Why use active? what are the advantages?

[roadstar II]

I see that even dave mustaine a real long time JB user is now playing active live wires
what is the advantage of using the live wires or the EMG stuff?

 

[big_black]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

The main advantage (besides specific tone) I see is the ability of actives to push the pickup's signal through a long chain of effects with out tone degrading.

 

[roadstar II]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

The main advantage (besides specific tone) I see is the ability of actives to push the pickup's signal through a long chain of effects with out tone degrading.

Oh i understand:bigthumb:
So really it is more about keeping a purer signal and keepin things quiet too?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

It's both-
original low imp were designed to reduce noise and provide a better signal only- Les Paul himslef went that direction-

But the average guitarist was more interested in ease of use than sound quality- Also these pups were very very clean- Hard to get a good overdriven sound from them- Look at the old Les Paul Recording for an example-

Most new low impedance are designed for high gain signals- And they've been really popular on bass since the 80s- High fedility and low noise-

 

[Kane17]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

Some Stuff sounds better with active.

All the rocktron stuff I've used for example, is at it's peak when given a slight active boost from the pickups.

If you've ever used a Rocktron gainiac...it sounds like 80's hair metal preamp. But with some fine Tuning on an EMG active booster I installed with my SD DD it gave me some really Meaty chugs..

But with some of my other stuff, I'd just leave the active boost off because it just didn't sound right..


I don't know too many disadvantages because I'd have a switch to toggle active/passive on my EMG PA-2. But active didn't sound good all the time...just with certain stuff.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

The only advantage that matters is the tone. If you don't like the way they sound all of the other advantages mean jack sh*t, and if you do like the way they sound then chances are you're not buying them for any other reason.

IMO.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

Another consideration is the output possibilities. With active, you can get very high output without very high inductance. With lower inductance you get tighter more articulate lows and pure ungarbled highs. A passive with that kind of output potential would probably be muddy under heavy gain.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

I use an active EMg Dave Gilmour set because it's noiseless, has enough output to make my strat keep up with my LP, and I get pretty much the same tone whether I'm playing quietly or really romping on stage.

All of that, and it still sounds like a good strat should.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

There are also some that insist that active pups are the only pups for playing metal. Many of them overlook the fact that ultra high output pickups through a ton of overdrive/boost/distortion boxes into an ultra high-gain amp isn't always a good thing.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Why use active? what are the advantages?

The only advantage that matters is the tone. If you don't like the way they sound all of the other advantages mean jack sh*t, and if you do like the way they sound then chances are you're not buying them for any other reason.

IMO.

+1000000