I'm a passive pickup guy now!

[Ermz]

After close to a decade of championing EMGs for metal, I'm happy to say, after countless mix-failure experiences, that I dislike active pickups!

Project after project, passive pickups have consistently been easier to work into my mixes - especially across that crucial high-mid spectrum, which clashes with the vocals. Their less compressed nature leads to balances which simply sound more open and organic.

In general I'm really liking Seymour Duncan pickups. So far the '59 and JB have been my favourites, but I look forward to trying the Duncan Distortion, and a few others down the track. I wasn't too fond of my experience with Bareknuckle Painkillers. They seemed to be really flubby in the lows, and just have a very bizarre sounding midrange. Likewise I haven't found too many Dimarzio p'ups which I've liked either.

I love these learning experiences where you come in with a clear bias, but reality consistently shows you how you're a dipshit. That was essentially me with my pickup preference. Heck, it was me with my plectrum preference too, but that's another story!

Just felt like ranting!

 

[MIAnn]

Jb & 59 here in my LP , no intention of ever changing

 

[Lasse Lammert]

I hear you un the BKP, exactly how I would describe them...I'm not a DiMarzio fan either.
you should definitely check out the SH15 Alt8!!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Have you told your parents already?

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night.

 

[Empathy]

Big fat +1 to the SH15. Favourite passive ever.

I've been falling back in love with passive pickups more and more every day lately, ever since I gutted and replaced every part in my old Epi LP Custom - I like the sounds I'm getting through that more than my EMG loaded Schecters!

 

[TonyS.]

On my upcomming album, we talked about, you'll have to deal with dimarzios x2n and evolution 2.
I also really dislike the active stuff, especially for clean sounds...happy with my passives.

 

[Scottxx]

My two Jacksons run JB SH-4. Enough good for eras for Megadeth greatests albums. Best metal albums of all time, isn't it?...

Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia, Hidden Treasures, Cryptic Writings. Enough?

 

[rispsira]

interesting you guys mention the alternative 8. I was able to try it on guitar and the result was really bad compared to my guitars as well as DIs i had when trying to reamp. I came to the conclusion that these pickups suck! (though i like other duncans a lot) but now im thinking maybe it was just the guitar that had these pickups.. Maybe it was just a bad combination of wood and pickup or simply a bad sounding guitar.

Ill give this one another shot when i get the chance.

 

[Torgal]

I had a learnig experience with EMG81 pickups as well. I used to play an Epiphone LP Prophecy EX with EMGs. Heavy axe, lots of mahagony (4,5kg) and "THE" metal Pickup in bridge position. At least that's what I thought.
Then I got myself a Ibanez RGA72TQM with the stock Lo-Z3 PUs. Its realy light and plays like on it's own and it surprisingly kicked the Epiphones ass big time. A lot more punch and it runs on two 1,5V batteries.

For passvie PUs I like the Gibson 500T a lot, especially in LesPauls and Explorers. I put the duncan distortion into my 150€ Vester powerstrat and it sounds killer now. You should definately check out that one.

Ola Englund did a Duncan PU shootout recently, so you might want take a look at that.

 

[decoy205]

When I started I always thought EMGs were a must. But as I got more into les Paul style guitars and different tones I realized damn I like Passives much better. Something about Actives sound sterile to me. I find them great for live use. For a while now I think of an analogy kinda like this, live the axe fx is amazing but in the studio I'd rather use a tube amp.

I'm trying a set a madhouse designs pickups soon I'll hopefully post up some clips. He's a new winder that winds heavy
sounding Passives with tight lows.

-John

edit: the SD's are amazing pickups for high gain for sure. I also prefer passives without covers.

 

[Skinny Viking]

I've been a fan of SD Fullshred pickups for about 15 years now and have them in both of my main guitars ... I love the way they sound

 

[drew_drummer]

I tried a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 out yesterday, quite a nice guitar. But had EMG's in it (as stock I believe) and they just sounded pants to me, very flat and lifeless, for whatever that is worth.

I am feeling like changing either my guitar or my pickups though. Maybe I'll switch from my BKP Nailbombs to some Seymour Duncans.

 

[madbutcher]

I had an ESP with EMGs and liked how it cut it a little better, but I did think it sounded kind of sterile. Didn't have something my LP studios had. I was thinking of trying to swap out the 498T in either of my LPs for something Duncan, but I'm not sure what one would be right. Something similar to the 498T, but with a little less middy darkness and a little more clarity would be awesome.

 

[Mago]

There are a lot of nice pickups out there

 

[OrionsOnFire]

I went from an 81 in the bridge of my caparison to a bkp Warpig... its night and day difference. Not only does the pig have a beefier, clear defined low end - it just sounds so much better whether its plugged into a pod or valve head. best change i could've made pickup wise IMO

 

[Trevoire520]

I like the tightness you get from EMG's. But i was actually listening to some of my old stuff I'd done with passives the other day (BKP Nailbombs) and realised that I actually quite liked the guitars in it. You get a nicer character in the midrange with passives I think, especially with alnico magnets.

 

[AD Chaos]

I love these learning experiences where you come in with a clear bias, but reality consistently shows you how you're a dipshit

That's just how I feel constantly


To me SD is the best also (at least thus far), even whenever ''everyone'' says 81.

 

[Shinozoku]

I had an ESP with EMGs and liked how it cut it a little better, but I did think it sounded kind of sterile. Didn't have something my LP studios had. I was thinking of trying to swap out the 498T in either of my LPs for something Duncan, but I'm not sure what one would be right. Something similar to the 498T, but with a little less middy darkness and a little more clarity would be awesome.

Seymour Duncan Custom 5. Very similar specs, but less midrange. I like the 498T myself. Very meaty pickup.

 

[nwright]

I feel that EMG's at 18 volts sound - to me - much better than 9 volt, but in general I prefer passives. I keep EMG's because I like the clarity and definition, but love the FEEL of an SD JB a lot more.

My big issue now is the last few passives I've installed have a LOT more noise than my EMG's, so I keep pulling them out and putting the EMG's back in.

I've got some new pots and jacks on order to see if they help. If I can get them as silent as my 81's, I'll be switching all my guitars over.

I also prefer the slick solid black look of EMG's, but black plastic covers over my JB's takes care of that.

 

[Jaymz]

There are a lot of nice pickups out there

Agreed :Smokedev: