What, exactly, don't you like about EMG preamp?

[jwilson67]

This is the exact sentiment that I want to understand please. I mean this is exactly why I created this thread. Can you please help me understand why I wouldn't be able to get a classic P-Bass sound if I started with a P-bass with a classic pickup that gets that "classic sound" passively and then I add an EMG tone circuit?

Is it because going through the onboard pre would then prevent the passive pickup from interacting with the pre in my bass amp? (and if so - wouldn't any brand of onboard pre also prevent me from getting the classic sound?)

What I'm trying to understand here - EMG preamp (BTS/BQS etc) are described as "transparent", "neutral", "sterile", "hifi", "uncolored" etc. So I would expect the classic sound of the p-bass to get through the onboard pre to my bass amp --- but being active and low impedance now (I am low impedance aren't I once I go through the onboard pre?), my pickup shouldn't be as affected by my guitar cable run to the amp. So is that what people mean when they say I can't get a classic tone? That I've lost the interaction between the pickup and cable and amp?

Think of EMG's this way: Your bass will sound like you ran it through a high quality recording board. To me, that's a good thing.

 

[Doug Parent]

EMGs are clean and clear, there's no doubt about it. And they won't please everyone. NOTHING WILL! But as far as their pickups and preamps together, I think it's a match made in heaven.

Good take agreed 100% EMG pickups really deliver an expanded voice that the preamps then offer detailed control over. Never tried EMG preamps by themselves but I have run EMG pickups by themselves and it's a really full range pickup!

 

[themarshall]

The only gripe I have about the emg 3 band with variable mid I have in one bass is that it is somewhat tough to change on the fly - there are a ton of tones in there, but you might need to tweaze 5 knobs to do it. To be fair, that can and does apply to almost any active multi-band pre.

 

[lokikallas]

I've got a PJ with EMG pups and a BQC system. My only complaint would be that I don't need that much of a dB range of boost/cut. It's tough to find the sweet spot on a Q sweep, mid song. I've got another JJ with an OBP3, which has a bit of "character", and a push pull mid freq select that is simpler for me to use, but not really a big deal.

 

[Doug Parent]

The mid sweep feature on the EMG mid control is powerful but not as convenient as a push pull setup unless you pre-set your midrange frequency and stick to simply boost or cut when your are on the fly. Each has it's plus points upside is we have a plethora of choices.

 

[Hopkins]

This is the exact sentiment that I want to understand please. I mean this is exactly why I created this thread. Can you please help me understand why I wouldn't be able to get a classic P-Bass sound if I started with a P-bass with a classic pickup that gets that "classic sound" passively and then I add an EMG tone circuit?

Is it because going through the onboard pre would then prevent the passive pickup from interacting with the pre in my bass amp? (and if so - wouldn't any brand of onboard pre also prevent me from getting the classic sound?)

What I'm trying to understand here - EMG preamp (BTS/BQS etc) are described as "transparent", "neutral", "sterile", "hifi", "uncolored" etc. So I would expect the classic sound of the p-bass to get through the onboard pre to my bass amp --- but being active and low impedance now (I am low impedance aren't I once I go through the onboard pre?), my pickup shouldn't be as affected by my guitar cable run to the amp. So is that what people mean when they say I can't get a classic tone? That I've lost the interaction between the pickup and cable and amp?

I have had no problems what so ever getting a classic P sound out of an SPB-1 with a BTC/VMC combo

 

[brianrost]

IDGAF honestly

Have a great day yourself!

You are going to have a difficult time pulling a classic P-bass sound out of an EMG preamp, especially the active ones.

Where can I find one of their passive preamps?

 

[ctmullins]

I have an OLP with a Nordstrand pickup and a BTC, and I really like the BTC.

The bass cuts and boosts without making a honky resonance at the crossover frequency. The default treble crossover frequency is IMO a bit high, but not so high that I've bothered to open it up and change it.

But the fact that you can change it, easily, is a big win for EMG.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

No intention of hijacking this thread, but I have a question that might be answered here... I have a 5-string Hamer 2Tek CruiseBass fretless that I really love. It has the stock pickups, which are active Seymour Duncan Basslines jazz bass pups. (They are one of the few brands who still makes active bass pickups besides EMG.) There is no EQ preamp, aside from the active pickups themselves. They sound pretty good to my ears, but the ceramic magnets don't have much of a vintage tone. I've considered replacing the pickups with a set of EMG JAX pickups. Here's the two questions:

1) How do the active Seymour Duncan Basslines compare with EMGs in terms of tone and quality?

2) The EMG JAX do not come in a 5-string variety, however they are the correct size for my fretless. Will they work okay? My concern is the two coils will leave a magnetic void over the A string. Please advise.

 

[BassinCT]

I have used EMG preamps and pickups in a Modulus Q5, as an aftermarket replacements in both an Ibanez SR800 and a Westone Super-Headless.
Like food or anything else, these won't appeal to everyone but I like them- both the pickups and preamp systems. The preamps are the quietest I've encountered in their price range and the connectors make installation very easy.

 

[DavC]

batteries ... they're for flashlights .!

