Hello fellow bassfolk
Ok soooooo, I am what I would consider a now long time devotee to EMG (multiple basses with EMG and also now over 30 basses converted) I have become a bit knowledgable about certain things so I would like to offer some help to those using/considering EMG and even some (dare I say it) personal opinions based on experinece and also create a bit if a “hub”.
I have now used every single piece of active gear (most multiple times over) EMG makes for bass in a wide variety of combinations, so here goes…..I will start with the 9v vs 18v thing and sharing my fave pickups and setup with EMG.
(Now, if you think its useful to tell me threads already exist covering any and all of these topics? Save your time, head over to another thread and share that wisdom with someone else.)
So the answer to the topic I have seen debated back and forth, does 18v make a difference? The answer is a resounding YES! Now let me clarify this, some pickups and setups the difference is more noticeable than with others however in every case the difference is there. And yes, it is head room, or maybe more easily explainable as enhanced or uncapped performance as far as someone who might not understand what headroom is.
One of my fave things is the EMG original P. I love it just on its own without any tone, just a volume, or with the BTC control set to the ON/ON position on the internal dip switches so the treble is not a treble it’s more a high mid boost at around 2.5k.
Anyway, so running this in either scenario with just a 9v is meaty and chunky and has those extended highs and lows we all love or hate from EMG. But the beast is chained, capped….when you dig in or slap or play with a bit of energy the “compressed” effect as most like to refer to it kicks in. It’s literally just the pre amp doing its best to produce the transients you are hitting it with but it just doesn’t have the juice or “head room” to do so. Now, one of my students plays very lightly, so with him I did the experiment of swapping from 9 to 18 also as a test and guess what? There was also a difference in the fundamental tone. So here come these magic words….colourful, open, untethered….even in this case the sound just got slightly richer, deeper, broader. It’s not a night and day scenario which is why some people still say they hear no difference but it is certainly discernible, no doubt.
As you strat to add other pickups in the circuit and start using pre amps and boosting and cutting it tends to also make a big difference in the “open” sense of the sound.
Now to address a few more things.
1: The X series
2: The sterile/compressed/scooped comments that EMG seem to get slugged with
1: I do not consider the X series at 9v to be the same as the classic at 18v. I must now add an opinion and matter of taste, I much prefer all the pickups in original format over the X series. It’s just my taste. Now, let’s talk the P pickup again. The X pickup on 9v does have the more “open” sound, not so “compressed” as the classic at 9v, which is similar to the classic at 18v however to my ears they are tonaly quite different and they are of lesser output. Oh, btw, another common misconception is adding the extra 9v makes the pickup louder or the batteries last longer….those are both false and untrue.
2: EMG pickups are all different, obviously, so let’s again look at the P but can be said for many of their offerings. I see lots of the scooped/sterile/compressed comments.
So one by one:
-Scooped: no, not the case. Yes, more treble and bass than many P bass pups on the market but the old idea, it’s easier to take away than add? You CAN make the P sound vintage by removing or EQ’ing out some of that bottom and treble, no issue. So in this case they are not scooped at all, more like “flat response”
-Sterile: well, again, in the case of the P, more accurate might be articulate and clear….that is for sure. Sterile is again a taste thing and I think a lot of the time a misdiagnosis of the clarity/articulation combined with the extra top end. But hey, that’s just my humble opinion. One persons sterile is another’s mess.
-Compressed: Yeah, as stated above at 9v you can hit a roof when it’s pushed, which makes it sound limited and the general colour of the note at 9v has everything feeling more tighter and compact, which lends a feeling of compression. This could actually be quite useful to some players, for others a nightmare. But yes, at 9v again just in my opinion, compressed is a very valid description. Hence I only run at 18v.
Now lastly, if anyone has any questions or observations? Go for it. I have tried so many things with my EMG gear I am sure I can either help with questions or offer an opinion if desired.
My favourite pickups and setups are as follows:
1: Just a classic P with a volume and 18v.
2: Ceramic J in the bridge and a PA or P in the neck with the BTC knob and ABC balance (I don’t like volume/volume setups)
3: Ceramic J bridge and DC neck with BTC and ABC.
4: Dual DC with BTC and ABC.
