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Hi all~ actually I'm looking for a way to fix my jackson kelly's sound. Local guitar shop here in EL Salvador finally brought EMG PUs. But after some tough considerations, I think it might be better to pick a passive PU instead of the 81 active since i don't have money to afford a 85/81 set.

So, I'd like to know if any of you guys know or have heard a PASSIVE EMG pickup? would you recommend me some models for bridge PU?

Or is there any other bridge model that has a good output besides the famous 81?

It must be EMGs, cause thats the only brand they are bringing now.

I would have bought a DiMarzio X2N or a Duncan long time ago if I was living in the US... Thanks for any help!

personally i think the passive EMGs (EMG-HZ's) sound really weak. i cant stand em. you might as well spring for the real deal

Every time I've played HZs in a store they sound pretty good to me. They are good if you're playing a solid state amp. I don't think the active sound impressive through SS.

I don´t like the HZs at all.... I´d wait, spend the bit extra and get an 81/85 set.... I personally like the 81 at the neck and the 85 at the bridge , but most seem to prefer it the other way around... seeing as tht new ones should have the quick connect system, you can switch them around in 5 minutes

of the passives the ONLY one i can stomach is the H4 ceramic


Originally Posted by WICKED LESTERof the passives the ONLY one i can stomach is the H4 ceramic

it sounds good on bridge position?

friend's got an LTD viper loaded up with EMG HZ's, the rest of the guitar is great but those p/u's sound like ass. I'd say wait and get the active EMG's. you'll probably be much happier with those


Originally Posted by krankguitaristfriend's got an LTD viper loaded up with EMG HZ's, the rest of the guitar is great but those p/u's sound like ass. I'd say wait and get the active EMG's. you'll probably be much happier with those

I would agree with getting the actives... but are you playing solid state or tube?


Originally Posted by Metalman_666I would agree with getting the actives... but are you playing solid state or tube?
No matter what, the Actives utterly destroy the passives, even on 50 dollar amps.

I play through peavey studio pro. just a practice amp. but with this imitation pu i got right now, the guitar sounds horrible. even my squire strat sounds better than it.

btw, can i go active only on the bridge (really in short of money... )? if so, if i put the pu selector in mid, means combining the neck and bridge pu, will it sound weaker or something like that? since its gonna be a combination of passive neck and active bridge.

thanks!

from : localhost/I mix EMG's with passive pickups?
It is possible to mix EMG's with passive pickups. There are three possible wiring configurations; one is better than the other two.

Use the high impedance (250K-500K) volume and tone controls. The problem is that the high impedance controls act more like a switch to the EMG's. The passive pickups, however, will work fine. If you have a guitar with two pickups and two volume pots, with a three-way switch, there is another alternative. Use the 25K pots for the EMG, and the 250K pots for the passive pickup. This way you can use one or the other with no adverse affects, but with the switch in the middle position the passive pickup will have reduced gain and response.

Use the low-impedance (25K) volume and tone controls provided with the EMG's. The problem here is that the passive pickups will suffer a reduction in gain and loss of high-frequency response.

This is the best alternative. Install an EMG-PA-2 on the passive pickups. There are two benefits to doing this. With the trimpot on the PA-2, you can adjust the gain of the passive pickups to match the EMG's. The PA-2 acts as an impedance matching device so you can use the low-impedance EMG controls (25K) without affecting the tone of the passive pickups. You will also be able to use other EMG accessory circuits such as the SPC, RPC, EXB, EXG, etc. For this application, we recommend ordering the PA-2 without the switch for easy installation on the inside of a guitar.

Most people read a manufacturer´s FAQ´s before asking questions

I have the HZ's in my Jackson...I'm sellin the guitar over on the traders forum so maybe I'm shootin myself in the foot here, but I gotta be honest...

IMO the HZ's sound like @$$. They have a very harsh buzzy top end, and scooped mids. To the point where they almost have a single coil like sound. Not thick at all. Lotsa treble , lotsa Bass, and very sterile.

I bought the guitar cos it plays great, and has a very good natural sound to it, I had planned on swapping out the pups from day one, but never got around to it.

I wouldn't ever buy them on purpose (the HZ's)

I would go for a EMG 85 or a 89 in the bridge instead.... 81 sucks ass. It sounds bigger than EMG81.