Opinions on Mixing Passive and Active pups?

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

Idea...I've always liked the bridge sounds for all out rhythm and lead with my EMG 85 @ 18V. Don't want to change that.

I've never been happy with an EMG neck sound though...always sounds anemic on cleans and mid gain, which is what I usually use that position for.

So, I'm going to to drop a passive in the neck position. I have the wiring figured out...I'll run the EMG on it's two pots, and run the neck pickup on its own two pots....my three way switches will go EMG, Neck, and a split on the neck.

I'm looking for recommendations on the neck pickup....here are my ideas so far....

-Humbucker:
I need something clear and well defined....full, but definitely not tubby. The pickup will basically be what I always use on clean and midgain...some neck pickups I've played have been way too bassy, and they were good for little more than slow strumming. Cool thing about this is that I could split it with the third position.

-Humbucker sized P-90:
As long as it has NO NOISE!!!

So, what would you recommend? Again, I'm using the pickup for cleans and midgain....which is best for this application?

Thanks much!

 

[nomad100hd]

did you try and emg 60 for the neck?

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Not yet...is it worth trying?

Eric

 

[nomad100hd]

i've not tried a 60 yet either but i want to. I can't decided if i like the 85 or the 81 best in the bridge.

 

[fluff191]

Doesnt the EMG site say you can't mix active and passive due to Pot values and things of that nature?

If you really wanted to you could, but wouldnt that require two separate outputs?

 

[nomad100hd]

just means you can't have your middle position set to use both pickups at the same time.

 

[lailer75]

just means you can't have your middle position set to use both pickups at the same time.

yes you can if you install a emg pa-2 there like 30 bucks

 

[MesaManBoogie]

just means you can't have your middle position set to use both pickups at the same time.

yes you can if you install a emg pa-2 there like 30 bucks

And even without the PA-2. I have a guitar with an EMG 81 on the bridge and a Dimarzio Super Distortion on the Neck, I installed them myself, but the Super Distortion sounds like it has too much bass on the neck. on some settings it sounds good.

 

[Motorpud]

I've always wondered about mixing passive and active pickups but was always put off because I never wanted to do the research lol. Have you looked into dimarzio? I'd go with an air norton or paf pro or something, they both have a great sound.

 

[daveycrocketofmetal]

yes you can.

 

[elvis]

You will want to buffer a passive pickup before you wire it in with actives. Actives have low output impedance, so they can drive a low impedance volume or tone pot (like 10k instead of the 250k that is typical for passives). Driving a 10k pot with a 10k impedance passive will cut the volume and treble, so it will sound weak and bassy. YMMV.

Check the volume pot you're wiring it in to. If it's 100k or more, it'll probably work OK.

 

[Nitrobattery]

Not yet...is it worth trying?

Eric

I personally can't stand the 60. Way too shrill for my taste. I've tried it in 3 guitars over the years and have never been very happy with it.