It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:26 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Active pickups Vs. regular humbuckers
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:09 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:06 pm
Posts: 410
Location: Florida
One of my choices when looking for a new guitar involves active pickups. I've never used them and because I don't live close to the music shop (and my new guitar could be 6 mos. in the future) I thought I would ask people about the differences. I could make assumptions like ... active pickups are more sensitive.... but if I ask people who use them I should get real answers and I'll then know what to expect when I go try them. (I did notice they use a 9v battery... is there an on/off switch?) Thanks.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:30 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
Most active are brighter in sound - at least for bass, also gives more tonal variation. Some come with 18v instead of 9v (2 batteries), for more headroom. I only have a 9v in mine. Some have on/off switch, mine never was like that, so when I switched to EMG, it wasn't a big deal, since they're always active. Some guitar player might be able to tell you more if they use actives how they like it.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:16 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:52 am
Posts: 745
Location: Florida
I unplug the battery. Same thing with pedal effects.
Pull the batteries out if u want to be sure they don't die.
Even if there is an on off switch.
Also, storing a batterry in the fridge helps it store longer.
I don't use active pickups...
I am attracted to the tone of reg magnetic pickups.
No battery is just a bonus. 8)

_________________
explorationx


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:31 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 1:53 pm
Posts: 1037
Location: Southeast Missouri.
Active pups are more noiseless than passive electronics, although they require batteries. Well...the batteries last forever anyway. They also can handle distortion better with less noise. If you're gonna get a guitar with an active set, then the EMG 81/85 combo is pretty nice. Got those in my Jackson, they're pretty nice.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:32 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
I too use emg's in my jackson. When you unplug the lead the battery is disconnected. I dont advise using them for anything except metal or punk, their clean/mildly overdriven sound is truely horrible. However for metal and punk they rule. they will take all the character out of your guitar's sound and replace it with their own sound more so than passive pickups. so if your going to try em do it on a cheap guitar, they will make it sound just like a £2000 esp with emg's in. I dont know if thats the case with seymour duncan livewire's/blackouts ive never heard em.

_________________
No no and no


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:56 am
Posts: 2766
Location: metro Chicago USA
No use (or need) for active pickups in general.

After decades of playing.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:35 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:50 pm
Posts: 27
ya know, active pickups sound brighter than passive pickups but the reason i switched from an active pickup guitar (Parker Fly Deluxe) to a passive pickup guitar (stratocaster) is because i hated how fast batteries were DRAINED from the active pickups.

another thing, SOME active pickup guitars will not play AT ALL without new batteries. it is not like the active pickups will turn into passive pickups if the battery dies.

stick to passive pickups!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:43 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:24 am
Posts: 422
Location: Raleigh, NC
I've got active pickups in my BC RICH. There is a switch to turn them on, and I also have a separate volume knob for the active "boost". It's a great feature on that guitar as well as coil tapping switches. I don't use them as much as passive, but they do make an interesting sound that is good for lead.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:15 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
[quote="marbles71"] i hated how fast batteries were DRAINED from the active pickups.
quote]

Then there's something wrong with your active pups. Even when I gigged every weekend, I've not run into any trouble replacing batteries before they drain. I've always replace them every 6 months, just out of habit.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:49 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:34 pm
Posts: 377
Location: The Rocky Mountains
As long as you don't leave your guitar plugged in when not using it, your batteries will last a very long time

_________________
Formally known here as The Metalhead Punk
Gear:
Standard Stratocaster HSS w/ SD SH-6 Distortion in the bridge
Ernie Ball Strings
Monster Cables
Dunlop Picks
Peavey 5150 II 120watt Head
Vader 2x12 Cab 240watt


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: