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Post subject: EMG 81/85 Active Pickups?
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:07 pm
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Anyone have any experience using EMG 81/85 humbuckers through a Mustang? I read a few posts and it sounded like it was fine, so I ordered a guitar with Emg actives. Poking around a bit more now I'm finding some post suggesting solid state amps don't like really hot inputs and clip the signal. Hope I didn't make a big mistake. I could have gotten the guitar with passive DiMarzios instead but its a bit late for that now as the axe is on the way. The guitar in question is a Schecter C-1 Plantinum FR by the way.

EDIT:
Sorry, just thinking about this a bit more. Pickup frequency response characteristics aside, having too high of an input signal will cause input clipping depending on the input headroom of a given amp. Googling a bit it look like your typical passive humbucker puts out about a maximum of 500mv while a set of EMG 81/85 look like they can go to as high as 1.25 RMS and 1.75 peak. I haven't confirmed those figures but I might just have to hook up the old O scope and do a bit of testing. If these figures are accurate the EMG are putting out +3 times the signal of passives. I wouldn't have thought them designed to be THAT its certainly possible and very interesting at that.

I think when I get this new guitar the first thing I'm going to do is hook all my guitars up to my oscilloscope and get output profiles for each of them at various volume settings. I read someone say that active tone doesn't change much when you attenuate the signal by lowering the volume knob. I'd be interest to see exactly what the frequency profile of the actives look like at more traditional passive pickup output levels. If the actives tonal response really doesn't change too much at those lower levels its possible that the actives will give you an even greater level of practical control, for example increasing the maximum input single to just under clipping level of the solid state amplifier input and thus utilizing your amps headroom more effectively. I'd be helpful to have some manufacturers data on amp the input characteristic. I may have to experiment with different voltage supply levels to the actives and see how that effects the tonal response as well. It might be cool to mod the guitar with a variable power supply and voltage readout. While the volume knob will attenuate the signal produced by the actives, varying levels of voltage should actually effect the response of the pickups themselves.

Either way, I think it will be fun to experiment with. I'll try to post some findings. The big question I have now is what is a what level does the mustang start clipping? I'm sure each amp will have somewhat of its own unique input characteristic but does anyone know if Fender list this type of data?


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Post subject: Re: EMG 81/85 Active Pickups?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:10 am
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I have these pups in one of my guitars (Charvel Desolation DC-1) and don't have any problems with my MIII v2 in any way. That said, I'm kind of preferring my guitar with P-90's recently, but that's a whole different thing.

Have fun! The EMGs are very active and have lots of punch! Also very clean to start out with which I think is why people like them to distort -- even though not my thing.

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Post subject: Re: EMG 81/85 Active Pickups?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:46 am
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Your other thread mentions you have the MV (V1).

Regardless if you could find Fender's technical specs with input sensitivity and more regarding your MV (v1), your best practical findings are likely to come from simply plugging in and trying each Basic Amp model at various Amp Gain level settings. You will discover how each responds to your guitar's active pickup signal levels, and determine at what combinations of settings the Amp's front end stage exhibits any clipping or you notice any other digital artifacts from overdriving the DSP.

If you need or want more precise empirical data you are likely going to have to test for and measure it yourself regardless of what you may discover from contacting Fender TSL.

If you are going to modify your MV (v1) as your other thread contemplates, you'll already be in it. While there you may also want to assure that all internal components are properly grounded. As I recall, one of the Forum threads from a few years back, had detailed photos of a user correcting a problem he had with his v1 unit. Those images may be of assistance to you. The Forum's Search tool may help find them if you search for for a variety of terms. Try "fizz" amongst the search terms.

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Post subject: Re: EMG 81/85 Active Pickups?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 12:23 pm
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MusicLaw wrote:
Try "fizz" amongst the search terms.

Are you sure you want to point him into that journey? It could take him a life time. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: EMG 81/85 Active Pickups?
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:14 pm
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HIO wrote:
MusicLaw wrote:
Try "fizz" amongst the search terms.

Are you sure you want to point him into that journey? It could take him a life time. :lol:
:lol: I'd simply go with a new (or lightly used) MV (v2) but that's just me.

Of course, he could also approach the scenario by setting the levels on his guitar to Maximum and do the same with the Amp's Preset Gain and Preset Volume. Then he could determine how much he must reduce the Amp Preset's Gain and Preset's Volume to eliminate overdriving the front end stage and DSP. :roll:

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