EMG 57 / 66 Alnico V Active Neck & Bridge Humbucker set - gold. The unique combination of Alnico V magnets and steel pole pieces evoke an unmistakably PAF-like quality in its tone.
I went through a brief high gain only phase a while back in my guitar playing adventures. I've had the EMG HZs, 81 / 85 set, 7 String versions of both, and played many other variants within the EMG catalog. So, I know what I should expect from them... soulless, inexpressive, non musical pick ups. Unless you're just laying high gain chug you would normally avoid this company like the plague. NO MORE I SAY!
These pick ups have the articulation and expressive variance of any other highly recognized passive while keeping the ability to reach high output gain that will melt any rocker or metal heads face completely off. They roll off like pros and look great in gold on my Black and Gold 2005 Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Custom.
I would highly recommend to anyone who has written off this company as a metal heads only club to try these out before you give up completely. Even my guitar tech, who looked at me like I was an idiot after he saw I installed EMGs again, told me after the set up and testing that he was blown away by these and had to know what they were. The EMG 57 / 66 set will put this company back on the map for many players. Guaranteed.
Top three pickups I've ever used, very dynamic, reminds me of the classic PAF but it's active so the output is so much better, I have them installed in 2 of my guitars now