Heres the story, I've got a jackson slsmg soloist like in the pic.. neck thru, string thru, mahogony body. It comes with EMG HZs but the previous owner installed an EMG 85 in the bridge and a passive EMG-H(not HZ) in the neck. I think the 'H' doesnt sound so good and the 85 is kind of muddy in the bridge position. So i want to know what would be easier/cheaper and sound the best(i know this is subjective but still give your opinion). Should i put an 81 in the bridge and move the 85 to the neck? Or should i get an X2n for the bridge and something else for the neck?

Ive played guitars with 81-85 combo and they sound good but im very curious as to how quality passives would sound in my mohogany bodied guitar. Im thinking it might be a waste to go 81-85 in this nice guitar when i can get a cheap wood guitar and convert to emg 81-85 with the same result. On the other hand im worried the passives may not be "brutal" enough. What black/death metal bands use passives?
I have never seen a guitar with the x2n in the music store so i will have to go with you alls opinions. Thanks in advance

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I know Chuck Schuldiner from Death was a big fan of the X2N - that's a very hot pickup, the hottest one DiMarzio makes, and it sounds very good.
My Schecter C1 Classic, a similar guitar to yours [neck thru, string thru, maghogany body] has passives in it - a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and a '59 for the neck and it sounds killer, never had to worry about them being 'brutal enough.' So, it all depends whether or not you like the sound of EMGs.

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i'll take a x2n over emg anyday but thats my opinion. try them out if u can thats the only way you can choose between them.
but i'll tell ya you wont go wrong with the x2n

I have owned both. The X2N shits all over the EMG's in everything. It responds heavily to your playing style and gives you tight, clean -but not compressed- brutal crunch that actives can't give you. Melts your face for both rythm and leads. Though useless for cleans, you can coil split it if you wan't to use it in a H-S-S or H-S-H guitar for cleans,but in your case you will want a PAF Pro in the neck, most people prefer neck pups for cleans.

It really depends on what kind of sounds you want out of your guitar, it you wan't consistent glassy tone(IMO monotonous, but it's what you want for certain styles) and don't mind swtiching a battery once a year, get the EMGs. But I personally think everyone who tries the X2N will never give a fuck about EMG's again, even if you play the most br00t3l shit ever.

The X2N is very full, balanced, with added treble for extra clarity(and sensitivity), and it's the hottest passive pickup you can buy in a store.

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I own a guitars with both of these pick ups and i like both but I definetly like the dimarzio more. Yeah you should try both but I know that that guitar is paper thin (super comfy though) so there may not be enough wood for the tone to resonate nicely for a passive p/u. But anyways the X2N would be my choice.

Yup, I agree with Soeru. I've tried EMGs (81,85 and 60) extensively and then bought an X2N and I think that the X2N is better than the EMGs. The 81 in the bridge is good,too dont get me wrong, but the X2N gives me more dynamics and more of the distorted sound that I like. As for clean sounds, the PAF Pro seems to be a good choice, I'm probably getting one installed in my other guitar eventually. Although, I am checking out other neck pickups for clean sounds as of now.

Thanks for the replys!



Any more opinions on what he said?

Yeah I forgot about that. In the video i have of Death - live at Ultimate Revenge 2(Studio 54, New York, April-3-1985) chucks tone is really nice and i believe hes playing dimarzio x2n there. But rick rozz's guitar sound is better IMO, i just cant tell if hes using emgs or something else.. someone here must know? Anyways rozz's sound is fucking wicked especially on pull the plug when he and chuck solo after eachother. Yeah hes using the wammy bar a whole lot, but i still like his tone better for what i like to play.

well, an emg 81/85 set will be great if everything you play is overdriven and you don't need very good cleans. the 60 makes a much better neck pu imo than the 85, it has more of a single coil vibe for fat leads and cleans. i have my early 90's modded rg570 loaded with an 81/85 set just to have a guitar with that awesome active emg sound. though one of these days the 85 is comming out and a 60 is going in.

the x2n is a great pickup for a hot sound. and you'd be able to put another nice passive in the neck.

now, the tonal difference is huge between the x2n and the 81. it's not a matter of better or worse, just different. so you probably want to play other guitars with these pickups to make your choice.

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Correct, they're very different. But regardless, I think the X2N sounds both incredibley more versatile and brutal than EMG's. Actives just have 1 sound that you can't change with your tone knob, and you can get bored of the tone easily because EMG's don't respond to your playing dynamics(they're like playing through a compressor), they always sound the same in virtually any guitar.

I wouldn't worry about the body wood/mass of your guitar as long as it's not plywood! It's a hot pickup so if it's basswood or mahogany or alder it won't make a huge difference(mahogany will though, A LOT). Just watch how close you place it to the strings, the magnets in it can rip your metal teeth fillings right out of your jaw!

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Are you saying mahogany will or will not make a big difference in tone? I thought it would but moreso when using the neck pickup. Mine's mahogany.

it will make it bassier... less responsive to highs... its like comparing a jackson and a gibson... the gibson is warm and bassy, the jackson will typically be more shrill... So with the mahogany, you'll have a thicker bassier sound, and your cleans will be warmer.

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well i have a mahogany jackson but i get what you are saying. thanks

the tone knob affects the sound of my emgs just like it does any other pickups i've played.

as far as the compressed comment, that's whats so great about them for alot of people. in case you havent noticed, compressed sterile super tight high output is way commonly loved in the metal game. that's why so many guitarists love actives.

and about the same sounding thing... while it's not really the same, they just dont rely on the tonal qualities of the wood as much. which is often great because of consistancy. not to mention, you can make a shitty guitar sound better with actives. and a great guitar will still sound great with them.

don't get me wrong, im a fan of the x2n and will probably be getting one in my nitefly. but i think active emg's are great, and as i said, i have an emg loaded guitar just to have that sound at my disposal. it's not a matter of better or worse, it's just different, apples and oranges.

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No X2N in the nightfly!

He doth protest.

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its a possibility. maybe a JB or a tonezone... i'm not sure yet, but it's all down the road.

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what's wrong with an x2n in the nightfly?

I like the sound of that.