Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EMG Club!
- Thread starter Warpeg
- Start date
Looks great. And make sure to check out that internal dip switches. Makes it even more flexible.
Alright, so a question for those who have tried, or are currently using Passive P-Bass pickups.
I’m looking for a pickup for one of my Precision basses as the OE has gone microphonic and sounds terrible, but I’m looking to try something new…I want warm full low end, and clear smooth (not brittle) highs with balanced mids.
EMG has 4 passive P flavors.
GZR P
PHZ
PVA2 HZ
PVA5 HZ
So, I’ve demoed the GZR P in a friends P-bass (through my rig), and I have absolutely ZERO interest in that pup…maybe if I was a pick player that liked crippling mids it would be cool for me, but no…
If you read the descriptions for each of the remaining three, it sounds like they all would be good, so I’m looking for some real world experience with some of these pups.
I like the smooth look of the PHZ with the hidden poles, and the tone description sounds basically exactly like what I want.
The PVA2 HZ is described as warm (which sounds nice), but I’m afraid it’ll be a little muted on the treble side.
But, I also like the description of the PVA5 HZ, but it uses Alnico 5 magnets (just like the GZR P), so I’m worried it will sound like the ones I demoed.
Thoughts?
I’m looking for a pickup for one of my Precision basses as the OE has gone microphonic and sounds terrible, but I’m looking to try something new…I want warm full low end, and clear smooth (not brittle) highs with balanced mids.
EMG has 4 passive P flavors.
GZR P
PHZ
PVA2 HZ
PVA5 HZ
So, I’ve demoed the GZR P in a friends P-bass (through my rig), and I have absolutely ZERO interest in that pup…maybe if I was a pick player that liked crippling mids it would be cool for me, but no…
If you read the descriptions for each of the remaining three, it sounds like they all would be good, so I’m looking for some real world experience with some of these pups.
I like the smooth look of the PHZ with the hidden poles, and the tone description sounds basically exactly like what I want.
The PVA2 HZ is described as warm (which sounds nice), but I’m afraid it’ll be a little muted on the treble side.
But, I also like the description of the PVA5 HZ, but it uses Alnico 5 magnets (just like the GZR P), so I’m worried it will sound like the ones I demoed.
Thoughts?
Of those, I have both the GZR and PVA5 HZ and really like both (sorry to hear you didnt). I have been told by an EMG rep that the GZR and PVA5 HZ are "essentially the same" after I pressed them for more information and comparison; the latter just allows you to pick different colors while the GZR is only in black. My ears say the same and, in a mix, you'd be hard pressed to hear a difference IMO. I have heard that the PVA2 is less output (not that the others are "hot") but more of a 50's vibe.
If you stray from EMG's I just read about folks liking the Aguilar AP-60 and the Seymour Duncans. I had an SPB-1 years ago and remember that was a sweet pickup with good highs but not brittle.....very vintagey! I may look into one of those again in the future.
Yeah looked at the manual
GZR Ohm-11.20
PVA5- 11.35
PVA2 11.38
Resonant frequency
GZR- 1.77
PVA5- 2.47
PVA2- 2.36
GZR Ohm-11.20
PVA5- 11.35
PVA2 11.38
Resonant frequency
GZR- 1.77
PVA5- 2.47
PVA2- 2.36
Yeah. I ordered (and installed) the PHZ a couple weeks ago, it was basically a blind order because there's very little info or videos on those pickups.
I was really surprised no one in the EMG Club Thread (besides you), has ever tried EMG passive P-bass pickups, they've been around quite a while...
But, I'm happy to report the PHZ was exactly what I wanted, it's pretty balanced across all the frequencies (once I dialed in the pickup height), and is just a little hotter than the stock pups I had, but not so much as to require re-EQing my board/amp.
Hmm...never considered those (mostly since I prefer the exposed poles) before but that's good to know. EMG is quality stuff, in general, so I wouldn't be surprised it fits the bill. Glad you found "the one"Yeah. I ordered (and installed) the PHZ a couple weeks ago, it was basically a blind order because there's very little info or videos on those pickups.
I was really surprised no one in the EMG Club Thread (besides you), has ever tried EMG passive P-bass pickups, they've been around quite a while...
But, I'm happy to report the PHZ was exactly what I wanted, it's pretty balanced across all the frequencies (once I dialed in the pickup height), and is just a little hotter than the stock pups I had, but not so much as to require re-EQing my board/amp.
I've recently gotten a new custom Rip Tide set for my sr885le, along with a BTS eq:
....and I've got an sr1200 with a GZR p/j set and EMG wiring/pots, one vol & tone per pickup (it was converted to passive by the PO, I decided to leave it that way, just with EMG stuff instead of the SD stuff he had in):
....and I've got an sr1200 with a GZR p/j set and EMG wiring/pots, one vol & tone per pickup (it was converted to passive by the PO, I decided to leave it that way, just with EMG stuff instead of the SD stuff he had in):
The main thing is passive vs active. I personally would get the JHZ for connecting to the preamp. Seems many audere preamps can work with active or passive pickups, but I would stick with passive as they certainly match up well with the pre.
I just stumbled upon this thread. Here’s my Czech-made Spectors. Both have EMG BTS EQs. My NS4CRFM has “Original Recipe” PJs, and my Euro 6LT has X-Series PJs.
I also have a fretless P-Bass with an EMG-P. And over the years, I’ve had EMGs in quite a few of my basses; mainly in my modified Fenders.
I also have a fretless P-Bass with an EMG-P. And over the years, I’ve had EMGs in quite a few of my basses; mainly in my modified Fenders.
Still having trouble deciding
I might just do Emg J
For my atelier z
all though…
My jazz plate. I asked the owner of audere
he said I didn’t need the coupling cap so bonus points
I might just do Emg J
For my atelier z
all though…
My jazz plate. I asked the owner of audere
he said I didn’t need the coupling cap so bonus points
almost all my basses have EMG pickups and noticed a long time ago that when I pan to a single EMG I get sorta distorted sound on the low E string side .I'm wondering if others have this issue and what they do about it. I cut the mids on the BQC preamp and it helps .
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Fresh Batteries and 9v .its not just one bass either its all basses that have humbucking style EMGs . A few are equipped with 35cs others are mixed with 35cs and 35DC . one equipped with 35j and 35p . I think that even the JStyle emg pickups I have in one bass has the same result .
I’ve done that with same result. With the replies I’m thinking this is not normal but with six of the seven basses I have with EMG’s I have the same result . This only happens when I use one side . If I use both pickups, they are good to go
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
That suggests to me that it may not be related to the instrument, but perhaps to something downstream - effects, preamp, amp, cabinet, room.
Can you plug straight into a laptop and still hear it through headphones?
Can you plug straight into a laptop and still hear it through headphones?
Played through various amps with same outcome but been using the same wireless guitar system. Might be onto something
