so what would you tell a guy that has been ...

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griff10672

griff10672

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using EMG's since 91

I realize that I'm missing some elements in tone strictly using all Emg's ...

would like to consider passive alternatives but have no idea where to start ..

I've got a new strat project slowly developing and would like to start homework on a new

H-S-S configuration for it ..

I like everything from Prong to Pink Floyd ... so :doh: :confused:
 
griff10672":0f456 said:
using EMG's since 91

I realize that I'm missing some elements in tone strictly using all Emg's ...

would like to consider passive alternatives but have no idea where to start ..

I've got a new strat project slowly developing and would like to start homework on a new

H-S-S configuration for it ..

I like everything from Prong to Pink Floyd ... so :doh: :confused:
I've heard great things about Bareknuckles.
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/
 
You can start with a DiMarzio X2N in the bridge with the height backed away a bit. Some of the things you like in an active will be there but, so will the good things in a passive. I have this in an ESP M-II and was going to yank it out because I'm not into ultra high output pickups BUT, I played around with the pickup height a bit, and it worked out really well.
 
Robotechnology":52302 said:
You can start with a DiMarzio X2N in the bridge with the height backed away a bit. Some of the things you like in an active will be there but, so will the good things in a passive. I have this in an ESP M-II and was going to yank it out because I'm not into ultra high output pickups BUT, I played around with the pickup height a bit, and it worked out really well.

that sounds exactly what I'm looking for ... I'd love to find a pup that has some both worlds

thanks for the info !!!!!!!!
 
griff10672":24c08 said:
using EMG's since 91

I realize that I'm missing some elements in tone strictly using all Emg's ...

would like to consider passive alternatives but have no idea where to start ..

Dimarzio D Activator is a great place to start, for a humbucker that has similar sound/attack to an EMG 81, with more warmth and dynamic range.
 
i put in an Anderson H3 & H1- a couple weeks ago and i'm pretty damned impressed. :rock:

damned good pickups, think they'd be worth checking into as they are doing stuff with single coil sizes also? could call them and see what they'd run together?
 
griff10672":15ca2 said:
So what would you tell a guy that has been using EMG's since 91?

Oooh snip, you got self pwnd, nub!
 
I'm usually a Dimarzio guy...but a friend of mine just put a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in his strat....I like...i really like it
 
JamesPeters":f7868 said:
griff10672":f7868 said:
using EMG's since 91

I realize that I'm missing some elements in tone strictly using all Emg's ...

would like to consider passive alternatives but have no idea where to start ..

Dimarzio D Activator is a great place to start, for a humbucker that has similar sound/attack to an EMG 81, with more warmth and dynamic range.

that's a good description of what I'm looking for ... the attack .. but with the warm richness ... I love the airy-ness that some pups have also .. brings out the " wood " sound alot more ... especially certain singles in the neck
 
JamesPeters":c6cc7 said:
griff10672":c6cc7 said:
using EMG's since 91

I realize that I'm missing some elements in tone strictly using all Emg's ...

would like to consider passive alternatives but have no idea where to start ..

Dimarzio D Activator is a great place to start, for a humbucker that has similar sound/attack to an EMG 81, with more warmth and dynamic range.

:hys: @ Your Avatar :rock:
 
I'm a big fan of the Gibson 500T, at least in all mahogany guitars. Duncan JB and Custom's are good high output, but passive pickups. I too used to be an EMG only user for 4 years, and eventually saw the light and came back to passives. There are so many good options out there these days, all dependent on what sort of tone you are looking for and how much you want to spend.
 
I think the Dactivater is awesome. :thumbsup:

However, I pretty much use Suhr pickups in everyhting now. :thumbsup: :D
 
guitarslinger":65a8a said:
I think the Dactivater is awesome. :thumbsup:

However, I pretty much use Suhr pickups in everyhting now. :thumbsup: :D

I was wondering when someone was going to mention Suhrs ...

how the hell do you find out what you like without trying 200 different pups ...

I guess it was just always to easy to throw a 81 in the bridge
 
griff10672":af6b5 said:
guitarslinger":af6b5 said:
I think the Dactivater is awesome. :thumbsup:

However, I pretty much use Suhr pickups in everyhting now. :thumbsup: :D

I was wondering when someone was going to mention Suhrs ...

how the hell do you find out what you like without trying 200 different pups ...

I guess it was just always to easy to throw a 81 in the bridge

I've probably tried like 130 pickups.

For me, The Suhrs are the best balance of Great high gain, great medium gain, and way above average cleans.

:thumbsup:
 
i don't want to hi-jack the thread, but what about all out, high output pups? i saw robotechs' comment about the x2n, what else is that hot? i've also used emg85's for years, but i'm putting together a beater metal guitar, and would like to try a passive thats as hot as the emg's.
 
CharFace":2a086 said:
:hys: @ Your Avatar :rock:

What? It's true.

;) :D

mchn13":2a086 said:
i don't want to hi-jack the thread, but what about all out, high output pups? i saw robotechs' comment about the x2n, what else is that hot? i've also used emg85's for years, but i'm putting together a beater metal guitar, and would like to try a passive thats as hot as the emg's.

