Two EMG 40DC or 40DC+40CS

[SugarySnack]

I got a question about what pickups I should pick up. I have narrowed it down to the EMG 40DC and 40CS. I am putting them in an LTD D5, which is a 5 string guitar made of a very dense wood (said to be close to mahogany, but less warm) called Merbau. I play metal, and am looking to get a good heavy metal sound out of it, so good bass and treble. Should I go with 2 DC's or a DC and a CS? Thanks if you guys can give me any advice.

SugarySnack

 

[Willem]

I have a LTD B2005. It had a P4 and a DC. The DC in the bridge position sucks. It was OK in the neck but I liked the P4 better. Now the bass has Nordstrand big splits. So much more organic and natural sounding. The two pickups blend so much better than the EMG's ever did.
I think we're going for different tones though, so I don't know if this is helpful for you.

 

[takfar]

I play two DCs myself, and I really like em. The bridge one can bark like an angry dog, the neck one can sound really round. I'd like to try a CS in the neck instead, but I don't feel too compelled to actually go and buy one and see what it sounds like.

BTW, you could always try a 40TW in the neck for more versatility. It's a CS and a Jazz, swapped at the flick of a switch.

 

[gidbass]

I run a 35 series CS in the neck and a 35 series DC in the bridge with a BTC. Very versatile setup.

I am more a metal/hard rock type player so i really like the qualities the DC brings, but I like to have the CS to help balance out the DC. The CS is much warmer and more "traditional" sounding.

Overall, i am very pleased with the setup.

HTH,

- Shawn

 

[jacobrownoly]

I also am quite interested in this idea, I have a Euro 5 with two DCs in them, the tone is great and very very aggressive, but I feel I need more of a versatile tone, I too was thinking about adding one EMG CS pickup to go with one of my DCs, would this give more control of my tone with this setup??

Or any other EMG pickup combination with the DC to give more control of my tone??

Thanks

 

[Rickett Customs]

I too have Dc's in both of the bases that I gig with and they both have Bqc's in them too, one fretless and one fretted.

 

[jacobrownoly]

Whats it like?

 

[Rickett Customs]

Whats it like?

The fretless, I really think I would have been better off with Bartolini's. I like a darker midrange for a fretless, the EMG's just aren't voiced the same, but with the 3 band eq, that is taken care of..

 

[Double Agent]

I understand the desire to have a more balanced tone than the two 40DCs would give, but I have been sort of disappointed by the tone of the 40CS. IME, the 40CS is similar to the 40DC if it had all the life and character sucked out of it. My Rebop is more versatile with the 40CS than with two 40DCs, but it definitely does not have the snarl of another Spector I owned, which had two 40DCs.

If versatility were not a concern, I would not hesitate to recommend two 40DCs for a modern hard-rock/metal sound. They get a very aggressive tone that will NOT be buried in the mix. If you do want more versatility, I would be more tempted to go with a 40DC/40P5 or 40P/40J combo instead of the 40DC/40CS. Just my $0.02, YMMV.

 

[basspro]

I had a Spector with 40DC's BTC pre and talk about tone, simply amazing IMO.
As DA said great for rock/metal, not low end shy for sure.