 

[ctmullins]

2) The EMG JAX do not come in a 5-string variety, however they are the correct size for my fretless. Will they work okay? My concern is the two coils will leave a magnetic void over the A string. Please advise.

Another of EMG's strengths is their excellent product documentation, available directly from their well-organized website. The documentation for the JAX shows that they only have one bar per pickup, not two. This (obviously) means you needn't worry about five-string coverage.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[rwkeating]

Not slamming Bartolini, but the specs EMG provide are much better and more thorough.

 

[Doug Parent]

Think of EMG's this way: Your bass will sound like you ran it through a high quality recording board. To me, that's a good thing.

True but there are huge differences in terms of high frequency response as well. I have two identical basses one with EMG's and another brand with (a popular boutique pickup builder located in Redlands, Ca) and the alnico pickups in the Nordstrands are really flavored with tones of Fender personality. The EMG's can get SO hi-fi and have zero upper midrange grind. SO different.

 

[ctmullins]

I love it when people talk about "the EMG sound", as if they all sound the same. There are three different coil layouts (dual coil, single coil, split coil) in at least three different magnetic architectures (ceramic, ceramic/steel, AlNiCo), and two different internal preamp circuits (original and X series). And that's just the actives, ignoring the HZ and GZR lines. Lots of different tonal profiles there.

 

[jcerio]

I have 2 EMG equipped basses - the first is a P/J (original preamp series) with a V/V and a BTS control. It's a Mahogany/Bubinga Fender Prophecy III. It sounds amazing, especially with Labella Stainless Steel Rounds. The second is a Fender MB-5 with two LJAX Alnico with the X-series preamp and and a BTC system. It too sounds amazing. I wish EMG made pickups to fit my MTD Kingston Z5. I'd swap out the Bartolinis in a heartbeat.

 

[JGbassman]

I have an 85 p bass I've have a pj set of emgs in since about 1988. They are wired vol/vol, no tone knob. It sounds great, and I have no problems what so ever getting a great p bass sound out of it. The sound is full, and very clean, almost perfect. Over the years I've swapped out multiple sets of different pups into it, only to switch back because it just didn't sound right with anything else it it. Anyone that has played or heard the bass loves the tone.

I have another p bass on the other side of the spectrum, with is outfitted with gzr emg, passive, and it sounds amazing. It's everything the other bass is, just in a passive raw form instead of the perfectly eq'd active sound the other one has.

I'm a lifer with emg, other pickups will come and go from time to time, but I'm sure I will always have at least one emg equipped bass within arms length.

 

[jwilson67]

True but there are huge differences in terms of high frequency response as well. I have two identical basses one with EMG's and another brand with (a popular boutique pickup builder located in Redlands, Ca) and the alnico pickups in the Nordstrands are really flavored with tones of Fender personality. The EMG's can get SO hi-fi and have zero upper midrange grind. SO different.

Very true. You definitely know your bass has EMG's in it. They're not for everybody. I'd also think they are great replacements for a cheap bass with bad tone woods.

 

[Mr_O'B]

The only thing I don’t like about them is the tone potentiometers are direct mounted onto the pc boards and I can’t rewire them for left handed operation. Despite that I love them and there have been many great descriptions of them already. I always use the BQC because I love the mid control and the variable eq point.

The treble is musical and the bump not set too high like Bartolini and the Aguilar OBP3 which to me are hiss machines. The EMG is true and not colored just pure eq adjustment and ran at 18 volts super quiet and no break up or mud. Excellent customer service like was mentioned already. Just fantastically made not over boosted clean eq what’s not to like.

If you like color then an Aguilar would be more the call to order IMO. Big beef low end but 18-+ on a half turn of a knob is way too much for me on the OBP3 I like the OBP1 the most for control.

I have used so many and do work on a lot of basses and some basses like certain preamps and pickups where other sound their best with different set ups it really depends on the bass.

If you like the EMG preamps the next closest type preamps IMO are Seymour Duncan and Nordstrand. I find the John East, Bart, Audere, Aguilar are for sure excellent preamps but finicky and noisy at times but in the right instruments paired with the right pickups completely awesome as well but they may add something that was missing or over season the soup so to speak.

The buckeye burl bass in my avatar I built with EMG BQC and EMG P and MMTWX absolute tone machine and although some would perceive as "modern" I get huge round warm beef lows and clean sweet mids and treble. It's actually my most "vintage" sounding set up and bass then the same exact preamp with DC40's in my Spector will peel your face off and well I like that too

Great information! The Aguilar OBP3 that I pulled from my bass was powerful, boost sensitive with major hiss.

 

[themarshall]

I've got a PJ with EMG pups and a BQC system. My only complaint would be that I don't need that much of a dB range of boost/cut. It's tough to find the sweet spot on a Q sweep, mid song. I've got another JJ with an OBP3, which has a bit of "character", and a push pull mid freq select that is simpler for me to use, but not really a big deal.

The mid sweep feature on the EMG mid control is powerful but not as convenient as a push pull setup unless you pre-set your midrange frequency and stick to simply boost or cut when your are on the fly. Each has it's plus points upside is we have a plethora of choices.

What I meant but didn't articulate well.