EMG passive VS DiMarzio

[backsidetailslide]

alright i need an answer here. i want to know if EMG passive pickups (EMG P HZ)are worth buying. if not would DiMarzio will powers be any better? :smash:
thanks in advance!
:chug:

[The Brad]

I have EMG Hz soapbars in one of my basses currently, they are alright. I am not too much for or against them but I plan on replacing them eventually. If you are trying to mimic Jerry Only's rig I would go for the EMGs since someone showed that he uses those... but it's up to you really.
I'd just go by price and what seems would be better. Read reviews and listen to sound clips, etc.

[backsidetailslide]

any good review sites? where will i find sound clips of emgs?

[The Brad]

harmonycentral.com, bgra.net, talkbass.com, someone suggested the Seymour Duncan forums too. Um, I don't know where you would hear sound clips...I'll do some searching for you see what comes up.

[backsidetailslide]

thanks a lot, you are the man!

[The Brad]

Can't find any clips, but the reviews seem like the EMG is a pretty decent pickup. I dunno the way I wanna view this is EMGs are known for their active pickups so why bother with their passives and I just put a set of DiMarzio's in my guitar and love them, so I am really conflicted.

[edgebass5]

honestly, I think the HZ series EMG's are complete garbage. The only thing they're good for IMO is massive amounts of treble and upper-mids. To me they create unuseable D and G strings.

[The Brad]

I think mine sound rather balanced? I dunno though, I like the low-end I tune BEAD on the bass with them.

[Low_End_Communications]

I'm with Edge. The Hz and Select series EMG's are total crap. They have no roundness to them at all, just a brittle, sharp high end. If you're going to go EMG, go with their DC series.

That said, Dimarzio's are far superior, but what kind of tone are you going for?

[Nickle Pickle]

He's going for the tone of someone who uses EMG pickups. I don't see where the dilemna is backside.

[The Brad]

While we're discussing EMGs would you discourage the TW series? It's basically the DC and CS in one pickup with the push/pull knob to switch between the two.

[Potatoe]

backsidetailslide, how about you create an "Offical Help backsidetailslide build his bass" thread?

having one thread that tells everyone that you're building a jerry only replica bass should help prevent confusion, and tell people what tone you are going for...

[backsidetailslide]

well you see i didnt want anything active by emg but because they are gong on my devastator bass it would suit it (jerry only used emgs on his original) but i guess because im doing my own thing with his design ill just go with dimarzios. what do you think? will power p's or just the regular ps

[Low_End_Communications]

It depends. Look on their site at their 'tone chart' for both pickups. Of course, depending on your body and neck and fingerboard woods, you won't get exactly the tone the charts tell you. You may consider adding a pickup in the pridge position for tonal variation.

You don't want to go through all this trouble to sound EXACTLY like someone else, cuz you lose your personality that way, and also A LOT of gigs, cuz you'll have this big pointy (although cool) looking bass, thats gets a big scary tone.

[Radiobass81]

I'd go HZ.

I'm the minority, though.

[morpcat]

You may as well title the thread: "Dull vs. Sparkle".

The EMG HZ pickups lack any good characteristics. I would go so far as to say that they are so dull and bland they are undeserving of any name except "the mediocre one", but that's not true. They have one particular characteristic, which is that if you switch up the treble you get a bright but brittle and very scratchy top end. The lows sound dull and faded, the mids can growl a little if you get it right.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but after playing them for a couple of years, they are just such boring pickups. BORING.

The DiMarzio's on the other hand... Talk about midrange.

[edgebass5]

^^^I agree with everything you just said morp. My dilemma with them is that they seemed to create unuseable D and G strings, they were just too nasal and bright.

[backsidetailslide]

any other suggestions? any other brands or models?

[edgebass5]

^^^Well, you've never really said which pickup shape you're going to use (not 100% anyway)... so that would really help. My pickup preference (in general, not shape specific in any way) is the DiMarzio Model J. I've tried tons of pickups, and to me it doesn't get any better, especially in a band setting.

[bottlerocket]

^ I prefer the Ultra J's because I find I can do more with the UJ's. I like their hotter output; it gives me a bit more punch to work with. I like 'em more, but that's preference.

By the way, EMG Hz's aren't as bad as you're making them out to be. If you know how to use the onboard pre-amp and your amp's preamp, they can be fine. Mine are alright.

