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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Is It Possible To Combine Active And Passive Pickups?

Posted by: Praetorian Sep 23 2008, 11:41 PM

I was thinking about EMG 81/85's for my Ibanez...but it has a single coil middle pickup too. Can I put the actives in there with the existing passive mid?

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Sep 23 2008, 11:46 PM

QUOTE (Praetorian @ Sep 24 2008, 01:41 AM)

I was thinking about EMG 81/85's for my Ibanez...but it has a single coil middle pickup too. Can I put the actives in there with the existing passive mid?

i think its better to put 2x actives one neck and one briedge and leave the mid passive

Posted by: ZakkWylde Sep 23 2008, 11:47 PM

As far as I know: NO. You can keep it there but as a dead, unwired pickup; buy an emg single coil (sounds not too bad) or just leave it empty (looks customized^^).

Posted by: Praetorian Sep 23 2008, 11:47 PM

QUOTE (Hisham Al-Sanea @ Sep 23 2008, 06:46 PM)

i think its better to put 2x actives one neck and one briedge and leave the mid passive

That's what I would be doing. Is that possible?

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Sep 23 2008, 11:55 PM

QUOTE (Praetorian @ Sep 24 2008, 01:47 AM)

That's what I would be doing. Is that possible?

as i understood you have a five selection sounds, so you can install the briedge and the neck and to leave the mid pickup
to work normally. as in my guitar i have a strato iwith 2 Demarzio and mid fender in the mid and all its working normally

Posted by: ZakkWylde Sep 24 2008, 12:01 AM

The problem is the active electronic of the emgs, the whole guitar is wired to be powered by the battery and therefore the passive middle pickup won't work any longer (afaik).

Posted by: Smells Sep 24 2008, 12:03 AM

QUOTE (Praetorian @ Sep 23 2008, 11:47 PM)

That's what I would be doing. Is that possible?

Hmm I looked into this a little while back and from what I understood, it is possible but you need two sets of wiring, the volume & tone pots that are used are different (hopefully someone a bit more techy can go into this bit for us

) and you cant mix the two. so you need seperate volume pots for the passive pup, thats the way I understood it anyways, happy to be corrected

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Sep 24 2008, 12:06 AM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Sep 24 2008, 02:01 AM)

The problem is the active electronic of the emgs, the whole guitar is wired to be powered by the battery and therefore the passive middle pickup won't work any longer (afaik).

it will be work normally but in volume will be lower than the active
cause the active has high power from battery

Posted by: Praetorian Sep 24 2008, 12:13 AM

I never use the middle...so it wouldn't be a problem if it didn't work.

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Sep 24 2008, 12:30 AM

i think when you buy the active EMG there is a diagram coming with its how to install the pickups. so it will
help to install its in the right way

Posted by: USAMAN Sep 24 2008, 12:43 AM

[Here is the answer to the million dollar question.

url="http://www.emginc.com/text/faq.html#WQ5"]http://www.emginc.com/text/faq.html#WQ5[/url]