EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

[jmcorey]

Anyone have any experience with these pickups?

Prashant Aswani is a guitarist who has done a lot of demos for ESP guitars, mostly with Duncan pickups in them. He used to be an endorser of Dimarzio pickups.

Recently, he has switched to EMG passive pickups, using the ESP H1A models. These are similar to the EMG HZ pickups, which have ceramic magnets and are very shrill sounding, but the letter A in the designation H1A stand for Alnico.

These pickup are pretty good sounding, and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with them.

 

[ColeJustesen]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

The passives don't get nearly as much attention as their active stuff... I have wondered about the EMG HZ sets for years, hopefully someone can chime in.

He seems like the type of guitarist that can probably make anything sound awesome.

Cole

 

[jmcorey]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

He seems like the type of guitarist that can probably make anything sound awesome.

Good point.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

EMG HZ pickups, which have ceramic magnets and are very shrill sounding, but the letter A in the designation H1A stand for Alnico.

Shrill is not the word that I would have used to describe the sounds of EMG HZ pickups loaded with ceramic magnets. (My chosen adjective does begin with an S, though.)

Generally, I find that EMG pickups with an individual polepiece per string sound more convincing than those with a single rail per coil.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Shrill is not the word that I would have used to describe the sounds of EMG HZ pickups loaded with ceramic magnets. (My chosen adjective does begin with an S, though.)

Generally, I find that EMG pickups with an individual polepiece per string sound more convincing than those with a single rail per coil.

Sorry, I am not following you.

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Some of the emg passive pickups have 2 coils with pole pieces like the usual humbuckers you see. Some of them have 2 coils with rails. Like a dimebucker.

I'm a emg hz h4 and h4a fan myself. I have an h2a pup. It sounds pretty good, but it is vintage output. From what I understand, the h1a is a tad bit hotter than the h2a.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[jmcorey]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Some of the emg passive pickups have 2 coils with pole pieces like the usual humbuckers you see. Some of them have 2 coils with rails. Like a dimebucker.

Yes, so it is super cl

I'm a emg hz h4 and h4a fan myself. I have an h2a pup. It sounds pretty good, but it is vintage output. From what I understand, the h1a is a tad bit hotter than the h2a.

Cool, thanks.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

It looks like the H1 is pretty much just an H4 with poles instead of blades. Check the specs. Same DC Resistance.

 

[LazNovak]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Aswani rips.

I have a set of H3s (Ceramic) in my Charvel (basswood, maple/rosewood, bolt on).

They sound great there but were not working in the Jackson they came with. (mahogany, mahogany/ebony, Neck Thru).

If I had to use EMG I'd go with the H1A pickups for sure.

 

[Inflames626]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

I have experience with the H3 and H4s, which are the passive equivalents of an EMG 60 and an EMG 81.

They sound very similar to the active versions, with their particular color or brittleness, depending upon one's opinion. I run active versions in 18 volts. Active versions have a bit brighter, sharper transients, IMO. 9 volt actives are definitely more compressed than passive HZs. 18 volt mod takes some sharpness and compression off the 60/81.

If one likes the overall 60/81 sound but wants a rounder, warmer tone, I'd suggest trying HZs first or doing an 18 volt mod before trying other pickups.

Like all EMGs, you're going to get that upper mid spike that makes the 81 sit well in the mix, but if you're looking for harmonics like a Duncan Distortion, forget about it, especially without a boost before the amp. EMGs, both actives and passives, are not very hot, and are not very bright. My 81 always clocks at -6 db below my Duncan Distortion. EMGs are just EQ'ed in such a way with a peak of about 2-2.2 khz so they cut through a mix.

On the bright side, you can split the HZs much easier than the 81tw/89.

Here is a sample I did on an old Judas Priest cover through a Fender Supersonic and Marshall JTM sim on Amplitube 4. Deliberate 70s sound--that is roomy, ambient, mostly power amp distortion, light saturation.

https://soundcloud.com/devolve1980/beyond-the-realms-of-death

Most of the guitar sound comes from the HZ4 on the right, through a Fender Supersonic. On the left is a much muddier JB through a Marshall JTM, I think. JB gives body, but HZ4 gives edge.

I'd like to see a discussion of HZ single coils, tbh.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

^^^^
Nice playing and tone.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Some of the emg passive pickups have 2 coils with pole pieces like the usual humbuckers you see. Some of them have 2 coils with rails. Like a dimebucker.

I'm a emg hz h4 and h4a fan myself. I have an h2a pup. It sounds pretty good, but it is vintage output. From what I understand, the h1a is a tad bit hotter than the h2a.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

Yes, I know that this is an order thread but the topic is still relevant.

I particularly would like to know if anyone else can confirm InbredJunk's belief that the H2A is lower output than the H1A?

I am considering putting whichever one has lower output, in the neck of an Ibanez single-cutaway, for clean tones use only.

Also, anyone know how good or bad the clean tones are for two these pickups in the neck position?

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: EMG Passive Humbucker H1A

Just found this description and specs list of each HZ series pickup online from Dave Hunter's book "The Guitar Pickup Handbook: The Start Of Your Sound."

This backs up InbredJunk's earlier post that the H2A has less output than the H1A.

But I'm still left with the question: who has tried the H2A in the neck for clean tones? And how good or bad were they?

As an aside, it's pretty impressive that Hunter's scope reached as deep as the HZ series. I will have to check the book out further, it may be a good reference book.