are you active?

[scxtt]

our new bass player has this "squire" Hamer guitar that has emg's in it ... and 81 and 85 i presume (he didn't know, they were in the guitar when he got it from a friend) ... during some downtime while we were playing he plugged it into my friend ryan's HRdeluxe with a ds-1 in front of it - and it SMOKED! i loved it - no offense to ryan but it sounded way better than his stock pacifica (:D - naturally) ... so he was nice enough to let me borrow it to test it out with my stuff ... like most people say the distortion on a HRdeville isn't that great ... but with those emg's in front of it - damn it smoked too! i'd consider using it as my main distiortion when using that amp - real easy to solo with ... tried it infront of a blue voodoo i got (and was regretting) - whoa! whole new life was breathed into that amp too ... now i'm gonna keep it ... basically i'm the most excited i've been about my tone with the prospect of these pups than i've been in years ... i'd probably have a few less amps and fx if i'da had them earlier ...

but it's also made me question why exactly i'm so turned off by passive pups ... i've always wondered if i do things "wrong" when using my stuff ... i generally max the volume and tone on any guitar and set the knobs on amps/fx to my liking ... this has basically rendered neck pups worthless for me ... they always sound farty to me and i can't stand it ... i even "borrowed" a gibson lp classic and fender deluxe strat from GC and coudn't really get sounds i was totally happy with ... so i guess it's possible i don't like passive pups or something like that ... which has made me curious as to the % of passive vs. active users ...

i plan on getting an 81 either for christmas of very soon after and putting it in an ibanez sca220 i have ... since you can't really put an active and passive pup in one guitar i was gonna take both stock pups out and just have the 81 in the bridge ... and either a hole in the neck or put the battery there ... there's no harm in that is there? and are the directions that come with the pup good enough that i can do it myself - never having installed a pup before? i'd like to save that $$ ...

[gizzi]

i've usually been passive...

[TheWizard]

Passive

[cubby]

passive aggressive

[doingtheunstuck]

i currently only have passive.

but eventually intend on a guitar with active pick ups. they're nice for the same reason i like SS amps... they're neutral. one less thing in my signal chain that i have to worry about coloring my tone in ways i don't want while i fine tune other things. i love passive p'ups and am not nearly as downed on them as i am tube amps, generally.. but sometimes for the sake of tone-making-simplicity, active guitars can be nice. you leave them alone and set the SS amp's eq flat... then you use everything inbetween to get the sounds you want. you don't have to make up for the extra color elsewhere.

[The User]

i have never heard an active pickup ive liked

[Ghettometalhead]

Passives are awswome.......if your olny intent is playing distorted..... i you want some genuine smooth clean sound get passives.

[Rayguitargod]

I play active, EMG 81 all the way. Oh and the cleans sound really good too, you must all be idiots.

[screamingdaisy]

Active

EMG SA/SA/85 in my Strat

EMG 707/707 in a new guitar I'm building

But, you'll need an EQ of some type as the tone is really flat until you EQ it the way you like.

Also, why don't you just leave the neck pickup in disconnected? That way atleast the hole will be filled until you get a new neck pickup.

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by Rayguitargod
I play active, EMG 81 all the way. Oh and the cleans sound really good too, you must all be idiots.

Hmm.... Let's see, If idiots don't like cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone, then Yes, I am an idiot.


Btw, BOOGIE was/is a model that Mesa put out. e.g., the company is not called Mesa Boogie, it's just Mesa (Boogie, Triaxis, Recto, and the other trash they put out)

Now go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs. :p :D

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Hmm.... Let's see, If idiots don't like cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone, then Yes, I am an idiot.


Btw, BOOGIE was/is a model that Mesa put out. e.g., the company is not called Mesa Boogie, it's just Mesa (Boogie, Triaxis, Recto, and the other trash they put out)

Now go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs. :p :D

That really furthered the debate. How old are you? Do your parents know you play with the computer?

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by screamingdaisy
That really furthered the debate. How old are you? Do your parents know you play with the computer?

Are you trying to tell me that Active p/u's are warm, earthy, organic sounding ?

How old am I ?

Old enough to know better.

[screamingdaisy]

No, they're flat sounding, that's why you need to eq them. The whole point of them is that instead of having 100 different types of pickups, all pre-eq'd (wound) different in the factory, you can have a a couple of different options, all wound flat, so that you can eq them youself and create your own tone instead of being limited to the factory options.

They also respond better to effects (more signal to process), can drive an amp harder if so desired, and eliminate alot of the negitive effects of using a guitar cable longer than 6 feet.

Are you saying bands like Metallica have cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone? Korn doesn't even use active pickups.

[cormac]

well at the risk of being the next subject of ridicule in this thread ...

where do single-wound mid '70s strat pu's fall?

[Motorhead]

Hopefully I will never have to choose because I do like a Good Neck Passive PU.

... but I can sure make the earth shake with an EMG-81 at the bridge.

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by scxtt
but it's also made me question why exactly i'm so turned off by passive pups ... i've always wondered if i do things "wrong" when using my stuff ... i generally max the volume and tone on any guitar and set the knobs on amps/fx to my liking ... this has basically rendered neck pups worthless for me ... they always sound farty to me and i can't stand it ...

You sound like me until I made the big jump to singles (or split duallies) at the neck. I spent over 10 years looking for the perfect neck humbucker PU for a LP type guitar (24 3/4" scale) and never found it.

The PRS Dragon is the best I found simply because it has that warm Gibson PAF tone and has the possibility to be split (4 conductor wires).

IMO: nothing, even an active humbucker PU, will beat a single at the neck ... at the bridge well that's another story.

