Should I put EMGs in my new Gibson?

I got a new Gibson LP and I'm not really impresses with the tone of the stock pickups. Should I get them changed or not?

By all means change 'em (described on my instructors page) but I'd not put EMGs in an expensive LP.

EMGs will sound like EMGs no matter what they are mounted on. One of the reasons LPs cost so much (allegedly) because of the tonal qualities of the wood they are made of so, to my mind it makes sense to use pickups that will take advantage of this.

With an expensive guitar like that I'd definitely go for some passive pickups. You lose most of the character of the wood by putting in active pickups, which I doubt is something you want to do with a Gibson.

i see so many bands with les paul with EMGs and their tone is really good. Maybe i'll try a different brand. Bareknuckles? or Seymore Duncun?

First off... don't let these "other bands" that you see on TV persuade you to usng certain gear... If you really want the EMG tone then by all means. But if you want to get them just because the guys from Metallica use them... you're doing it for the wrong reason.

Secondly... As said before EMGs will pretty much sound like EMGs... you may notice a little difference in clean tones depending on the guitar but in the distortion settings (which is where the EMGs really shine) you'll get basically the same tone as any other guitar.... If you're looking for that EMG bite check out some of the hot pickups from bareknuckles... they'll cost about the same as a set of EMG 81s or an 81/85 set.... maybe a little more. I would suggest looking into a set of Seymour Duncan JB/59s. Its one of the more versatile sets out there and it gives you a great range of tones while still allowing you to get mean distortion and nice clear clean tones. EMGs lack on the clean tone... it sounds too thin and flat to me...

I'm with what everybody else has already said. Personaly, I will not put a set of active pickups in a guitar. I wan't to hear those lovely characteristics the woods add to the tone. I'm not a big fan of high output pickups either. A Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge has all the output I'll ever need. It can get some amazingly crushing distorted tones, but still sounds nice clean, and also let's the characteristics of the guitar come through.

EMGs would be great if you wanted to upgrade the cruddy housebrand pickups on your Ibanez or something.

Seymour Duncan JB/59... can't lose. I reckon a Warpig/Nailbomb combo from Bareknuckles would be bowel-loosening.... :D

Originally Posted by: AkiraI'm gonna throw in another recommendation for the seymour duncan JB & '59 set.

Me too.....

thanks for all of the suggestions. im gonna check out the seymour duncans.

I dont know exactly what sound you are going for...
I dropped in the Gibson Tony IIommi pickups in my gibson and have never wanted for ton, volume, or sustain. Plus, they dont feedback.... Unless you really want them to.

im gonna keep the Gibson stock in for now. Im gonna put EMG in my cheap Tanglewood.