Want to skip the pre with EMG 40DC. Can I do it?

**ChrisCassisi** · #1 09-28-2011, 11:40 PM

So big edit from previous post. I am not familiar with these pickups at all. I am a 4 and 6 string player mainly. So I have these in a Carvin 5 string fretless and was wondering if I should use a on board preamp with these pups or would they sound ok without a pre.

BruceWane · #2 09-29-2011, 02:57 PM

They can be used without a preamp, but the pickups themselves are active and would still require a battery.

Use 25K pots if wiring a passive circuit.

rockstarbassist · #3 09-29-2011, 03:23 PM

^^^

My Charvel 3B has active EMG P/J's but the preamp is passive. Sounds like the daddy of all Pee's.

walterw · #4 09-29-2011, 08:18 PM

no such thing as a "passive preamp".

do you mean that you've just got regular volume and tone knobs after those active pickups?

**ChrisCassisi** · #5 09-29-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

no such thing as a "passive preamp".

do you mean that you've just got regular volume and tone knobs after those active pickups?

Thats exactly what I mean.

**ChrisCassisi** · #6 09-29-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceWane

They can be used without a preamp, but the pickups themselves are active and would still require a battery.

Use 25K pots if wiring a passive circuit.

Yah I know I would have to use the battery still but want to ditch the pre. Not an EMG guy so this is my first time dealing with them in my own bass.

bassplayer8953 · #7 09-29-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCassisi

Thats exactly what I mean.

This is how this pickup is meant to be installed:

40DC | Electric Guitar Pickups & Accessories - EMG Pickups

...passive controls on active picups. The decision to add active circuitry is up to the owner/user.

I have a PJ set of EMG actives installed in one of my basses, and the controls are as simple as a standard PJ, with the exception of battery power to the pickups themselves.

SGD Lutherie · #8 09-29-2011, 08:50 PM

Keep in mind that the passive tone control is not very effective with the active EMGs. It just doesn't do all that much.

bassplayer8953 · #9 09-29-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Keep in mind that the passive tone control is not very effective with the active EMGs. It just doesn't do all that much.

...still works though. Takes off that "snap" if you want to go with a more mellow sound. I wound up replacing the supplied tone/volume setup with an EMG BTS system...still passive, but has separate bass & treble control to replace the 1 tone pot. Nice addition, but around $100 for that added control.

SGD Lutherie · #10 09-29-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

...still works though. Takes off that "snap" if you want to go with a more mellow sound.

But it barely works compared to passive pickups with passive tone controls. That's because of the low impedance output of the EMG preamp. I always replaced the passive tone control with the BTC preamps.

Quote:

I wound up replacing the supplied tone/volume setup with an EMG BTS system...still passive, but has separate bass & treble control to replace the 1 tone pot.

The single pot version is the BTC. The BTS and BTC are not passive, they are active preamps. I used to use the BTC system with my EMGs.

If something uses a battery, it's not passive, it's active.

bassplayer8953 · #11 09-30-2011, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

But it barely works compared to passive pickups with passive tone controls. That's because of the low impedance output of the EMG preamp. I always replaced the passive tone control with the BTC preamps.

The single pot version is the BTC. The BTS and BTC are not passive, they are active preamps. I used to use the BTC system with my EMGs.

If something uses a battery, it's not passive, it's active.

Pickups are active, the BTS system I installed (and I did install it myself) used no power from the battery:

BTS System | Electric Guitar Pickups & Accessories - EMG Pickups

Emg describes the cut/boost feature on the systems you point out, including a center detent. My BTS system is not described as having boost, nor is there a center detent on bass or treble controls. Along with no battery power for a (non-existant) preamp, this is what I would interpret as a passive tone system. Active EMG pickups, passive controls, the same as supplied with the pickups, with separate bass/treble controls.

Jamie_Funk · #12 09-30-2011, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

Pickups are active, the BTS system I installed (and I did install it myself) used no power from the battery:

BTS System | Electric Guitar Pickups & Accessories - EMG Pickups

Emg describes the cut/boost feature on the systems you point out, including a center detent. My BTS system is not described as having boost, nor is there a center detent on bass or treble controls. Along with no battery power for a (non-existant) preamp, this is what I would interpret as a passive tone system. Active EMG pickups, passive controls, the same as supplied with the pickups, with separate bass/treble controls.

It uses the same battery your pickups do - they tone controls allow BOOST and CUT and require power.

From EMG's installation details doc (http://www.emgpickups.com/content/wi...0230-0177C.pdf)

Installation notes:
Battery Power:
If you play the instrument very hard, and are boosting the bass or treble with the BTS, you should consider operating the guitar on +18 Volts
(2 Batteries in series, see page 4). If you play mildly and use a minimum of boost the instrument should operate easily on a single 9-Volt battery.
Use an Alkaline or Lithium battery for the best battery life and always unplug your guitar when you’re not using it.

Jamie

SGD Lutherie · #13 09-30-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

Pickups are active, the BTS system I installed (and I did install it myself) used no power from the battery:

BTS System | Electric Guitar Pickups & Accessories - EMG Pickups

Emg describes the cut/boost feature on the systems you point out, including a center detent. My BTS system is not described as having boost, nor is there a center detent on bass or treble controls. Along with no battery power for a (non-existant) preamp, this is what I would interpret as a passive tone system. Active EMG pickups, passive controls, the same as supplied with the pickups, with separate bass/treble controls.

Yes, it does use the battery. The same red wire that connects to the pickups. It does boost and cut.

Also, if you have the stacked knob version (you said it replaced the tone knob) than that is the BTC (Bass/Treble/Concentric).

And you should use two batteries and run your bass on 18volts if you have the room. It will sound better.