:thumb:

-Gav

[The Brad]

I am making some recordings of my Hz with flat EQ.
What do you want? Right now I just have each string ringing out and then I was going to record the two octaves of each note

Edit: This recording, aside from being bad, features the bass playing each string: open, 12th and 24th.
http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FY3N1QZEES1X2JYD938NQBGEE

[kilian]

I would love to have a Dimarzio Model J in the bridge of any bass I get. That pickup really rocks out there. For the neck? A P-pickup or a Dimarzio UJ. I'm not too fond of my Model J in the neck position. It lacks clarity/warmth for playing solo, in a bandsituation; these pickups still really rock.

Dimarzio Model J in the bridge (with series/parallel switch) and a EMG P might be an interesting combination if you're after a growling, still sharp tone. Why? You can perfectly use the Model J as a stand alone pickup, boost the lows with the series/parallel switch and dial in some weird highend with the EMG's. IF that's your sound. It wouldn't be my sound.. I would put a dirty P pickup in the neck position and a Model J in the back, each having their own tone/volume.

Well.. that's me. For you? First; really describe WHAT kind of tone you want.

[tim_commerfordism]

honestly, I think the HZ series EMG's are complete garbage. The only thing they're good for IMO is massive amounts of treble and upper-mids. To me they create unuseable D and G strings.

Just about to say that...:amaze:

[blizzard]

honestly, I think the HZ series EMG's are complete garbage. The only thing they're good for IMO is massive amounts of treble and upper-mids. To me they create unuseable D and G strings.

123

I hate the sound of the HZ series EMG's, they sounded like mud on the bass i played them with. They might sound better with an EQ because the bass i tried was all passive.

[Low_End_Communications]

Other models? Personally, I'd take an MM-style Nordstrand pickup in the sweetspot and call it a day.

But, my other choices of pickup are Nordstrand and Seymour Duncan.

[backsidetailslide]

ok so i think ill order the dimarzio willl powers. one set of precisions.
would that be a good idea or would it be better to have a combo?

[Radiobass81]

^ I prefer the Ultra J's because I find I can do more with the UJ's. I like their hotter output; it gives me a bit more punch to work with. I like 'em more, but that's preference.

By the way, EMG Hz's aren't as bad as you're making them out to be. If you know how to use the onboard pre-amp and your amp's preamp, they can be fine. Mine are alright.

:thumb:

-Gav

The Models aren't that great, I find...

[Radiobass81]

Dimarzio Model J in the bridge (with series/parallel switch) and a EMG P might be an interesting combination if you're after a growling, still sharp tone. Why? You can perfectly use the Model J as a stand alone pickup, boost the lows with the series/parallel switch and dial in some weird highend with the EMG's. IF that's your sound. It wouldn't be my sound.. I would put a dirty P pickup in the neck position and a Model J in the back, each having their own tone/volume.

There will be one problem, though. EMG pickups have great output, while DiMarzio models have very little in contrast, so the EMG would always be overpowering the other...

Wait... P overpowering a J has never been a problem... :D

[backsidetailslide]

alright so ive been doing a lot of reasearch and a pickup guy from a guitar store in toronto recomended some lace transentor pickups
http://www.aampselectricguitarstore.com/images/1-lace-pbass-transensors.jpg
he totally recomended them and pretty much raved about them (hes tried many pickups before) so i was wondering if anyone else has tried them out. are they a good choice? i might be picking them up today

[edgebass5]

There while DiMarzio models have very little in contrast

I'm sorry man, but that's a completely incorrect statement. Model J's list at 150mV, but get this; in my custom, due to the tone circuit I used (or suprising lack thereof) the last time I hooked up a meter to my bass it was running right at about 320mV, no joke. You can drive a power amp once you get in the ballpark of 400mV.

[tim_commerfordism]

I'm sorry man, but that's a completely incorrect statement. Model J's list at 150mV, but get this; in my custom, due to the tone circuit I used (or suprising lack thereof) the last time I hooked up a meter to my bass it was running right at about 320mV, no joke. You can drive a power amp once you get in the ballpark of 400mV.

:amaze:

I wanna see your custom. Please. PLEASE.












:naughty:

[backsidetailslide]

alright so ive been doing a lot of reasearch and a pickup guy from a guitar store in toronto recomended some lace transentor pickups
http://www.aampselectricguitarstore.com/images/1-lace-pbass-transensors.jpg
he totally recomended them and pretty much raved about them (hes tried many pickups before) so i was wondering if anyone else has tried them out. are they a good choice? i might be picking them up today
anybody??

