AHB-3 Mick Thomson EMTY Review

I would recommend these to anyone remotely interested in playing any form of rock.

Sound:	9.5
Reliability:	8
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	8.9
Reviewer rating:	9
Users rating:	8.7
Votes:	7

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: BradG4, on june 02, 2010

Price paid: £ 189

Purchased from: iMuso

Sound: I have these pickups in a completely custom Vintage V99 Les Paul and through my Marshall Valvestate 2000 the output is deafening! With the stock Wilkinson pickups I had before at volume at 2-3 it was a descent level of volume now at the same volume I have to turn down to avoid complaints.

Through my Marshall and Les Paul they sound warm and deep in tone. The high ends are sharp but not too harsh and the low ends are pounding but are not overwhelming.

I have both the bridge and neck pickups and before I wouldn't ever touch the Rhythm pickup but now with the new pots as well I am more inclined to experiment as they are so durable. The treble pickup is awesome for those chugging riffs, leads, anything you can throw at them.

I play mainly Metalcore and thrash with this guitar and they are perfect for them now but I also play clean pieces in drop C (EString tuned to D) and get crisp tones that actually sound acceptable from an electric guitar. // 10

Reliability & Durability: They're built like tanks! I didn't fit them, I had a local luthier fit them and he couldn't believe the build quality from them and I quote "These make EMGs look like Squier's of the pickup world". My inly concern is the battery, being active pickups, I would always but a fresh set in for gigging. // 8

Impression: I would recommend these to anyone remotely interested in playing any form of rock. If I was gig them a lot, which I aim to do, I would use my Boss-NS 2 to cancel any excess noise, which us considerably less than the old passive pickups. // 10

overall: 8.7

Reviewed by: man_on_the_moon, on march 17, 2011

Price paid: $ 198

Purchased from: Bills Music on Ebay

Sound: The output levels on these pups are fantastic, these pickups scream in the nicest way. Pick slides sound great, harmonics are top notch! These pickups have some good tone the bass and mid are not too intense as some might think for a Mick Thomson signature. The treble stands out great and the thing I love most is the tight bottom end. I can get all the tone of Drop D in Drop C or B which with other pickups would have been a bit muddier at times. The response and sound is great. The cleans are really good powerful cleans. The neck has more punch and has a bite with the treble. The neck pickup sounds great nice and thick with great tone for chords. If you Switch on both it sounds nice especially with some reverb. These are best suited to metal and drop tunings but that's because its most outstanding qualities are put to great use, this is definitely well rounded. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I haven't had these for years and years so I cannot account for long term durability but everything seems so solid! Seymour Duncan knows how to make some choice pickups and these are no different. These are dependable they're quiet if you mute the strings no loud buzz. If there is any buzz either the pickups are too high or just lower the volume to say 9 or 8 and it should sound prime. // 8

Impression: I love the searing high end and the tight low end. Great clarity in the tone never run into a muddy chord yet playing as low as Drop A. These are responsive and sound great paired together. I love the look of them, they didn't come with pickup rings included. I myself picked up a chrome pair of pickup rings. The seven on the side is nice looking too. Everything about these are sharp I would definitely recommend these! // 9

Comments

[MrTshoff]

How do these stack up to the normal ones?

[Blargaha]

@MrTshoff

More mids, better for downtuning, higher output. Generally a more brütal pickup

[theoros1994]

Are this pickups good for a dean ml 79 f? I want it for metalcore, melodic metal, and thrash. I use dropped C tuning.

[theoros1994]

Are this pickups good for a dean ml 79 f? I want for metalcore, melodic metal, and thrash. I use dropped C tuning, and i play lead and solos.

[Tonyborbony]

I also play clean pieces in drop C (EString tuned to D)

How does that work? Isn't drop C like the whole guitar a whole step down with the E string 2 steps? As in C-D-C-F-A-D?

Other than that, awesome review, thinking of slapping these (or regular blackouts) into my cheap ass Ibanez. To make her sound as awesome (maybe even awesomer than my Synyster Custom).

[bruffy7]

↑CGCFAD
kids thesedays, learn your drop tunings ;P