Are you tired of the same old humbucking pickups
Have you played every guitar in your local music store and found nothing that can satisfy your hunger for tone
Have you threaded your way through the entire passive pickup market? You're not alone
It's frustrating to play a nice guitar only to discover the pickups are garbage
The world is saturated with passives, but there's another option, active pickups
This video explores what makes my choice of the best active guitar pickups so great and why it's time for them to get more respect
I've played guitar for over 20 years, and I've handled a wide array of pickups from cat heads to the rarest gems
I've really gotten into active pickups recently. There are some exciting developments occurring with the technology through system influence
I'm going to discuss how active pickups operate and compare detailed technical specifications
What are active pickups? Active pickups are sometimes criticized for sounding cold and flat, but they may be the best option if you're looking to reduce noise and increase gain
Active pickups contain a preamp circuit that requires power, a 9-volt battery, to boost output
This allows the signal to stay strong for longer than it would with passive pickups because the sound is amplified as soon as it leaves the guitar, rather than needing to be sent through an amplifier first
Active pickups have a lower coil count than passive pickups, meaning fewer racks of wire prevent unwanted noise like hums and electrical static being transmitted through your guitar's signal chain
Most actives are humbuckers, but there are some nice single-coil pickups available
Consistency is where active pickups really shine. Whether you're dealing with extended cable runs or an unnecessarily massive pedalboard, you won't lose frequency response or deal with weird humming when someone turns on a light
Active pickups require a stereo output jack, which acts as an on-off switch for the battery
Remember to unplug your guitar before you begin your insane, backstage motley crew debauchery
The battery doesn't drain much current, so you should get at least 1,000 hours of playtime as long as you unplug after the show
The first step in finding the perfect active pickup is deciding what kind of sound you want
Do you want something bright or dark? Do you need a lot of display
Are the best guitar pickups hot-rodded? Once you've narrowed down the type of sound you're going for, you can find some exciting options here for your Sum 41 tribute band
Active pickups are popular for their consistent output and tone, reducing the impact of variables such as tone width and choice of magnets
But some players find that active models produce a more compressed sound, which can be great if you're looking for an aggressive tone, but also present a narrower dynamic range than some passive pickups
If you want to adjust your output, change the height of your pickup
Lowering the pickup will reduce output. You can also just reduce volume
Unlike with passive pickups, volume adjustments do not affect tone with active pickups
Compare prices on guitar pickups to determine the amount of money you need to borrow from your step-sister
1. EMG-57 Shoulderless Installation PAF tone coupled with powerful active output. This bridge pickup is often paired with an EMG-66 in neck position
Dynamic range seems to decrease as gain increases, so not the best choice for hard rock and metal
Even and clear, like your mother-in-law when she's sober. Tight, crisp bottom end, like George Michael's little bum when he was in Rams
2. EMG-66 Bass heavy, high output. Balances well with the 57 in the bridge
Versatile, roll off the volume a bit and these sound like low-wind passive pickups
The least metal of the EMG set. You can play regular rock
If you're unsure about trying active pickup, this is a good introductory set with smoother, milder dynamics
3. EMG-81 Normally used as a bridge pickup in a set with EMG-85
3000 hour battery life. Designed for high gain lead playing, also called threading
but not the kind of threading your piece of shit cousin was doing when their stems got raided
Kirk Hammett goes buck wild and uses two EMG-81s on some of his guitars
Kirk, is this level of output really necessary? Normally used for metal styles
Output so high you're unlikely to need an external preamp. 4. EMG-85
Often paired with an EMG-81 in the bridge, but balanced enough to work well with most humbuckers
Open pod room allowing for more complex tones. Generally considered a rhythm pickup, which is why it's designed to pair with the 81
Creamy distortion. I hear Santana sometimes. Old Santana, not smooth. More low end than mids
The 81 can cut through the mix while the 85 provides balance
5. EMG Hot Set This set is designed for metal and must be used to play metal
Taller than most pickups, so they sit closer to the strings. This gives you insane output and attack
The quality of these pickups comes through in how controlled they are
You're getting a wall of sound for sure, but they still sound clean and balanced
Enter Sandman, more like Enter Permanent. Nice job by EMG bringing some passive pickup warmth to this product
6. EMG Jack Wild Set A tweaked 81-85 set that nails Mr. Wild's tone
Extended clasps allow for installation on Les Paul style guitars. These clasps are too long for some guitars, but EMG can accommodate you if this is the case
These are mainly for mottles, but rolling the volume off to 60% unleashes some nice blues sounds
If you like to plug, the plugging produced by this set is intense
I'm not talking about chugging beverages, but you probably knew that. These can handle the heaviest kit you've got
Even death metal has nice string articulations. 7. Fissman Fluence Classic Set
Crazy technology alert, these are unique and very interesting. Instead of winding insulated copper wire around magnets
Fissman prints coils of wire on circuit boards and layers them. This means that each pickup is exactly the same, and there's more control over the sound
The classics have three voices, P.A.S., Clean Time, and Vintage Single Coil, Knop, and P.A.S.
Pop Rod, and Overwound Single Coil, Fridge. The switch to change voices can be added to a push-pull pot
These either need a 9-volt battery to power the preamp or a rechargeable battery pack
that is a direct-fit replacement for a strap-back cover that provides 250 hours of playtime for approximately $70
8. Fissman Fluence Modern Set These are the heavier Fissman sets, although the underlying technology is the same as the classics
Each of these pickups has two voices, as well, Modern Active Metal and Fluid Clean, Knop
and Modern Active Metal and Hot Rod, Fridge. Adjusting volume has no effect on the pickup's tone
Two layers of circuit boards are stacked with reversed coil direction, meaning these pups are silent if you're neat after her fourth glass of wine
Give these a shot if you're not afraid of change. 9. Seymour Duncan Blackout
Distinct tonal difference between neck and bridge. Enchanted. Definitely metal pickup. Crispy and crunchy. Wild-pink harmonics with stellar sustain
This is not the same kind of blackout your stepdad deals with after Packers games
Not as precise as EMGs, but warmer with more passive qualities. The best active pickups are ones that have a great tone, but also provide versatility
These pickups offer something for everyone and will help you make the most of your guitar playing experience
Whether you're looking to create more brilliant music or just want better clarity when soloing
these pickups can do it all. Please check out the companion article to this video
There's a link in the description, along with links to tech prices for these active pickups
Thanks for watching