Can you get used to active pickups?
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
Yes. I like them in a lot of ways – EMG SAs, at any rate. The onboard controls are usually (though not necessarily) better. They provide more of a "blank slate" sort of tone, i.e. inherently balanced, neat, and bland, therefore they can be tweaked into more different tones. Passives are more limited in onboard control, and they tend to have more inherent character (i.e. they lean one way or another, as opposed to being super well balanced right down the middle), so usually aren't as tweakable.
The thing is that most are just too high output for me, given that I primarily use small combos with low headroom.
A few years back, I rigged up my first Strat with it's "original" (at least it had them when I got it used) EMGs, after having converted it to classic passive wiring many years before. I figured that I should use the EMGs that I had sitting in a drawer, and put the CS '54's from it into my MIM Strat.
Yes. I like them in a lot of ways – EMG SAs, at any rate. The onboard controls are usually (though not necessarily) better. They provide more of a "blank slate" sort of tone, i.e. inherently balanced, neat, and bland, therefore they can be tweaked into more different tones. Passives are more limited in onboard control, and they tend to have more inherent character (i.e. they lean one way or another, as opposed to being super well balanced right down the middle), so usually aren't as tweakable.
The thing is that most are just too high output for me, given that I primarily use small combos with low headroom.
A few years back, I rigged up my first Strat with it's "original" (at least it had them when I got it used) EMGs, after having converted it to classic passive wiring many years before. I figured that I should use the EMGs that I had sitting in a drawer, and put the CS '54's from it into my MIM Strat.
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Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
it's almost like they are trying to hard to impress you...
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Good way to describe them. The 57/66 do have a certain character to them, however, but with the blandness as you said. They sound better to me with the volume about 6-7, more PAFish. On full they show their true colors....I dont want to say artificial, but I guess I just did
it's almost like they are trying to hard to impress you...Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk
allstarrme
New member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
The fishman fluence classics can get some really great clear tones, both clean and dirty.
The first voicing gets some great vintage PAF tones, very Seth like. The second voicing nails the JB and has its own thing for the neck.
I have two sets I took out Emg’s for. For cleaner sounds and classic rock tones they are pretty hard to beat.
The fishman fluence classics can get some really great clear tones, both clean and dirty.
The first voicing gets some great vintage PAF tones, very Seth like. The second voicing nails the JB and has its own thing for the neck.
I have two sets I took out Emg’s for. For cleaner sounds and classic rock tones they are pretty hard to beat.
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
I don't know about the whole "converting" thing, because I've always seen different pickups as different tools. Sometimes I want that wall of sound I get with an EMG 81/85 set, sometimes I want more of a PAFey flavor, sometimes somewhere in between. Or sometimes I want a single coil, or a mini humbucker. They all have their uses.
I don't know about the whole "converting" thing, because I've always seen different pickups as different tools. Sometimes I want that wall of sound I get with an EMG 81/85 set, sometimes I want more of a PAFey flavor, sometimes somewhere in between. Or sometimes I want a single coil, or a mini humbucker. They all have their uses.
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
So I got the 24 volt mod....it definitely opens up the sound, make it cleaner, more open/airy. But on the down side it also exposes the hi-fi, generic nature of the pickups. Definitely missing some character that passives have.
Giving it a few more days....but probably a no go.
So I got the 24 volt mod....it definitely opens up the sound, make it cleaner, more open/airy. But on the down side it also exposes the hi-fi, generic nature of the pickups. Definitely missing some character that passives have.
Giving it a few more days....but probably a no go.
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
The 60 rules. Among the best neck pups for me.
Liking my EMGs (S/S/60) for what they are: different than passives
Yes a bit of compression but a lot of sustain. The EMG 60 is less full/compress than 81/85 models, so suiting my needs better as I don't play metal. I like them better playing with the band than playing alone as they seems to not spills on other instruments sonic territory.
I started appreciating my EMG set when I discovered the volume pot was having a HUGE range and that I could go as low as 3-4 without affecting that much the "perceived" volume but affecting more the input gain to the amp. Same behavior with volume at 9.0-9.5 gives a bit more "air" to my sound.
I'm also using less distortion with them.
The 60 rules. Among the best neck pups for me.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
"I wonder if I'm wasting my time and I should just sell these things and get passives."
That would be my move. Can't gel with actives.
"I wonder if I'm wasting my time and I should just sell these things and get passives."
