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EMG Club!

#281
I just stumbled on this thread and it's been quiet for a while. I have been reading a LOT of posts about J bass pickups and I find it interesting the the name EMG rarely comes up which got me to thinking about them in general. I have been a user and big fan for well over to 25 years now and I am once again about to wire a set into my new (used) Modulus VJ once I can decide on what EMG pre-amp/active tone system I want (replacing a Bart/Aguilar setup). I also have a Mod Q5 with EMG DC40's and the BQC system. It too happily replaced a Bart/Aguilar setup. Before that I had a Euro Spector LX4 with an active EMG P/J setup with the BTS (replacing the not so great stock Spector setup) and that setup was awesome sounding and still one of my all time favorites. Before that was a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz with active EMG's (which, coincidentally ALSO replaces a set of passive Barts). I installed them in my first Fender Jazz in the early 80's with some midrange boost control I can't really recall. So I guess in the end I must REALLY like their sound because I keep coming back. But to say so almost makes me feel dirty or mulletted (no offense to the fine TB mulleted members), like some bizarre tone ship has sailed and I got to the dock late because I was in my basement soldering in another set of EMG's. Maybe I am just in a rut but I love these things. Testify!

So, am I crazy? Have they fallen so far out of favor that unless you are using the latest cork-sniffer, hamster-wheel wound pickup you're just stuck in a time warp somewhere? Has the movement been pushed underground only to be discussed in short whispers where they now just a secret obsession.

Tell me where it's at...
 
#283
I pulled the passive HZ's out of my Schecter Elite-5 and replaced them with two new active EMG 40P5 pickups.

I also swapped out the EMG BTS preamp in it for a Aguilar OBP-2 TK. These two changes made a huge improvement to the tone of this bass.

40P5_front_A.gif


TD
 
#285
I have two basses with EMG J sets - an MIM fretted and the best fretless bass I have ever played (my graphite neck baby). EMG active pickups do have a distinctive sound quite different to regular passive pickups, whether SC or hum cancelling, and some folks don't like it. I do! I wouldn't say they're better than trad pickups, but they are definitely different.
 
#288
nervous said:
I just stumbled on this thread and it's been quiet for a while. I have been reading a LOT of posts about J bass pickups and I find it interesting the the name EMG rarely comes up which got me to thinking about them in general. I have been a user and big fan for well over to 25 years now and I am once again about to wire a set into my new (used) Modulus VJ once I can decide on what EMG pre-amp/active tone system I want (replacing a Bart/Aguilar setup). I also have a Mod Q5 with EMG DC40's and the BQC system. It too happily replaced a Bart/Aguilar setup. Before that I had a Euro Spector LX4 with an active EMG P/J setup with the BTS (replacing the not so great stock Spector setup) and that setup was awesome sounding and still one of my all time favorites. Before that was a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz with active EMG's (which, coincidentally ALSO replaces a set of passive Barts). I installed them in my first Fender Jazz in the early 80's with some midrange boost control I can't really recall. So I guess in the end I must REALLY like their sound because I keep coming back. But to say so almost makes me feel dirty or mulletted (no offense to the fine TB mulleted members), like some bizarre tone ship has sailed and I got to the dock late because I was in my basement soldering in another set of EMG's. Maybe I am just in a rut but I love these things. Testify!

So, am I crazy? Have they fallen so far out of favor that unless you are using the latest cork-sniffer, hamster-wheel wound pickup you're just stuck in a time warp somewhere? Has the movement been pushed underground only to be discussed in short whispers where they now just a secret obsession.

Tell me where it's at...
Click to expand...

Did you put the EMGs in the Geddy Lee yourself?? If so I have a few questions that I would like to ask.
 
#289
chuck65 said:
Did you put the EMGs in the Geddy Lee yourself?? If so I have a few questions that I would like to ask.
Click to expand...
Yes, I did. It was 4-5 years ago but I am currently putting a set in my Modulus Vintage Jazz this week. Now that's a 4 pot system and I will be installing a BTS system. If I recall I didn't have any active tone in that and returned it to the stock pickups before I sold it. I also recall that the stock pickups also sounded real good except for being a a bit noisier. But PM me and I'll see if I can help at all.
 
#292
Well, I am just in from my first gig with my new Modulus VJ in which I just installed a set of EMG active jazz bass pickups and the BTS system along with a set of fresh Blue Steels. They replaced the Bartolini, Aguilar OBP-1 and Thomastik-Infeld flat-wounds set-up that it arrived with. And, as has been my experience, the effect is like lopping off an old, necrotic limb and replacing it with a new bionic unit. It's just a completely different instrument. It's absolutely alive now. Man it was fun!

And, I'd love a member number as well if possible.
 
#294
Hey guys. I own two Schecters (Riot 4 & Stilletto Elite 4) both equipped with EMG-HZs...after doing some reading and financial consideration, I'm thinking about switching out all of the pickups with different EMGs, rather than buying a new bass altogether to get a new sound.

I figure I might as well come up with two different parings of pickups so I can have the most diversified-sounding two basses I can possibly get. So my question is, what are some of the popular EMG-pickup combinations?

I'm thinking maybe 35J on the bridge, 35CS on the neck for one...and maybe the 35TW paired with something else for the other? (or just two of them) My range of preferred sound includes modern rock, jazz, and maybe some reggae. But great slap tone and the classic punchy/growl (I feel so cliche saying that) tone are my two priorities.

Thanks for the help...I'm a complete newbie to the electronics-modding department so I'm open to any suggestons!
 

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