What's the general consensus on active pickups?

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Are they that bad? I heard they sound 'sterile', the definition of which I can't even imagine.

For those with enough experience with actives, what's your opinion (other than extra maintenance cost with 9V battery and power preservation and shyte)?

 

[dystrust]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I don't know about general consensus, but I'd say they're rather subjective. Active pickups tend to have their own sound and character and you either like it or not. They really aren't any different from any other type of pickup; some players like high output humbuckers and others don't. Generally speaking I don't care for active guitar pickups, but I prefer them to passive for bass guitar.

 

[donaldr]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I like mine in my HSS Godin (EMG 60/S/S) because they sound different from my passive guitars. This set is not really high-output, more mid-output and more for crunch than high-gain distortion. Isolated they sound more 2-dimensional and compressed but in a band they are going very well as they don't take too much other instruments space, very good in a band mix. They clean-up very well by lowering the volume pot (way lower than passives). This is the guitar I will take without knowing on what amp I will play at a gig, I will always have a workable sound for blues/classic/hard rock.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

i used emgs for years and liked them well enough but my tastes changed and i started using lower output passive pups. i have a set of blackout singles which are actually very nice pups and i dont have any issue switching between that guitar and others with passive pups. they are higher output but also cleaner in some respects

 

[justFred]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

mostly use passives...just like or have a feeling they have a more natural sound...but when I want to go for broad range super articulate cleans go to Fishman Tosin Abasi set...

 

[AlexR]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

A fairly flat frequency response tends to be what is described as sterile.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

Actives have anything but a flat frequency response. At least not EMG's. They have a pretty steep high pass/low pass thing going on with their EQ curve that really makes the high mids pop.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

There might have been a time but not anymore can you lump all actives together. This is like asking whats the general consensus on soft drinks? Many different types and varieties are available anymore. Even among EMG's own offerings. Guitar playing is not a consensus you will find very few things among guitar players that they agree on. Have to form your own opinions.

 

[Ascension]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

Own guitars with both. Like actives where you are running a long cable run or a lot of effects in particular or in an environment like some of the churches I play in where you have a lot of noise. They push the signal more for a long cable run and also reject noise very well. Yes most have their own sound and I normally prefer passives most of time for the way the feel but they have their place. Have a EMG 85 H60A set up in my Washburn proto type and that guitar is very usable and quite versitile. I will grab it most of the time where I am playing a high gain tube amp in an unknown older building because I know that guitar will be quiet where wiring and dimmers/ florescent lighting is an issue. Lot of studio guys love actives for their consistency and how quiet they are.
As long as you don't leave them plugged up battery's last a long time in most active systems. I normally change my batteries once a year and run lithium batteries because they will ether work or not. Worst thing is having an active system with a dying battery where some thing sounds "off" and you don't know what. A lithium battery will keep the voltage and current consistent until it just dies where a normal battery will slowly die and get in a period where it kinda works but kinda doesn't not a good thing!

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I prefer passives too. I have had a few guitars with EMG’s over the years and they sounded good. But I feel that passives seem to be more “alive” sounding.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I actively dislike them.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

Once upon a time. Now, they are just another option with many different tones.

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I've got some nice passive pickup sets that I really like..

..but both my strats have actives in them (one with 81tw/89r and the other with ahb-1 blackouts) most of the time. I find ahb-1 blackouts to be warmer than the 81tw/89r set, but the emgs are my go to for metal and heavy stuff (they feel very 'crisp').

I guess it also matters what you are running them into. I run mine into an eleven rack, I might have different feelings if I were running into a mesa half stack. The quick connect is nice as well, especially if you change pickups often..

 

[Synapsys]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

EMGs and Duncan Blackouts aren't my thing, but I'm curious about the Fluence Classics.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

Actives aren't my thing -- I don't like the 9V battery or the clean sounds, generally -- but I've heard many players get great tones out of them. And like passives, there are many different versions. If you're curious, I'd say try one and make up your own mind. Your perfect pickup might be waiting for you.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

At this point in time, I'd say there's no consensus. There are players who will prefer one or the other of passives and actives, and some who are fine with both. And there are hybrid systems of passive pickups with active circuitry, like the Duncan Blackouts preamp or the Godin HDR circuit.

Each pickup type has its strengths. Both types can sound great. At the end of the day, I think it all boils down to desired playing feel. Passives generally have a more organic/lively playing feel. They are also simpler in operation - no batteries, etc. Actives generally feel more compressed, but that can be an advantage if one wants more even output across notes. They are quieter than passives in terms of hum and are faster to swap if using the EMG-style 3-pin or 7-pin connector.

I prefer passives, but I must say that a bog standard EMG 81 in a Les Paul-type guitar into a JCM or DSL-style Marshall is a beautiful thing. Instead of the usual 85 in the neck, I'd pair that with a Duncan Blackouts neck pickup. Man, that pickup sounds good.

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

switched out the Dean passives in my Mustaine VMNT for Duncan Mustaine Actives and like them a lot better. Good for what I use them for, good gain, pick up harmonics like crazy.
One thing I notice is that the pickups don't differentiate well between a soft or hard attack.

Wouldn't want them in a LP or anything you want to sound remotely vintage.

But my only experience with actives is with these specific pickups, so ymmv with different units

 

[blind1]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I have a guitar with the EMG 81/85 active setup and it is cool. I also have a few guitars with regular pickups and they are cool too. The active pickups are very hot and compressed (which is nice sometimes). The passive variety I prefer and use frequently is more open and airy. Different flavors for different genres/moods.

TLDR; it's all good.

 

[Artie]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

Just another flavor. I love the Livewire II Classic Strat set. I also like the actives in my Schecter. Try 'em. You'll like 'em.

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: What's the general consensus on active pickups?

I used Blackouts for years before going back to passives and using the Alpha/Omega set. While I prefer passives and don't see myself going back, I have heard many great guitar tones come from active pickups over the years. I like to think of pickups as an interpreter for the way that you play and how you want your guitar to sound right off the bat, so ultimately, there's no right or wrong: it's just whatever you feel gets the job done best for you.