Actives?

PeterJCruz

PeterJCruz

New member
Hey all.. lately I've been thinking of getting some actives for my latest custom shop axe... with the wood color/grain and hardware.. a gold covered pickup would absolutely look KING on it. =) So I am debating actives.. The Blackouts seem to be very "hot" but the cleans with it seem to be really compromised.. so I began looking at EMG's.. but I'm totally lost on what to choose...

I know a common setup for "metal" with some versatility is an 81-85 set.. but I was hoping to get more of a "single coil" type sound in the neck position.. and a nice growl/thick bridge pickup sound.. for nice heavy rhy and some leads of course. I don't think you can "split" actives... so it will have to be able to do some cleans.. in case I jam some jazz/blues on occasion. =)

To that end.. I'm thinking MAYBE an 85 for the bridge... but the neck I'm not sure if the 60 (or 60A) would give more single coil character (i.e. Yngwie type lead sound with great clarity and note separate under fast staccato playing).... or if the "HA" model would suit that better... Then again.. there's the 89?

I haven't found any decent demos on youtube that can show me differences in the tone for those pickups... so any feedback you guys have would be great...

BTW: The guitar is a walnut body, claro walnut top with a 5 piece maple neck/walnut stripes. It's a neck thru design... It's a sweet axe. =)

Thanks
Peter
 
Re: Actives?

Howsabout an 89 in the neck with the 85 in the bridge.

Supposedly, the 89 isn't quite a full 85 in humbucker mode, nor is it quite a true SA in single coil mode, but balances well against the 85... I have one, but can't speak to whether this is accurate or not, as I haven't finished setting up that guitar.

I *can* say that an 85 in the bridge is a lot of fun - great cleans, nice presence, and fun crunchy bits.
 
Re: Actives?

Thanks.. I have heard the 81 is a bit "thin" or ice-picky (or can be in the wrong guitar).. and the 85 is a better fit for those guitars.. What are your thoughts on the 81s? So the 89 can be "split?" Hmmmm....

jtougas said:
Howsabout an 89 in the neck with the 85 in the bridge.

Supposedly, the 89 isn't quite a full 85 in humbucker mode, nor is it quite a true SA in single coil mode, but balances well against the 85... I have one, but can't speak to whether this is accurate or not, as I haven't finished setting up that guitar.

I *can* say that an 85 in the bridge is a lot of fun - great cleans, nice presence, and fun crunchy bits.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Actives?

there's always the TW series EMG pickups that can split the signal , but if you do go EMG make sure to get X series. The regular EMG 81 85 are garbage compared to the X series in my eyes. You get more openess , clarity and versatility without say 18 volt modding a set of emgs which does wonders.

if I was you since you're leaning towards EMG pickups
89X or 89XR- coiltaps and it's the X series
81TWX - just like above
with the other option for the 89 the XR has the magnets swapped for an out of phase sound in the middle so it's extremely versatile. It coiltaps and it goes out of phase which I find great in the clean sound

however...
you COULD get a blackout bridge and another active in the neck
or ... two 4 wire passives and put some gold "no hole" covers from guitarheads.net on the guitar to keep that EMG look. At the end of the day I guess it matters how much you like actives. I'm not a fan

hope I could help
 
Re: Actives?

I hated actives until I got a Blackout.

I got it for $24 and had another pup waiting for the guitar, so I would have pulled it in a heartbeat.

Yes it is HOT. But I really use the volume control on that guitar and dig all the sounds from scorch to clean. And that's without a tone knob.
 
Re: Actives?

EMG has a HA which is a SA in a humbucker format.
Can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8PXPyuF060

There also is the EMG 89 which can be switched but is a bit of not fish not meat kind of thing. Not very well liked.

Not all SD actives are hot. Lifewire IIs are supposed to be very good. But few people experimented with them. Difficult to reach critical mass so that the gear flippers can try them out.
 
Re: Actives?

The EMG X series of pickups has noticeably improved dynamic range compared to the previous versions.

IMO, the EMG-H and -HA do a nice job of making a "Strat" sound in a humbucker housing. I find that how the -60, -60A, -60X and -60AX sound depends very much on the host guitar. I like the -60X in a cheap Ibanez bolt-on neck Iceman. I hated the stock -60 in my LTD EC-401w.

If you seek a sound somewhere between "Fender" and humbucker, there is an argument for either their single coil sounding pickup plus a midrange booster or their humbucker sounding pickup and the -EXG Expander. (The expander accessory removes midrange.)

Right now, I am really enjoying an EMG-SLV in the neck position of a refurbished Charvel Model 3. What I really wish EMG would make is an SLV in a humbucker housing. Similarly, a Blackouts AS-1 in a humbucker housing would be a useful thing to have available. Hint, hint!
 
Re: Actives?

PeterJCruz said:
I was hoping to get more of a "single coil" type sound in the neck position.. and a nice growl/thick bridge pickup sound.
Click to expand...

PeterJCruz said:
To that end.. I'm thinking MAYBE an 85 for the bridge... but the neck I'm not sure if the 60 (or 60A) would give more single coil character (i.e. Yngwie type lead sound with great clarity and note separate under fast staccato playing)
Click to expand...

Yeah. If you want EMGs, the 85 bridge / 60 neck should deliver what you're after. I'd skip the 81 until you insist on more tightness and/or scream. I haven't tried the X series in person but if Tallwood13 can be trusted, they would be preferred.
 
Re: Actives?

I can't speak to the difference between the standards and the X series, but it'd be worth looking into.

To me, the 81 has a flatter, more compressed sound. That's fine if it's what you're after.
 
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