Simuanalog

[Kingston]

Yes I AGREE!! Discussion over, if we agree then there is no other possibility,, I was just stating how the EMG's worked well for the DI,, Otherwise I agree 100% with the above statement..

I think the real answer here is YMMV. It could be generalised that EMG is a passive pick up with an impedance matched amp, and hence it may or may not work well going directly to DAW and plugs.

Similarly, not all DIs with preamps are equal, and they may or may not work optimally with a given pick up combo.

[Hink]

btw just for laughs...I started this by poking fun at a friend about outdated pick-ups...the only thing is, the EMG81 in my favorite guitar is at least 20 years old

It's still 30 years younger than the passive pickup tech we generally use.

like I said.....a pick-up designed before the color tv was invented...you don't suppose they've made some progress by now do yah? state of the art pc, state of the art software, exotic woods, hi-tech cables, digital...but lets start by getting aboit 10% of the sound we should be getting all of from a pick-up that was made with WWI surplus parts

[susiwong]

Trying to give this discussion some focus :

Three questions for the experts :

--Please name 3 brands of active pickups
--Please name 3 guitars with active circuitry but passive pickups
--What exactly is the difference, technically speaking ?

Have fun with this little quiz, and THEN we can talk.

Cheers, susiwong

[Kingston]

like I said.....a pick-up designed before the color tv was invented...you don't suppose they've made some progress by now do yah? state of the art pc, state of the art software, exotic woods, hi-tech cables, digital...but lets start by getting aboit 10% of the sound we should be getting all of from a pick-up that was made with WWI surplus parts

In the same vein, we should start replacing violin woods with carbon composites, and optimise of the cluncky and outdated design decisions.

Let's also throw away great vintage preamp designs and all reel-to-reel technology because we now have transistors and digital recording.

cuz like, that did so much good to the sound back in the eighties, didn't it?

[Killvehicle]

Trying to give this discussion some focus :

Three questions for the experts :

--Please name 3 brands of active pickups
--Please name 3 guitars with active circuitry but passive pickups
--What exactly is the difference, technically speaking ?

Have fun with this little quiz, and THEN we can talk.

Cheers, susiwong

Not too interested in tests at this hour. Just tell me whats your point or what knowledge you will bestow upon us..

[Killvehicle]

like I said.....a pick-up designed before the color tv was invented...you don't suppose they've made some progress by now do yah? state of the art pc, state of the art software, exotic woods, hi-tech cables, digital...but lets start by getting aboit 10% of the sound we should be getting all of from a pick-up that was made with WWI surplus parts

In the same vein, we should start replacing violin woods with carbon composites, and optimise of the cluncky and outdated design decisions.

Let's also throw away great vintage preamp designs and all reel-to-reel technology because we now have transistors and digital recording.

cuz like, that did so much good to the sound back in the eighties, didn't it?

KIngston, It might be the 5 or 6 mexican beers in me, but . !!

[Hink]

Yes I AGREE!! Discussion over, if we agree then there is no other possibility,, I was just stating how the EMG's worked well for the DI,, Otherwise I agree 100% with the above statement..

I think the real answer here is YMMV. It could be generalised that EMG is a passive pick up with an impedance matched amp, and hence it may or may not work well going directly to DAW and plugs.

Similarly, not all DIs with preamps are equal, and they may or may not work optimally with a given pick up combo.

do you know what the design is of an EMG? It's a passive pick up (most with rails) and an impedance matched amp...surprisingly you can run an emg into a pre-amp...in fact you kinda have no choice...a passive DI imo is better than an active one...

[Lunch Money]

3 Brands of active: Well, the obvious-- EMG, DiMarzio, and I believe now Duncan have entered the fray. If you'd like, you can swap out Duncan for Bartolini, though the unique thing about Barts is that they use enough coil windings to operate passively, as well (unlike EMGs).

Active circuitry... well, anything that adds an afterburner or suchlike. There are so many after-market active circuits that it'd be crazy to try listing them all. Some Strats have had them, many ESPs, and I've no doubt that each of the major companies have made at least one guitar with passives + active circuitry. Howabout any piezo-equipped acoustic.

Technically speaking, [edit: and going back to magnetic coil types rather than piezo] it comes down to the number of coil windings and not that much else.

Not 100% sure how my answers will stack up to your expectations, but even with slight misconceptions, I'm quite willing to include myself in the list of people "worthy" to talk about them.

