When the heck is EMG gonna expand the HZ line????!!

prokfrog · #1 08-30-2010, 10:47 AM

I would be great to see them come out with P, and J configurations, single coil, etc. in the current soapbar shapes with the same quick connect. With all those basses out there with the standard HZ configurations, they would make a killing with folks looking for plug and play flexibility.

Luis Fabara · #2 08-30-2010, 12:29 PM

The whole Idea of the HZ line is to offer a low cost OEM pickup, that can be easily replaced with their Active Pickup line.

You dont Upgrade to HZ.., you Upgrade to Active EMGs

FunkMetalBass · #3 08-30-2010, 12:30 PM

Truth be told, the HZs don't have the best reputation tonally. I think you'd be happier getting an actual 35/40/45-P pickup to throw in there, especially considering the difference in price is fairly small.

prokfrog · #4 08-30-2010, 12:40 PM

The HZ connector is not compatable with the active connector. So someone who has an OEM HZ in their bass can switch to a P or a j and remain passive. I don't really know why the HZ gets the bad rap it does. Yes it's bright. I'd rather dial down treble, than try to get zing out of a darker sounding pickup.

Luis Fabara · #5 08-30-2010, 01:15 PM

The direct replacement regards SIZING of the pickup.
You just replace the cable and electronics and you are done, without any routing to the bass.

tdub0199 · #6 08-30-2010, 01:19 PM

I replaced my HZ's with 35P4...

5string5fingers · #7 08-30-2010, 01:25 PM

The bigger question is when the heck is EMG going to make a standard 5 string jazz pickups..not the soap bar. They have a 5 string bridge pickup but it's only in their P/J set.

prokfrog · #8 08-30-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Fabara

The direct replacement regards SIZING of the pickup.
You just replace the cable and electronics and you are done, without any routing to the bass.

My point is that for instance, if you have an HZ-40, you can now throw in an HZ-40J, or HZ-40P without having to solder in a new cable. and they're passive..

darkstorm · #9 08-30-2010, 02:18 PM

EMG does make HZ P and J pups. Todays versions are much better then those of the 80's and early 90's. However your right that they dont offer anywhere near the variety that the HZ guitar humbuckers come in for voicing choices. It would be a good move on their part to offer more versions of the P and J pups in Hz to give buyers a variety more akin to whats available for guitar humbuckers.

prokfrog · #10 08-30-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

EMG does make HZ P and J pups. Todays versions are much better then those of the 80's and early 90's. However your right that they dont offer anywhere near the variety that the HZ guitar humbuckers come in for voicing choices. It would be a good move on their part to offer more versions of the P and J pups in Hz to give buyers a variety more akin to whats available for guitar humbuckers.

Yes. I do realize they have a P and a J however not in the soapbar case which is what i think you are referring to.

SGD Lutherie · #11 08-30-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

They have a 5 string bridge pickup but it's only in their P/J set.

That's the same as the regular J pickup. It's the standard bridge size 4-5 string pickup.

If you want wider, you have to go with the extended series, i.e., the soapbars.

FunkMetalBass · #12 08-30-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prokfrog

The HZ connector is not compatable with the active connector. So someone who has an OEM HZ in their bass can switch to a P or a j and remain passive. I don't really know why the HZ gets the bad rap it does. Yes it's bright. I'd rather dial down treble, than try to get zing out of a darker sounding pickup.

Because the HZ has naturally scooped mids. They generally are not preferred, and those of us who like to boost our mids are S.O.L. - there are no mids to boost or cut in the first place.

SGD Lutherie · #13 08-30-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Because the HZ has naturally scooped mids. They generally are not preferred, and those of us who like to boost our mids are S.O.L. - there are no mids to boost or cut in the first place.

From what I can tell they take the active coils and just don't use a preamp. But the active pickups are (kind of) wired in parallel. They probably have too much wire on them to sound good passive.

FunkMetalBass · #14 08-30-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

From what I can tell they take the active coils and just don't use a preamp. But the active pickups are (kind of) wired in parallel. They probably have too much wire on them to sound good passive.

You know more about the pickups than I do, so I'll believe you. The HZ's definitely sounded better with a very colorful preamp like the OBP-3 than they did passive (**shudders**).