Let's talk EMG DC tone

[tuBass]

I've had two basses with EMG 45dc pickups and one with a P/J set. I thought the active p/J setup was a little boring, but I've always loved the sound of the Active DC.

I know there are people out there that bad mouth EMG pickups, but I don't see many reasons why. Yes the HZ are found in cheap basses, but that's not what I'm talking about.

What are the qualities of the full active EMG pickups that you might not like? Just curious, because because when I picked up one of my old EMG basses with a group that was used to my T40, they stopped playing half way through the song because they wanted to talk about the killer bass tone. It was a huge hit. Same thing happened a few days later when I whipped it out with my classic rock band.

 

[Double Agent]

To me, they are the perfect modern hard rock/metal pickup. I've always read that they have scooped mids, but I never had problems getting lost in the mix when using a DC equipped bass. They aren't great for every situation, but there are definitely situations I've been in where I wouldn't want to play anything else but a Spector 5er with EMG DCs.

 

[tuBass]

Interesting. Never would have thought of scooped midsm mids, but I've always boosted a little there out of habit, so maybe it's true

 

[AdamR]

all 3 of my basses have EMGs. 1 with P/J and 2 with DCs. I like the DC tone better.

 

[BassinCT]

I had swapped EMG DC's, CS's & P's in a 1994 modulus. The DC's were the *widest* sounding: Very deep lows and extended highs were allowed through, plus a trebly peak. On a Modulus, it was not my favorite match, but it may be the holy grail on another bass + being played with another set of hands. Either way, the preamps were dead silent and the tone was very focused and clear.

 

[tuBass]

"focused and clear" that's a great way to describe it, as well as aggressive.

in my opinion the active pickups sound the same no matter which bass you put them on, which makes them really nice for an upgrade for a cheap bass.

 

[4StringTheorist]

... I've always read that they have scooped mids, but I never had problems getting lost in the mix when using a DC equipped bass. ...

... Never would have thought of scooped ... mids, but I've always boosted a little there out of habit, so maybe it's true

I'm thinking this perception is due to one or both of these...

• EMGs have a lot of upper treble and deep bass response, so people perceive the mids as less prominent in comparison
• A lot of players in genres and bands that prominently feature EMGs as doing a scooped mid tone with their EQ.

I watched a few SMV videos on Youtube a few years ago.. it struck me that they were effectively playing and EQing in different ranges. Stanley had the high end, Marcus had the lows, and Victor with his EMGs was in that midrange slot. Sure had plenty of midrange detail and definition.

 

[12bass]

Interesting that some think that the EMG DCs are an extended response pickup. Compared with my Lane Poor wide apertures the DCs are midrangey (not scooped) and have a harsh treble peak, and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of harmonic content above that edgy peak. The LPs have more extended, smoother, highs, deeper lows, and sound more natural overall. The new Q-tuner 2.0 is another pickup with much wider response than the DC, along with a healthy output and a thicker overall sound than Lane Poors.

 

[alexander_gbass]

i run full on dual emg 35dc's in two of my basses.. the most aggresive and tone full pups i have ever played !.. they put out a nasty growl..

 

[hip63]

I own a wide selection of EMG pickups, (P, J, DCs, some are X series, some have the alnico magnets, ect.) love 'em all but yeah, I think I like the DCs the best, Tho on my main bass, Have mixed set of the standard DC at the bridge and the CS DCs (ceramic steel) near the neck.

hip63