s metal in the distortion samples while the EMG made me think of modern metal and 2000’s Nu metal. I wish I could have a guitar that could easily switch between both of these as my bridge pickups

Thanks for doing the comparison. 🤘

Great video. Hard to tell what's better as they are both good. Also depends on what speakers you are listening with on your computer. I've always liked the clarity of my EMG's but the distortion pickups also have a nice warm quality to them. Realistically I think you can build a great sound with either of them but everyone will have their favorite and there's noting wrong with variety.

I love the different riffs you play to show the spectrum of sounds, I just wish there was some slow, muted chugs in there, since they are all metal pickups, lol.

Both good but EMG sounds cleaner and more articulate to me.

To me, the easiest way to look at this is if you like Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)'s sound, go with Seymour Duncan. If you like James Hetfield (Metallica)'s sound, it's EMG.

@JAF2991

Жыл бұрын

Damn I went with the Duncan Distortion😆

@christophergriego3019

Жыл бұрын

Dimebag also used Seymour Duncan pickups

@serdar213

Жыл бұрын

This is the best argument in eternal Pick Up debate.

@ChannelForty2

Жыл бұрын

I agree man, that definitely simplifies it!

@DuneDee

Жыл бұрын

Mustaine's tone is shit. Get an SH6 if you want Adam Jones's tone.

Emg sounds kinda nasaly and compressed, but focused at the same time. Sh-6 sounds less compressed, but slightly boomy

@merrickbenton3549

2 жыл бұрын

You prolly dont give a shit but does anybody know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I love any tips you can give me

@mathiasjaxson4079

2 жыл бұрын

@Merrick Benton Instablaster :)

@valle4483

2 жыл бұрын

@@merrickbenton3549 why the fuck do you ask this in a guitar pickup comparison video? Lmao XD

@ddave3388

Жыл бұрын

@@valle4483 it's a common scam

I have a distortion in my bridge and I've had 81's when I was teenager. I like to think ima little smarter these days. Distortions win babyyyy

Hi ! thank you very much indeed for your excellent video. I think that EMG pick-ups could mate better with tube amps ... if not it seems they sound too lean/thin ... constricted. A tube after them can provide some added harmonics ... just guessing Kind regards, gino

Great demo !!! Duncan Sh-6 wins it for me . Ive been using this pickup for 15 years ( ive owned an ESP-ltd ex 400 with emg 81 before , so i can compare ) and the SH-6 is my favorite pickup . has follow me everywhere from my Fender HSS strat to my Gibson Les paul standard and still going strong 15 years later . For rythm palm muting ( thrash metal , punk rock , etc ) its just great under distortion .

The EMG has a tubular sound, if that makes any sense. Like you’re playing in a piece of pvc pipe

I Love the balance EQ from seymour Duncan Sh6 🤟

Now I understand why I was confused evrytime I was trying the mighty powerful 81, I just had a good SH-6-like pickup in my guitar (Benedetti Rock Std) ^^

Could you (if you haven’t already) make a comparison of the sh-6 bridge vs sh-6 neck(in bridge position)? keep the videos coming these posts are killer

They're both great

For fast palm muting the SD pickups capture the dynamics and overall character. Emgs do too but the sensitivity of the SDs just go a touch farther. I was surprised a passive SD could do this so well..

Great clip, like all of your comparison videos. I just bought a second guitar with EMGs so I can downtune one of them to C standard. Do you think upgrading the bridge pickup to a Distortion (maybe even BW or Nazgul) in the downtuned guitar is my best choice?

@jinjalord

2 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/oIGGpcmIoJDTdMo.html

Like the EMG 81 because it's much more forward-sounding. Plus you can feel the chugs you do with it.

Wow I'm surprised how much better the passive was, I thought the dullness of the active would only show as long as it's clean, but even with the distorted sound it couldn't outshine the clear edge of the passive sound

@timbuk1126

2 жыл бұрын

The Duncan sound fizzier

Which one sounds closer to the 81? Invader or Distortion?

