Passive or active pickups?

[shroudofimpurity]

This question is for Colin but if anyone else has some thoughts on this, by all means. Now, I know this may not be directly about sound production, but it has to do with sound, and I'd figure Colin has some good advice on this. So...I have an EMG 81 in my Jackson SL-1. The other day I was playing on my friends Jackson which has some sort of Seymour Duncan. Now I thought for years that active humbuckers were the way to go, but when I played that guitar with the Duncan, I was BLOWN AWAY with the clarity and note definition of that pickup... Colin can I hear your thoughts on a good pickup? I thought I remember you saying that you don’t like active pickups, can you recommend me a good passive pickup that would work well with my guitar and the type of music we play. Thanks in advance bro.

[analredwing]

di'marzio evolution

[vile_ator]

Thats the one. Dimarzio Evolution. Best combo of gain, rythym tone and lead tone, no feedback, note clarity, everything.

It is a different kind of dynamic playing with a passive pickup so it might take some time to adjust, but when you go passive, now the quality of the guitar and amp make more of a difference.

Colin

[Trauma]

I heard that the Di Marzio Breed, in neck position was a really cool one to lead..
Something between the Evolution and the Paf

[StefTD]

But passive Pickups have to fit with the sound of the wood, If you play a guitar with a very bassy tone, don't put pickups in it with a lot lows, more highs and mids would be better there.
I take different pickups for different music, I think Decrepit Birth sounds cooler with the sterilness of EMG 81 but Morbid Angel or Death is cooler with passive but that is only my opinion.
I choose between pickups according to the tuning, with lower tunings active Pickups often sound better and you can get a more muddy sound with passives, so I personally like EMGs for tunings like B-b or everything under that but for everything above I prefer Di Marzio Steve's Special or Seymour Duncan Dimebucker, the next Pickup I will get is a Custom shop by http://häussel.com/
not to much output, good note definiton and more mids than highs. The cool thing is that the price is only about 10 or 20 euros higher than for a new EMG 81 and the guy lives only about 20 minutes away from me, If you don't like the Pickup he will change it til you like it.
Imho it's all according to the music you play and the tunings you use, I hate the sound of EMG 81 in standard tuning.

[shroudofimpurity]

Originally posted by StefTD
I think Decrepit Birth sounds cooler with the sterilness of EMG 81

Yeah, the thing is I just notice a HUGE difference in note definition with a passive pickup, and thats what I'm trying to achieve, especially with the new material. I really want an "upfront" guitar tone with plenty of midrange definition. I'm gonna get one of these Dimarzio Evolution's as soon as I can, and see what I think. Just for a side note, I tune to D.

[Alex]

Dimazio Evo's are cool. I'd suggest getting the Dimazio x2n's (or something like that) Chuck used em on symbolic and they have tons of note def

[vile_ator]

I have an X2N for sale. Noisy, scooped piece of shit. Sorry.

Colin

[Trauma]

I have an X2N for sale. Noisy, scooped piece of shit. Sorry.

Colin

I've a vigier Marilyn whos had 2 X2N:
a real piece of shit. I agree with Colin. Very muddy. Bassy.
I've sold them for EMG 81 and 85, i'm not disapointed

[Alex]

I have an X2N for sale. Noisy, scooped piece of shit. Sorry.

Colin

hmm weird I have a friend thats been usin em for years and there is not any mud what so ever, his sound like 81's.

[seedsofthesuffering]

Well, I just installed an Evolution in my Soloist... I couldnt be more happy! The true test will be to lay some tracks down though... I think I'm gonna order one for my Dinky too.
Dude, you probably know this already but incase you or someone else doesn't - if you are using Floyd Rose bridge be sure to get the "F-Spaced" Dimarzio (wider pole piece spacing). I made this error once with Duncans (bought the standard instead of "Trembucker") - and the difference, in my guitar at least when I got the correct one was really HUGE. More note definition, clarity, bass... everything better about it.