Active vs. Passive Pickups
- Thread starter Sammy15
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allbutromeo
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
Actives generally have a weaker magnetic field and should be closer to the strings, at least according to EMG
Actives generally have a weaker magnetic field and should be closer to the strings, at least according to EMG
Stratman
Guitaris Maximus
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
I agree on this for EMG’s and BlackOuts; however, not on Fishman Fluence.
I agree on this for EMG’s and BlackOuts; however, not on Fishman Fluence.
PowerOfaDuck
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
well passive pickups can do metal distrotion to jazz clean (with dialing the potis) sound warmer
active pickups are mostly used for metal, they don't get muddy because they have not much bass. more output and very fast attack
but sounds sterile and cold and sounds very similar in every guitar.
So you can get an expensive neck a cheap body and active Pickups and you saved the money for the body
well passive pickups can do metal distrotion to jazz clean (with dialing the potis) sound warmer
active pickups are mostly used for metal, they don't get muddy because they have not much bass. more output and very fast attack
but sounds sterile and cold and sounds very similar in every guitar.
So you can get an expensive neck a cheap body and active Pickups and you saved the money for the body
vinta9e
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
The pickups need to be in the sweet spot = where they sound and feel best.
I am sorry, but what you're trying to say is far from true.
Despised
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
This is so NOT TRUE!!! First off, actives have been use by MANY great guitarists in nearly every genre of music besides metal - Steve Lukather from Toto, David Gilmour, Vjnce Gill just to name a few. And I sure as hell have NO problem playing anything and everything with actives. Like anything else, it's all in how you dial in the tone your looking for...
Second, actives - like ANY pickup - will sound different in every guitar, even if you have two of the exact same guitar. Differences in woods and build qualities will naturally give you a difference in the end tonality.
Now I have been an active guy for years, simply because the sound and tonality I get easily comes from actives. But that don't mean that I am dead set against or don't use passives... I just sold my Alex Wade signature model with passives in it, and it got just as awesome tonality as my active equipped guitars. And, I have a Stephen Carpenter replica I am dying to get a set of passive Duncans into. It has a D-Activator 7 set and Blaze S.C. in it now, but they just don't do it justice. Tonality is different for everyone, and some will go actives for what they are looking for, while others will go passives. It don't mean that either pickup is a 1-trick pony for only 1 style or genre...
This is so NOT TRUE!!! First off, actives have been use by MANY great guitarists in nearly every genre of music besides metal - Steve Lukather from Toto, David Gilmour, Vjnce Gill just to name a few. And I sure as hell have NO problem playing anything and everything with actives. Like anything else, it's all in how you dial in the tone your looking for...
Second, actives - like ANY pickup - will sound different in every guitar, even if you have two of the exact same guitar. Differences in woods and build qualities will naturally give you a difference in the end tonality.
Now I have been an active guy for years, simply because the sound and tonality I get easily comes from actives. But that don't mean that I am dead set against or don't use passives... I just sold my Alex Wade signature model with passives in it, and it got just as awesome tonality as my active equipped guitars. And, I have a Stephen Carpenter replica I am dying to get a set of passive Duncans into. It has a D-Activator 7 set and Blaze S.C. in it now, but they just don't do it justice. Tonality is different for everyone, and some will go actives for what they are looking for, while others will go passives. It don't mean that either pickup is a 1-trick pony for only 1 style or genre...
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
Nearly every myth about active pickups is represented here.
Nearly every myth about active pickups is represented here.
Despised
New member
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
I actually find my Blackouts surprisingly versatile. You just need an amp with a lot of headroom and know how to EQ the thing. Yeah, they're really hot and aggressive, but they are also really organic and dynamic. That being said, I do plan to switch to the EMG 57/66 set in the near future.
I actually find my Blackouts surprisingly versatile. You just need an amp with a lot of headroom and know how to EQ the thing. Yeah, they're really hot and aggressive, but they are also really organic and dynamic. That being said, I do plan to switch to the EMG 57/66 set in the near future.
xntrick
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
The 57 is a nice pickup, very dynamic without losing your picking nuances. I was surprised just how much more output it had compared to the 81X which is also a great pickup.
The 57 is a nice pickup, very dynamic without losing your picking nuances. I was surprised just how much more output it had compared to the 81X which is also a great pickup.
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
So it has more output? I had heard that it was actually less hot than the 81 and Blackouts. That was a big part of the reason I want it.
So it has more output? I had heard that it was actually less hot than the 81 and Blackouts. That was a big part of the reason I want it.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
In your excitement you apparently missed the word 'mostly' which made listing examples outside of metal pointless. There are genres where passives dominate, although in each of them there's probably a small percentage of guys using actives, which is incorporated in the term 'mostly.'
In your excitement you apparently missed the word 'mostly' which made listing examples outside of metal pointless. There are genres where passives dominate, although in each of them there's probably a small percentage of guys using actives, which is incorporated in the term 'mostly.'
Diego
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
Yup.
If you've played them a bit, you know that actives can be so different from each other. The Blackouts are nothing like the 81/85 EMGs.
And apparently the 57/66 is nothing like any other EMG or Duncan product. I wanna try those so bad...
Yup.
If you've played them a bit, you know that actives can be so different from each other. The Blackouts are nothing like the 81/85 EMGs.
And apparently the 57/66 is nothing like any other EMG or Duncan product. I wanna try those so bad...
xntrick
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
yes, a lot more..rumour is it was a hold over form the JH set, supposedly EMG felt it sounded better but waited a few years to introduce them
On my USB interface, I have to dial the input knob from 7 to 5 to keep unity gain with the 81X.
yes, a lot more..rumour is it was a hold over form the JH set, supposedly EMG felt it sounded better but waited a few years to introduce them
On my USB interface, I have to dial the input knob from 7 to 5 to keep unity gain with the 81X.
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
Do you still think that it's more versatile than the average active? A big part of the reason that I'm switching is that I want something that can handle cleans and mid-gain tones better than the Blackouts, as well as something that's more dynamically sensitive.
P.S. I can't remember where I read it, but someone from EMG came out and said that the 57/66 set was actually completely separate from the Het Set from the beginning. They are definitely really similar, though.
Do you still think that it's more versatile than the average active? A big part of the reason that I'm switching is that I want something that can handle cleans and mid-gain tones better than the Blackouts, as well as something that's more dynamically sensitive.
P.S. I can't remember where I read it, but someone from EMG came out and said that the 57/66 set was actually completely separate from the Het Set from the beginning. They are definitely really similar, though.
Dahla
New member
Active vs. Passive Pickups
That sounds as internet forum "truth".
Give it a moment, and someone will claim that they are actually Dave Mustain designed.
That sounds as internet forum "truth".
Give it a moment, and someone will claim that they are actually Dave Mustain designed.
xntrick
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
yes, it is more versatile than the average active and it is very dynamic but I don't feel that it's far superior to the 81X. Both have good cleans and the 57 is a bit warmer. It's been a while since i used the Blackouts, but i do remember NOT liking the AHB1. You can hear the set in use during this video.
yes, it is more versatile than the average active and it is very dynamic but I don't feel that it's far superior to the 81X. Both have good cleans and the 57 is a bit warmer. It's been a while since i used the Blackouts, but i do remember NOT liking the AHB1. You can hear the set in use during this video.
RStabler
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
Is it weird that I hear a lot of Jason Becker-ish phrasing in her playing?
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Active vs. Passive Pickups
I forgot about that one. Thanks for all of your help! I'm definitely going to pull the trigger on that set in the near future.
I forgot about that one. Thanks for all of your help! I'm definitely going to pull the trigger on that set in the near future.