Going passive for one guitar...maybe

[deeaa]

Well,

My good friend and band buddy Rockermann here posted an ACDC sound test (on our private band forum), and it sounded so much like AC/CD I had to check the same preset out on my machine, as we both use Amplitube 2.

Now, I love my EMG's but when I tried the same patch it sounded markedly different. I usually get quite killer sounds IMO with my EMGs but in this case I got to thinking - hell - I have half a dozen guitars ALL with EMG's...maybe I _should_ have one guitar with passives, just for the purpose of getting a slightly different sound on recording now and then.

So...the one guitar that is 'different' from the rest is my Flying-V...it is a strange bird, already sounds different as my other axes, so I don't use it much with the band...maybe because it has 81/89 instead of 85 bridge on all others... So I just posted an ad to a local sales/swap site that I'd be willing to swap the entire pickup/pots/jack setup to that of a gibson one or equivalent.

I dunno if it makes sense...or maybe it makes a LOT of sense. What's the use of having ALL the guitars with same/similar pickups?

I don't know why I'm posting this really...I guess, maybe to possibly get some confirmation I'm not being stupid if I do the swap...

 

[Ch0jin]

Well If I was you, I'd do the same thing. I don't see a point to having all your guitars sounding the same (professional redundancy aside).

I have but three guitars and none of them sound remotely similar. What I love about that is that some days I feel like playing one, and sometimes I feel like playing the other.

The only issue is when I start thinking "I already have two HB guitars, but I wonder what this P90 guitar would sound like with 'buckers or TV Jones" and so on.

I reckon you made a smart move. You might find you hate the new PU's but at least you KNOW for yourself what they sounded like and that itch is scratched.

 

[Tig]

If someone offers to trade you some Seymour Duncan SH-6 humbuckers, snap them up! The bridge roars with heavenly rock tones from old school heavy metal to punk and thrash. I'm keeping a set for the right guitar.

 

[Katastrophe]

Smart move, Dee!

I loves me some EMGz... I think they sound awesome in whatever you put 'em in... I'd love to have a set in a LP Custom one day.

BUT, I think that passives have a more noticeable variety of tone available... Of course, there are more models available from different OEM and aftermarket manufacturers, using different magnets, wire, number of winds and so on.

I am, have been, and will continue to be a fan of Duncan pickups. Even the "cheapo" Duncan Designed import pups sound great to my ears.

I don't think you'll regret having a set of passives in your Flying-V.

 

[bcdon]

I agree. You should replace your EMGs, with Seymour Duncan Blackouts! :dude Sure, they are active as well, but give them a try, you might be surprised and like 'em.

 

[deeaa]

Mm, yeah, I think I've gone a bit overboard with my homogenizing of all guitars thanks for the support!

I think what I'd most prefer to swap to are regular Gibsons...I'd prefer to have the most accurate 'vintage' recognizable tone that I can get. But certainly won't sneer at Seymours etc. either...and I'd like to try out Blackouts as well.

 

[deeaa]

Well I dunno..I just lowered the guitar volume a little and this is how it sounds with Amplitube 2 patches crunch 1 for malcom and 2 for Angus...prettt authentic IMO:

http://deeaa.pp.fi/clips/shotdown.mp3

 

[Katastrophe]

Nice! Sounds pretty darn good to me.

 

[Rockermann]

Yup... As I said elsewhere, that tone test sounds damn good to me, Dee.

Here's the one I did using Amplitube2 and my Xaviere XV-500 LP copy:

http://project-43.com/ftp/covers/Shot Down in Flames/GS-SM-ToneTest.mp3

I'm continuously amazed at the job Amplitube does. Great tool for sure.