EMG85: passive equivalent?

juka

juka

New member
I have used EMG85s in bridge position in all of my guitars for many years and I still really like the sound but I'm pretty much fed up with everything else.

Maybe this sounds stupid and maybe it can't be done, but is there a way to keep my prefered sound and go passive? Does a passive equivalent to the EMG85 (in bridge position) exist?
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

There is no real passive equivalent, however I find the Dimarzio Super-D shares many of the same characteristics.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

Jessie Sammler said:
Oh, yeah, forgot about those. Does anyone use them? I mean, on purpose?
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I had a set in a Jackson DKMG for a while. They did sound really good. Only reason I pulled them was because I was sticking a Dimarzio X2N in it.

Shocked the hell out of me when I plugged the guitar in and it sounded good, the only good stock pickups I've ever heard before that were Duncan Designeds and regular Duncans.

The H4 is the EMG-81 equivalent, Alexi Laiho of CoB is using it I believe.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

Why not use passive pickups and add a preamp to them to give you the same sound. You would still need a battery but you could use a switch to toggle between active and passive modes.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

TattooedCarrot said:
There is no real passive equivalent, however I find the Dimarzio Super-D shares many of the same characteristics.
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Hmm, thought about the Super-D myself, but I don't like PUs with ceramic magnets in general.

About the EMG HZ: never tried one, but I want to avoid EMG altogether. They seem to have serious quality issues in recent times.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

It's odd that TattooedCarrot thinks the SuperD and 85 have similar characteristics-- I've used both of them and personally thought they were quite different. The 85 has a slightly hollow brightness and low end pump where the SuperD has a smooth, powerful midrange roar.

I would maybe look at the Dimarzio D-Activator series and Wylde L-90 or L-500 series.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

Neck positions D-Activators (which can be used in the bridge anyway) can sorta get there otherwise you're outta luck. If you're not willing to go with D-Activators I honestly just think you need to re-evaluate what you want, because you're fooling yourself if you think a passive can sound like an active within more than about a 60 per cent accuracy.
The only thing in SD's range that gets even close to an EMG is the Blackouts, which are active anyway.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

One thing most people are not aware of is that beside of being a quite OK neck PU the EMG85 is an absolutely amazing bridge PU.
In my opinion all developements based on the 85 - even EMG's own X-series - necleted that fact and just focussed on making a better neck PU perfectly matching an "81" in bridge position. DMZ's D-Activator neck doesn't even use an alnico magnet.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

Er, what qualities of the EMG-85 are you hoping to duplicate using a passive pickup? The tone, the dynamics or both?
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

juka said:
One thing most people are not aware of is that beside of being a quite OK neck PU the EMG85 is an absolutely amazing bridge PU.
In my opinion all developements based on the 85 - even EMG's own X-series - necleted that fact and just focussed on making a better neck PU perfectly matching an "81" in bridge position. DMZ's D-Activator neck doesn't even use an alnico magnet.
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The EMG-HZ H3 I mentioned was in both bridge and neck positions in the Jackson I took it out of.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

I can tell you that the Black Out neck in the bridge spot is a "better" 85. More organic...grindie...

Not passive, but worth mentioning...

juka said:
I have used EMG85s in bridge position in all of my guitars for many years and I still really like the sound but I'm pretty much fed up with everything else.

Maybe this sounds stupid and maybe it can't be done, but is there a way to keep my prefered sound and go passive? Does a passive equivalent to the EMG85 (in bridge position) exist?
Click to expand...
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

If you think the 85 is such an amazing bridge pickup then why are you trying to find a passive pickup that sounds like the 85? If it ain't broke don't fix it? You're never going to get a passive pickup that sounds active but you can get an active that sounds more passive. From what I "hear" the Blackouts are a blend of the tone and feel of both. Might be the closest thing to getting what you want.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

WCR Ironman with an A8... very 85 like. If you want more 81 like, go with Ceramic... both are awesome. I use it, and can't believe the tones I get... almost vintage like with volume and tone rolled back, and full on Black Album Metal riffage with it full up... love it.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

ParameterMan said:
It's odd that TattooedCarrot thinks the SuperD and 85 have similar characteristics-- I've used both of them and personally thought they were quite different. The 85 has a slightly hollow brightness and low end pump where the SuperD has a smooth, powerful midrange roar.

I would maybe look at the Dimarzio D-Activator series and Wylde L-90 or L-500 series.
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The 85 has a low-mid spike, not a scoop. The 81 has the slight scooped EQ. The 85, SD, and SH5 are y three main bridge pups, used them in literally dozens of projects.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

TattooedCarrot said:
The 85 has a low-mid spike, not a scoop. The 81 has the slight scooped EQ. The 85, SD, and SH5 are y three main bridge pups, used them in literally dozens of projects.
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Listen, I was super careful in my post to show the respect I have for your experience... I know which **** pickup I was talking about. :friday: I also didn't say "scoop", either. The end result of a ~250hz bump coupled with a ~5k sparkle is a perception of hollowness in the mid/upper mid range(900-2k).

That said, I love both pickups in the bridge. They're both classics that far too many guys overlook.
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

ACH91332 said:
If you think the 85 is such an amazing bridge pickup then why are you trying to find a passive pickup that sounds like the 85? If it ain't broke don't fix it? ...
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Actually, it is broken, otherwise I wouldn't care.

I don't know when their QC went down the drain, but for example in the past their pots were super smooth and seemed to be built for a life time. Now they are not so smooth anymore and several passed out on me in recent times. And yes, I work a lot with the volume pot, so it's very improtant to me...
 
Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

ParameterMan said:
Listen, I was super careful in my post to show the respect I have for your experience... I know which **** pickup I was talking about. :friday: I also didn't say "scoop", either. The end result of a ~250hz bump coupled with a ~5k sparkle is a perception of hollowness in the mid/upper mid range(900-2k).

That said, I love both pickups in the bridge. They're both classics that far too many guys overlook.
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Just wow. A little oversensative. Tell you what, I'll just bail on this thread, I've nothing more to add anyway.
 
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