Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

[Mahly]

Music: Metallica (old school) Megadeth, etc etc.
Amp: Behringer Vampire 210 (it's a practice amp OK?)
Guitar: Schecter C-1 (mahogany, maple/rosewood)

CURRENTLY running "Duncan Designed" HB 105 Active pickups(specs out the same as Blackouts...but I'm told the Blackouts are better)

Considering changing the pick-ups (Getting WAY too much compression)
Questions:
1) Is there EVER a reason for using active pick-ups on solid state equipment ?(NO, I am not going to buy ANOTHER amp)
2) Am I better off getting LOWER output pups (JB/Jazz) instead of higher output ones (Distortions, Dimebucker, Invader)?
3) VERY likely I'll be adding a distortion pedal...does the use of a pedal with lots of gain change your answers for #1 or 2?

Thanx in advance!!!

 

[Mahly]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

Hmmmm...with ALL the solid state amps, and active pick-ups out there you'd think SOMEONE would know...
Guess I'm the only one left without the cash for a Marshal head and full stack:31::sigh:

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

when my amp was our of commission i ran my actives through a SS. its pretty tough to get a warm sound with that setup. for modeling youre probably best off with normal output pickups. hitting a modeling amp's input too hard can probably result in lower sound quality...

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

My amp is solid state, and I get the best tone with warm, compressed and earthy sounding pickups. Pickups that are too bright and sterile aren't a good match with SS amps, to my ears.

 

[JMSSMJ7]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

i used a Zakk Wylde overdrive pedal on my and it sounded great. I use a JB bridge and it had no problem playing Master of Puppets with the Zakk Wylde.

 

[memphiskat]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

I play the same stuff. My favorite to riff on are Kill Em All, Ride the L., and Masters. Anyway, I replaced the EMG-HZ's in my Jackson with active 81/85 using a PODxt (modeler) and they sounded much better than the HZs. I use active EMGs and SD Blackouts with the PODxt, a Roland Microcube (modeling practice amp), a Randall RM75 (solid state amp) and they sound good with all of them. I also have guitars with passive pickups (Distortion, L500XL, Jackson j90c) and it seems to me that the character/tone of both the actives and passives is clearly apparent with the modelers and solid state amps. I wouldn't avoid actives just because your using a modeling amp.

Karl

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

Actives work best close to the strings. Another thing you might do is wire them up to an 18v cicuit if they aren't already operating at 18v.

Also, this may sound obvious, but: Lowering the gain on your amp would help you get less compression.

 

[DonP]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

I have a POD 2.0.

My axes with a Duncan Distortion and a JB sound great through it, as do some axes with lower output pickups.

I think the most important thing is getting a pickup with an EQ that works well with the amp, or get an EQ pedal.

The amp's gain can be raise or lowered to compensate for the output of the pickup.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Pick-ups for Solid State amp (modeling)

DiMarzio D Activator(s).