I just ordered a epiphone sg400 61 custom with the 3 pups in it, the bridge is the sh-6, the neck is a seymour duncan paf n the middle is the stock epiphone pick up, did I make a mistake? I want to play stoner doom riffs on it so will it work?

Not sure what to make of this, just switch between 3:18 and 3:42. The EMG was not kept at consistent output, which makes it sound quieter in the second comparison (with the SH-6 @ 3:31). It's kinda tough to get a fair read on these pickups now.

Had both and I prefer the EMG as it sounds cleaner, clearer and it is more articulate and dynamic on cleans, plus it sounds better and more defined while distorted.

I actually like both but for custom shops I use EMG but for a standard guitar I use Seymour Duncan

They sound very close for thrash rhythm despite being totally different pickups.

I own too many guitars. Some have EMG's. Some have Seymour Duncan. Some have DiMarzio, and some have DMT pickups. I like variety. All pickups have their strengths and weaknesses. You just gotta experiment and figure out what you like.

@lfader

2 жыл бұрын

True. Almost every pickup can be dialed into a great tone I've owned. Lollars Seymour's DiMarzio Gibson EMGs Suhr. Every pickup in a guitar that I bought BUT I was for sure going to pull It after buying it I ended up leaving in even a PRS SE custom 24. Stk Korean pkups. Lollars imperial high winds in a Les Paul -Suhr Aldrich in a Les Paul axcess Thinking about those guitars now the different tones I always need 1 more guitar ..

@randymiles904

2 жыл бұрын

@@lfader always need one more, hits home with me. 😆

@lfader

2 жыл бұрын

@@randymiles904 I'll tell you what- it's in the DNA your compelled so you gotta deal with it 🤣👍

Wht do u think Mike, wht is ur favorite pickups for all?

@mikestamper

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, Volkan!! I don't have a favorite pickup, because I own many different guitars and not always the same pickup works well on all of them. But I can tell you that I prefer passives nowadays, in spite of loving the tone of many actives I had. I find passives more suitable for the kind of sounds I'm looking for right now (this can change again in the future!). Best thing is to test and find whichever fits you the most for your music. That's all I can tell you! :)

It’s really personal choice, both of them don’t sound bad but me personally after I heard rust in peace by megadeth I wanted seymours instantly.

@fearofthedark88

3 жыл бұрын

The JB is probably the best pickup ever. Can do everything.

@stevendevault367

2 жыл бұрын

@@fearofthedark88 .... if you like the JB then you'll want to marry the Mustaine thrash factor ... it's a scooped, higher output version of the jb...

@stevendevault367

2 жыл бұрын

You want the rust in peace tone.. gotta get the thrash factor... it's a scooped , hotter version of the jb

I just got a new schecter diamond series hh strat that come stocked with active emgs and I can’t get them to come alive just dull with no sustain idk if it’s a problem with the pickups or If they are just like that

@timbuk1126

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe you just don't like EMG pickups. They aren't for everyone. I love them personally.

@whitescape

2 жыл бұрын

Have you tried changing the battery? Usually dull sound is a symptom of low power in the active pickups

An interesting match-up. I use EMG 81s but the Seymour Duncan is NOT a bad pickup at all.

@demongaming9422

11 ай бұрын

I agree

Would love to hear the EMG 81 vs the EMG 81 w/ 24 volt mod

@bend5390

Жыл бұрын

Also the EMG 81 w/ 24 volt mod vs Seymour Duncan Distortion

Could you do a review of the Duncan Custom tb/sh-5?

@mikestamper

4 ай бұрын

Yes!! It took me time to get a SH-5 but it's finally here. Comparison series start tomorrow! :)

The 81 sounds a little weaker than the sh 6 both sound great though..good demo. 2thumbs up...