That would be my move. Can't gel with actives.
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
After comparing 9v vs 24v, I like the 9v better...has more bite, you can dig in a little better. 24v is smoother and more glassy.
It's quite a noticeable difference to me. Funny how some folks say they can't tell a difference
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After comparing 9v vs 24v, I like the 9v better...has more bite, you can dig in a little better. 24v is smoother and more glassy.
It's quite a noticeable difference to me. Funny how some folks say they can't tell a difference
Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk
JohnnyBsurfin
Member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
I can definitely tell the difference.I like the 24v with a emg 57/85 and I like 9v into emg 81/81.
Nothing new with these observations - For me actives sound great with high gain,anything else I prefer passives.
After comparing 9v vs 24v, I like the 9v better...has more bite, you can dig in a little better. 24v is smoother and more glassy.
It's quite a noticeable difference to me. Funny how some folks say they can't tell a difference
Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk
I can definitely tell the difference.I like the 24v with a emg 57/85 and I like 9v into emg 81/81.
Nothing new with these observations - For me actives sound great with high gain,anything else I prefer passives.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
Exactly.
It is. I have Livewire Classic II's in my Strat. It's one of my best sounding guitars. I'm not sure you'd know they were active if you weren't told ahead of time.
Exactly.
It is. I have Livewire Classic II's in my Strat. It's one of my best sounding guitars. I'm not sure you'd know they were active if you weren't told ahead of time.
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
I got various guitars, my best jazzy cleans I get from emg 81/60, mahogany single cut. And the best straty cleans from a strat with all 3 pups (dimarzio mini HB) engaged.
I got various guitars, my best jazzy cleans I get from emg 81/60, mahogany single cut. And the best straty cleans from a strat with all 3 pups (dimarzio mini HB) engaged.
xntrick
New member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
I've tried many actives and the 57 was one of the most dynamic pickups I've ever tried. I was also surprised by how much output it has over the 81X. I find it to be versatile by simply turning down the volume and I don't really need an OD pedal with this guitar. I do however have to dial in my amp much differently when switching to an SG clone with Iommi pickup in the bridge as it has much less output.
I've tried many actives and the 57 was one of the most dynamic pickups I've ever tried. I was also surprised by how much output it has over the 81X. I find it to be versatile by simply turning down the volume and I don't really need an OD pedal with this guitar. I do however have to dial in my amp much differently when switching to an SG clone with Iommi pickup in the bridge as it has much less output.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
Try this:
Take your guitar with active pickups and some Fendery sort of amp, ie something loud and clean sounding. Get some cables, some sort of Tube Screamer-ish pedal, maybe a wah. Hook it all up, preferably Guitar--> wah --> Tube Screamer --> Amp. Play some bluesy stuff if it sounds too trebly, switch to the neck pickup. If it's too bassy and you're on the neck pickup, turn the bass down on the amp. Play more bluesy stuff. See if it doesn't sound pretty good for blues. Adjust the knobs on the amp a little more. If that doesn't do it, pay more attention to what and how you're playing than whether or not your pickups utilize a battery.
Try this:
Take your guitar with active pickups and some Fendery sort of amp, ie something loud and clean sounding. Get some cables, some sort of Tube Screamer-ish pedal, maybe a wah. Hook it all up, preferably Guitar--> wah --> Tube Screamer --> Amp. Play some bluesy stuff if it sounds too trebly, switch to the neck pickup. If it's too bassy and you're on the neck pickup, turn the bass down on the amp. Play more bluesy stuff. See if it doesn't sound pretty good for blues. Adjust the knobs on the amp a little more. If that doesn't do it, pay more attention to what and how you're playing than whether or not your pickups utilize a battery.
Van Noord
New member
Re: Can you get used to active pickups?
I've been only playing passive pickups exclusively for months now, and just last night picked up my EMG loaded guitar that has an 85 in the bridge and an 81 in the neck.
Adjustment time was pretty much nil. The 85 bridge has great dynamics and has an awesome midrange voicing...love that pickup, and the 81 is so nice in the neck because it cuts through, has great sustain and is super clear.
I've been only playing passive pickups exclusively for months now, and just last night picked up my EMG loaded guitar that has an 85 in the bridge and an 81 in the neck.
Adjustment time was pretty much nil. The 85 bridge has great dynamics and has an awesome midrange voicing...love that pickup, and the 81 is so nice in the neck because it cuts through, has great sustain and is super clear.
