what am i powering with the 18V? Is it just the preamp circuitry or is it 9V preamp 9V PU? Also, if passive PUs give a strong enough signal at full volume knob, what does the passive PU-active preamp system do?

another thing is, i was actually referring to the volume knob and not tone or EQ. For example; back to guitars...i play a classic standard strat on an all tube amp and i overdrive the tubes. When i turn the volume knob down, i reduce the signal level and thus reducing the OD. So i end up with an almost clean sound....

Now the problem is... if the PUs are not "hot" enough, as some people say, then the PUs sounds flat with a lot of bass and low mids but the hi freqs are cut off (even with full tone knobs)....resulting in a changed signal (for bass it's usually from 10kHz that get cut off)...Apparently something to do with resistance of wires something something bla-.... How do active PUs solve this?

ok case settled. There is no such thing as an "active" PU. It's just the preamp that makes it "active"

ok a little explanation.. but this may be wrong.. plz correct me if i am wrong

some technical background.. putting it simple :
coils means inductance .. means phase shitfs - bad to signal.. thats y normally we have a tone control to compensate for the phase shifts.. basicly a simple cicuit with variable capacitor

whether its active PU or passive PU, its still coils and magnet. Electromagnet is oso coils so there is no escape. Since coils is passive component so i guess this made up the statement above?

i believe active PU is introduced to reduce coils; reduce phase shifts and compensation. Coil also contributes some resistance which acts like a load. To put it simple.. it may take part of the signal.. thus reduce output. With active PU introduced, we may only need a scaled down magnet + coils.. then amplify them with active preamp circuits..it should be opamp filter circuits(lowpass filter, bandpass filter, high pass filter ect) this way the circuit can choose which freq range to amplify n which to amplify less.

passive PU on the other hand works like a simple electric generator.. how much u turn the rotor equals how much power generated.. for this case the output is ur signal of course.

another long boring post

isit true tat passive sound more warm than activs?
wit the tone rolled off all the way it sounds more gentle

I deleted 13 posts talking about amps.

Let me remind you guys that this is a Guitar/Bass Pickups Thread.

i don't think so. But correct me if i'm wrong. An active PU can behave like a passive PU as well because of its ability to both cut and boost frequencies.

I have compared a fender precision 1968 to a G&L L-2000 1995 and the g&l can be set to get almost the same sound as the fender by turning the bass boost on and messing around with the 2-band EQ (bear in mind that the preci is using split PUs and the G&L uses double humbuckers). Of course you can't get the same sound since the PUs are different (not to mention the age of the fender). But in terms of warmth of tone, both basses are great.

So for warmth, i think other factors affect it more like the type of wood, amp, speakers blablabla. So in my comparison, i managed to get very smooth warm tones out of both basses (using the same amp of course).

shouta, your long and not-so-boring post seems to be very logical... thanks for the clear explanation
1) could you develop about the phase shifts ? i know that inductance will induce phase shifts, but why is it bad ? IMO, the whole signal is being shifted, so it doesn't produce phase-cancellation. (???)

2) how does the tone control work ? if it's just an inductance, then what's its effect ?

3) << bassix >> about the treble being diminished when the volume knob is turned down : on my guitar (the ibanez), there is a push-pull on the volume knob that, when pulled, will allows the higher frequencies to remain high and clear even when the volume is lowered... i think it uses a different kind of resistance (10k ?).

Dude...my ibanez needs a new colour...
can u tell me the best shop that can do that...
with the good price also la...
anything just pm me guys...
thanks...

was wonderin bout those large-pole pickups n close close-up 1s
wats so different bout the sound? stronger?? meatier???

looking for gibson burstbucker type 1 and type 2. know anywhere to get them and their prices? if cant get those probably a burstbucker pro

its not urgent since i might be getting a midi controller first...
or hopefully if i manage to save enough(and get another part time job during my hols) and get a nice amp

I believe I saw some in Wohfatt. Around the 300 to 500 range.

ive never been to woh fatt.

blacktrix, maybe u can help me find out when u go there this tuesday

echo...u in UTM rite?
woh fatt in KL kota raya...wen u comin??
keke

burstbuckers rm500?
i know the tony iommi pickup is already rm400 in woh fatt, so use that as a guide to how much the burstbuckers will be.

hmm..how about SD SH-4 JB Model?

i'm looking forward to this humbucking pickup.....great jazz and great distortion.....

