Actives in a strat??

[Shy_Boy]

I’m looking for the classic active tone, like what you usually hear with EMG’s, but that tone always seems to be connected to a Les Paul, or similar guitar. I have Strat I can mess with, but I don’t think the tone will be the same.

Are there any artists or online clips I can listen to to get a feel for what actives, like EMG’s, sound like in a Strat Style guitar?

Thanks,
George

 

[Shredhead7]

Re: Actives in a strat??

I don't know if you are looking for single coils or humbuckers, but there are a few clips i have found of a couple. Theres one on a line6 forum that is pretty good. It is located at

http://line6.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=021843

It is of the david gilmour set. Although to hear a EMG 85 in bridge with a couple of sa's search Steve Lukather on youtube. There is one video i think he did for guitar world that is wicked good. Hope this helps you out.

Cheers.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Actives in a strat??

Try the Livewire set from duncan. I like them a lot better than any EMG I have heard.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Actives in a strat??

I have the EMG DG-20 set in my '77 strat and couldn't be any hapier with it. It can do everything a good strat can and a bunch of other things that you'd need a humbucker for. This is easily my favorite gigging strat set up.

 

[baritone]

Re: Actives in a strat??

EMG's active single coils are awesome.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Actives in a strat??

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=316113

all the clips were recorded using a strat with an emg85/sa/sa configuration (let me say though that the clips were recorded with very primitive equipment an old zoom 2020 pedalboard direct into the soundcard.....that's life)

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Actives in a strat??

All,

Thanks for the feedback. I checked them all out and the actives sound great in a strat. I like it so muck I'm reconsidering what I'm doing with my strat. I may just have to look into the 81/SA/SA combo.

But from what I heard, it just doesn't sound like you can get the same tone as a Les Paul with the 81/85 combo. I guess it's just physics.

Oh well. I guess I'll just have to save my grass cutting money for that black LP studio with chrome hardware. Bummer.:smokin:

 

[frehley]

Re: Actives in a strat??

Oh dude, I hope you weren't thinking you could get a Strat to sound like a Les Paul. Not going to happen although you can get it in the ballpark.

My favorite active singles are the EMG-S model. They sound snappier and brighter than the SA model. If you do get EMG's wire it for use with 2 batteries at 18volts. More headroom and better dynamics.

 

[brit84]

Re: Actives in a strat??

My friend has emg 81 ( i think) and two emg single coils in his strat, here the band's website (they just made a music vid too! http://www.anythingaugust.com/

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Actives in a strat??

Oh dude, I hope you weren't thinking you could get a Strat to sound like a Les Paul. Not going to happen although you can get it in the ballpark.

My favorite active singles are the EMG-S model. They sound snappier and brighter than the SA model. If you do get EMG's wire it for use with 2 batteries at 18volts. More headroom and better dynamics.

Yes, I was being silly. Live and learn I guess. The thing is I have a very nice homebuilt Strat that sounds and plays great, but the tone I wanted all along was in a Les Paul. If I knew then what I know now......

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Actives in a strat??

Evan Skopp, VP of Marketing for SD has told us that the Live Wire set in a Strat is one of his favorite set. ..and he can play any damn pickup there is...unlimited custom shop access included I'm sure. That has to say something about them.

I may try them one day!

 

[frehley]

Re: Actives in a strat??

+1
Although those EMG-S singles really sound great.
BTW, which Livewires does Evan like, the classics or the hot for strat ones?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Actives in a strat??

+1
Although those EMG-S singles really sound great.
BTW, which Livewires does Evan like, the classics or the hot for strat ones?

I seem to remember being blown away that Evan liked these, because he strikes me as such a vintage guy. I want to say either Hot in the bridge and Classic in the other 2 positions, or hot all the way around. I may have to do a search for it now...I don't want to give wrong info.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Actives in a strat??

I had to go back to January of this year, but here it is. Not exactly as I remember, but close.

I used the LiveWires Classic for Strat on the Forum CD a few years back. I thought they were really dynamic and sparkly, and totally quiet. I really liked them.