So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

Lee_L

Lee_L

New member
HO-LEE-ISHT! :eek:

Super, SUPER hot! Totally insane!!! And the guy installed a resistor or cap or something to tame the bridge model to be just a tad louder than the neck. He said normally it was twice as loud as the neck pickup! I'm seriously contemplating getting a set for a metal axe.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

great. I'd love to hear it in a normal situation (not the recorded SD samples...)
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

Was that the LiveWire Classics or Metal? Other than the high output, how would you describe the tone quality. Could it be used clean?

Thanks;
Artie
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

ArtieToo said:
Was that the LiveWire Classics or Metal? Other than the high output, how would you describe the tone quality. Could it be used clean?

Thanks;
Artie
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Artie, I just put the set in my Jackson (I'll get the pics and review up soon) and there's no way to get the metal bucker to work for cleans when running wide open. I don't know how it would do with the mod this guy did. The classic actually would do very nicely (easily one of my favorite pups now) for cleans and of course can get very dirty.

More to come, but I'll start my own thread. ;)



Yes, the LWM is deadly.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

JacksonMIA said:
The classic actually would do very nicely (easily one of my favorite pups now) for cleans and of course can get very dirty.
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Cool. The LW Classics are high on my list of things to try. I've got a few ideas for some passive tone control, and the higher output of LW's would seem to fit the bill perfectly.

I'll look for your review.

Artie
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

Well the tone was...pfft, just INSANE! Seriously, I played through a Crate V-Series 50w 2x12" tube combo, the same amp I have at home (this is good, because I'm very familar with the tone of the amp) and it pushed the amp to new levels of gain. It sounded similar to when I put my Boss SD-1 in front of my overdrive channel, it seriously pushed the amp that hard. The neck pickup actually sounded really good. At full volume, it can sound clean if picked lightly, can get some bluesy grit if you dig in some, and if you strum hard, it'll respond with light overdrive. If you back off the volume a bit, it sounds really good clean. A lot quiter than passive pickups, and to me that really made the difference. It had a real thick tone. By the way, it was the metal bridge and classic neck. Anyone know how much these sell for new?
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

I have a set, i dont know what it is though. Classic seymour duncan crap. If you lose the box or forget what it is you bought your SOL on the model.

I got mine in the early 90s, i got a double and a single. I know they are live wire and are all black like EMGs

In my guitar i have 1 single in the neck and 1 bucker in the bridge. It says to use 18V but when i put 18V on the single it didnt sound very good. 9 on the double didnt sound to good, so i had to put 3 batteries in that sucker.

2 for the bucker and 1 for the single. The levels are good and im happy with how they both sound. I will agree these are some LOUD pickups.

I bet these sound great on a tube amp where they can slam the input stage on the amp.

I would guess mine are classic because when i got mine i dont remember any other model. They were just live wire single and live wire double.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

I had a Metal LiveWire in one of my Strats for a bit. I have to concur with the HO-LEE-ISHT! comment. Unbelievable.

I took it out, and bought a second one for a guitar I'm building. I can't wait to hear it in Maple Neck-thru with mahogany wings...
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

BowerR64 said:
I bet these sound great on a tube amp where they can slam the input stage on the amp.
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thats what Ive always wondered about the actives. Why someone with a solid state amp would get actives for? theres no tubes to be pushed...
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

I've had a Classic set Livewires in a Ibanez SA160qm.
Very glassy tone, higher output than average, very modern, much more dynamics than EMG, more tone than EMG. If it comes to active pups, the Livewires are my favorit. I ran them on 18V, no problem.
The only thing that you have to think about is the space you need for two 9V batteries.
And the single coil-pupcavities in a SA160 are a bit smaller, Livewires (and I think EMG too) do not fit in them. I had to cut some plastic from the pups so they would fit.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

D-EJ915 said:
Musicians Friend sells 'em for $170 a set (metal with a classic), one metal livewire $94.
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Lew beats those by a nickel. ;)

I think some LW Classics are next on my to-do list.

Artie
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

I'm definitely going to have to grab a set, do you think they'd fit (both 9v batteries also) in an Agile Les Paul copy?
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

How do they compare to the 81 and 85 though? Are they just a muddy tone? Im imagining AMP FARTS.....Chug chug chug. That stuff is getting annoying. Please post some audio clips. I want some Mids with some light P.M none of the amp farts breakdown crap.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

HarrisonDavid said:
How do they compare to the 81 and 85 though? Are they just a muddy tone? Im imagining AMP FARTS.....Chug chug chug. That stuff is getting annoying. Please post some audio clips. I want some Mids with some light P.M none of the amp farts breakdown crap.
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I played some EMG-equipped guitars right before I played the LiveWires. There is no comparison. The EMGs are louder volume-wise, and quiter noise-wise than passive pickups, but they're a bit...sterile. The LiveWires are LOUDER and just as quiet, but have a sweeter tone and REALLY push the amp to insane gain levels. I'd post clips, but I don't have any.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

ArtieToo said:
Lew beats those by a nickel. ;)

I think some LW Classics are next on my to-do list.

Artie
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By a nickel and adds great service ;)
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

Okay guys, I need to know if these will fit in an Agile Les Paul copy? Is there room to put the two 18V batteries?
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

I don't know for sure about the Agile, but if its cavity is close to a Gibson, it should fit.

You may have to do a bit of routing or sanding in the corners of the pickup cavity. They're a bit bigger than normal buckers.
 
Re: So today I played a guitar that had LiveWires

JacksonMIA said:
I don't know for sure about the Agile, but if its cavity is close to a Gibson, it should fit.

You may have to do a bit of routing or sanding in the corners of the pickup cavity. They're a bit bigger than normal buckers.
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I've installed passive pickups, but I don't feel like messing with this active system, so I'm going to let a tech do it, he said he'd install them in a guitar for around $70.
 
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