Hmm I’m noticing a lot of string sqeak on the 81.

thx for sharing 👍 i dont like the cleans on sh6. Both are damn good pickups, especially sh6 for Low String chugging 🥰

@loserforlife4134

2 жыл бұрын

You must be tone deaf

SH6 is better: more organic, fat and warmer.

Why does it sound like the SH-6 sounds more authentic, warmer more developed sound. Like professional studio vs. home studio...

@Wrathofkala

2 жыл бұрын

Your hearing a passive pickup verse an active pickup. The passive pickup is going to naturally sound more organic and the active somewhat hi-fi or sterile.

I'd take the EMG 81. Easy choice

Duncan’s do it for me. They have that little extra punch that I feel emg lacks in comparison. Duncan’s are a little fuzzier which I like.

Emg’s are amazing

The Duncan has more personality and better response to picking. The EMG, in comparison, sounds the same in every application, in the sense that it has a flatter response in all the sound samples.

Emgs anyday of the days

Emg, very tight sound

For my ESP LTD 200, Its the Seymour hands down.. Love the emg but the dirt sounds almost identical.. It doesn't justify me going to an active pickup.

Seymour Duncan SH-6 wins hands down. I’ve had the EMG 81 along with the 85 and 60 as well and all of the EMG’s were just thin and weak. Felt like it had no body to it. No soul. The Duncans I’ve had however have been beasts, especially the SH-6!

@jinjalord

2 жыл бұрын

👏🏽⚡🤘🏽

@Unknownn_nx3

2 жыл бұрын

Which out of the two the Sh-6 or the sh-4 would sound better for metal?

@harls7317

2 жыл бұрын

@@Unknownn_nx3 answer the man, unless you were capping

For classic metal the SH6.

I have the SH-6 for a year nowin my Ibanez. I love it. Recently got an explorer with EMG’s 81/60. The guitar is nice, but no EMG’s for me in the future. Thin, impersonal, soulless. I watched this video to confirm that there is nothing wrong with my EMG’s. It’s just the way they are.

good

The Duncan Distortion has a soul and the EMG is lifeless. The Duncan Distortion sounds more natural.

@alexandrebozier4703

3 жыл бұрын

In a mix EMGs are great, i have both pickups, they are amazing.

@timbuk1126

2 жыл бұрын

Emg 81 rule

@gerdez

Жыл бұрын

I also have both. Never buying EMG again. It has no soul.

@A.S.-ty7rv

10 ай бұрын

I love these words like "natural" or "organic" which pretty much mean nothing in audio

First of all.. your playing !!!!! Holy smokes save some women for the rest of us! Second of all, i am able to buy the Seymor Duncan pickup unused for about half the price. What is a good pickup to pair it up with? I have an ltd explorer :)

@metaldreams3595

3 жыл бұрын

If money is tight check on Dimarzio site.

@coreyhart309

3 жыл бұрын

I have the Seymour DuncanSH-6 in the bridge of my ESP EC paired with a Seymour Duncan 59 in the neck and it sounds amazing.

I think we’re probably hearing the difference between a cable without and then with a buffer. Of course that’s the draw of the EMG. Excellent video!

I have both of these. I like emg better as I have more guitars with them but the distortion is great too. It really all depends on what guitar they are in. I makes a big difference.

3:30

Just got an ibanez genisis 521 reissue with this SD set equipped...also have a jim r tele with the EMGs. The Duncan's are better everywhere.

Seymour wins, richer in tone

Seymour Duncan won this one hands down!

Distortion has more of an edgier attack and the emg is more like a blanket that envelopes. I much prefer the distortion, the emg sounds too metallic and hollow.

For me is egm 81

@jayjaymerritt2785

11 ай бұрын

Egm huh😂

The Duncan Distortion is raw yet round, rude and aggressive yet warm.. and it's pretty tight. The EMG is clear, sterile and good for metal but it isn't hairy enough. It's too cold. It's not versatile either.

it's look like not much different...emm

SH-6 For me...Mind is made up!!! Thanks :) :) :)

U can compare one is operating a battery. Believe me in the room U will definitely go with emg

@KeepAnOpenMind

Ай бұрын

Can you elaborate, please?