[Ghettometalhead]

I kinda agree Motorhead, I played a strat the other day throgh a Roland JC-120 . I t sounded fantastic. Until then I hated all single coil PU'S cause they could not give me that Beson contempo/jazz pop that I like in clean tones. And although Icouldnt get it from this guitar either what I did get was something that I liked for a different reason. Now I would actually consider a single coil neck PU. But for the bridge, humbucker all the way. Now as far as this active/passive thing goes.....tell me of one guitarist who has impecable clean sound that uses EMG's, or better yet uses them specifcally for their clean sound. Not to rag on actives,i think they are great in a heavy environment or where you are using a crapload of effects. I would love to be enligntened as to my question. I dont know everything. so answer me please

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by Ghettometalhead
tell me of one guitarist who has impecable clean sound that uses EMG's, or better yet uses them specifcally for their clean sound. Not to rag on actives,i think they are great in a heavy environment or where you are using a crapload of effects. I would love to be enligntened as to my question. I dont know everything. so answer me please

Steve Luthaker ... EMG-85 with his special EMG-SLVs.
Listen tio the sound clips on the EMG website. The SLVs are real nice sounding with a certain twang to them.

Now these are again, not super low output PUs like an Ibanez Jazz Super 58s but it should at least convince you that a nice clean sound is possible.

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by screamingdaisy
No, they're flat sounding, that's why you need to eq them. The whole point of them is that instead of having 100 different types of pickups, all pre-eq'd (wound) different in the factory, you can have a a couple of different options, all wound flat, so that you can eq them youself and create your own tone instead of being limited to the factory options.

They also respond better to effects (more signal to process), can drive an amp harder if so desired, and eliminate alot of the negitive effects of using a guitar cable longer than 6 feet.

Are you saying bands like Metallica have cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone? Korn doesn't even use active pickups.

One of us is confused here. I'm saying that active p/u's are not warm sounding p/u's.

First you ask me if my parents know I am using my computer
Then, when I ask you if you think active p/u's are warm sounding, you say No, they are flat sounding:confused:

Yes, you can eq them (you can eq anything) but if you think an eq will bring out warm, earthy tones, then why don't we all go out and buy a Squire and Randall amp and just eq it to sound like a Soldano or Vox or Matchless ??

Does Metallica have a 'scooped mids' sound ?
If so,(of course they do) then how is a "scooped" sound earthy and warm ??



They also respond better to effects (more signal to process), can drive an amp harder if so desired, and eliminate alot of the negitive effects of using a guitar cable longer than 6 feet. You said it, more signal to.... What, to do what ? to PROCESS Well, if you think a processed sound is warm.....then, what can I say ?

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
One of us is confused here. I'm saying that active p/u's are not warm sounding p/u's.

First you ask me if my parents know I am using my computer
I was refering to your rather closeminded and childish remarks.

Hmm.... Let's see, If idiots don't like cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone, then Yes, I am an idiot. Btw, [i]BOOGIE was/is a model that Mesa put out. e.g., the company is not called Mesa Boogie, it's just Mesa (Boogie, Triaxis, Recto, and the other trash they put out) Now go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs. :p :D
First, you slagged an active pickup for one of it's most desirable charictoristics, then you slag an amp company based on your own personal opinions, followed by pointing out a nu-metal and an emo band, niether styles of which he may even play, of which Korn doesn't even use active pickups. So I ask you, what does Mesa, Korn, or Blink182 have to do with Active or Passive Pickups?

Then, when I ask you if you think active p/u's are warm sounding, you say No, they are flat sounding:confused:
What's to be confused about, they are flat sounding.

Yes, you can eq them (you can eq anything) but if you think an eq will bring out warm, earthy tones, then why don't we all go out and buy a Squire and Randall amp and just eq it to sound like a Soldano or Vox or Matchless ??
So, adding windings on a pickup is different than adding windings through an EQ? Are you saying that you can't take a flat sound and make it warm, cold, dark, bright sounding?

Does Metallica have a 'scooped mids' sound ?
If so,(of course they do) then how is a "scooped" sound earthy and warm ??
I asked if you were trying to say bands like Metallica have cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone? At what point did I say their sound was earthy and warm? Please don't put words into my mouth.

You said it, more signal to.... What, to do what ? to PROCESS Well, if you think a processed sound is warm.....then, what can I say ?
If you don't want a proccessed sound, then I suggest you don't use an amp either. Ever wonder why the same guitar sounds different in a Marshall than a Mesa? I guess it would be because they have different windings in their amplifier circuts. Active coils, passive coils, effects, eq's, amplifiers, speakers, even the guitar cable and patch cords proccess the signal. So if you want a clean, unproccessed sound, I suggest you pull out your pickups and don't plug in at all.

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Hmm.... Let's see, If idiots don't like cold, hard, sterile, soul-less tone, then Yes, I am an idiot.

Highway Chile, it just sounded like you were humming the typical "I hate EMGs" chant.

Screamingdaisy is simply saying that EMGs are supposed to sound like that. Let's remember that the end result is what counts here.

Highway Chile wants earthy pristine tone than he should be using late 60s unpotted low output PAFs or Singles.

Screamingdaisy wants signal processing versatility than he should use EMGs.

Ghettometalhead (assumption/example) wants a clear sound than he should be using low output Jazz type PUs.

Motörhead wants a 'ball to the wall' sound but also has a fetish for PUs so he should continue to use whatever high output PU he can get his hands on.

It's all good :)

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by Motorhead
It's all good :)

Just a little tired of hearing something sucks, instead of, this is why I don't like something.

I stand berated. I'll start behaving now.

Rock on.

[doingtheunstuck]

that was a great post, daisy:)

[Skuzze]

What the hell is an "earth-y" tone? Or, is this another name for the "brown" sound?

