How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

R

RandomToneGuy

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I would like to make my own double pole piece, no slug, active humbucker. I would like to connect Emg active (vlp?) tone control pots, the kind that require connecting to the power supply. Basically it's because they have different put put impedance than the regular series.

I've tried Emg 57/66 pickups and loved them. Would like to compare them the the SD Loomis to see how they differ, they both sound great and different, as they're based on blackouts preamp, but tuned more towards his prefferences.

The next actives I'm currently considering are Fishman Fluence Devin Townsend, they're a modern sound, that reacts more like a passive. And the 2nd voice is pretty sweet to me. I prefer the first, but these are extremely versatile with these 2. And I he 3rd voice is supposed to be cleans if I'm not mistaken.

I have a few others on my list. But I was intrigued by the x series. I was hoping to build my own actives ground up, and get close to the impedence of the x series, but just in the range, I don't need it exact. It's just something I'll be doing on the side.

Just to kill border between pickup purchases and lumber runs.


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How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

You can find the EMG-81 schematic on line. It's just a regular passive pickup wound with 43 AWG wire. It's probably the same as their passive version.

What they do is wire the pickup in parallel with one side of both coils to ground. Then the other end of each coil goes to the (+) and (-) inputs on the op amp. This is a differential input. The op amp helps cancel noise this way. They also add a little loading to each coil, since they aren't in series. This is what they call "tone modeling." That gets it to sound more like a passive pickup.

Not really sure why you want adjustable poles. I always leave them flush with the bobbin.


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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

DavidRavenMoon said:
You can find the EMG-81 schematic on line. It's just a regular passive pickup wound with 43 AWG wire. It's probably the same as their passive version.

What they do is wire the pickup in parallel with one side of both coils to ground. Then the other end of each coil goes to the (+) and (-) inputs on the op amp. This is a differential input. The op amp helps cancel noise this way. They also add a little loading to each coil, since they aren't in series. This is what they call "tone modeling." That gets it to sound more like a passive pickup.

Not really sure why you want adjustable poles. I always leave them flush with the bobbin.


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It just has to do with the theory that not having slugs makes it more reactive. Thank you. I'll Look into how to add the loading in a similar fashion to the x-series. I would probably level the poleieces almost flushed to the cover, and flush to each other, just would like have maximum potential to react like a passive, but still be active in tone. Illus the 43awg and I'll try to wind them to something like a titan bridge and liquifire neck, but see where I can take it from there.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
It just has to do with the theory that not having slugs makes it more reactive. Thank you. I'll Look into how to add the loading in a similar fashion to the x-series. I would probably level the poleieces almost flushed to the cover, and flush to each other, just would like have maximum potential to react like a passive, but still be active in tone. Illus the 43awg and I'll try to wind them to something like a titan bridge and liquifire neck, but see where I can take it from there.

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Click to expand...
I want to mod the sound from there to be between those and something more personal, like modding it to suit my taste even more.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

Easiest way might be to purchase two sets of Blackout coil packs, and mix and match coils. Or better yet, see if SD can do a shop floor custom double screw BCP.
 
Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

DavidRavenMoon said:
You can find the EMG-81 schematic on line. It's just a regular passive pickup wound with 43 AWG wire...
Click to expand...
It's 42AWG. They show the coil in this video and at around 1:28 you can read 42 AWG.
 
Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

frankfalbo said:
It's 42AWG. They show the coil in this video and at around 1:28 you can read 42 AWG.
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen that in so long I forgot which one was 43. I have a screen grab of that.


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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

frankfalbo said:
It's 42AWG. They show the coil in this video and at around 1:28 you can read 42 AWG.
Click to expand...
Thank you also.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

akio said:
Easiest way might be to purchase two sets of Blackout coil packs, and mix and match coils. Or better yet, see if SD can do a shop floor custom double screw BCP.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of ordering custom.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
I was thinking of ordering custom.

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Only I want to do this on the side. I would still like to order the same idea custom shop though.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

frankfalbo said:
81 and 85 (and X series) are the same coils.
Click to expand...
But is there away to replicate the organic sound and the need for the tone pots to be active in addition to the pickups mounted preamp.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

akio said:
Easiest way might be to purchase two sets of Blackout coil packs, and mix and match coils. Or better yet, see if SD can do a shop floor custom double screw BCP.
Click to expand...
Actually I thought of something from this, I could always just combine coils from the 2 and attach a preamp to them. If I could replicate the x-series pre-amp that would be awesome. Them add in a sort of titan/sentient bridge and a liquifire/pegasus neck. And change the pole pieces to match. Or maybe and audio relay circuit might work. I still have to run my test on that. I know it works from the first, but not how it plays.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
But is there away to replicate the organic sound and the need for the tone pots to be active in addition to the pickups mounted preamp.

