EMG HZ's

[Casezilla]

I have EMG HZ's on my ESP(LTD)B-305 bass.
I was wondering a few things:

#1 -- What's your opinion of them?
#2 -- If I should trade them for something, what should I trade them for?
#3 -- How much do these go for new?
#4 -- How much do you think I could get it for used?

Thank you very, very much for your time.
~Casey

[vaesto]

1. Not bad, but not good either. Tone lucks low end clarity, highs are not clear too.
2. Go for the EMG 40DC - nothing more needs to be cut/drilled. Volume and tone controls are included. BLEND CONTROL IS NOT!!!! I use 2 volumes - not very convinient trully. Sound is much better, MUCH.
3. don't know
4. I've sold pair of mine 35HZ used on LTD F-204 for the price of one 35DC.

[Gopher Bob]

#1 -- What's YOUR opinion of them?
#2 -- Answer probably would depend on YOUR answer to above.
#3 -- I sold my EMGHZ guitar pickups on ebay for I believe $60 maybe 80 for the set used...
#4 -- Woops answered it above.



If I HAD to decide for you based on

1) I really like active EMGs and

2) I assume you would like them too


I would recommend EMGs! Probably two DCs!!! or a DC in the bridge w/ 35P(still humbucker shape) in the neck which is what I have.

[Droot]

I love EMG HZs and would not change them (3 of my basses have them) but what you like is up to you. I tend to think you need to try some other brands to get a feel for the tone you like and then look for a replacement that will deliver.
DRoot

[Modulus1906]

I have them on a Spector NS 2000/5 and love them. Having said that, I do intend to upgrade" the Spector with a set of EMG 40TW's which are active. I expect more punch but some guys don't believe the upgrade is needed based on how the HZ's sound. It could be that they work well with the Spector bass. I don't disagree with them...I guess I'm just more curious what the 40TWs might sound like to the extend I don't mind spending the money.

[Hendo92]

Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the 35HZ's? cheers

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Hendo92

Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the 35HZ's? cheers

I'm pretty sure it's on their site. Wait, it's not. Only that it's 3.5" wide. Funny, I've seen a spec sheet on them somewhere, but it doesn't show up on the site in any obvious spot. Odd.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Casezilla

#1 -- What's your opinion of them?
#2 -- If I should trade them for something, what should I trade them for?
#3 -- How much do these go for new?
#4 -- How much do you think I could get it for used?

They're the most hated pickup on TalkBass, almost surely due to the propensity for group-think, if for no other reason than "good" or "bad" depends on so many other factors -- strings, style, sound desired, amp, effects, etc... I doubt many (if any) people here could tell the difference between them and an "awesum" pickup in a blind test, and if it's not glaringly obvious, why bother?

They're OK. I don't see anything that's special about them either way. I saw them turn up on one of the fancier brands a while back, rather to my surprise, due to their unhipness.

I don't believe in changing pickups unless there's some compelling reason to do so, some problem that can't be rectified by a tweak somewhere else in the signal path. I think people greatly exaggerate the improvements in their minds and the results are not predictable anyway, given the vast differences in the native sounds that basses have.

As for price, check eBay.

[darkstorm]

The newer generation of emg hz are very good imo if you like crunchy rather then smooth voice orientation. The older versions like the "select series" are not nearly as good imo.

[Chrisk-K]

What are the things you don't like about the HZ in your bass?

IMO, the newer HZ series is very good. I played basses equipped with the J-HZ & P-HZ last December and liked their tones.

[skruch]

I have a 35Hz in my Fleabass Junior that I like alot. New $89 street, used $35 to $40. Definitely a "modern" bass sound. Dead quiet. Only "inexpensive" replacement in passive is Duncan SSB-4 AFAIK. Street is $56. Deeper and more reserved sounding. Some say more "polite" with the EMG being more "aggressive." I've had both in my bass, am sticking with the EMG.

[Bongolation]

I thought I had three or four basses around here with HZs, but apparently I'm either mistaken or they're buried away somewhere where I can't find them. I did rediscover that I had a Schecter C-5 Custom with HZ40s and an EMG BTS preamp, which I had no idea was in it until a few minutes ago.



The thing that probably bears mentioning is that the BTS is frequently OEM in these HZ-equipped basses and is undocumented. It's adjustable for band centering with four options by a DIP switch on the tiny board, so you can probably monkey with your sound a bit there.