Brown ... earth? Get it? Ah, whatever.



~Skuzze...seriously, though~!

<~~~ plans on putting EMGs in one of the guitars. Or, like 4, it's all good.

[Rayguitargod]

Yeah I defiantly dont play Korn or blink 182, and as far as the mesa thing goes your a ****ing idiot I hope you die of testicular cancer. Other than that it is very pssible to get "warm" tones out of active pickups it all depends on eq amp etc. etc.

[gary]

Always passive. That's not to say I don't like active pickups, just never tried them on guitar (have on bass).

[Highway Chile]

I was refering to your rather closeminded and childish remarks. You're right. The comment about Mesa being trash was not a nice thing to say.

First, you slagged an active pickup for one of it's most desirable charictoristics, then you slag an amp company based on your own personal opinions, followed by pointing out a nu-metal and an emo band, niether styles of which he may even play, of which Korn doesn't even use active pickups. So I ask you, what does Mesa, Korn, or Blink182 have to do with Active or Passive Pickups?

Being cold, and sterile is the most desirable characteristic ?

Relax dude, I don't mean to be ragging on your favorite bands. Can you point out where I made ANY reference to Korn or Blink 182 AND Mesa ??

I was refering to these supergroups:p as kids who don't know good tone from a good bone.

So, adding windings on a pickup is different than adding windings through an EQ? Are you saying that you can't take a flat sound and make it warm, cold, dark, bright sounding? Like I said, let's all go out and buy a Randall amp and an eq, then we can just simply EQ in a tone simillar to a 70's Fender, or a 90's Matchless:rolleyes:

What I mean by a processed sound is one that has been digitized
A decent tube amp will NEVER EVER sound processed.

So I ask you, what does Mesa, Korn, or Blink182 have to do with Active or Passive Pickups **EDIT*** HAHAHA Now I see why you're so pissed. Look at his sig. GENIUS !! That' s what I was refering to. (Mesa)

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by Rayguitargod
Yeah I defiantly dont play Korn or blink 182, and as far as the mesa thing goes your a ****ing idiot I hope you die of testicular cancer. Other than that it is very pssible to get "warm" tones out of active pickups it all depends on eq amp etc. etc.

I see you STILL haven't changed the Mesa/Boogie yet.:D :p

[thesteve]

followed by pointing out a nu-metal and an emo band,

where was there a mentioning of either a nu-metal or a emo band? Korn might be nu-metal I guess...Blink is pop-punk to the core.

as far as pickups go, I can see the advantages of both. I have passives on my Jagstang (JB in the bridge, stock in the neck), however I've also played my friend's Mex Tele with EMG-Ts in it, and it sounds really sweet too...and very hot.

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Being cold, and sterile is the most desirable characteristic ?


Yes, that's what sets EMGs apart from other active PUs.

Mastertone PUs are active PUs built using a more stylised winding technique. Their Single coils "reflect a mid 60's tone but with the tighter bottom".
www.mastertonepickups.com

These PU are excellent high ouput active PUs BUT they go against EMGs philosophy of generating a sterile very low impedance signal. I don't know were 'cold' came from but I guess since they are fundamental neutral they are not 'warm'.

Effect happy players like David Gilmour play EMGs because of this low impedance so that the signal absorbs as much of the signal processing as possible. Call it digital enhancement if you want it's no more uncouth than distorting your signal - EMGs just make it more efficient.

[cubby]

My main objection to the EMG's I used to use whas just that I am a fan of natural amp/guitar feedback and the feedback that oyu get from low impedence pickups is weak. If you are looking for a crisp, clear tone and wanting to use pedals to get whatever effects that you desire then EMG's may be perfect for your needs.

I used to have a MusicMan Stingray I guitar that had actives and would squeal with feedback. I suspect that the large, exposed poles may have played a part in the sound. However, they had and extremely harsh sound even when the "bright" switch was disengaged.

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
**EDIT*** HAHAHA Now I see why you're so pissed. Look at his sig. GENIUS !! That' s what I was refering to. (Mesa)

No sh*t, did you think I thought you'd just pulled that comment out of your ass, or do you not think I would have looked around first to try to figure out what you were talking about?

And the company is called Mesa Engineering, not Mesa.

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by Motorhead
Yes, that's what sets EMGs apart from other active PUs.

Mastertone PUs are active PUs built using a more stylised winding technique. Their Single coils "reflect a mid 60's tone but with the tighter bottom".
www.mastertonepickups.com

These PU are excellent high ouput active PUs BUT they go against EMGs philosophy of generating a sterile very low impedance signal. I don't know were 'cold' came from but I guess since they are fundamental neutral they are not 'warm'.

Effect happy players like David Gilmour play EMGs because of this low impedance so that the signal absorbs as much of the signal processing as possible. Call it digital enhancement if you want it's no more uncouth than distorting your signal - EMGs just make it more efficient.

Yeah, I was gonna say...EMGs are by no means 'bad' p/u's.

About 8-9 years ago I had a BC Rich Custom V (Kerry King) I had a SD Jazz in the neck and a EMG 81 in the bridge. It was a Heavy Metal MACHINE.(floyd, thin-wide maple fretboard)

For Heavy Metal it was perfect, but for blues it didn't have that 'crying' blues tone. For punk it didn't have the snarl For Jazz it didn't have the earthy-ness

I will say that the cleans were pretty impressive, but just not something I would call a warm soft tone. It was stellar nonetheless.

I'm saying that they simply aren't a warm sounding p/u. Yes I did use "cold" "sterile" and "soul-less" but that doesn't necessarily mean BAD

You don't need earthy, warm etc. for Thrash/Speed/Death Metal, or Techno or other genres.

