My first foray into EMG's

[D-Rock]

I recently bought gloss black w/ white binding LTD EC-500 w/ 81/60. Killer axe and I'm diggin it.
I played active EMG's before (friends, in store) but never owned a set myself to use with my gear.

Still getting used to the feel of the 81 in the bridge. Love the bite, articulation and sustain though.

But, I'm finding that these pickups seem to work better with some of my amps over others.

For example, my Recto, GH50L and JSX just don't play well with the actives.
These amps sound huge, thick and rich with passives otherwise.

While my Avenger & UL really shine with the actives.

My 6505 seems to be indifferent though.

I'm thinking that the compressed sound of the actives just amount to overkill with the already compressed sounding gain from those amps(?) The resulting sound is just smaller and thinner to my ears.

Where as my more open and raw sounding Avenger and UL benefiet from the compressed active sound.

Any thoughts or similar findings?

 

[bananaladonpcp]

My settings are VERY different on my amps for passive pickups and active ones. But I find that with the actives it is alot easier to dial in a good tone with an amp that gives a more compressed sound. With some tweaking you can get an amazingly huge tone with actives. It's really hard to compare actives to passive though. They both have their positives and negatives. My only real beef with active pickups is the lack of dynamics.

 

[D-Rock]

Thanks, I should mention that my passives are a set of old EMG-HZ's.
The HZ's sound nearly identical freq. wise. They are thicker and more open sounding though. A bit less sustain and output too.
I'm finding:
HZ=beefier, better dynamics, lower noise.
Active81=more sustain, sharper sound, articulate.

They both serve a purpose for me though.
I just wish the actives played as well with all my amps as the HZ's do.

Thinking about acquiring an 85 for the bridge.....

 

[VESmedic]

Funny, I hated emgs with my UL.. Different strokes though... Try the 18v mod as well, really loved what it did for my 81 7

 

[50MkII]

Don't collect $200 and go back.

 

[D-Rock]

Funny, I hated emgs with my UL.. Different strokes though... Try the 18v mod as well, really loved what it did for my 81 7

But were you boosting the amp? Straight in with the actives is pretty nice. Equally nice with passives though. Awesome amp.

 

[D-Rock]

Don't collect $200 and go back.

Yeah, you're absolutely hilarious dude.

 

[snowdog]

For example, my Recto just doesn't play well with the actives.

That is a fairly proven combo.

Interesting that you like the HZ's, I didn't care for them much in a friend of mines guitar. I do like passives though.

 

[D-Rock]

For example, my Recto just doesn't play well with the actives.

That is a fairly proven combo.

Interesting that you like the HZ's, I didn't care for them much in a friend of mines guitar. I do like passives though.

I know, Recto with actives should be win. Sounds ok, but the passives sound thicker and more natural.

 

[colimofsmoke]

Which actives supposedly sound best with rectos?

 

[D-Rock]

Which actives supposedly sound best with rectos?

Dunno.
Guessing EMG's, but Live Wires and Blackouts have a strong following too since they had the ability to build off the EMG's strengths and weaknesses.

 

[colimofsmoke]

Yeah. I'm running blackouts into my roadster. Sounds pretty good, just curious what might work better.

 

[benduncan]

i used to use emg's with a 5150, i switched to passive's and an engl a while ago. i pulled the guitar with the emgs out ofthe closet recently expecting it to sound awesome, plugged it in and....wtf?! it sounded pretty good for leads but thats it

 

[D-Rock]

Yeah, I'm starting to bond with the actives more today. My JSX was really grinding and thumping tonight with them.
I still find I like my passives better with my Recto though. Bare in mind I'm not running a boost and I'm using the Modern mode exclusively on chan2.
So I think that might be a factor too. Passives are keeping things fat and thick, since that mode can be a bit artificial sounding in the highs and really over the top. It doesn't really need the extra "oomph" from the actives I guess. Just going with what my ears are telling me.