EMG hz? wow

[BrandonBass]

Been contemplating on gettin a stingray and saw this local ad so i decided to drop by the dude's house and try it out.

I brought my mij fender jazz with dimarzio model Js + audere jz3 preamp strung with dead dr fatbeams for comparison purposes. Everything was played through his swr practise amp.

First, I plugged in my jazz and played some. Not bad, sounds abit better than my practise amp at home. Next, I tried his stingray. Not too impressed, i have played better rays before. My jazz in this state sounded better. The stingray was strung with fresh dr black beauties mind you, and with abit higher action than my jazz.

Not too impressed I decided to make my move, thats when he offered to let me try 2 of his other basses and see if I liked it. He took out a fender deluxe jazz(stock) and plugged it in for me. Im pretty impressed, and it sounds pretty good and feels pretty good. But I still prefer the dimarzio humbuckers on my jazz.

Then he said wait, how about I try his spector. Its a spector 4dlx fm. It has a preamp that can ONLY boost bass and treble and is equipped with 2 EMG hz, one at the neck and one at the bridge. Given the bad-rep of EMGs sounding 'sterile', I was abit skeptical. But I just thought 'why not?'

Plugged it in and played afew notes. Wow. The best sounding bass in the house by quite a mile. It had a very extended low-end and is detailed in the mids and highs are not harsh. Lows are tight, not boomy.

I have my mind set on a stingray because I used to own a really great sounding one, but now im wondering if spector is really the way to go

[georgestrings]

Spector makes great basses, and have been on a fair amount of great sounding bass tracks over the years... I played a pair of Spector Q5s for years, and never had a problem with getting a good sound - I'd probably still be playing them, except that my current Ibanez 5ers are more comfortable *for me*...

Anyways, I don't think you can go wrong with Spector, as long as you avoid the Performer line...


- georgestrings

[azzyrazzy]

Maybe it's the spector, not the EMG's

[SMILEYSIXX]

Originally Posted by azzyrazzy

Maybe it's the spector, not the EMG's

A lot of their sound is in the preamp, but I think those EMG's do contribute a lot to the tone.

[AmadeusXeno]

I have a Schecter with EMG HZ pups in it. It also has a 2 band pre, but I can cut or boost. I liked the sound I got out of them. I never felt that they are 1 trick ponies like others have said. I thought they were very versitile. I've used that bass literally in gospel and metal bands.

[Rano Bass]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

Given the bad-rep of EMGs sounding 'sterile', I was abit skeptical. But I just thought 'why not?'

Plugged it in and played afew notes. Wow. The best sounding bass in the house by quite a mile.

EMG pickups are very good, dont dismiss them just because you read some bad reviews.

With that said... Spectors sound very good.

[MistaMarko]

I would kill for a Spector

[NecroticImbecil]

I like Hzs more than active EMGs in most basses.

[ysand]

@OP

You probably tried a Rebop 4 DLX model (or better described: euro bolt-on).
The preamp is not boost only, as believed till a few months back.
These basses play like a dream and sound amazingly as are!

If u liked the sound and feel, go for it

[BrandonBass]

Originally Posted by ysand

@OP

You probably tried a Rebop 4 DLX model (or better described: euro bolt-on).
The preamp is not boost only, as believed till a few months back.
These basses play like a dream and sound amazingly as are!

If u liked the sound and feel, go for it

really? i set the bass and treble knobs at noon because i didnt hear about it being 'boost only' after going home to do some research.

Because according to talkbass, spectors uses the tone pump circuit no?

[darkstorm]

The newer emg hz are good, diff better then the early versions like the emg selects.

[bstringrandy]

I have an older NS-JH5 with a Tonepump and EMGs. Despite a lot of negative TB opinions on this preamp, I find it very versatile for a 2-band boost-only unit and can cover a 4 hour cover gig with only very minor tweaks on the settings. The coil-tap on the bridge humbucker really unleashes the beast!

I love my Spector!!

Attachment 208509

[ysand]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

really? i set the bass and treble knobs at noon because i didnt hear about it being 'boost only' after going home to do some research.

Because according to talkbass, spectors uses the tone pump circuit no?

Check the Tonepump information here:
Stuart Spector Designs, LTD - Makers of fine electric and bass guitars: UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY | UNPARALLELED VERSATILITY | UNBELIEVABLE SOUND

Bass: +14dB/-4dB @55Hz
Treble: +14dB/-12dB @6,5kHz

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by NecroticImbecil

I like Hzs more than active EMGs in most basses.

I do, too. The HZ series are very different than the active pickups that built the EMG brand. The HZ series was originally a lower priced passive option for OEMs. IME, EMG HZ pickups are kind of dark sounding, real fat midrange, no "hi-fi" sound. Just what I like. They sound especially great totally passive, probably because the budget concious basses they ofeten come on have substandard active EQ systems.

[Billnc]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I do, too. The HZ series are very different than the active pickups that built the EMG brand. The HZ series was originally a lower priced passive option for OEMs. IME, EMG HZ pickups are kind of dark sounding, real fat midrange, no "hi-fi" sound. Just what I like. They sound especially great totally passive, probably because the budget concious basses they ofeten come on have substandard active EQ systems.

My set has the EMG active preamp (I forget which one but it's Bass Mid and Treble) really nice sounding. You are correct, in the cheaper basses these come in, it's not always the pick ups fault but a really bad preamp.