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by cubby
My main objection to the EMG's I used to use whas just that I am a fan of natural amp/guitar feedback and the feedback that oyu get from low impedence pickups is weak. If you are looking for a crisp, clear tone and wanting to use pedals to get whatever effects that you desire then EMG's may be perfect for your needs.

I used to have a MusicMan Stingray I guitar that had actives and would squeal with feedback. I suspect that the large, exposed poles may have played a part in the sound. However, they had and extremely harsh sound even when the "bright" switch was disengaged.

How's the JB sound?

I'm going to be building a Jagstag soon, I have settled on a Fender Texas Special for the neck (that was a no-brainer), but have been trying to decide between getting a DiMarzio Evolution or a SD JB for the bridge.

[nocluejimbo]

Originally posted by screamingdaisy
How's the JB sound?

I'm going to be building a Jagstag soon, I have settled on a Fender Texas Special for the neck, but have been trying to decide between getting a DiMarzio Evolution or a SD JB for the bridge.

evolutions are great for a heavy/lead tone. they are also pretty loud compared to my stock humbucker and especially single soils.

[cubby]

Originally posted by screamingdaisy
How's the JB sound?

I'm going to be building a Jagstag soon, I have settled on a Fender Texas Special for the neck (that was a no-brainer), but have been trying to decide between getting a DiMarzio Evolution or a SD JB for the bridge.

IMO the JB sounds like a great alnico 5 humbucker. It's a hot humbucker that doesn't have the harshness that I associate with hot pickups. It's got good highs without being glassy and and it's not as bottom heavy as most similar pickups. It cleans up nicely just by rolling off of the volume a little and can be classic rock gnarly when dimed. Sweet distortion. I don't really associate it with Jeff Beck's usual piercing sound.

[beerski]

Originally posted by cubby
IMO the JB sounds like a great alnico 5 humbucker. It's a hot humbucker that doesn't have the harshness that I associate with hot pickups. It's got good highs without being glassy and and it's not as bottom heavy as most similar pickups. It cleans up nicely just by rolling off of the volume a little and can be classic rock gnarly when dimed. Sweet distortion. I don't really associate it with Jeff Beck's usual piercing sound.

i went for the JB just because i couldnt rout out for a battery in my ibanez sa160 (not a whole lot of material in the body to begin with). in the long run, im glad i did though, cuz the JB just rocks. its got a nice deep sound to it, not harsh at all just well balanced and sweet. you can tell that it has balls, but not so much that it makes your amp go crazy with feedback.

[Cupid0]

I like the active concept better. It's much cooler.

[cubby]

Originally posted by Cupid0
I like the active concept better. It's much cooler.

So do you play for tone or image?

[thesteve]

the JB in my jagstang sounds beautiful. It's a ton better than the stock p/u that Fender puts it in. So far I've stayed with the stock single coil because I love how brittle and glassy it sounds, and how bright and clean it sounds when I add delay...I'm just afraid to mess with it.

[Cupid0]

I see you STILL haven't changed the Mesa/Boogie yet.

umm... the company IS actually called Mesa/Boogie... it was originally called Mesa Engineering or Mesa or something, but Carlos Santana suggested they add "boogie" to the name, and the company is now known as Mesa/Boogie, although it still says "Mesa Engineering" on the amps themselves.

just go to www.MESABOOGIE.com and see for yourself.

[Cupid0]

So do you play for tone or image?

notice i said "concept"... I think it's cool how the effects respond better, there is higher output, and the pickups have more versatility...

[Rayguitargod]

Of course Im not gonna change it I think you are wrong. Like the man said its mesaboogie.com

[VillageIdiot]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Btw, BOOGIE was/is a model that Mesa put out. e.g., the company is not called Mesa Boogie, it's just Mesa (Boogie, Triaxis, Recto, and the other trash they put out)

Wrong.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/

Why would they name their website like that if "Boogie" was a model name?

And why on the front page does it have a giant "Mesa/Boogie" logo?

And why is there a reference to 'Mesa/Boogie" in EVERY description of ALL of their amps?

[screamingdaisy]

Ok. Let's end this argument already

This quote is from mesaboogie.com;
Three Channel Dual Rectifier from Mesa Engineering
- http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Rectifier_Series/Dual_Rectifier/dual_rectifier.html

They were originally called Mesa Engineering.

Someone on this site told me just the other day when he started to play everyone just called them Boogie amps.

1989 was the fork in the road here at Mesa/Boogie. It was the year we embarked on a mission to Rectify high gain guitar and reintroduce MESA Engineering to the world.

I think they just became so associated with their Boogie amps, everyone started to call them Boogie. At some point in time Mesa Engineering decided that they didn't want to be known as Boogie anymore and enganged in a campaign to revert their name back to Mesa Engineering, so they changed their nameplates that of Mesa/Boogie, thereby linking the future with the past. After a while, and once the Mesa name was firmly attached to that of the more well known Boogie name, they chaged it fully to Mesa Engineering. My cerial box says Shreddies on it, but they're made by Nabisco. Your amp may say Boogie on it, but it's still made by Mesa Engineering.

Mesa's 1x12 Boogie Open Back cab (which I'm guessing is an older design) has a Mesa/Boogie name plate on it, all the others say Mesa Engineering.

The Boogie Mark 1, Mark IV, F Series, Triaxis, and Bass 400+ all still carry either Boogie or Mesa/Boogie Nameplates.

The Recto (Single, Dual, Triple, Rect-o-Verb, Road King, Lonestar, and Recto Recording Preamp), the Nomad Series, Blue Angel, Maverick, M-Pulse (360, 600, Adventure, and Walkabout) all carry Mesa Engingeering Nameplates.

