What's the deal with active pickups?
- Thread starter blackcom
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JeffTD
Senhor Testiculo
Generally speaking, they're tighter, cleaner, clearer, more defined, and more controlled than passives, especially under high-gain.
Chryst Krispies
Vanilla Gorilla
Genius Gone Insane
http://www.¯\(°_o)/¯.com
Play metal rhythm licks through passives for 5 minutes then pick up a guitar with active pickups and play the same licks and you'll sound 2x better.
ElektricEyez
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- Aug 29, 2007
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They are hotter than passive pickups. I got one of the hottest pickup I could find, a Seymore Duncan Invador, triple ceramic magnet. It couldn't even a hold a candle to my EMG's. Emg's and active pickups have a preamp, so they can make them hotter and control the dynamics electronically, which is way different from a magnet and a wire wrap. Although I have heard some screaming Gibson pickups that sound nice, I'll still take my EMG's. Another thing that really affects the sound is the type of wood. For some reason, BC Rich guitars seem to kill the tone. I had an EMG, stuck it in my Warlock, then took it out and put it in my Jackson Rodes V, the Tone was better in the Jackson.
Glenn Fricker
Very Metal &Very Bad News
I like passives way better. depends alot on the amp I guess.
Don't really find them to be any hotter either, just about the same as a high-output passive.
they are clear and tight though, but my amp already has that with passives, i could see the use them when you got a muddy sounding amp.
Don't really find them to be any hotter either, just about the same as a high-output passive.
they are clear and tight though, but my amp already has that with passives, i could see the use them when you got a muddy sounding amp.
Cheap ibanez's are kinda hit and miss, my 200 euro one sounds pretty good actually.
Better than cheap ESP LTD's these days, I would think; pretty much every Ibanez nowadays is Mahogany, whereas TONS of the LTD's are Agathis
ElektricEyez
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All in all, I think Jacksons give you the most bang for your buck. My V is actually a low end model (22 fret dot inlays, and no tremolo, and the tone on that thing rocks!). I just scored a Jackson Warrior WRMG, with transparent black on Tiger maple, the body is Alder, came stock with EMG's an 81 and an 85, That guitar sounds SICK!! I love the tone on that guitar. The shape kinda reminds me of Chuck Shuldiner's BC Rich (RIP). If your considering EMG's I'd say go for it, you won't be disappointed!
MetalWorks
Member
I don't care for the fat necks on Jacksons, BC Rich.
And most low end of those makers feel like a rock with strings attached. Very dead and takes some fighting to get the notes out of them.
I think the Ibanez 550 on up and any decent $500+ LTD usually sounds and plays pretty smooth.
I once bought a Black Epiphone Korina 7 string V from Musicians friend for $349.
It sounded so dead with the stock pickups. Sounded like the worst neck pickup even at the bridge.
Then I slapped an EMG 707 in it.
Hello Metal
I did enjoy the Evolution pickups in my Jem7WHV until I sold it. It was the only Passive Pickup I really liked next to the EMG81's.
wishtheend
clip the apex
I still prefer passive pickups on bass guitar when compared to actives.
EMGs though, gotta go with the 18v - much cleaner signal/less clipping
EMGs though, gotta go with the 18v - much cleaner signal/less clipping
Loren Littlejohn
Lover of all boobage.
If I buy another guitar I will probably drop in some active pups. But for now I got a killer deal on some gibson burstbucker pros and they roll off the low end garble that most pickups seem to accent so they work great in my baritone.
broken81
Used by Protools
Ive bought so many passive pickups that were supposed to be the best. 
uke:
I finally broke down and bought a emg81 and tell you what all my passive pickups are in a box some were collecting dust. Its also funny soon as i bought a emg81 our other guitarist was so blown away by my tone he went and bought one the next day.
So needless to say I'm a active fan now and i still need to try that 18v mod.
uke:I finally broke down and bought a emg81 and tell you what all my passive pickups are in a box some were collecting dust. Its also funny soon as i bought a emg81 our other guitarist was so blown away by my tone he went and bought one the next day.
So needless to say I'm a active fan now and i still need to try that 18v mod.
when did jackson start putting fat necks on their stuff?
i have an ESP and jackson, both made in the mid-to-late 90's, and the jackson's neck is considerably slimmer. in fact, the thin neck is the only reason i use that guitar. it'd be a damn shame if they moved away from those necks...
kaomao
Member
Force666
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- Sep 12, 2007
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The kirk hammett actually has a thicker neck than most ESP's. I know for a fact the neck is thicker than any of the 400 or 1000 series LTD's.
Comparing to
EC1000
EC400
Viper 400
MH-1000
And my Jackson King V (hard tail) has a thinner faster neck than any guitar i've ever owned and/or played. Thinner and faster than an original wizard or any ibanez. After I play my les paul for a while (60's neck) the Jackson just feels too thin.
The Rhone
Member
It's true the EMG 81's are a hot pu, they have loads of bite and I was very happy using them, until I tried an Bare Knuckle Miricle Man. This thing takes the roof of and I'm afraid left the 81's for dust. At the end of the day your amp does the work and the pu's are just the icing. But oh what an icing with the Miricle Mans'.
There was some kind of a "high fidelity quality" in the high end. Like there was a thin towel in front of the cab before^^ ..more clarity and "tightness"!