3:06 3:18 3:31 3:43

Big difference in harmony. Duncan have better harmony and you can hear analitic every detail

Cleans: EMG 81 Distortion: SH-6

I get the vibe that pickups are meant to be active.

Emg is better, but Seymour Duncan is very good, even for metal

Passive all day. Hate the 'compressed' sound of active. It's like listening to an MP3 after a vinyl.

@loserforlife4134

2 жыл бұрын

Nice analogy mate

@whitescape

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly

Who dislikes this!!

SH-6 all the way

EMG win

that seymour duncan just blows the EMG81 out of the water. The seymour duncan sounds way better, period.

Duncan

Fuck a EMG

I prefer SH6 for clean and distortion, but the clean sound of the emg 81 no is bad, the distortion sound of the emg 81 don't like me

@therealjulez7886

3 жыл бұрын

@@KhaosWarrior6662 hahahaha yes man

@Dastardly_X

3 жыл бұрын

💚

Emg has a better clean tone more clarity and output imo

I'm replacing my EMG's in my Schecter with Fishman's. The Fishman's sound better than both.

@_yungfrankz

3 жыл бұрын

No they don’t

@eldirtyfaygo5395

2 жыл бұрын

No shit. Fish Man is the evolution of pickups, now if only they could get rid of the pesky recharge or using batteries.

@TimothyHuffGuitar

2 жыл бұрын

@@_yungfrankz to each their own

Don’t care for the EMg ones tbh

Clean = emg 81 wins High gain Chug = SH6 wins

@nmnmnm9509

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly inverse! Emg 81 is not good for clean... Often sounds so tin and compress ( although with some reverb and boost sounds great). indeed Emg81 is great for high gain Chug and even better than Emg81 is SH8 invader, SH8 is the best pickup for high gain Chug and also has so beautiful clean sound.

The EMG is way thin. Seymour Duncs always CUT through most mixes. Emgs always get lost between.

@AcceleratingUniverse

2 жыл бұрын

in what universe does the emg 81 not cut through the mix lmao

@MegaMitchell07

2 жыл бұрын

@@AcceleratingUniverse I'm definitely kinda ignorant in this matter, but an example would be maybe Slipknot? Sick riffs, but I really can't friggin' hear them in the mix. And I love Children of Bodom as well, but EMGs always seemed "washy" to me in a mix. And I've had the EMG 81s on my guitar too. Clean tones, they're amazing, but distortion wise they're too mid-ranged for my taste.

@lorewind

2 жыл бұрын

Having recorded with both for metal, I've found the opposite. EMGs seem to cut way easier than duncans or other passive pickups in a mix. Not to say the duncans can't, but the EMGs just have more clarity. I would guess it's because of a more pronounced mid range and controlled low end.

EMG 81 sounds awesome, SH-6 sounds like smelly cat

Emg sound sterile

@toemasmeems

3 жыл бұрын

EMGs r sTeRiLe

@Mindartcreativity

3 жыл бұрын

How exactly does sterile sound? LOL Repeating what everyone ever said about EMGs, good job!

@toemasmeems

3 жыл бұрын

@@Mindartcreativity right!

@toemasmeems

3 жыл бұрын

@@Mindartcreativity I installed the 81/85 in my 7 string (km7) and honestly if anything it’s TOO perfect of a metal tone. Nothing sterile about em. Honestly pickups are a means to an end...folks need to learn how to dial in an amp.

@dyamicorriveau9677

3 жыл бұрын

@@toemasmeems compressed to absolute shit :)

oh ffs get on with the metal riffs already

EMG 81 sounds like crap

@timbuk1126

2 жыл бұрын

Nah