Will find out when I go to Woh Fatt...... Just remembered....... might schedule quite packed, so might go on Thursday instead.

ok i am still learning.. plz correct me if i am wrong and i hope u understand this.

This may require some maths (complex notations). resistance, reactance, impedance.
resistance is a real component (R )
reactance is an imaginary component (jX or jwL or j2πf)
impedance is the complex component (Z or R+jX)

phase degree is the angle between the real component, resistance to the complex notations/line, impedance.

π = pi = 3.142
f = frequency
w = 2πf = 2 x 3.142 x frequency; thus the imaginary component, reactance vary accordingly to frequency change.
phase degree vary accordingly to the imaginary component, reactance.

Putting it simple, inductance/coils induce phase shifts based on frequency.

phase shifts will affect signal amplitude, either reduce more or reduce less.. commonly termed as attenuation. Generally it will have sort of a negative line gradient attenuation in the frequency spectrum (juz take a look at an equalizer).. from lowest frequency to highest frequency..
So for a guitar it may sound blunt since the higher freqs are cut off.

The nyquist plot in the following site show it all...
http://www.consultrsr.com/resources/eis/induct1.htm

-Z" is the imaginary component, reactance
Z' is the real component, resistance
the complex notations, impedance,Z are summed all together to form the circular line.

capacitor does the opposite of inductance, induce reactance to the opposite direction of the imaginary axis... +Z" positive. (inductance induce to -Z" negative direction). Therefore capacitace can reduce phase shifts, reduce attenuation and solve this problem. Now the question is what capacitance value should be applied tocompensate for the attenuated signal? that hence the tone control.

The RLC circuit shown may be an example of how a tone control may work. It could be done by varying the resistance value of the resistor parallel to the capacitor.

The Phase-Shifter has spoken

Ever since high school I've lost touch with everything science...

I was in Woh Fatt for a while today. Sorry Echo, no burstbucker. They do have 57 classics and some 4xxT or something like that. The Iommi humbucker is RM570 before discount.

hmm...do u saw seymour duncan SH-4 JB model there?

Thanks

Now I'm thinking of getting a Jeff Beck Humbucker for the ol' strat......... probably when I get my amp end of the year.......

Or is there any other humbucker you can recommend that is more edgy but still retains most of the strat's sound?

i had a JB before in a charvel.
very good for rock/metal, but no way does it retain any part of a strat sound.
perhaps if it was wired for splitting, then the single coil part might do it, tho i never did try.

Hmmmmmmm cool. cool...... Any other suggestions for a Humbucker in it then? Would want to play some Green Day stuff too..... that's why I wanted a Humbucker init.....

greenday? thought he uses the duncan invader?
i would guess most decent humbuckers would be able to pull off greenday stuff.
only question would be is the split coil sound good enough for that strat sound.

Yeah....... Looks like it's going to be split coil config for me..... Anyone knows a reasonablly priced humbucker for me???

hey guys.. is there any different between humbucker and trembucker?... is it just the size or does it affect the sound?

browsed through seymour duncan's site.. and noticed that there is sh-4 as well as tb-4

try putting in ur epiphone stock humbuckers in it

trembuckers pole pieces is spaced for floyd rose guitars, ie. pole pieces wider apart.

haha...then it would be weird.....less strat with hubucking pickup......tele with humbucking still acceptable.....

wanna ask u guys who replace their pickup before......how do u deal with ur ex-stock pickup? just keep it into drawer?

take them apart and try to rewire them. Or if you dont want them give them to me
I learning to rewire PUs now... And i don't want to spoil mine

I'm thinking of changing my bridge pickup.... having a tough time deciding between a Seymour Duncan SH4 JB Model and a DiMarzio Steve's Special... I'm slightly more inclined towards the Steve's Special though... I wonder if Woh Fatt has them. Other than them any other shops carry DiMarzio's?

i think bentley are the distributors for both duncan and dimarzio.

