EMG EMG-81-7 7-String Guitar Active Pickup Black

Installed this in the bridge position of a shecter damien. Loving it. Crisp ample attack and abundantly bright.

I own an LTD M-207 and when I bought it used it already had an EMG 707 placed in the bridge. I kind of liked the tone but thought that it could use a whole lot more to it. So I replaced it with the EMG 81-7. And there's a huge difference between the pickups.The EMG 81-7 is noticeably brighter and tighter but also a lot quieter. If I remember correctly the EMG website says that it is roughly 10 decibels quieter then the 707. But in comparison I loved the 81-7. I play in drop Ab tuning and with the 81-7 there is more pop/snap and bight then the 707 ever had. I believe it really changed my sound for the better ... But I am not as large of a fan of them anymore. Firstly, I am not hating on any type or brand of pickup out there. But to me the EMG pickups have a tone that really brings out a solid state quality. A lot of people love that and don't care for the sound of a rich creamy mid abundant pickup or a tube amp. But I do. So in an effort to find what sound I love more I just bought a set of Seymour Duncan Blackouts to compare on YouTube and find what sound I am personally going for. And a random comment: A lot of people say that "EMG's sound the same in all guitars" ... I really don't see how. The wood of the guitar and build quality has a lot to do with it and the exact tone you're going to get. Pickups aren't the only factor. And also if you don't know EMG's are the size of a bass casing for the cavity size if I am correct in what it's called. They are larger then any passive pickups and will require routing of the wood. Also they require different pots and a different jack and run off of a battery. So if you are new to guitar tech and don't have the extra cash for a professional or even no knowledge'd luthiers in the area, then I don't recommend these or any EMG pickups. But as the title says, I can't hate this pickup. I'm leaning towards the sound of passives based on YouTube videos. But I don't hate these pickups! I think the tone is very good, the pickup is responsive, it's hot, and punchy.

Best pickup for 7 strings the stock photo isn't correct but whatever. I put these in as a replacement for 2 EMG Hz the sound from the Hz didn't have much clarity with lower notes but with the 81-7s in every note came in really clear. The only thing i dont like is that EMG uses a different size housing for the 7 string pickups so it wont fit unless you had a EMG pickup before or you cut a bigger hole in the guitar.

Everyone who has heard an EMG pickup knows what to expect. The pickup itself rocks, hands down. However the installation into an Ibanez 7 string guitar was not fun nor easy. First, the pickup doesn't fit, so be prepared to pull out the router and sander. Without a template to use be prepared for this to look terrible. When you finally get the pickup in, you will realize there is no face plate to hide the new hole.