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What's an "organic" sound? People say that, but when you think about it, it makes no sense.

The difference with active pickups are they don't lose the top end when you turn them down. People seem to think that muddying or "warning" of the tone sounds more natural. But it's because you have gotten used to hearing that. A buffered pickup is the true tone of the pickup.

The reason you need active tone controls is because the low impedance output doesn't lend itself to passive tone controls.

On a passive pickup the tone control forms a resonant 2rd order low pass filter.

I used to make active bass pickups. I put the preamp external to the pickup so you could switch the coils from series to parallel. I used active tone controls, because they were low z coils, but for a standard hi z pickup you could put the tone control between the coils and the preamp. Or even incorporate it into the op amp's feedback loop.


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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

DavidRavenMoon said:
What's an "organic" sound? People say that, but when you think about it, it makes no sense.

The difference with active pickups are they don't lose the top end when you turn them down. People seem to think that muddying or "warning" of the tone sounds more natural. But it's because you have gotten used to hearing that. A buffered pickup is the true tone of the pickup.

The reason you need active tone controls is because the low impedance output doesn't lend itself to passive tone controls.

On a passive pickup the tone control forms a resonant 2rd order low pass filter.

I used to make active bass pickups. I put the preamp external to the pickup so you could switch the coils from series to parallel. I used active tone controls, because they were low z coils, but for a standard hi z pickup you could put the tone control between the coils and the preamp. Or even incorporate it into the op amp's feedback loop.


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Regarding warm tones,I see what you mean, people get used to hear treble bleed, which doesn't happen with active circuitry.

I'm just thinking to replicate the x series op amp's for active tone controls, as well as changing the pole pieces. But not exact, like moded to handle the impedence of modern 4 conductor passive coils.

Sorry to bother you, but would it be possible to put together a schematic or diagram for me, so I can build the preamp together. I really don't mind if it attaches underneath.

I can source the transistors and capacitors with minor effort. I can search for the quick connect pins online or just use bolt down terminals.

Sorry fir not being clear.


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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

buy a Suhr DSV Double Screw Vintage Neck Humbucker and a BMP-1. I did something similar with a Kent Armstong double screw pickup and an amfx mosfet booster. Its wired so I can mix boost and pure signal. The double screw seems to have richer mids and clear bass tones, not a bright pickup.
 
Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

Dusty.Rhoads said:
buy a Suhr DSV Double Screw Vintage Neck Humbucker and a BMP-1. I did something similar with a Kent Armstong double screw pickup and an amfx mosfet booster. Its wired so I can mix boost and pure signal. The double screw seems to have richer mids and clear bass tones, not a bright pickup.
Click to expand...
Would it be possible to mod r
The Bmp-1 if it's the black outs preamp like itching it is?

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
Would it be possible to mod r
The Bmp-1 if it's the black outs preamp like itching it is?

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Click to expand...
Or just partially eliminated blackouts tone so it's more even with the hybrid coils I would like to turn active.

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Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
Would it be possible to mod r
The Bmp-1 if it's the black outs preamp like itching it is?

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Click to expand...

You could use a Fishman Powerchip. It wasn't designed for this but it is a surprisingly versatile little gizmo.
 
Re: How to make an active pickup x-replica(amateur), but with adjustable pole pieces?

RandomToneGuy said:
Regarding warm tones,I see what you mean, people get used to hear treble bleed, which doesn't happen with active circuitry.

I'm just thinking to replicate the x series op amp's for active tone controls, as well as changing the pole pieces. But not exact, like moded to handle the impedence of modern 4 conductor passive coils.

Sorry to bother you, but would it be possible to put together a schematic or diagram for me, so I can build the preamp together. I really don't mind if it attaches underneath.

I can source the transistors and capacitors with minor effort. I can search for the quick connect pins online or just use bolt down terminals.

Sorry fir not being clear.


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Click to expand...


Quick connect? Bolt down terminals?

If youre not comfortable with soldering, this project is way over your head

Also, EMG guitar pups do NOT have active tone controls, just "active values" which is shorthand for not explaining every time that EMG pups require 10-50k ohm impedance potentiometers instead of the usual 200-500k ohm potentiometers used in passive wiring
 
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