Noob Question:
what pickups does an Ibanez GRG270 use? i mean, i dono how to identify them/differntiate them.

it should be ibanez models, nothing famous... to know the exact reference, check out the website (i'm too lazy, sorry )

Hmmm.... called Bentley, they don't carry DiMarzio's.
And Woh Fatt doesn't have the Steve's Special.
I think the SD JB Model isn't suitable for my guitar coz of the floating trem, the string distance is wider. DiMarzio has F-spaced models to cater for these.
SD's trembucker series are designed to cater for floating trems but the sound doesn't capture my taste.

btw, criptonox... Bentley is selling the JB Model for RM340.

between normal pickups and F-spaced, with distortion etc i seriously doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference.

oh...thanks...u tried it out today?

i was just think of asking u to get one more for me.....when i read the following post...u've change ur mind....hahaha

u're planning to solder the sh-4 to ur grx?

You're right i guess... perhaps if u listen carefully, an F spaced will have just slightly better string balance but I doubt most people will be able to notice.



Nope, i called Bentley.

choosing pickups is a tough task... You can't just plug and test and try another till you're happy. Unlike other stuff like amps and effects. I'm only basing my decision on sound clips, descriptions and reading lots of reviews.

I haven't got anything yet leh...
planning to put the Steve's Special into my RG1570 bridge position.

do u go to youtube to check out some sample?

btw...i'm quite satisfy with sh-4 jb model......hopefully u can find ur real baby soonly.....how about EMG?

i see, so you got your GH4 JB model already. nice to hear that. I kinda like the sound of the JB model too.
EMG? You're talking actives here?
I need a very good, clear and defined clean tone. and the DiMarzio Steve's Special seems to fit the criterea. Now finding it is a problem.

haha...i still haven't got it yet.....i'm very satisfy with the video recorded in youtube with sh-4 jb model.....hopefully i can get it asap too.....mostly after SPM......damn many exam is coming towards.....still got two more exam before SPM(15nov)...argh...!

Ok....... I've decided to upgrade all three pickups of my strat instead of just adding in a Humbucker...... decided to go for a SSS combo instead of just one humbucker...... I figured if I wanted a humbucker, I'd use my Les Paul instead.......

any recommendations on a full set?? Remember.... it's kinda of a crappy Strat, but it's the first guitar I bought...... so a bit sentimental. I might as well change the tuners and pickups if I wanted to keep it longer.....

I'm looking to use that mainly to play Hendrix songs and maybe a little EARLY green day.....

I know pimping your guitar with a set of pickups that cost more than the guitar itself sounds bollocks to you... but it can yield good results. Provided the guitar has good wood tone and plays well, that is.

So, do consider the Kinman Woodstock/Blues set, BKP Irish Tour/Apache & Lindy Fralin pups. All 3 well-known 'boo-teek' manufacturers, available online only I guess.

EMG SA

or you want cheap full sets, mighty mite sells complete pickguard assembly with rail pickups/pots etc for RM400 completely wired up, you just need to attach it to the output jack.

Will go for Seymores or DiMarzios..... EMGs are just too metal for me!!!!!!

Please don't give me a heart attack... corrected for justice.

How about the Fender Texas Specials?

eh david gilmour used to use EMG SAs in his strat.
some country fag also used it.
mark knophler also has EMG SAs in one of his custom guitars.

basically the EMG SAs are not metal pickups.

i'm also considering the EMG-T set for my tele.
neuvas has it in his, so must go try his tele one day

Dave used it mainly because passives were giving him hums due to stage lightings. Since it is now a thing of the past, you won't see him using EMGs anymore.

They may not be metal pickups, but they are sure far from nailing the classic strat tone.
The sweetness of a passive pickup is one thing you metalheads you won't appreciate.

............ which is why I'm setting up a strat JUST for classic rock!!!!