I find it's easy to match the output level of EMGs with a lot of passives, but if you want that specific compression to the attack which makes the crunch like EMGs I can only recommend one pickup: Dimarzio D Activator.

As for hot passives, you can try these:

-Dimarzio D Activator (the perfect choice for someone searching for "EMG 81 sound, feel and output" in a passive, but with more dynamic range and warmth)
-Dimarzio Super Distortion (not as percussive, not as "open", is quite warm, still does classic stuff nicely, "taps" for a nice single coil sound)
-Duncan Distortion (quite percussive, a "forced" upper mid character that makes it a bit "quacky" that a lot of people think sounds like the attack of an EMG 81)
-Duncan PATB-2 Distortion (like the regular Distortion but supposedly somewhat more natural and open sounding...although this is just what I've been told; I haven't tried one)
-Duncan Custom (good percussive attack, fairly clear sounding, so people tend to liken it to an EMG 81)
-Gibson 500T (probably the highest passive output pickup I've used, still sounds quite nice and "open" but with some guitars the bass gets boomy...gotta watch the pickup's height)
-Gibson Dirty Fingers (like the 500T but with sweeter/richer mids, somewhat less percussive attack)

On that note I've "made" a pickup which I think is great for high output and clarity. It's an older JB (one of the ones which says "JBJ" on the baseplate, and has copper shielding foil around each bobbin that's grounded to the plate), and I put a ceramic magnet from a Custom in it. I've been told that's the recipe for a Duncan Distortion, but this sounds better to me...warmer, smoother, almost no "quack" at all. It could be that the copper shielding foil affects the pickup's inductance, in a way that I happen to like. (That could also be the reason these pickups are the more sought after JBs on the used market.)

There's some talk that the difference from the 500T to the Dirty Fingers is the same thing; the Dirty Fingers used to have copper shielding foil around its bobbins and the 500T didn't. I don't know if they still make both pickups that way, but if they do...that would be interesting.
 
JamesPeters":a75df said:
There's some talk that the difference from the 500T to the Dirty Fingers is the same thing; the Dirty Fingers used to have copper shielding foil around its bobbins and the 500T didn't. I don't know if they still make both pickups that way, but if they do...that would be interesting.

I think I read the Dirty fingers have irregular winding...

To the OP: I hear good things about Tom Andersons. I have an HN3+ I am itching to install this weekend.
 
JamesPeters":c7796 said:
CharFace":c7796 said:
:hys: @ Your Avatar :rock:

What? It's true.

;) :D

mchn13":c7796 said:
i don't want to hi-jack the thread, but what about all out, high output pups? i saw robotechs' comment about the x2n, what else is that hot? i've also used emg85's for years, but i'm putting together a beater metal guitar, and would like to try a passive thats as hot as the emg's.

I find it's easy to match the output level of EMGs with a lot of passives, but if you want that specific compression to the attack which makes the crunch like EMGs I can only recommend one pickup: Dimarzio D Activator.

As for hot passives, you can try these:

-Dimarzio D Activator (the perfect choice for someone searching for "EMG 81 sound, feel and output" in a passive, but with more dynamic range and warmth)
-Dimarzio Super Distortion (not as percussive, not as "open", is quite warm, still does classic stuff nicely, "taps" for a nice single coil sound)
-Duncan Distortion (quite percussive, a "forced" upper mid character that makes it a bit "quacky" that a lot of people think sounds like the attack of an EMG 81)
-Duncan PATB-2 Distortion (like the regular Distortion but supposedly somewhat more natural and open sounding...although this is just what I've been told; I haven't tried one)
-Duncan Custom (good percussive attack, fairly clear sounding, so people tend to liken it to an EMG 81)
-Gibson 500T (probably the highest passive output pickup I've used, still sounds quite nice and "open" but with some guitars the bass gets boomy...gotta watch the pickup's height)
-Gibson Dirty Fingers (like the 500T but with sweeter/richer mids, somewhat less percussive attack)

On that note I've "made" a pickup which I think is great for high output and clarity. It's an older JB (one of the ones which says "JBJ" on the baseplate, and has copper shielding foil around each bobbin that's grounded to the plate), and I put a ceramic magnet from a Custom in it. I've been told that's the recipe for a Duncan Distortion, but this sounds better to me...warmer, smoother, almost no "quack" at all. It could be that the copper shielding foil affects the pickup's inductance, in a way that I happen to like. (That could also be the reason these pickups are the more sought after JBs on the used market.)

There's some talk that the difference from the 500T to the Dirty Fingers is the same thing; the Dirty Fingers used to have copper shielding foil around its bobbins and the 500T didn't. I don't know if they still make both pickups that way, but if they do...that would be interesting.

wow !!!

thanks for taking the time for that breakdown !!!! much appreciated !!!!

sounds like I should check out the D Activator ... the way you described it ... is what I'm looking to do ..

not lose the attack ... but but bring some organic warmth !!!
 
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