All their guitar amps based on the original Boogie designs carry Boogie nameplates.

All their guitar amps are based on the original Rectifier carry Mesa Engineering nameplates.

All their newer designes that are not based on the Rectifier also carry Mesa Engineering nameplates.

All that said, Rayguitargods Triaxis carries a Mesa/Boogie nameplate. If Mesa Engineering called it a Mesa/Boogie Triaxis Programmable, then that's what it's called. I'm still going to call my cerial Shreddies.

[cubby]

This is such a silly argument - why don't you just ask them:

Mesa/Boogie,
1317 Ross St.
Petaluma, California
94954 USA

Phone: 707-778-6565
Fax: 707-765-1503


silly, silly argument...

and I thought it was stupid argument the other day when my friends were arguing about whether it was "Mick-Donalds" or "Mack-Donalds":rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:


:mad:

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by cubby
silly, silly argument...

and I thought it was stupid argument the other day when my friends were arguing about whether it was "Mick-Donalds" or "Mack-Donalds":rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:


:mad:

What can I say. I'm bored.

and it's Mick-Donald's. If it was Mack-Donald's they would have called it MacDonald's, now wouldn't they.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Man, I'm bored.:(

Sorry.:rolleyes:

[Talent?!]

Active circuit on the Maverick, very nice crisp cleans and singing overdrive:D

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by cubby
This is such a silly argument - why don't you just ask them:

Mesa/Boogie,
1317 Ross St.
Petaluma, California
94954 USA
Phone: 707-778-6565 Fax: 707-765-1503

I called and was asked to leave a message twice.

Some of the marketing material on the www.mesaboogie.com is
COPYRIGHT 2003:
MESA BOOGIE, LTD or MESA ENGINEERING (not a business entity)

Randall Smith's official title is
Designer and President of MESA BOOGIE, LTD

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by VillageIdiot
Wrong.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/

Why would they name their website like that if "Boogie" was a model name?

And why on the front page does it have a giant "Mesa/Boogie" logo?

And why is there a reference to 'Mesa/Boogie" in EVERY description of ALL of their amps?

.umm... the company IS actually called Mesa/Boogie... it was originally called Mesa Engineering or Mesa or something, but Carlos Santana suggested they add "boogie" to the name, and the company is now known as Mesa/Boogie, although it still says "Mesa Engineering" on the amps themselves.
WHY do you feel to repeat what someone else already pointed out ??

Dude, we are past it. Like Motorhead said..."It's all good"

let it go man, YES THE ARE CALLED MESA/BOOGIE:rolleyes:

[VillageIdiot]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
.
WHY do you feel to repeat what someone else already pointed out ??

Dude, we are past it. Like Motorhead said..."It's all good"

let it go man, YES THE ARE CALLED MESA/BOOGIE:rolleyes:

LOL. Someone is wrong and can't handle it.

I posted that as soon as I saw your post- the other post pointing it out was on the other page.

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by VillageIdiot
LOL. Someone is wrong and can't handle it.

I posted that as soon as I saw your post- the other post pointing it out was on the other page.
Ahh.. maybe NOW you'll read all the posts then add in you two cents. (You won't look silly)

Alright, I'll say it AGAIN the company is called...........Mesa/BOOGIE.

There NOW will you go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs ??:p :D :D

[Cupid0]

it's okay. just watch out in the future and make sure you are actually correct before making silly remarks.

[cubby]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Ahh.. maybe NOW you'll read all the posts then add in you two cents. (You won't look silly)

Alright, I'll say it AGAIN the company is called...........Mesa/BOOGIE.

There NOW will you go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs ??:p :D :D

All this hostility over one of the most stupid arguments I have ever seen. Not to mention over a company that makes such crappy sounding amps...


except the Subway Rocket - I like that one...

[Volsus]

Such hostility in this thread :\

[Motorhead]

Originally posted by Volsus
Such hostility in this thread :\

Add Epihone vs. Gibson and we'd have quite the potpourri.

[VillageIdiot]

Originally posted by Highway Chile
Ahh.. maybe NOW you'll read all the posts then add in you two cents. (You won't look silly)

Dude... you are the one that blatently got it wrong. I don't look silly at all. In fact, it is you with egg on your face. Don't get all pissy when people call you out for your mistakes.


Cubby- the Mark series is quite nice. :D

[Highway Chile]

Originally posted by VillageIdiot
Dude... you are the one that blatently got it wrong. I don't look silly at all. In fact, it is you with egg on your face. Don't get all pissy when people call you out for your mistakes.

Dude, you are sooo annoying !!:rolleyes:

Yes, I have "egg on my face"(whatever that means):confused::rolleyes:

If you go back and READ the posts you'll UNDERSTAND that I said nothing when that dude corrected me. But YOU like the _____that you are, thought it necessary to REPEAT what someone else ALREADY pointed out. (no you don't look silly :rolleyes: )

Now, are there any other comments that you'd like to REPEAT ??

If not, then will you NOW PLEASE go back to playing your Korn and Blink 182 songs.:p :D

[ennui]

Wow this is interesting, ohh and im with the passive guys.

[Motorhead]

MikeWGA! 'actives' need your support.

Actually, a 25%/75% split would be quite surprising for this board.

[screamingdaisy]

MikeWGA was on the other day, but he hasn't replied to his own thread yet, so I suppose he's taking a nap.

