Question about Active And Passive Pickups

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Question about Active And Passive Pickups
Topic Started: Aug 17 2008, 12:48 PM (231 Views)
Homesick4Heaven	Aug 17 2008, 12:48 PM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #8,745 Joined: August 17, 2008	Hey guys, So I'm not particularly experienced when it comes to the tech side of guitars, or anything really lol. Right, I have an Ibanez RG 350DX http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/ibanez-rg-350dx/67208 And I'm looking to swap out the stock pickups to get a more metal sound. Something Bullet For My Valentine to Avenged Sevenfold to As I Lay Dying sort of sound. At first I thought a EMG 81's would be great, but After some web-crawling I've found out that my guitar uses passive pickups, and the EMG 81's are passive. And It seems it would be virtually impossible to install Active pickups in a guitar that is made for passive ones? The wiring or something? Is this true? If it is... then can you recommend a passive pickup with a good output for metal (or is that a contradiction of terms?). Thankyou in advance =]. xx



monwobobbo	Aug 17 2008, 09:16 PM Post #2
Top Contributor Posts: 421 Group: Members Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	any qualified guitar tech can install active pickups in any guitar. they may need to carve out a small spot for a battery but that's about it. personally i'm not an active pup (thats short for pickups)fan but thats just me. both DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan make tons of pups that are great for metal. you just need a high output model of which both make several. EMG are well know for their pups and many metal guitar players swear by them. they give you the ability to add highs as well as take them away (passive only roll off the highs). there is more to getting a good metal (or any other for that matter) sound than just pickups. your amp and whether your running fx also contibute to the sound greatly. i've pretty much found that a good amp can overcome somewhat weak pickups (to a point of course) with a little tweaking. i've also found that many players are disappointed that they aren't getting the (fill in blank) sound when there equipment is no where's near what (fill in guitar hero) is using. remember these guys tend to have better equipment than most of us and you may not be able to get that exact sound with what you've got.
	and now for something completely different


mynameisDavid	Aug 17 2008, 09:30 PM Post #3
Member Posts: 846 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	If you go with passive pickups check out the seymour duncan sh-6, or the Dimarzio D-activators... very good pickups.
	Every drop of blood Every little tear Every bead of sweat I LIVE FOR THIS If you don't for something you'll die for nothing


Homesick4Heaven	Aug 18 2008, 04:25 AM Post #4
Newbie Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #8,745 Joined: August 17, 2008	Okay, Thank you, you've both really helped me out on this one. So say I was going to go for passive pickups, but still for metal, do you have any recommendation on a combination? (the seymour duncan sh-6 and the Dimarzio D-activator both look great) As in to go in the bridge middle and neck? Or Is it unneccesary to use all 3 if I generally only play in the bridge position? Also, if replacing passive pickups should it be fairly easy to install them myself? Or will I still need a tech? Thanks,



monwobobbo	Aug 18 2008, 12:31 PM Post #5
Top Contributor Posts: 421 Group: Members Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	you don't need to replace all of the pickups. if you use the bridge the most then replace that one. either of the pickups mentioned will work fine. if you don't really know what you are doing then get a tech to do it. you can't just slap them in and have them work properly.
	and now for something completely different


phill1883	Aug 18 2008, 12:52 PM Post #6
Member Posts: 35 Group: Members Member #8,740 Joined: August 15, 2008	Sorry if I am a bit late with this...check out bareknuckles for high output passive pu's. I installed a set of Nailbombs in my Ibanez RG about a year ago, they are great...they obviously do the high gain thing a lot better than the stock pu's as that is what they are designed for but the cleans are also fantastic. Plus they are made to order so they finish them however you want them...mine have a distressed rusty looking finish to them.



