So, what's the point of active pickups?

[darkandrew]

I've recently bought an Ltd Elite Eclipse 1 with the new EMG 57/66 pickup set
 EMG describe these pickups as being their take on the classic PAF and to my ears they sound very similar to BKP Holydiver pickups (actually very,  VERY, similar). What we have is an active pickup that looks like, sounds like and plays like a passive pickup, so why not just buy a passive pickup? Or maybe I'm missing something?

[Alex]

I don't know that particular pickup, but in general an active pickup is just another pickup with their voicing. An EMG81 sounds like an EMG81. "Active" per se doesn't necessarily imply a certain tonality.

If EMG voice that new one to sound like a Holy Diver, well... that's their choice but it's not what I think PAF implies.

There's also the Dave Mustaine active set and I think that one is very nice. I've heard good things about the Hetfield set too.

[darkandrew]

I'd tried the JH 'Het' set too and found them similar to the SD Distortion set (only not quite as good - I moved them on and kept the Distortion set, which incidentally I am planning to change for a set of Jugs at some point).

[darkandrew]

If EMG voice that new one to sound like a Holy Diver, well... that's their choice but it's not what I think PAF implies.

They're pretty hot (as hot as my Crawlers) and amazingly sound identical to the Holydiver clips on the BKP website. I'm pretty happy with them overall but if I was going to buy a set for an upgrade, I can't see any advantage in the Active EMGs over a similar sounding passive set.

[JimmyMoorby]

Very high output which obviously pushes your amp harder.  This produces a huge sound. You cant get any thing tighter either or more consistent than an active pickup but the consistency also means its pretty much a one trick pony and this is my point of view although I think theyre great.
The fact it does what it does extremely well is what other people 'hate' about them. Personally I can see a use for both.  It does amuse me when people say actives are lame when people like metallica, jeff loomis, tosin abasi, zakk wylde etc etc etc etc use them but obviously these are all metal guys.

I think EMG are just trying to do some new things. People always associate them with active pickups.  This is fine but Dave Gilmour has been using their passives for a while now so they aint a one trick company.

Any chance this wont descend into the generic ra ra ra emg's are lame type arguments.? as well as original comments such as 'batteries are for sex toys'....??

EMG's/Actives cant be that bad or BKP wouldnt base the black hawk and arguably the miracle man on them

[Dr.Pain]

The JH set is one of the best sets they make.  I do play a lot of Metallica's older stuff and thrash metal in general and they work great for that.  But go beyond that then they get a little ho hum.  I find when I'm getting to that stage my Les Paul takes over.  I got EMG X series 81/60 and that gives me some nice Slayer tones and the SD Blackouts I have in my 7 string and that completely mental.

Go beyond metal and they start to fall down.  I like the idea of the 57/66 pick up's but it is done to keep people with in a brand.  The Hetfield set was the start of EMG going down this path.  It can only be a good thing.

[fps_dean]

Active means that it is a pickup with a boost inside the guitar.  Thus, your pickup requires a battery to operate properly.  Typically the pickups themselves use weak magnets and are very low powered and boosted by internal circuitry to a point where they are very loud and will drive even the cleanest amps into distortion (which is not really necessary today).

[Toe-Knee]

The JH set is one of the best sets they make.  I do play a lot of Metallica's older stuff and thrash metal in general and they work great for that.  But go beyond that then they get a little ho hum.  I find when I'm getting to that stage my Les Paul takes over.  I got EMG X series 81/60 and that gives me some nice Slayer tones and the SD Blackouts I have in my 7 string and that completely mental.

Go beyond metal and they start to fall down.  I like the idea of the 57/66 pick up's but it is done to keep people with in a brand.  The Hetfield set was the start of EMG going down this path.  It can only be a good thing.

Th 57/66 combo is actually one of the failed hetset prototypes.

[littleredguitars2]

i've only heard a little bit of the EMG 57/66s and i really liked what i heard to be honest. but i havent heard the hetfield pickups at all though people have recommended them to me before.

[darkandrew]

The 57/66 combo is actually one of the failed hetset prototypes.

I'd be surprised if that were the case as the JH set is an evolution of the older "X" series and shares its ceramic underpinnings whereas the 57/66 set is alnico V based.  Beside I'd read that the 57/66 set was destined to be Dave Mustain's signature set until he re-signed with Seymour Duncan.

[Toe-Knee]

The 57/66 combo is actually one of the failed hetset prototypes.

I'd be surprised if that were the case as the JH set is an evolution of the older "X" series and shares its ceramic underpinnings whereas the 57/66 set is alnico V based.  Beside I'd read that the 57/66 set was destined to be Dave Mustain's signature set until he re-signed with Seymour Duncan.

I'll see if i can dig up the post from the EMG forum where one of the staff members mentioned it.

From memory i believe there were over 30 different sets made and tested before Hetfield chose the set he liked the most.

[Dr.Pain]

I think it was 20 sets made and James liked set 19 the most.  Makes sense that you've made all those prototypes that they get wasted especially the good ones.  I like the JH's, they has made me play with the volume on my guitar more than any other pick up's.  I normally just go balls to the wall in volume, 'cept my Strat.