Since he's probably the most metal guy on this board, we can definatly chalk him up for actives.:D

[Mr. Black]

Originally posted by Ghettometalhead
I kinda agree Motorhead, I played a strat the other day throgh a Roland JC-120 . I t sounded fantastic. Until then I hated all single coil PU'S cause they could not give me that Beson contempo/jazz pop that I like in clean tones. And although Icouldnt get it from this guitar either what I did get was something that I liked for a different reason. Now I would actually consider a single coil neck PU. But for the bridge, humbucker all the way. Now as far as this active/passive thing goes.....tell me of one guitarist who has impecable clean sound that uses EMG's, or better yet uses them specifcally for their clean sound. Not to rag on actives,i think they are great in a heavy environment or where you are using a crapload of effects. I would love to be enligntened as to my question. I dont know everything. so answer me please

David Gilmour Pink Floyd 3 EMG SA single coils in his Fender Strat

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Originally posted by Motorhead

IMO: nothing, even an active humbucker PU, will beat a single at the neck ... at the bridge well that's another story. +1 Very true. I have and will probably allways have passive pickups.

[BlueOrb]

My strat used to be sort of...I stuck a preamp in it, and then lowered the pickups so they were flush with the pickguard. I believe this works on the same principal as active pickups. Weak pickup boosted by a preamp.

[jazzcreep308]

Passive - not that I dislike Active pickups, I just prefer that whole vintage warmth that comes with passive pickups. Could've also been that I was using a digital amp and that actives made it that much more digital... I'm really not sure...

[all hail moltar]

i'm definately a passive guy, but worlds of truth are being spoken by motorhead and village idiot.

[proggy04]

Active. With my Carvin I can switch from active to passive, split either PU, or put them out of phase :D

[Dinglekrantz]

i agree that on clean channels passive is the best way to go, but the EMG 81's are my favorites for playing strait up metal. with this in mind, i think that if your intention is to play metal or whatever brand of distorted music you wanna call it then your guitar will reflect as such in more than just the pickups. different woods give different tones and also i prefer a thinner neck, like an ibanez wizard II, for playing metal than if i were trying to play a warm and expressive solo. i guess all i'm saying is that though the 81's may not be too dynamic, it definitely has its benifits and shouldn't be written off completely.

[fburn666]

Went Active and not turning back :)

[mikey383]

I depends on what guitar I'm running them in. I love the Passive in my Les Paul, but hated it when I put an EMG 81 in the bridge.

My Yamaha sound sucked with a passive, but when I put an EMG 85 in the bridge, it came to life.

Since I can only vote once, I didn't vote because I like them both.

[XXXmetalheadXXX]

EMG 81's all the way. used to use passive but bought a guitar that had dual emg 81's and never turned back. then i bought a mesa triple rec and they sounded that much better.:D

[Lews]

Depends. Ideally I'd have both avaliable at any given time. It's hard to beat a good active pickup in the bridge for a wide range of tones (which I need, as I use a single guitar for everything from jazz to metal to bluegrass) but I'm extremely fond of the sound of passive single coils. So I'm split - however, I don't currently own a guitar with actives, so I voted passive.

[coldfusionman]

Both... Active on my Phoenix (main), passive on my other guitars (JB's)...

[bellamy_rox]

always been passive, but I would never say no to trying active pups. I've just never found the excuse to buy a guitar with them in or buy them and be bothered to install them!

But one thing that bugs me is the way they look. For example if you put them in a guitar with a nice quilted top, and bound edges, gold hardware etc..., it ruins it. For example the dudes from Nickleback put emg's in a PRS Single Cut and a standard Gibson Flying V, and they look rubbish. I know its all about tone and everything, but why buy a nice looking guitar if all your after is good tone?

[Jubilee Man]

Passive...

Reasons for not personally likeing any active pickups:

It has been said that you could put EMGs in a broomstick and it will sound the same. Active pickups do not incorporate any other element of the guitars into the tonestack. This is at the same time the BIGGEST reason they are avoided, and THE BIGGEST reason they are used. If you are on a budget..you can stick emgs into a 1/2 price Epiphone LP or such and it will sound the same as EMGs in a $3000 Gibson LP. But on the same note, someone thats really into articulate tone pays more attention to how a guitar is constructed, type of woods, nut...etc. and would avoid a pickup that would neutralize all of that.

Another observation I've found is the lack of what I call "Juicing". When the mood hits right I push my passive guitars even that much further with my fingers and can get more "tone" out of them. I just simply don't feel that with active. Since the pickups are already giving 100% all the time, there just isn't anything left for me to "juice"

I absolutly love David Gilmours tone, but not since he started using those EMGs. Sure he sounds very good.. but in a computer kind of way. His tone was so much more organic and lively on the pre-1980s albums. The main (and possibly only reason) for his switch to EMGs is his out-of-this-world pedal and rack collection that hes got to get his signal through. A passive guitar pickup would probably wilt and die in that signal chain!

Active pickups have a place in the world of music, but not for me.

[Blue Collar Man]

Originally posted by Jubilee Man
Passive...

Active pickups have a place in the world of music, but not for me.

Ditto. Although, if i played thrash or metal, or had an insane signal chain, id try out active.
I'm more of a vintage single kind of guy though.

My roomates bass has actives, and i love the range in tone you can get from an active preamp. The variety in sounds is crazy. I play it all the time, so in a way i do use actives, but i can only vote once, so....

[deafbox-]

Passive. Duncans + Gibsons.

[TheNowhereMan]

Actives feel like cheating, with enough extra stuff between your guitar and amp, anyone can sound good.

[proggy04]

Originally posted by TheNowhereMan
Actives feel like cheating, with enough extra stuff between your guitar and amp, anyone can sound good.


Do you even understand how Active systems work? :rolleyes:

[shavago]

I've been looking at the Bareknuckles Warpig - passive with the ability to keep up with EMGs. At least that's what they claim. Besides, I hate batteries. ;) Btw, does anybody have any experience with them? I'd like some pointers to see if they'd be a good fit (think Papa Roach + Deftones feel).

