Hi all,
There seems to be a trend for active pickups with a more passive tone and feel. I still love my EMG 81 for its unmatched tightness for high gain rhythm guitar. But sometimes I feel that because of its massive low cut (which basically is the reason for its tightness) there is just a bit too little left of the fundamental tone when playing chords, even simple power chords.
EMG have released the Retro Active series, the Het Set and the Jim Root „Daemonum“ Set that are marketed as a combination of the best qualities of active and passive pickups. I ordered the Het Set and was pretty disappointed TBH. Okay, I‘m used to the ultra tight 81, but the Het Set just felt totally mushy and kind of bloated. Extremely high output, but tonewise „more passive than passive“ if you know what I mean.
Has anyone tried the Daemonum Set or ceramic Retro Actives? And what do other pickup brands (Seymour Duncan, Fishman, DiMarzio etc.) have to offer?
I am basically looking for a happy medium between the EMG 81 and a tight passive pickup like the Duncan Distortion.
There seems to be a trend for active pickups with a more passive tone and feel. I still love my EMG 81 for its unmatched tightness for high gain rhythm guitar. But sometimes I feel that because of its massive low cut (which basically is the reason for its tightness) there is just a bit too little left of the fundamental tone when playing chords, even simple power chords.
EMG have released the Retro Active series, the Het Set and the Jim Root „Daemonum“ Set that are marketed as a combination of the best qualities of active and passive pickups. I ordered the Het Set and was pretty disappointed TBH. Okay, I‘m used to the ultra tight 81, but the Het Set just felt totally mushy and kind of bloated. Extremely high output, but tonewise „more passive than passive“ if you know what I mean.
Has anyone tried the Daemonum Set or ceramic Retro Actives? And what do other pickup brands (Seymour Duncan, Fishman, DiMarzio etc.) have to offer?
I am basically looking for a happy medium between the EMG 81 and a tight passive pickup like the Duncan Distortion.
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