Do super high output pickups need to exist now?

  • Thread starter Thread starter geetarmikey
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geetarmikey

geetarmikey

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Obviously back in the day they were used to drive amps harder and get more gain, but now every amp from practice amps, to valve heads, to modelers have heaps of gain on tap.

Obviously a lot of people love EMGs etc... but I just think what are they doing tone-wise, now that amps don't really NEED to be pushed hard anymore?
 
No. An 8k humbucker into a high gain amp sounds much better than an EMG. It's just the "Metal" mentality created by marketing that the highest output everything is more BROOTALLZZZ! :doh:
 
sure...for metal dudes looking for brutalzz abundances of gain and only look at output levels. They have the more is better mentality but in this case it isn't applicable and not really needed in todays higher gain amps.
 
I would say no they do not NEED to exist but they can be ok.

I really want to point out though, EMG's are not very high output pickups at all regarding Kohms. I think they are like 10k but the volt peak is higher than passives I think. I don't know much about it but I do know that output is not everything.

My BKP are like 15-16k. They sound good and I have dialed in a little different to suit them but the lower output EMG's sound better in another guitar we have at the jam space.

Here is an example:

EMG 81- Voltage (peak), V‎: ‎4.50, Impedance, kΩ‎: ‎10, Voltage (RMS), V‎: ‎3.00

Dimarzio Tone Zone - Output mV: 375, DC Resistance: 17.31 Kohm

So while yes the EMG are technically higher output, that is in voltage (by a huge amount it seems) and it is not based off of Kohms.
 
I respectfully disagree. EMGs have "their" sound, which for certain applications just works. They are quiet and consistent and excel for tight metal rhythm.
 
Yes.... because a high output pickup into an amp with the gain turned down still feels and sounds different than a lower output pickup into a amp with the gain turned up.
 
I know I LOVE the Duncan Distortion as much for it's low end chunk as much (or more actually) than it's output...nothing sounds or feels like it, especially with a 1 MEG OHM volume pot.
 
Shask":33ydmxkj said:
Yes.... because a high output pickup into an amp with the gain turned down still feels and sounds different than a lower output pickup into a amp with the gain turned up.
Click to expand...

This. There are several pickup makers producing very good and articulate high output humbuckers these days. The main difference, to me, between high and low output pickups centers around feel more than sound.
 
I agree its about the feel of a pickup. I have g/b wizz which are rated at 10.7 and the is more feel to the guitar than any emg. That said I love emg sound and had several over the years. It all about indivual taste
 
Shask":1xz6q25j said:
Yes.... because a high output pickup into an amp with the gain turned down still feels and sounds different than a lower output pickup into a amp with the gain turned up.
Click to expand...

+1

There are technical reasons why you can't make a 60s sounding single coil or a 50s style PAF-type pickup with high output, for instance.
 
It's the same reason we still use boosts. There's a different feel to hitting the input hard and not having the gain maxed or even high on the amp. I've tried several and even loved some(detroiters) but still came back to Jb's and now bkp's in my main guitars.
 
Shask":u32h33r6 said:
Yes.... because a high output pickup into an amp with the gain turned down still feels and sounds different than a lower output pickup into a amp with the gain turned up.
Click to expand...
^^^
This X1000.

Although I gravitate towards high output pups, there are definitely medium output pups I still enjoy though for the heavy stuff. I've been playing some Rebel Yells as of late and am quite pleased :rock:
 
I prefer low output pickups but some dudes like higher output pickups and they still make them sound great.

its good that they make pickups in all varieties. there isn't one right or wrong answer.
 
Definitely. Some amps just sound/feel better getting hit with higher output pickups, and sometimes lower output with a boost/od may won't get you the desired result.
 
sleewell2":1rl80w2i said:
I prefer low output pickups but some dudes like higher output pickups and they still make them sound great.

its good that they make pickups in all varieties. there isn't one right or wrong answer.
Click to expand...
^^^
Yep. :thumbsup:

Just like every other piece of guitar gear under the sun right! Everyone has their own personal tastes and opinions. What sounds like tonal nirvana to me may sound like utter and complete shit to the next guy. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. If we all had the same tastes, it'd be a pretty lack luster place to exist wouldn't it?
 
As with most things, I think the important part is to truly "understand" the differences and experiment. I've done a ton of reading and listening and spent thousands of dollars trying different kinds of pickups. For me I've finally settled on vintage output humbuckers. Usually Alnico II or V. Nothing hotter than 9k. Not only does this give me the feel and sound that I want on my gain channels, but they don't overdrive my clean channel. Having a good clean tone is just as important to me. I still do use boost pedals when I want to push the amp hard. I've been using a Wampler Tumnus for this for about 8 months and I'm happier then I've been with any other boost pedal. It's great with clean and gain channels. It's not a clean boost. It definitely has a flavor. It also has tons of gain if you need it. Again, I've spent thousands of dollars on boost pedals trying to find the right one for me. I also just ordered an Xotic RC Booster V2 that I'm looking forward to trying. Don't be afraid to try different things. The point is to find what's right for you! The brand name shouldn't matter. What your favorite guitar player uses shouldn't matter. Tone is personal. Just do your research and try things.
 
lots of us still use a 3 gain stage jcm800 with a slight boost...

for example I don't like high gain amps...
I prefer a slightly modded or boosted 2204 circuit...
+g12h30 + emg 81
 
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