[The Brad]

There were some lace sensors in that fretless P I was lusting for, but I don't know I wasn't extremely impressed with them or anything. They're supposed to be really good though, there was a guitarist in my audio engineering class who swore by them. But dude, it's your bass go wild.

[edgebass5]

:amaze:

I wanna see your custom. Please. PLEASE.

If only I owned a camera :(

[Az_Holl]

If only I owned a camera :(
Do you have a scanner? You can just buy a crappy disposable camera and then scan them in.

[kilian]

Atleast we want a thread, if it is finished.. :thumb:

[Radiobass81]

I'm sorry man, but that's a completely incorrect statement. Model J's list at 150mV, but get this; in my custom, due to the tone circuit I used (or suprising lack thereof) the last time I hooked up a meter to my bass it was running right at about 320mV, no joke. You can drive a power amp once you get in the ballpark of 400mV.
How much would some EMGs go in that setup?

[edgebass5]

How much would some EMGs go in that setup?

Well, I'm not sure on the exact voltage, but having owned a bass with EMG-HZ's in it that I modded to run completely passive (i.e. no added boost from the onboard EQ) all I can say is that the DiMarzio's have WAY more output than the EMG-HZ's. Honestly, the way I have it setup right now, I'll bet I have more output voltage than a fully active EMG set with an onboard EQ, haha. I just don't have anything in there dirtying up the signal.

Oh, and just for reference, the small amount of tone shaping I have onboard is going away this weekend, the tone circuit on this thing is going to make people laugh. I'm hoping to get up around 350mV once its done. :p

[Radiobass81]

Well, on most setups, then :p.

So... You're custom bass most surely is a J/J configuration with DiMarzio pickups. I'm guessing it has a carbon fiber neck, NO tone shaping besides volume, 4-string, with the shape of a Corvette maybe?

I'm just guessing, seeing as you're favorite tone (and body) comes from a Corvette and favorite feel and whatnot from a Flea Bass.

[edgebass5]

^^^Well, there's no point in keeping it secretive anymore since its LONG overdue for its debut :lol:

Current configuration, which is not what it was a week ago:
Warmoth Jazz bass body, metallic lake placid blue finish, white pearl pickguard, standard jazz control plate, volume control, DiMarzio model J pickups (neck hardwired in parallel, bridge hardwired in series), Status Graphite J style neck, Fender Deluxe Jazz V string retainer, Gotoh Delta 1:21 tuning machines, Gotoh 206 bridge, EZ-Lock Stainless Steel threaded inserts

That's it... I'll put up a more comprehensive thread about it once the neck inserts are installed, the tone circuit is redone and I can put up accurate recordings and pics.....

Basically think of it as a Jazz bass that's on par with something like a Sadowsky jazz... but with a touch of carbon fiber :p
Also, regarding the corvette shape. I asked warmoth if they'd cut me one to shape and they said they couldn't due to copyright issues. I also tried several other custom luthiers and they all told me the same thing :(

[Radiobass81]

Sounds great (except the Corvette thing :().

You said nothing on the woods, but I guess you want to leave us waiting for something until the thread :p.

[edgebass5]

^^^No biggie, I went with Alder for the body for a couple of reasons. First-off it was the cheapest. Secondly it was the easiest wood to use for the finish I wanted. Thirdly I don't really feel that body wood is a huge tonal contributor, so reasons 1 and 2 over-ruled my second choice which was Swamp Ash, solely for its lighter weight. The neck has no wood at all, so....

[Radiobass81]

Yeah, that didn't come to mind while typing...

[kilian]

Sounds sweet :)

Now I'm really curious about the schematic.. And you've chosen a great finish :thumb:

[eguitaranlead]

i have active p's in my spector and i love them. so i say if you are going to go with emg go the extra bucks and get the active. there is such a difference in sound quality between the two. i have tried both and in my opinion the passive are completley terrible and i messed around with the eq for a while. but with my active emg p i found a sound i wanted almost right away/

[Pinhead13]

I just finished installing my quarter pounders, I'll play it tommorrow morning because my neighbours will complain of the noise. :wonders if it was done right: :confused:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/falsehopesgg/43d47f4b.jpg