EMGJim Root JR Daemonum Humbucker Pickup Set, Zebra (7194.00)

Bought these on a whim I was modding my epiphone les Paul classic and decided not to put my usual 57-66 or 81-60 as I wanted to keep the classic look of the zebra pickups and not have another generic looking metal guitar in my collection and wow these are insane you nailed it emg so much more versatile than the 81-60 so much more bottom end without being muddy or boomy and they have more of that passive top end and less of that overly clear almost HiFi top end mushiness that I’ve always hated about the 81 they feel exactly like they are a passive pickup with an active preamp the best of both worlds I’m just in shocked at how good these are I have already bought a second set and plan on swapping all my 81-60 sets out for these

It's got the character of the classic 81/60 set but with a broader frequency range, allowing for a lot more versatility and honestly just a much nicer sounding pickup in a lot of situations. That said, installation was much more of a headache than I was led to believe. Solderless wiring is great, it comes together like Legos, but the extra parts mean you need more room in your guitar cavity to work with. My pick guard barely fits back on. Just get the longer cables, trust me on this, you don't want to try to stretch them to make them reach and then have to order replacements when the ends break off like I did. For the love of God, get the longer cables set.

Easy install and even easier if your guitar has Emg pickups in it already. I love the response of these and the pick attack really shines with these pickups. Only set back is microphonic noise. I took my guitar to my luthier and I had emgs in my guitar prior to these and he installed the Jim roots for me. Right off the bat my luthier called me and explained microphonic noise going on with my guitar. He checked the factory Emg wiring in my guitar and even swapped pots, reshielded my pickup cavity and still microphonic noise, he told me he could wax the pickup but no guarantee it would fix the issue, I told him to put my 81/85 set back in and no microphonic noise. So idk if I got a bad set or these are just so hot of a pickup that microphonic noise is just going to be a thing with these. Rather than that they sound amazing and fixes the issue that active pickups have which is staleness. Definitely sounds passive and cleans up great. Can’t use it in a live setting for what I do because the Jim roots pickup my entire bands instruments but in a studio setting I’d say they are perfect. I just regret buying these and being out the money for install/set up twice. Seller doesn’t communicate well

I hate to write a review like this but I went 3 months with these and it almost ruined playing the guitar. I switched to 1 invader bridge pickup and it’s like I am finally getting the experience that I was looking for. I am listing these terrible pickups on eBay to sell them to some poor soul that thinks these will shred.. the tone is like heavy mud meets mud. Jim Root probably doesn’t even use these or if he does they are not what is sold to the public.

Ordered these out of curiosity because I have an extremely bright guitar I love. I received these today and installed them. My first few minutes told me I was gonna love these pups! Very powerful, mid focused (but not like an 81) and nice fat bottom without mush. I replaced some EMG Hot 70's in a super strat with a maple board so it was a little bright so these saved the day!