Ok soooooo, I am what I would consider a now long time devotee to EMG (multiple basses with EMG and also now over 30 basses converted) I have become a bit knowledgable about certain things so I would like to offer some help to those using/considering EMG and even some (dare I say it) personal opinions based on experinece and also create a bit if a “hub”.
I have now used every single piece of active gear (most multiple times over) EMG makes for bass in a wide variety of combinations, so here goes…..I will start with the 9v vs 18v thing and sharing my fave pickups and setup with EMG.
(Now, if you think its useful to tell me threads already exist covering any and all of these topics? Save your time, head over to another thread and share that wisdom with someone else.)
So the answer to the topic I have seen debated back and forth, does 18v make a difference? The answer is a resounding YES! Now let me clarify this, some pickups and setups the difference is more noticeable than with others however in every case the difference is there. And yes, it is head room, or maybe more easily explainable as enhanced or uncapped performance as far as someone who might not understand what headroom is.
One of my fave things is the EMG original P. I love it just on its own without any tone, just a volume, or with the BTC control set to the ON/ON position on the internal dip switches so the treble is not a treble it’s more a high mid boost at around 2.5k.
Anyway, so running this in either scenario with just a 9v is meaty and chunky and has those extended highs and lows we all love or hate from EMG. But the beast is chained, capped….when you dig in or slap or play with a bit of energy the “compressed” effect as most like to refer to it kicks in. It’s literally just the pre amp doing its best to produce the transients you are hitting it with but it just doesn’t have the juice or “head room” to do so. Now, one of my students plays very lightly, so with him I did the experiment of swapping from 9 to 18 also as a test and guess what? There was also a difference in the fundamental tone. So here come these magic words….colourful, open, untethered….even in this case the sound just got slightly richer, deeper, broader. It’s not a night and day scenario which is why some people still say they hear no difference but it is certainly discernible, no doubt.
As you strat to add other pickups in the circuit and start using pre amps and boosting and cutting it tends to also make a big difference in the “open” sense of the sound.
Now to address a few more things.
1: The X series
2: The sterile/compressed/scooped comments that EMG seem to get slugged with
1: I do not consider the X series at 9v to be the same as the classic at 18v. I must now add an opinion and matter of taste, I much prefer all the pickups in original format over the X series. It’s just my taste. Now, let’s talk the P pickup again. The X pickup on 9v does have the more “open” sound, not so “compressed” as the classic at 9v, which is similar to the classic at 18v however to my ears they are tonaly quite different and they are of lesser output. Oh, btw, another common misconception is adding the extra 9v makes the pickup louder or the batteries last longer….those are both false and untrue.
2: EMG pickups are all different, obviously, so let’s again look at the P but can be said for many of their offerings. I see lots of the scooped/sterile/compressed comments.
So one by one:
-Scooped: no, not the case. Yes, more treble and bass than many P bass pups on the market but the old idea, it’s easier to take away than add? You CAN make the P sound vintage by removing or EQ’ing out some of that bottom and treble, no issue. So in this case they are not scooped at all, more like “flat response”
-Sterile: well, again, in the case of the P, more accurate might be articulate and clear….that is for sure. Sterile is again a taste thing and I think a lot of the time a misdiagnosis of the clarity/articulation combined with the extra top end. But hey, that’s just my humble opinion. One persons sterile is another’s mess.
-Compressed: Yeah, as stated above at 9v you can hit a roof when it’s pushed, which makes it sound limited and the general colour of the note at 9v has everything feeling more tighter and compact, which lends a feeling of compression. This could actually be quite useful to some players, for others a nightmare. But yes, at 9v again just in my opinion, compressed is a very valid description. Hence I only run at 18v.
Now lastly, if anyone has any questions or observations? Go for it. I have tried so many things with my EMG gear I am sure I can either help with questions or offer an opinion if desired.
My favourite pickups and setups are as follows:
1: Just a classic P with a volume and 18v.
2: Ceramic J in the bridge and a PA or P in the neck with the BTC knob and ABC balance (I don’t like volume/volume setups)
3: Ceramic J bridge and DC neck with BTC and ABC.
4: Dual DC with BTC and ABC.
