EMG: Active or Non Active that is the question.

[Jampy]

Thinking about doing some mod work on my Godin LX and I'll start by changing the pups the selector switch and added a new tone control.

Now if a battery fits ( I'm at work ) should I go go with active pickups I want a real growling geetar but not a screamer since I don't play much lead.

so here is what i was thinking of doing.

EMG-81 (Bridge)
EMG-85 (Neck)

change the tone control to a EMG-EXG and add a EMG PI-2 to either the neck postion or maybe the middle postion on the 3 way.

Gonna stick with all EMG just for fun but my question is should I even consider active ??

I am hoping to take advantage of the Godin's amazing sound and simply push it to the next level with out making it muddy ( unless I want it )

so please rate my setup and tell me anything I can do to change this or make it even better..

Thanks

[tunghaichuan***]

One thing to consider is that a lot of hard rock/metal players like the EMG 81 for lead. I've played one before and found the razor sharp high end kind of grating. YMMV.

If I were to build my dream axe and had two humbucking pickup sized openings to work with I'd probably go with the EMG-H in the neck and the EMG HA in the bridge.

The 'H and 'HA are EQed to sound like the S and the SA respectively, but are in humbucker-sized housings. To round things out I'd put in the SPC control to get humbucker sounds and the EXG to get cleaner sounds. The phase switch would be a good idea as well.

tung

Thinking about doing some mod work on my Godin LX and I'll start by changing the pups the selector switch and added a new tone control.

Now if a battery fits ( I'm at work ) should I go go with active pickups I want a real growling geetar but not a screamer since I don't play much lead.

so here is what i was thinking of doing.

EMG-81 (Bridge)
EMG-85 (Neck)

change the tone control to a EMG-EXG and add a EMG PI-2 to either the neck postion or maybe the middle postion on the 3 way.

Gonna stick with all EMG just for fun but my question is should I even consider active ??

I am hoping to take advantage of the Godin's amazing sound and simply push it to the next level with out making it muddy ( unless I want it )

so please rate my setup and tell me anything I can do to change this or make it even better..

Thanks

[Jampy]

I was looking at the H and the HA what kinda worried me was that were single coil in a humbuker shell, I am looking for a true humbucker sound ( at least in theory )

also I am limited in I have only 1 volume and 1 tone at this time I do not know if I could add a third.

but I like your thinking, just keep in mind I am not going after a strat like sound as I already have one. I want a jazzy les paul in rythym and a muddy to screamer in lead..

so would you still go with the H series ??

[tunghaichuan***]

I was looking at the H and the HA what kinda worried me was that were single coil in a humbuker shell, I am looking for a true humbucker sound ( at least in theory )

also I am limited in I have only 1 volume and 1 tone at this time I do not know if I could add a third.

but I like your thinking, just keep in mind I am not going after a strat like sound as I already have one. I want a jazzy les paul in rythym and a muddy to screamer in lead..

so would you still go with the H series ??

Having said that, you might think about dual 85s with the EXG. The great thing about the SPC is that it gives the single coil sounding EMGs (S/SA/H/HA) a humbucking sound. Having owned a strat with EMG-SAs and and SPC, it does a credible job of emulating the humbucking sound, but my strat didn't do the jazzy Les Paul rhythm. The '81 is not muddy at all and that top end will take your head off with the right amp/speaker combination. Then again, it may work fine for you, it is hard to say.

tung

[Jampy]

Yah, dual 85's may be the way to go, if I don't like it changing EMG's is a snap.

thanks

[kiteman]

I have 81-60 in all mahogany lp copy and they sound like a good normal dual humbucking guitar but the EXG doesn't work very well played dirty. Playing clean you can dial it til you hit a sweet spot. There it's works very well.

I took the EXG off.

[Jimi75]

I have played that EMG combination for a year approx.
I loved it and I could play every style with it.

[Jampy]

I have played that EMG combination for a year approx.
I loved it and I could play every style with it.

what combination are you referring to ??

[Jimi75]

what combination are you referring to ??

81 Bridge
85 Neck

[Jampy]

Thanks, I am still leaning that way myself ..

Now to rustle up the funds

[LagrangeCalvert]

Thanks, I am still leaning that way myself ..

Now to rustle up the funds

you beat animals for money?

[marnold***]

you beat animals for money?

Who doesn't?

[Kazz]

Nothing like throwing another wrench in the works 2 months later.

I replaced the el cheapo humbuckers in my Avion LP copy with Washburn badged EMG Select pups...mainly because the price was right....guy sold them to me for 20 bucks shipping included....of course being passive they do not produce that Zakk Wylde sound...but the crunch is really sweet...still towards the jazzy end...but no where near as jazzy as the stock hums that were in it and the black looks really great on the red/gold burst on this guitar.