[airfall]

Originally posted by TheNowhereMan
Actives feel like cheating, with enough extra stuff between your guitar and amp, anyone can sound good. ...says the guy with 8 pedals in his signal chain... :rolleyes:

[drock19]

active emg 81-85. the 85 is pretty good for cleans and that 'deep' lead tone while the 81 has lots of attack. i'm not totally against passives at all though i just wanted something clearer sounding.

[screamingdaisy]

Originally posted by airfall
...says the guy with 8 pedals in his signal chain... :rolleyes:

+1

[Blue Collar Man]

Above: The thread that will not die.

I think that its been resurected 3 times now.:p Even by biblical standards, thats pretty frickin amazing.

[hairychris444]

Jackson + Dimarzio & Jackson + SD so passive but lairy. My other guitar may be active, or possibly just has mid-boost. I think it's the second as it has less grunt then my other two.

Future? Well, I'm considering a custom built baritone fitted with EMG active bass pickups (played an 8 string with a 30 inch scale length and bass EMGs through my amp & almost gave birth - pure evil!!)... Does that make me a pervert in any way?

[sleewell]

i got a strat w/ EMGs, i love them.

i also have two other guitars with passive pickups, they are great too.


you have to know what type of sound you are after, you can get good sounds with both types of pickups.

[Cornelious827]

If all actives need batteries then I hate them.

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by Cornelious827
If all actives need batteries then I hate them.

Know how long a battery lasts in a set of actives?

[thefobia]

Originally posted by Jubilee Man
Passive...

Reasons for not personally likeing any active pickups:

It has been said that you could put EMGs in a broomstick and it will sound the same. Active pickups do not incorporate any other element of the guitars into the tonestack. This is at the same time the BIGGEST reason they are avoided, and THE BIGGEST reason they are used. If you are on a budget..you can stick emgs into a 1/2 price Epiphone LP or such and it will sound the same as EMGs in a $3000 Gibson LP. But on the same note, someone thats really into articulate tone pays more attention to how a guitar is constructed, type of woods, nut...etc. and would avoid a pickup that would neutralize all of that.


I don't think that at all! Sure, they give your guitar a distinctive tone, just as plugging into a Marshall Jubilee would give you a distinctive tone :D, but they do NOT mask the natural characteristics of the guitar you are playing.

The other guitarist in my band uses a maple neck, bolt on charvel with an emg 85 in the bridge through a 5150II and a marshall cab. I use a Les paul with an EMG 85 in the bridge, through a 5150II and a marshall cab. Our tones are pretty different. Of course you can hear the tradmark 5150 tone, but his guitar is much brighter and has a faster attack. My Les paul sounds MUCH deeper and smoother.

I know what you mean about the 'juicing' thing though, but I personally prefer to be able to play very gently and fluidly without losing output, but that just comes down to playing styles and taste I suppose.

BTW I really like the juicy tone of your strat!:)

[thefobia]

Originally posted by Talent?!
Know how long a battery lasts in a set of actives? Around 3000 hours or something. They don't just die on you in the middle of a gig. You can hear degredation of tone WEEKS before it dies properly.

[thefobia]

Originally posted by Rayguitargod
your a ****ing idiot I hope you die of testicular cancer.

Please don't wish people dead.

[maggot_b]

I've not played a guitar with active pickups enough to tell what the sound's like, although I like the idea of a flat sound that I can shape how I want to I don't have to flab about with different pickup combinations and such.

I think I'll probably be getting: EMG 81 Bridge, EMG 60 Neck for my Jackson.

I'll keep the P-90's in my Les Paul because they're gorgeous too

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by thefobia
Around 3000 hours or something. They don't just die on you in the middle of a gig. You can hear degredation of tone WEEKS before it dies properly.

Bingo.


Although I can't hear the degredation cos my tone sucks more than a Good Charlotte convention.

[maggot_b]

Originally posted by Talent?!
Bingo.


Although I can't hear the degredation cos my tone sucks more than a Good Charlotte convention.

Wow, like a dyson in a power surge?!

[thefobia]

Originally posted by Talent?!
Bingo.


Although I can't hear the degredation cos my tone sucks more than a Good Charlotte convention.


Hahaha! Ok then, you won't notice 'degridation' of tone, but a difference in tone. :D

When it starts to sound more muffled and thin, like the dyson is full of dust and further away, you need to empty it....erm I mean change the battery.;) :D

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by thefobia
Hahaha! Ok then, you won't notice 'degridation' of tone, but a difference in tone. :D

When it starts to sound more muffled and thin, like the dyson is full of dust and further away, you need to empty it....erm I mean change the battery.;) :D

Probably around now, not changed the filter, er battery in a year and half.
More money, yay. :rolleyes:

[maggot_b]

I thought Dyson's never lost suction?

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by maggot_b
I thought Dyson's never lost suction?

Not through "normal" use, no. ;)

[maggot_b]

... nice

Really really nice.

I'm going to wash my brain out with soap and water now... disgusting images in my head

"Oooh err misus dyson, you don't 'alf know how to suck like a good 'un"

[thefobia]

Originally posted by Talent?!
Probably around now, not changed the filter, er battery in a year and half.
More money, yay. :rolleyes:

I've got lots of money nowadays *brags*

Duracell Ultra are the way to go though. They last the longest in my experience.

On the topic of active and passive, a passive vacuum would probably be sucking the muck up off you carpet, through a straw and occasionally spitting in a bag.

I'd take active any day.

[maggot_b]

Whats wrong with getting a couple of rechargeable batteries?

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by maggot_b
Whats wrong with getting a couple of rechargeable batteries?

