A Question For Metaltastic
- Thread starter lilhermiejobo
- Start date
Confusion was my bad, dude, I wasn't badmouthing the guitar... just the factory pickups.
I cant seem to get anything out of them that isnt woofy mushiness with a side of bland, to go.
spioraid
Fancy a pint? Or two?
Erik Monsonis
Member
poidaobi
Held in Hollows
Hahahahhahahahahha, wow, this was a helluva thing to wake up to 
(and yes Headcrusher, I was doing that funny thing called sleeping 
) And how could you guys forget my best bud, the JSX?
ANYWAY, to answer your question jobo, yes, I love the 81 in the neck, even more than I love it in the bridge tbh; the neck is inherently the bassier spot because of how the strings vibrate, and why anyone would want a bassier/muddier pickup there (the 85) utterly escapes me; I love the cut the 81 brings to those chunky single notes in a fast-picking run on the neck pickup. Also, however, I usually prefer the 81 in the bridge too, and feel like the added beef of the 85 is kind of a way of compensating for a thinner sounding guitar, but I know I prefer a beefy guitar with the 81 in it to cut through! And running it at 18v gets rid of that sterile midrange quality it has, you just gotta find space for a second battery!
(and yes Headcrusher, I was doing that funny thing called sleeping ) And how could you guys forget my best bud, the JSX? ANYWAY, to answer your question jobo, yes, I love the 81 in the neck, even more than I love it in the bridge tbh; the neck is inherently the bassier spot because of how the strings vibrate, and why anyone would want a bassier/muddier pickup there (the 85) utterly escapes me; I love the cut the 81 brings to those chunky single notes in a fast-picking run on the neck pickup. Also, however, I usually prefer the 81 in the bridge too, and feel like the added beef of the 85 is kind of a way of compensating for a thinner sounding guitar, but I know I prefer a beefy guitar with the 81 in it to cut through! And running it at 18v gets rid of that sterile midrange quality it has, you just gotta find space for a second battery!
Hey dude, thanks for replying FINALLY. Like, how dare you sleep and stuff. WTF, man.
Nah, but for realz.... I was already thinking that running dual 81s was because of the clarity and sharpness of attack compared to the bluesy/woofy 85. The only thing I'm curious to find out (and I'm with you on reasoning here) is if the passive versions would , or could , pull off the same effect (depending on height, of course) as the actives... let alone running 18 volts instead of 9.
Nah, but for realz.... I was already thinking that running dual 81s was because of the clarity and sharpness of attack compared to the bluesy/woofy 85. The only thing I'm curious to find out (and I'm with you on reasoning here) is if the passive versions would , or could , pull off the same effect (depending on height, of course) as the actives... let alone running 18 volts instead of 9.
GarethSE
New Metal Member
- Jul 5, 2008
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Well I've never played a guitar with HZ's, but I also have never heard anything good about them either - honestly, I feel like with EMG's it's best to go active or else investigate Seymour Duncan or another passive company! But you should totally scour US ebay looking for EMG's, there's bound to be someone who will ship to Oz!
AudioPhile777
Mathew Cohen
Hey dude, thanks for replying FINALLY. Like, how dare you sleep and stuff. WTF, man.
Nah, but for realz.... I was already thinking that running dual 81s was because of the clarity and sharpness of attack compared to the bluesy/woofy 85. The only thing I'm curious to find out (and I'm with you on reasoning here) is if the passive versions would , or could , pull off the same effect (depending on height, of course) as the actives... let alone running 18 volts instead of 9.
No.
To clarify, they might sound ok for live/practice, but definitely NOT recording... spend the extra money and go active if that is the sound you want. seriously.
As someone who thought this was a viable option in the past, the HZ's IMO do NOT sound like the active EMG's at all. I'm not saying they sound bad, but I would truly take the "H4 is the passive version of the 81" ideal with a huge grain (well, rock) of salt.
Rex Rocker
Call me Hugo!
I wouldn't bother with the HZ's, personally. There are better passives out there even for that 81-ish kinda tone, IMO.
John_C
formerly Skeksis268
So the final verdict is to stay away from the hzs it seems. At the moment I've got a Schecter C-1 Plus with a Dimebucker in the Bridge and the factory pickup in the neck and I cant seem to get much low-end out of the Dimebucker. I'd consider switching it into the Omen 6 if there was a chance of getting some beef out of that thing because, really, while the C-1 Plus is a beautiful guitar to play and wank to, its just too small for me. Ideally I would love to jam on a Baritone with dual 81s. The C-1 Plus came with the Dimebucker already in it (I traded my Crate BV 1/2 Stack straight up) so I've never bought any pickups to put in a guitar and have zero experience with browsing tones. My buddy who got me started playing guitar years ago was always raving about emg 89s but he was a die-hard yngwie nut and I'm not after anything like that. I guess I only mentioned that because I'd go around to different shops with him while he jammed with different pickups.
So.....
Open Bar... I mean... Question: What passive pickups would you recommend for bassier (not woofy or mushy) metal tone and what characteristics define it (or them if more than 1 pickup) ?
Remember guys, I have zilch pickup experience so I really need some help here. Having input from you guys with heaps of experience and knowledge is important to a n00b like myself.
So.....
Open Bar... I mean... Question: What passive pickups would you recommend for bassier (not woofy or mushy) metal tone and what characteristics define it (or them if more than 1 pickup) ?
Remember guys, I have zilch pickup experience so I really need some help here. Having input from you guys with heaps of experience and knowledge is important to a n00b like myself.
Rex Rocker
Call me Hugo!
If a Dimebucker doesn't have enough low-end for you, then yeah, you would definitely not like an H4.
I like the Super Distortion in my Ibanez. That thing has nice and big low end and mids. You might also dig the Tone Zone. That one is a bit looser, but has clarity to spare, IMO. Just my opinion, but I think both of those pickups are clearer-sounding than the EMG 85 (which used to be my favorite bridge pickup once) without sacrificing any low-end chugg. I'm not really sure how related both of these pickups are, but I've always been under the impression the Tone Zone is like a Super Distortion buth with an Alnico magnet.
I like the Super Distortion in my Ibanez. That thing has nice and big low end and mids. You might also dig the Tone Zone. That one is a bit looser, but has clarity to spare, IMO. Just my opinion, but I think both of those pickups are clearer-sounding than the EMG 85 (which used to be my favorite bridge pickup once) without sacrificing any low-end chugg. I'm not really sure how related both of these pickups are, but I've always been under the impression the Tone Zone is like a Super Distortion buth with an Alnico magnet.
