Active Pickups?

[DirtySteve]

I'm thinking about maybe trying some in my LP tribute. Maybe only a bridge pickup with a dummy neck pickup, but who knows. I know less than nothing about active pickups so I'm all ears.

Which ones? Can I put them in a LP without modifications to the guitar? ...that sort of thing.

Cheers!

 

[fitz]

I'm thinking about maybe trying some in my LP tribute. Maybe only a bridge pickup with a dummy neck pickup, but who knows. I know less than nothing about active pickups so I'm all ears.

Which ones? Can I put them in a LP without modifications to the guitar? ...that sort of thing.

Cheers!

I have some EMG's in a HH Squire Strat.
Basically, instead of passive magnets, the pups have electromagnets powered by the 9v battery.
In a nutshell, active pickups are bright and crisp - like ferrite magnets on steroids.
Not exactly warm and mellow like alnico pup tones.

They have different value pots, so you'll need all new controls, but if you buy a set from EMG it comes with everything.
Their wiring kits are all quick-connect plug and play.

 

[DirtySteve]

What about other brands, like Seymour Duncan?

 

[fitz]

What about other brands, like Seymour Duncan?

I have no other personal experience.
The technology is the same, and the differences are probably a lot like the hype and mumbo-jumbo between different brands of normal pups.
I'm sure there are tonal differences between brands and models, but good, better, best is just as subjective.

 

[67plexi]

I tried EMG's in my Gibson SG when they first came out didn't care for them the pots were cheap mini Chinese crap

 

[67plexi]

 

[Seamus OReally]

I’ve used EMGs in my number one Strat for 30 years. They are hi-fi pickups, very sensitive to touch, capable of a huge variety of tones. Personally, as an ex-adman, I think EMG got themselves stuck in a corner by courting so many heavy metal players, convincing buyers that’s all they’re good for. They should have brought more guys like Vince Gill into the fold, because my experience is they’re good for everything.

 

[67plexi]

I’ve used EMGs in my number one Strat for 30 years. They are hi-fi pickups, very sensitive to touch, capable of a huge variety of tones. Personally, as an ex-adman, I think EMG got themselves stuck in a corner by courting so many heavy metal players, convincing buyers that’s all they’re good for. They should have brought more guys like Vince Gill into the fold, because my experience is they’re good for everything.

What ever works for you, I sold the SG Standard with the EMG set the new owner liked them.
I get the hi fi part no hum or hiss why I posted the video I had the Gibson Custom Shop make a copy of my #00 serial number 1960
Les Paul standard when I got the Custom Shop guitar I hated the burst bucker #1 pickups sounded like mud
I called my friend Jim Rolph told him what the issue was Jim don't except me to fix a tone turd guitar
I just wanted it to sound like my 1960 Burst clean and clear I ordered 4 sets gave a set to Brian our other guitar player at that time
Brian was blown away so was I My other Custom Shop Les Paul got a set also 17 years later My 1960 Gibson copy
sustained out of control I thought it was my amp no it was the guitar
Next I scored a used never played 2010 PRS Custom 24 the neck pickup amazing the bridge pickup not good they call it a Hot Fat and Screams 15.5 ohm I ordered a neck pickup called vintage bass fixed 8.5 ohms

 

[C-Grin]

I like the premise of the video, and it also okay to be the “I just want to try something new “ guy too. I’ve swapped a sh$& load of pickups and ended up back where I started, sorta like speakers too. Oh well.
EMG’s have tempted me a time or two but never bought any. Almost put a set in a Charvel in the early 90’s but went for Dimarzio instead. I’d probably try a Strat set if I caught a used set on CL.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

I like the premise of the video, and it also okay to be the “I just want to try something new “ guy too. I’ve swapped a sh$& load of pickups and ended up back where I started, sorta like speakers too. Oh well.
EMG’s have tempted me a time or two but never bought any. Almost put a set in a Charvel in the early 90’s but went for Dimarzio instead. I’d probably try a Strat set if I caught a used set on CL.

The “I just wanna try something new” thing is why I was buying “husks” before they got out of control. I had a blank slate to start with…I could go from there.
Later…I kinda thought I knew what I wanted. Now…I know I was poking in the right direction “for me”…and now that the olden days of gigging half stacks, cranked to the sweet spot, are over…I know what I want for the new-age-noodle-fest…at least I “think” I know.

Then I wind up the Peavey T-60, and think again…

 

[67plexi]

Times have changed the last time I played my 100 watt Marshall Super Lead on stage was1999
Now in my town they don't want amps on stage just direct modelers into the mixing board

 

[ibmorjamn]

I'm thinking about maybe trying some in my LP tribute. Maybe only a bridge pickup with a dummy neck pickup, but who knows. I know less than nothing about active pickups so I'm all ears.

Which ones? Can I put them in a LP without modifications to the guitar? ...that sort of thing.

Cheers!

They are sort of versatile, my experience is also limited. My son had a Epiphone LP Prophecy that came equipped with I believe EMG’s. It was good for keeping the low end from getting loose like some passive pickups do. They also worked pretty good clean. But , I would try to find a guitar to play just so you know before buying them. imho
Also , if you were going to do just a bridge I wonder if you could hide the battery where bridge pickup would go to not have to carve a hole in the body ?