EMG pickups/tone help?

[ACfireandiceDC]

Hi,

First of all, this is NOT a rant, even if it may sound like one. I would love to be able to get some good use out of these pickups.

I have some questions about achieving a good tone with EMG 707 pickups. Everyone says that they're awesome pickups, but I haven't had that experience.

IMO they have very poor treble response, and their high output can cause clipping on the clean channel, and create a lot of awful background noise on the high-gain channel. There seems to be some very strange-sounding high-mid/treble frequencies. I tried posting a demo here but it won't let me.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get a good tone from these pickups?

 

[cip 123]

Screw them down as far as they go in your guitar.

Had 808's and it helped my tone.

 

[yellowv]

Never been a 707 fan. My least favorite EMGs. You can try the 18v mod. It helps a bit. Personally I have swapped all the 707's I have had to X series or 57/66's.

 

[CrazyDean]

The 18v mod helps a lot, especially the 707. Also, roll the volume knob back some on cleans to prevent clipping.

 

[Stuck_in_a_dream]

Never been a 707 fan. My least favorite EMGs. You can try the 18v mod. It helps a bit. Personally I have swapped all the 707's I have had to X series or 57/66's.

^ This! I suggest try 18v mod but if you still don't like it, either get a 707x, 85-7, 85-7x, or 57-7 for bridge. For neck, either 66-7 or 60-7, 60-7x. My 2c

 

[MYGFH]

Love my EMG's for the stability in tone. Change those batteries and remember to unplug ur guitar when ur done cause that uses up the batteries same as playing.

I do the opposite of cip_123 and raise my actives as close to the strings as possible.

Good luck!