Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

[some_dude]

....I'm throwing in the towel on passive humbuckers; they're just not doing it for me.

Don't get me wrong, I actually think many of the passives I've tried have sounded awesome....each had their own strengths and weaknesses. That said, they're not doing the things I want them to, and thus they're being replaced by my old favorite, the EMG 81b/85n setup.

Sorry dudes. I tried.


:kabong:

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

....I'm throwing in the towel on passive humbuckers; they're just not doing it for me. Don't get me wrong, I actually think many of the passives I've tried have sounded awesome....each had their own strengths and weaknesses. That said, they're not doing the things I want them to, and thus they're being replaced by my old favorite, the EMG 81b/85n setup. Sorry dudes. I tried. :kabong:

You're not going to try any of the SD actives?

 

[Perry D]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

what were you using before?

 

[Perry D]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

i would highly recommend the dave mustaine livewires if your lookin active. i was really impressed by them. they are based on the JB and Jazz.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Ya Gotta respect a man that at least tries something new... before settling with the old!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

*insert reason you should use passive pickups rather than what you are very happy with here*

 

[some_dude]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

what were you using before?

Duncan JB, Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom, Distortion, Jazz, 59

DiMarzio Super Distortion, PAF

Gibson PAF

I know.....it's hardly like I've tried everything out there, but I don't like hot passives. The low output PAF type passives give me the best tone....but they lack the punch I need and lack clarity under gain. I'm also fed up with how finicky they can be regarding cable length and how buffers can improve their mid to high gain tone while damaging their clean tone.

i would highly recommend the dave mustaine livewires if your lookin active. i was really impressed by them. they are based on the JB and Jazz.

Loved the Jazz....hated the JB. I can see how it'd be useful for another type of player, but for me it was probably the worst pickup I tried.

You're not going to try any of the SD actives?

No.

Passives are 1) easy to come by used, and 2) even easier to sell when I'm done with them. I'd probably take a huge hit buying new Livewires, and they'd probably be a hard sell if I didn't like them. Plus I've read too many mixed reviews on them to risk the money.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

*insert reason you should use passive pickups rather than what you are very happy with here*

Actives are too sterile

too compressed

too hot

too scooped

too much treble

too much bass

too much midrange

have this wierd thing going on

sound un-natural

and they make all guitars sound the same.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Actives are too sterile

too compressed

too hot

too scooped

too much treble

too much bass

too much midrange

have this wierd thing going on

sound un-natural

and they make all guitars sound the same.

You forgot "changing batteries once or twice a year is too much trouble".

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Yooou'll be back!

EMG's... gimmie a break! Just kidding. I think many of us have been there. I haven't... but many of us still. lol

Have fun!

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

You'll be back. Oh, you'll be so back.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

I have a total love/hate relationship with actives.

I really miss my 60/89 set, and I love the rythm tone of the 81, but can't stand it for leads. Then again, the 89 sounded like dog **** for chords, but amazing for leads.

The 60 tho... I'll never be able to hate that pickup no matter how much I want to.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Welcome back, dude. :smokin:

Mephis: Sounds like I need to try me a 60. Hmm....

 

[DonP]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

It might be that EMG's work better in your rig. I play Marshalls, and EMG's just don't sound right to me. I'm in the process of selling off my EMG's. I'll take a Duncan Distortion any day. Again, it's what works best in my rig.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Hey, if passives don't do it for him then they just don't do it for him. Sounds like he gave passives a better chance than I'd ever give actives.

He still might be back though...

MWA-HA-HA-HA!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

It's not called "throwing in the towel." It's called narrowing things down to your favorites. I've done that several times, and it usually results in me being more in tune with my gear, rather than looking at it like a big paint set.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

I have a total love/hate relationship with actives.

I really miss my 60/89 set, and I love the rythm tone of the 81, but can't stand it for leads. Then again, the 89 sounded like dog **** for chords, but amazing for leads.

The 60 tho... I'll never be able to hate that pickup no matter how much I want to.

The 60 was one pickup I was never totally happy with. It sounded great when used clean (in the neck), but I was never too thrilled with it's high gain lead tone.

I used hate the 85 for the oposite reason......great lead tone but crap clean tone (too bassy). Then one day I plugged into a friends amp and it sounded stellar....pushed me into re-equing my amp to better suit that pickup. Now I like it's clean better than I do the 60.

Hey, if passives don't do it for him then they just don't do it for him. Sounds like he gave passives a better chance than I'd ever give actives.

He still might be back though...

MWA-HA-HA-HA!!!

You'll notice that I said active humbuckers.......I still have a few axes loaded with passive singles, and they're going to stay that way.

It's not called "throwing in the towel." It's called narrowing things down to your favorites. I've done that several times, and it usually results in me being more in tune with my gear, rather than looking at it like a big paint set.

Never looked at it this way, but it's very true.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

I wasn't talking about the 85/89 for the neck, I was talking about it in the bridge.

It's hard to explain and I'll sound stupid saying this...


It sounds too buzzy for rythm playing, but it sounds smooth and huge on single notes/leads. The 81 is the complete other way around.

And the 60 in the neck does have a different sound about it, but I love it. AFAIK it was originaly an active mini humbucker designed by EMG for fender but never took off so they put it under an EMG cover and sold it as the 60.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

I wasn't talking about the 85/89 for the neck, I was talking about it in the bridge.

It's hard to explain and I'll sound stupid saying this...


It sounds too buzzy for rythm playing, but it sounds smooth and huge on single notes/leads. The 81 is the complete other way around.

And the 60 in the neck does have a different sound about it, but I love it. AFAIK it was originaly an active mini humbucker designed by EMG for fender but never took off so they put it under an EMG cover and sold it as the 60.

I ran an 85 in the bridge for awhile and found the something similar......too bassy/mushy sounding for rhythm, but a nice lead tone.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Throwing in the towel (so to say).....

Very nice lead tone.