Does anyone like EMG bass pickups?

[ksmith63]

Hello everyone,

I recently scored a great price on a practically brand new Ibanez BTB1005 5 string bass. This is the model with the Ibanez pickups and preamp, not the bartolinis. I am going to replace all the electronics and am looking at using EMG pickups. I have already bought an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp and now need new pups! My other bass (Ibanez SR3006) has Bartolinis that sound great but I'm looking for something different.

Has anyone tried the active EMG bass pickups?

I'm not a fan of EMG guitar pups because they are too clear sounding almost sterile (not using that in the negative sense...just couldn't think of any other ways to describe it). If the EMG bass pups are like this, I think they would be perfect for what I am looking for. So.....?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Does anyone like EMG bass pickups?

Been using an EMG-P since 1990. Does that qualify as enough experience? They have some good points and some bad points. IMO, the clear and "sterile" sound that you dislike in guitar pickups is advantageous for bass guitar. It brings out the windings on roundwound strings.

The only five-string bass pickups I own are SD/Basslines Phase II soapbars, running through the STC-3a pre-amp circuit.

IMO, if your OEM electronics are passive Ibanez PUs into an active EQ system, you might be wiser to check out the Barts. They are very good indeed.

EDIT: First things first. Measure your existing pickups/cavities. Find out what will fit.

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Does anyone like EMG bass pickups?

Thanks for the reply!

The string spacing on these basses is really wide (~4.5 inches) so the 6-string soap bar pickups are the right size.

I was looking at the EMG p/j 45 pickups.

The Barts in my 3006 are great but I guess I want something a little different sounding. Maybe I will forget about the Aguilar preamp and just go with the EMGs.