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Are all EMG PUs active?

#6
BrandonBass said:
Ic anyone knows about passive PUs for seymour duncan?

How do they compare to the emg ones? Those who have experience please share it thanks
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Brandon, Seymour Duncan makes very fine passive pickups. Because they are passive, they have a very different sound than EMGs. I prefer them to EMGs but that is my personal preference. Lots of terrific sounding basses using EMGs including Spectors and Foderas.
 
#7
Dbassmon said:
Brandon, Seymour Duncan makes very fine passive pickups. Because they are passive, they have a very different sound than EMGs. I prefer them to EMGs but that is my personal preference. Lots of terrific sounding basses using EMGs including Spectors and Foderas.
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I thought spectors only use active EMGs? and to the guy who says that all the good ones are active, true that?
 
#8
IMO passive EMG = poop
If you want passive pups there are WAY more options to choose from. However, if you want an active sound (by this, I mean that the pickups themselves are active- don't confuse this with passive pickups with an onboard pre-amp, commonly called active electronics) EMG's have more of a reputation than any other producer...the only other brands that I even know of that make active pups are Duncan and Alembic...
 
#12
sedan_dad said:
I agree also.
I really like Selects.I get a lot of complements from bass players on my tone.They don't beleave it when I show them the Selects on my Precision and my '66 Jazz.
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That's very true...'most everyone who's heard my bass has commented on it's nice tone.

Some (who had heard of Selects, but not tried them) were surprised to see them there instead of <barts/dimarzio/SD's/etc...>.

;)

I think in a blind test, Selects would be voted very favourably by many who may be afraid of their cheaper price.
 
#15
steve21 said:
All the good ones are active.
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actually, i used to have a set of EMG select P-Js They sounded amazing. Great tone, growl, and they were smoothe at the same time.... any tone you wanted, you virtually had. No hum or anything at all. They were better than any Active EMGs I have tried at the time. I wish i still had that bass...
 
#16
Luke73 said:
I have passive EMG Select J pups in two of my basses.

I love their tone - very nice indeed.

I sold my Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pups in favour of the Selects.

;)
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I have a Fender Standard Fretless Jazz MIM. The pu's are pretty noisy especially if you use them individually. Will the Selects quiet that down? I would like it more quiet so I can truly explore the tone of this bass.
 
#17
before we get farther into this, what kind of sound were you goin for with your p/u's? and what kind of bass were you puttin them in? these can have a BIG effect on your overall tone. also, what kind of money were you looking to spend, this will also affect which p/u's.with the answers to these questions, we can help suggest p/u's that will benefit you the most. everyone has thier own likes, and there is no "right" answer. I have emg actives in one MIA jazz, which has a GREAT tone, and allows me to use the bass for a lot of different applications,but in an sx project I'm working on, I'm going for a more vintage tone with fralin's, it's a matter of preference I guess

as far as passive
if you've got some dough, check out fralin,norstrand and aero's

if your on a budget, check out the SD 1/4 pounders, great bang for your buck

IMO
 
#18
I built a bass with a poplar body and a purpleheart top, and put two Select P pickups in it. I built it for myself with no intention of trying to sell it. I played it at a gig, and a very experienced drummer in the audience offered to buy it on the spot. I sold it to him, and he loves it, and his bass player loves it, too. I chose the Selects solely on the price, but they sounded great.

I have never been crazy about the sound of active EMG's, but I was really surprised at the reaction to the Selects. I will definitely use them again.
 

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