Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

[quoricsant]

hello all

So, I've done the most simple mod to an active pup several times: soldering a parallel circuit for 18V (2 batteries). I remember when I first did it I noticed a HUGE dif in sound! A bit hard 2get used2 at first, but now 9v seems totally flimsy. I've done it w 81s and now I'm hoping to do it on my new blackouts! :dunce:

I recall reading on EMG that 27v vs 18v (3 batteries vs 2) has no audible difference. Also they suggest to place the pups AS CLOSE as possible to the strings on their diagram sheets (if memory serves me, they said it was even ok if the strings touched the pups, which I find weird).

I actually don't use alkaline batteries, but rechargeable ones. Much lighter on the pocket. But they advised against doing so. I think because the batts don't get properly depleted before recharging. Opinions?

I also notice some 'dirt' almost all the time at least with one set -even bypassing all effects-. What's the best solution on this, lowering the strings a bit? Is it ok to feed the circuit 3 batteries for a blackout? (not really 27v, but more like 25.2, since my rechargeables are 8.4v)

Much obliged

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

The 18v mod is quite widespread for EMGs, I´ve been using it for like 15 years or something. 27v does sound a hair more open than 18v, but the difference is nowhere near as pronounced as going from 9v-18v (which makes logical sense, in one you are doubling the voltage, the next step up only gives 50% more that is already there)

In THEORY you can run any active pickup on at least 15 volts.

Unfortunately, the actual max voltage depends on the exact internal components used in the preamp, and this is what may cause preamps to fry when used with more juice than recommended.

IMO the balanced preamp design does essentially exactly what the 18v mod already did to an emg... makes it more open and musical sounding by increasing headroom drastically.

Also, IIRC Darth Nihilus tried the Blackouits with 18v right from teh get go and had more problems than anything else (excessive output causing distortion on even the cleanest amps, for ex.), he actually went back to 9v and was much happier...

But judging from Darth´s experience: Yes, there is such a thing as "too much power".

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

Much lighter on the pocket. But they advised against doing so.

Do you mean the cost of buying batteries? An EMG 81 will run for over 4 months straight on a single 9v (or on 2 run in series). That's 4 months of having the cable plugged into the guitar. The people who change the batteries when they should do so about once a year or less.

I've never understood any scenario in which the cost of batteries for active-equipped guitars could amount to any considerable cost. Even if you had 100 active guitars, changed the batteries once a year (to prevent them from leaking), and paid $300 per battery, we're talking less than $1 per day.

 

[Vincent Vespa]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

Do you mean the cost of buying batteries? An EMG 81 will run for over 4 months straight on a single 9v (or on 2 run in series). That's 4 months of having the cable plugged into the guitar. The people who change the batteries when they should do so about once a year or less.

I've never understood any scenario in which the cost of batteries for active-equipped guitars could amount to any considerable cost. Even if you had 100 active guitars, changed the batteries once a year (to prevent them from leaking), and paid $300 per battery, we're talking less than $1 per day.

I think you mean $3.00 per battery.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

^^ I think so too, something doesn`t add up here :eek13:

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

Actually you might try wiring each pickup to its own battery, or maybe do the 18v on each pickup (4 batteries total, 2 on each pickup). As you add things to the power supply (battery), that same 9v has to be spread out, so neither pickup is getting max juice.

I once wired an 85/SA/SA setup so the 85 had its own battery and the SAs shared a battery - the volume from the SAs matched the 85, which was not possible before then. There was a noticeable dropoff in volume when switching to the singles, but once I put them on their own battery, they were almost as loud as the humbucker.


As for rechargables, it's not that they don't deplete fully, it's that they never charge fully. You should have at least 9v going to the pickup

 

[quoricsant]

Re: Is there a thing as 'too much power' for active pups?

Do you mean the cost of buying batteries? An EMG 81 will run for over 4 months straight on a single 9v (or on 2 run in series). That's 4 months of having the cable plugged into the guitar. The people who change the batteries when they should do so about once a year or less.

I've never understood any scenario in which the cost of batteries for active-equipped guitars could amount to any considerable cost. Even if you had 100 active guitars, changed the batteries once a year (to prevent them from leaking), and paid $300 per battery, we're talking less than $1 per day.

From YEARS of experience I know for a fact the sound resulting from a single alkaline battery shared for 2 81s starts degrading extremely fast! (it's no surprise then why so many people hate actives).
With rechargeables you can always have top performance. My guitar sound improved 1000% since I first started using rechargeables a couple years ago!