EMG 707

I can't really recall WHEN I got this pickup but it was definitely quite a few years back when I was in the 7 string phase like most people were in the late 90s early millennium. I had a bought a used Ibanez S7420. Loved the damn thing, the neck was so comfortable it felt like I was playing a 6 string even though it was a 7 yet the pickups in it completely lacked. The cleans had little to no headroom and the distortion was fuzzy and unclear. In came the EMG707 pickup, what a game changer! The cleans were finally usable, and the dirty sounds were amazingly clear! Every note could be heard, and the distortion was thick but not muddy and there was just the right amount of compression to get all the notes to come out properly. I do believe the EMG707 is basically an 85 but calibrated for a 7 string, so tonally it should generally have the same soul, however since it's going in a 7 string guitar and you got the extra string etc everything changes anyway. Anyhoo, as I was saying, it bought my guitar back to life and I loved every minute of playing my 7 string afterwards. Whether it was just for clean passages or super heavy metal death-core type stuff with lots of chugging. I was able to get every type of sound I wanted from 707. I know now there are other models and variation of the 707 and I have not yet gotten the chance to try them and I’m sure there is an audible difference between them, maybe to guitar players but definitely not to the audience, so if it’s worth changing or not I leave that up to you. I’d say, why fix it if it ain’t broke?

With the popularity of 7 string and larger guitars nowadays you need pickups that can accomidate these guitars and get a good tone for the users. Because of the extended frequency ranges of these guitars you need pickups with lots of clarity and decent output. I have found that active pickups are the best when dealing with extended range guitars. EMG was the first active pickup company to start making pickups for 7 and 8 string guitars and they are still the best out there. The biggest problem with EMG's 7 string pickups is that they are in bass pickup cases and do not easily retrofit into most guitars. The majority of guitars you see with these pickups came with them from the factory. I think this was a mistake on EMG's part, but when they first started making these I do not think there was that many 7 string guitars out to set a standard pickup size for 7 strings. Now that there is a standard size these pickups do not fall into it. To put these pickups in a guitar that didnt come with them as standard will require extra cutting into your guitar. This problem also saves EMG a bit of money because they also work for 8 string guitars as well. The EMG 707 is like an slightly tweaked 85 for the 7 string. The 85 is an ideal choice for a 7 string guitar because it naturally has a thicker sound than the 81 and it more naturally plays up the low end frequencies of the guitar. If you are playing 7 or 8 string guitar you are not looking for a thin sound so naturally you want to retain the thick sound but also want to have some clarity with it. The 81-7 has plenty of clarity but it doesnt carry the low end that the 707 carries. They could have called this pickup the 85-7. If you are a fan of the 85 and are now playing 7 string this is naturally the pickup you will want.

I use it for about 1 month Schecter C7 Hellraiser on in neck and bridge, and I love.
Unfortunately I could test only a few microphones before, but I already know a lot EMG, and I admit that I like. Usually, I am rather Di Marzio for 7 strings, but I must say that the 707 really surprised me.
This is version 7 of 85 strings, thus set, I already felt close to fall on a good pti his warm, well rounded, and it is! I use it especially clean and admit that the sound is ... MOUAHA! great! I love it! Warm, round, a good presence in the low but it does not become viroulent, to vibrate while the walls of the room, and he does not neglect the midrange and treble. Very good microphone handle.
Then in the bridge position, the, it becomes more difficult ... The probe is just well rounded, although warm, and sometimes, in heavy distortion, you would like a big fat flapping palm mute well, which sent, and 707 is a little too warm for that, so the distortion tends to lose potato ... which is pretty bad, but my time is a very good handle microphones! and I would change if I find a 81 / 7 a reasonable price, otherwise I keep it and it goes very well!

Otherwise, I forget to mention the 707 handle distortion for solos: ben good is nothing more to say before: very good, perfectly transcribes everything that wants to have, and the solos are with extra! I enjoy playing Nervemore from Dream Theater, or other groups where a 7-string is required, and have a blast!

frankly, I was very Di Marzio for 7-string before, but now, EMG / Di Marzio, the two balance my heart ^ ^

(I put that light 9 for the lack of potatoes in large easel disto)