Homesick4Heaven	Aug 18 2008, 06:10 PM Post #7
Newbie Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #8,745 Joined: August 17, 2008	If I buy a pickup online should I take it to my local guitar shop then? To get it fitted... any ideas on a rough price for that? Or would i have to buy it from that shop?



phill1883	Aug 18 2008, 06:23 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 35 Group: Members Member #8,740 Joined: August 15, 2008	your local shop should fit them for you if they do other guitar repairs. They shouldnt charge more than their minimum hourly repair fee (normally around �35 as far as I am aware). However you might get a quicker and better service by going directly to a guitar tech (google "guitar repairs near....").



phill1883	Aug 18 2008, 06:39 PM Post #9
Member Posts: 35 Group: Members Member #8,740 Joined: August 15, 2008	btw, here is a pic of my beautiful RG with bare knuckle nailbombs. Attached to this post: P1040447.jpg (395.25 KB)



Bullet	Aug 19 2008, 02:28 AM Post #10
Admin Posts: 1,833 Group: Admin Member #183 Joined: January 13, 2007	I would say �35 is too much to replace 1 passive pickup. It cost me �30 to have the electronics completely ripped out and get EMGs installed. Though with passive, you only need to solder 1 wire... it's something you could do yourself if you know how to solder and use a screwdriver



mynameisDavid	Aug 20 2008, 12:46 AM Post #11
Member Posts: 846 Group: Moderator Member #294 Joined: March 2, 2007	Bullet Aug 19 2008, 02:28 AM I would say �35 is too much to replace 1 passive pickup. It cost me �30 to have the electronics completely ripped out and get EMGs installed. Though with passive, you only need to solder 1 wire... it's something you could do yourself if you know how to solder and use a screwdriver Wow! It cost me 75 to redo mine, And that was only one...WTF!
	Every drop of blood Every little tear Every bead of sweat I LIVE FOR THIS If you don't for something you'll die for nothing


Homesick4Heaven	Aug 20 2008, 08:59 AM Post #12
Newbie Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #8,745 Joined: August 17, 2008	I've seen a seymour duncan sh-6 bridge pickup online for a good price. And it says it comes with instructions on how to install it, so I think I'll havea crack at it, and if I can't do it I'll take it to a tech. Good idea? And another question, when the bridge pickup is selected, is it ONLY the bridge pickup that is being used... so my sound would change not at all if i changed the neck pickup too, but always played in bridge position?



monwobobbo	Aug 20 2008, 10:17 AM Post #13
Top Contributor Posts: 421 Group: Members Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	Homesick4Heaven Aug 20 2008, 08:59 AM I've seen a seymour duncan sh-6 bridge pickup online for a good price. And it says it comes with instructions on how to install it, so I think I'll havea crack at it, and if I can't do it I'll take it to a tech. Good idea? And another question, when the bridge pickup is selected, is it ONLY the bridge pickup that is being used... so my sound would change not at all if i changed the neck pickup too, but always played in bridge position? bridege only position is just the bridge so the neck or middle pick up arn't on at all. only time that happens is in the between positions 2&4 on a 5 way swiitch (which you have) 2-postion br and mid together, 4 n and mid or br depending on your wiring. make sure that you get a ruler small enugh to measure the height between your string and the pickup so you know where to adjust it to if you install yourself. i always recommend that you have a pro do a set up on your guitar to get the best playability. many shops would only charge you a little extra to install a pu when a set up is being done.
	and now for something completely different


phill1883	Aug 20 2008, 11:37 AM Post #14
Member Posts: 35 Group: Members Member #8,740 Joined: August 15, 2008	mynameisDavid Aug 20 2008, 12:46 AM Bullet Aug 19 2008, 02:28 AM I would say �35 is too much to replace 1 passive pickup. It cost me �30 to have the electronics completely ripped out and get EMGs installed. Though with passive, you only need to solder 1 wire... it's something you could do yourself if you know how to solder and use a screwdriver Wow! It cost me 75 to redo mine, And that was only one...WTF! Thieves!...I settled for my guitar mans standard hourly rate to fit mine which was �30..and according to one of the other fellas on here that was ott!! Im in the wrong job.



monwobobbo	Aug 20 2008, 10:31 PM Post #15
Top Contributor Posts: 421 Group: Members Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	wow you guys re getting killed. my tech will set up the guitar (including strings) and put in the pickup for $50 (around L25 for you guys). the guy's work is amazing.
	and now for something completely different


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