Greg

[Kingston]

do you know what the design is of an EMG? It's a passive pick up (most with rails) and an impedance matched amp...surprisingly you can run an emg into a pre-amp...in fact you kinda have no choice...a passive DI imo is better than an active one...

which is *exactly* what I said on top of this page *on the quote of your post*! Had you read that as intended, you'd notice we are in fact in agreement. Other than that, I'm just playing the devils advocate here, like most of the time.

[Hink]

like I said.....a pick-up designed before the color tv was invented...you don't suppose they've made some progress by now do yah? state of the art pc, state of the art software, exotic woods, hi-tech cables, digital...but lets start by getting aboit 10% of the sound we should be getting all of from a pick-up that was made with WWI surplus parts

In the same vein, we should start replacing violin woods with carbon composites, and optimise of the cluncky and outdated design decisions.

Let's also throw away great vintage preamp designs and all reel-to-reel technology because we now have transistors and digital recording.

cuz like, that did so much good to the sound back in the eighties, didn't it?

actually rain song has made a tremendous guitar out of graphite I believe...you know it's all subjective anyway...but yeah I see nothing wrong with letting vintage be vintage and progress grow with technology...it seemed to have worked for a few centuries already...the same thing can said about an electric guitar, or doesn't that count? Guess we should go bacl to catgut ...so if you're going to use that argument go all the way, not just the parts that suit your side of your choice

[Killvehicle]

Yes I AGREE!! Discussion over, if we agree then there is no other possibility,, I was just stating how the EMG's worked well for the DI,, Otherwise I agree 100% with the above statement..

I think the real answer here is YMMV. It could be generalised that EMG is a passive pick up with an impedance matched amp, and hence it may or may not work well going directly to DAW and plugs.

Similarly, not all DIs with preamps are equal, and they may or may not work optimally with a given pick up combo.

do you know what the design is of an EMG? It's a passive pick up (most with rails) and an impedance matched amp...surprisingly you can run an emg into a pre-amp...in fact you kinda have no choice...a passive DI imo is better than an active one...

HInk it may be the 5 or 6 mexican beers in me, but Im losing you.. I didnt get the passive over active DI,, all I can say is I had the EMG's sound better going into a DI better than any other pups, All passive but of different models,, When I went to a friends to drop a solo on a demo he was doing He had a Roland VS2000, with the Roland Cosm amp plug in, and the same thing happened there,, my passives were muddy, and the Emg's were cutting thru,, It may be the tonal qualities of the pick-up or it could have been something directly relating to active or not.. That I cant say for sure,, but I know in 2 different situations Active worked better!! That is all I can definitivly say about Active vs. Passive, all my knowledge comes from trying em out, and listening


I just see your post Lunch Money, Name the active Dimarzio?? I dont know of one, Seymour has had actives for quite a while,, They have had the Livewire model and now Dave Mustain has his own Active Pup.and of course the EMG's. Those are the 2 ones I know for sure, but there are a ton of PUP companies, that there are probably 20 active manufacturers on the market if you search,, probabaly more who knows..

[Kingston]

actually rain song has made a tremendous guitar out of graphite I believe...you know it's all subjective anyway...but yeah I see nothing wrong with letting vintage be vintage and progress grow with technology...it seemed to have worked for a few centuries already...the same thing can said about an electric guitar, or doesn't that count? Guess we should go bacl to catgut ...so if you're going to use that argument go all the way, not just the parts that suit your side of your choice

Well you got my point and versed it better with a more generalised tone. I'm not adverse to tech or clinging to good ol' days, obviously.

[Hink]

do you know what the design is of an EMG? It's a passive pick up (most with rails) and an impedance matched amp...surprisingly you can run an emg into a pre-amp...in fact you kinda have no choice...a passive DI imo is better than an active one...

which is *exactly* what I said on top of this page *on the quote of your post*! Had you read that as intended, you'd notice we are in fact in agreement. Other than that, I'm just playing the devils advocate here, like most of the time.

I was going to send you a pm to remind you I'm just joshing yah...you know that, and yes I know I quoted you exact, that was part of the joke....maybe I need to smoke some more...

[Kingston]

maybe I need to smoke some more...

No, you need to smoke less! Bloody hippies!

[Hink]

actually rain song has made a tremendous guitar out of graphite I believe...you know it's all subjective anyway...but yeah I see nothing wrong with letting vintage be vintage and progress grow with technology...it seemed to have worked for a few centuries already...the same thing can said about an electric guitar, or doesn't that count? Guess we should go bacl to catgut ...so if you're going to use that argument go all the way, not just the parts that suit your side of your choice

Well you got my point and versed it better with a more generalised tone. I'm not adverse to tech or clinging to good ol' days, obviously.

don't worry, I'm still not ready for the variax...like I say, I don't need a guitar that's smarter than me