EMG J pups: 9 or 18 volt?

[Jamie_Funk]

For me, the 18v mod makes a bigger impact on their DUAL coil range (i.e. DC/CS) than a P or J, though it is noticeable in both cases.

I found on my DC-equipped 5 strings, there was less compression and the sound opened up more, and in particular the lows sounded nicer.

Not a HUGE difference, but still enough to be worth it for me.

J

[bonga_rascal]

If you are running only the pickups using a vol vol tone or a vol blend tone, then no difference to my ears.

However, big difference if you are using ENG + On Board preamp.

I had a bass with a EMG jazz set + Aguilar OBP-3. Wired it in 9 volts initially, sounded cool. Then wired it in 18 voltrs just for kicks, could not believe my ears. Bigger, louder sonic footprint. And plus, I don't have to change batteries regularly.

[walterw]

well that might have been the aggie making a bigger difference at 18V.

anyway, +1 to everybody else in this zombie thread; 18V makes EMGs a little less compressed, especially the more "demanding" stuff like the dual-coils and the accessories. it doesn't make them actually louder, though.

i've seen them run at 27V, but that was way up the ol' "diminishing returns" ramp, and anyway probably not so good for the electronics long-term.

i don't bother to install them at 9V for anybody anymore.

[Steve Dallman]

I have EMG J pickups in my fretless, along with two preamps, one EMG, the other one I built. I run it off 18v. I compared 9v, 18v and 27v. There was definitely more headroom and punch at 18v compared to 9v, but I could not tell the difference between 18 and 27 volts.

[grendle]

used to run them 9v switched to 18v and wont go back. Much more headroom and fidelity at 18v. no difference in tone i would say, but the increase in fidelity is great. kind of like under powering a really good set of speakers, then feeding them with a good amp and plenty of power.

Spector tone pump pre's

You can make a twin battery harness for about $3 from rat shack. that way you can switch from 9 to 18v with no permanent mods required. really simple, takes about 5 min to make, plug n play.

[hip63]

I have some basses with "standard" EMGs and I have some basses with the newer "X" series of EMG pickups.

On the standard EMGs, I do hear a difference and it does sound less compress with 18v.

However on the X series EMGs (redesigned preamp for more headroom) the difference is far more subtle. So for many people with EMG X pickups, they may not need that extra 9v.

BTW - My most recent EMG purchase is the EMG PAX Pickup. It has the X series internal preamp and is made with Alnico Magnets, the best damned P pickup I've ever heard. EMG makes'em in a J too.

hip63

[Jamie_Funk]

Originally Posted by hip63

I have some basses with "standard" EMGs and I have some basses with the newer "X" series of EMG pickups.

On the standard EMGs, I do hear a difference and it does sound less compress with 18v.

However on the X series EMGs (redesigned preamp for more headroom) the difference is far more subtle. So for many people with EMG X pickups, they may not need that extra 9v.

BTW - My most recent EMG purchase is the EMG PAX Pickup. It has the X series internal preamp and is made with Alnico Magnets, the best damned P pickup I've ever heard. EMG makes'em in a J too.

hip63

This is my experience also - the X series didn't sound different to me at 9 or 18 v, but the non-X series certainly does.

J

[walterw]

big fan of the X-series, they sound like they're already at 18V!

(i run 'em at 18 anyway, though )

[JimmyM]

I still stand by what I said in 2007

I have EMG PJ's in my P Lyte now, and tried the PJX's as well. I was disappointed to not be able to put two batteries in the tiny cavity of my P Lyte with a BQC, but I could do it in one of my other basses with older EMG PJ's and a 2 band preamp. Still not any more excited about it than I was years ago. Extremely subtle at best. Maybe it's the way I play or the way I set my controls, but I just can't hear a real difference that matters on a gig.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by grendle

You can make a twin battery harness for about $3 from rat shack. that way you can switch from 9 to 18v with no permanent mods required. really simple, takes about 5 min to make, plug n play.

do you have a pic of that set-up?

[grendle]

Originally Posted by JIO

do you have a pic of that set-up?

here are 2. you only need one though. connect one end to the existing 9v terminal and connect batteries to the other 2 ends. If you dont like it, pull the harness off and your back to 9v. A guy over on the spector thread sells them pre made, these were from a post of his.

[JIO]

here are 2. you only need one though. connect one end to the existing 9v terminal and connect batteries to the other 2 ends. If you dont like it, pull the harness off and your back to 9v. A guy over on the spector thread sells them pre made, these were from a post of his.

thanks, that will help determine comparisons -

[grendle]

Originally Posted by JIO

thanks, that will help determine comparisons -

where your going to hear the difference is in the attack and initial part of the note. @18v it cleans up nicely but stays solid. @9v you loose a bit of the articulation and the note plumes quicker. It's most noticeable when playing faster on the lower strings. imo. similiar to what you hear using a sonic maximizer imo. ( but for different reasons)

[JIO]

Originally Posted by grendle

where your going to hear the difference is in the attack and initial part of the note. @18v it cleans up nicely but stays solid. @9v you loose a bit of the articulation and the note plumes quicker. It's most noticeable when playing faster on the lower strings. imo. similiar to what you hear using a sonic maximizer imo. ( but for different reasons)

thanks - Is there a rule of thumb for why some instruments are louder than others even if they are both active? In other words, w/the amp setting the same, and the bass (say with 2 pu's) V is up full, why are some louder at the same level than others? (sorry if this is a dumb question) If it's a long explanation, if you can refer me to a book or article on it that would help.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by JIO

thanks - Is there a rule of thumb for why some instruments are louder than others even if they are both active? In other words, w/the amp setting the same, and the bass (say with 2 pu's) V is up full, why are some louder at the same level than others? (sorry if this is a dumb question) If it's a long explanation, if you can refer me to a book or article on it that would help.

It's usually just different pickups, how their adjusted , or the output of the preamp. Some pre's are really hot, some passive pups can be really hot also. I have tonepumps in my spectors which are adjustable output level.

From what we can speculate, some mfr's have really hot outputs to drive tube amp inputs. So you can get some dirt out of them if you want. It can be a pain though if their too hot and not adjustable, with some amps. The 9 to 18v mod does not increase the output of the pups. It just increases the available voltage for the pups to use during operation.

[khutch]

To put it another way, the output level from a preamp is a free choice on the designer's part. Many are designed for unity gain (0 dB) but they do not have to be. Some have output level set pots that can be adjusted to suit or to match your other basses. And then as said, even those with unity gain will pass along the output level of the pickups and pickups can vary quite a bit in output level too. So there is no reason whatsoever to expect one active bass to have the same output level as another.

Ken

[JIO]

Ken & grendle - That really clears things up, thanks for passing on your knowledge! I'm guessing tonepumps are a type of pu? Now that you mention it, I had an EMG J set years ago that had adjustable output levels and never really played around w/the setting.

Maybe this next question starts moving into another thread, but since I trust you'll have an educated opinion, I'm wanting a (reasonably priced but good) compression pedal - recommendations?

[bassgod76]

Love me some EMG's in 18V! The clarity is unreal

[grendle]

The tone pump is a Spector preamp with adjustable output. Can't Recomend a compressor as I don't use one. I did use the one in my hartke 3500 which I liked, but have switched to ampeg tube pre's and don't use one any more.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JIO

Now that you mention it, I had an EMG J set years ago that had adjustable output levels and never really played around w/the setting.

you did?

i've never heard of such a thing.