They don't have as much suction (power) as a blow n throw.

[thefobia]

Originally posted by maggot_b
I thought Dyson's never lost suction?


Vacuum Geek:

Newb. ;) They lose tone though.

I was walking down my street the other day, and I overheard someone vacuuming. They had such BAD TONE, I had to write about it on this forum. The tone lacked all clarity and definition, and I swear I could hear something like a fork spinning around in the cycle. Also I think his fan was biased too fast.
Woah, I mean If he wants to replace it every few months, and have the embarassment of it dying during a public performance, thats up to him, but it wouldn't happen with my vacuum.

Also I saw a sweet vintage tweed and bakelite in a pawn shop last week... I'd really love to have a quick vacuum around the shop with that! I'll do a review of it for you guys.

[maggot_b]

Was it upright or cylinder?

























This can only go downhill from here...

[thefobia]

Originally posted by maggot_b
Was it upright or cylinder?

























This can only go downhill from here...

It was an old upright... And this one had some roller damage, so it COULD only go downhill. But I bet it sounded great.

[maggot_b]

Oh yea, obviously.

The break up on those old uprights are AMAZING!

The new cylinder ones are so cold and sterile, but they're good at keeping everything nice and clean!

[thefobia]

LOL!

Yeah. Im not keen on the cyliner ones, although Grime 6 has brought out their new modelling vacuum, with 26 classic models from the past, and as many modern ones. You can even simulate how full the vacuum is. Which I think is pretty good.

But some of the models I know I just wouldn't use, like the 'pre-war acoustic dust-pan and brush' setting.

They also have that vacuum with enough suction to implode the human ear. I treid it on my freind, and it really works!

It has changed my perception of the future of housework anyway.

[Talent?!]

Originally posted by maggot_b
Oh yea, obviously.

The break up on those old uprights are AMAZING!

The new cylinder ones are so cold and sterile, but they're good at keeping everything nice and clean!


I like the older ones more, just a bit dirtier and not so clinical. I need some dirt in my suction.

[maggot_b]

And it has a tap temp button, so when you're using a modern "Bagless" setting you can simulate getting something caught in there.

I have a Grime 6 "Pan" shelf unit, and it has a setting so you can simulate different brands of air filters. It also has a shake an vac mode.

[thefobia]

Originally posted by maggot_b
And it has a tap temp button, so when you're using a modern "Bagless" setting you can simulate getting something caught in there.

I have a Grime 6 "Pan" shelf unit, and it has a setting so you can simulate different brands of air filters. It also has a shake an vac mode.

Wow... Can you change the delay between the 'shake' and the 'vac', or even have multiple shake and vacs going on at the same time?? That'd be cool.

Theres this one guy Ive seen who can vacuum with two of them at once, incredibly fast. I think thats just showing off though.

Where have the days of soulful vacuuming gone?

[maggot_b]

No, the Grime 6 Pan can only do one shake and vac, you can change the amount of shake & vac and the scent thogh. But it's a high quality shake & vac.

Although Broom do a small unit which has LOADS of shake and vac's on, you can have about 5 at once but they're all poor.

[maggot_b]

The days of soulful vacuuming... nay... the days of soulful CLEANING died when Grime 6 released the new VariVax.

[thefobia]

They'll always be purists with their straws and their bags of dusty spit.

[maggot_b]

Erm...

I like active pickups!
And passive pickups!

[Shiro]

I'm not very active, I usually wake up around 2pm and then stay on the computer all day... so I guess I'm passive.

*cough*

My Yamaha came stock with passives... but I wanna get a JB in there and something for the neck.

I really wanna get a guitar with EMGs... one wif all singles and one with humbuckers and stuff..

[sirterrapin]

I too play actives and passives. I have an EMG P/J set in my jazz bass, which now sounds better to my ears than my Warwick(though they're totally different sounds...I like the Jazz bass's more). I have Duncans on both of my guitars(JB/59 in the Schecter and Alnico 2 Pros in my Strat), but at some point I'd like to get a Tele with EMGs and something with some active 'buckers(far in the future...)
I'd really like to set up a guitar with actives and a multi-band EQ built in(Vol/Treble/Mid/Bass setup instead of Vol/Vol/Tone/Tone). The cool thing about actives in my book is their ability to excel at many sounds instead of the limitations of the aforementioned voicing of passive pickups.

[Metallica#1]

Active...I am sure other passives are good...but I have always been trying to make my EMG Hzs sound like 81's in my jackson...and finally very soon my wait will be over and I am going to get a Schecter Hellraiser and not have to attempt the impossible with my HZ's. If that all goes well I also want to change the HZ's in my jackson to 81 in the bridge and maybe try an 85 or maybe even an 89 in the neck.

[VillageIdiot]

I'm definitely sexually active, yes.

[gollywog]

Originally posted by VillageIdiot
I'm definitely sexually active, yes.

Dude, you stole the words right off my screen.
I like actives for overdriving tube amps (with a compressor in the chain). You get that really sweet kinda amp distortion that Hammet gets,but with only half the calories!
But for everything else, EVERYf*ckingTHING else, I use passive.

But this whole thing is like comparing apples to pears. S(h)ure, they're both fruits, juicy and have seeds in the cores. Big f*cking deal. Ever had pear sauce on a Belgian waffel w/ whipped cream and a cup of Turkish coffee for b/fast? Of course not! ?cause nobody in the right mind will go make pear sauce. Maybe Jamie Oliver, buit I said "right mind". So he doesn't really count.
My point is, acttive and passive are two different types of pups with different purposes.So says the Bible.

[maggot_b]

In English:

They're both designed for different purpouses.

[Metallica#1]

I am actice now. I got a new guitar with EMG 81's.:D