Big Question (Active vs Passive)

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ESP_EXECUTIONER

New member
Hello All, I recognise this as a very common question but I've never read any answer to fully clear it up for me. I've recently purchased an ESP Eclipse II guitar (beautiful f*&king guitar) and I use a Boss Metal Zone pedal with a Marshall JCM600 combo amp. The guitar has an EMG 60/81 pickup configuration and I'm extremely happy with the clarity and tone of this new guitar, but I'm really itching to swap those pickups over for a gold plated SD Jazz/JB Combination as I believe the sound could be even better for my tastes. My interests in music are Metallica, Megadeth, Velvet Revolver, Guns and Roses to name a few and I'm after a versatile pickup that sounds best for clean tone but also for Metal/Heavy Rock. Contridicting a lot of EMG supporters I'd have to say that I personally think they aren't producing the clarity that I want. Compared to the SD's I've had previously in my other guitar in my opinion the EMGs sound quite dull. As I say this I realise that with the different guitar wood and tone in my new guitar there is a lot of different variables so I'm not entirely sure. Can someone please explain not in technical terms but in musical terms what the sound differences are between active and passive pickups, what musical styles they suit and whats better for what? Also this guitar seems to pickup plectrum picking noise more than my other guitar. Is this a product of the active pickups? Phew thanks
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

Yeah, I think a JB/Jazz set would be perfect for you.

Alot of people think EMG's sound kind of dull, as well. Sort of lifeless sounding?
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
Yeah, I think a JB/Jazz set would be perfect for you.

Alot of people think EMG's sound kind of dull, as well. Sort of lifeless sounding?
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I think the term is sterile, not dull. When I think dull, I think of a pickup with it's tone turned down halfway or more.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

dude, when did you get a freakin RR-1!!

sorry, i had to go off topic on that one :D
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

ESP_EXECUTIONER said:
Contridicting a lot of EMG supporters I'd have to say that I personally think they aren't producing the clarity that I want.
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Have you tried turning the guitar's volume and/or tone knobs down? I rarely run my EMGs at 10....the output's too high and it pushes my preamp to the point where my rhythm tone is too broken up to sound tight (great for leads though).

I usually run my bridge 81 with the volume between 6-8 for rhythm, and at 9-10 for leads...the tone is almost always at 7.

For my neck 60, I'll run the volume anywhere between 2-7 for clean rhythm into dirty rhythm, and 10 for leads. I usually run the neck tone at 8-10.

Just some suggestions. The Jazz/JB is a great combo too.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

Its really hard to get much more clarity than an EMG. Its really hard for me to believe a passive is going to do that for you. Maybe you just like the tone of the jb and jazz better but again clarity will always go to the EMG's.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

To tell you the truth screaming daisy, the tone controls on this guitar have a very minimal effect on the output compared to what I've controls I've used in the past. Would just be a simple fix of changing the capacitors but to tell you the truth the guitar is to beautiful to even open up just yet. Still, even though that might help a tad, I can't see that having the desired effect, I think it's more a characteristic of the pickup. When I get a pic of my new axe I'll post it straight away. It's f*&king stunning. Abolone inlays, ebony fingerboard, maple body and one piece = jaw dropping sound. Thanks for the replies, keep playing fellas.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

vinterland said:
Its really hard to get much more clarity than an EMG. Its really hard for me to believe a passive is going to do that for you. Maybe you just like the tone of the jb and jazz better but again clarity will always go to the EMG's.
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Maybe clarity isn't exactly the right word I used and you sound like your on the right track. Cause the EMGs have a wider range of frequency response than the passives I tend to think my preference has to do with the passives outputting more of the frequencies that fit and sound good for my style of playing! Thanks man. Being an EMG player yourself, have you ever had any problems with hearing over excessive picking noise.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

screamingdaisy said:
Have you tried turning the guitar's volume and/or tone knobs down? I rarely run my EMGs at 10....the output's too high and it pushes my preamp to the point where my rhythm tone is too broken up to sound tight (great for leads though).

I usually run my bridge 81 with the volume between 6-8 for rhythm, and at 9-10 for leads...the tone is almost always at 7.

For my neck 60, I'll run the volume anywhere between 2-7 for clean rhythm into dirty rhythm, and 10 for leads. I usually run the neck tone at 8-10.

Just some suggestions. The Jazz/JB is a great combo too.
Click to expand...
I run my 81 & 85 with the volume on 10 and no tone pot, and can't imagine a more clear pickup than the 81. If you're used to passives it does take a bit of amp/pedal tweaking to get going, but it's SOOOOOO worth it.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

ESP_EXECUTIONER said:
have you ever had any problems with hearing over excessive picking noise.
Click to expand...

Yes, with the 81 in the bridge. I eased off with the volume and tone knobs to take it down a notch, but you said you already tried that, so......

Also, when playing metal I use a parametric EQ to cut the frequency of the pick attack, so you don't really hear the harsh bite of the attack anymore.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

I hate active PUs: the battery always finish when I'm playing the solo on the stage :(

I'm very unlucky

:D :D :D :D
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

Rainmaker said:
^ Seems far fetched
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+1.

The batteries don't die all at once....you can hear them weaken for days/weeks, depending on how many hours you put on them in a day.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

ESP_EXECUTIONER said:
Maybe clarity isn't exactly the right word I used and you sound like your on the right track. Cause the EMGs have a wider range of frequency response than the passives I tend to think my preference has to do with the passives outputting more of the frequencies that fit and sound good for my style of playing! Thanks man. Being an EMG player yourself, have you ever had any problems with hearing over excessive picking noise.
Click to expand...

Not really when your playing loud and with alot of other stuff going on. If your really listening for it then yes you'll hear it a little more than with a passive pickup. They're defiantely very articulate and any mistakes you made will definately show more than on a passive. This is the case more with the 81 than the 85 though.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

screamingdaisy said:
+1.

The batteries don't die all at once....you can hear them weaken for days/weeks, depending on how many hours you put on them in a day.
Click to expand...

It should be like 1000 hours playing before someone should change one. That dude must leave his guitar in the cold.
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

Friends don't let friends use active pickups.








Don't get mad, it's just my opinion!!!! :rolleyes: :laugh2:
 
Re: Big Question (Active vs Passive)

Live I would probably favor my emg loaded axe over anything with passives. Recording/ practicing however is a different story. I don't like how emgs sound on cd usually, apart from tight rhtyhm sounds(which you will NOT get with passives). With my music I usually favor emg 85 for any especially fast or chunky rhythm parts and my schecter for open chord and lead parts. emgs sound quite whiny and sterile for drawn out leads IMO but it's harder to tell with fast runs.
 
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