EMG Single Coil Comparison S, SA, SAX, SLV

EMG S Ceramic, the brightest of the four I tested. It works well for in-between positions or for searing over the top ’80s-style leads, and it’s solid for rhythm work. I was looking for a middle single-coil option in an HSH 57/66 guitar, and in my case I didn’t like it much in positions 2 and 4. It sounds a bit hard. It may pair better with other ceramic pickups for more seamless switching between positions. The 81/S/S is a classic combination. EMG SA An absolute classic EMG single coil. Think Gilmour’s Strat or Steve Lukather—you have probably heard this pickup more often than you realize. It is great for leads, a bit sweeter than the EMG S, yet still has more than enough sparkle for cleans. I liked how it paired with the 57/66 set since they all use Alnico 5 magnets. The SA keeps that single-coil character, just more “HD”—cleaner and louder than a traditional Strat pickup. I really like the EMG single-coil sound; it is a strong alternative to a classic Strat tone. Because it uses weaker bar magnets instead of rod magnets, you can set the pickup very close to the strings without magnetic pull affecting sustain. In-between positions sound absolutely glorious. EMG SAX Very close to the SA in sound. Possibly a bit more open, but the difference is subtle and hard to notice without a direct comparison. Unfortunately, it is more expensive than the SA, and aesthetically the “EMG X” logo does not always match well with pickups like the 57/66 that use the regular EMG logo. EMG SLV Steve Lukather’s signature EMG. Similar to the SA but slightly darker and a touch more overwound, with more mids. It has slightly higher output, though the difference is small and easily adjusted with pickup height. It leans somewhat toward a darker, SRV-inspired voicing, though not excessively. Steve Lukather used the SLV/SLV/85 combination with very good results. Personally, I would choose between the SA, SAX, or SLV based on price and availability. I would go for the S only if I specifically needed that ceramic, searing lead tone. I wish EMG would release models that capture their classic humbuckers but fit in a Strat, similar to DiMarzio’s rail pickups like the Chopper, Air Norton S, or Super Distortion S, Tone Zone S. sometimes it would be great fir for HS or HSS guitars Chapters: 00:00 EMG S 00:09 EMG SA 00:19 EMG SAX 00:27 EMG SLV 00:39 EMG S 00:48 EMG SA 00:57 EMG SAX 01:06 EMG SLV 01:18 EMG S 01:27 EMG SA 01:37 EMG SAX 01:45 EMG SLV 01:55 EMG S 02:15 EMG SA 02:36 EMG SAX 02:54 EMG SLV raw unprocessed files link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jv7v...