EMG Vs Seymour Duncan (Basslines)

[Merick365]

When you do these demos come up with something using the B string too

[FlyingAero]

EMGs all the way

[shots4snipes]

What would be some good pickups to get for my bass, the band im in currently plays stuff like cage the elephant and the black keys.

[metalballs2010]

I play metal, but I rarely used distortions, I think I like Basslines better... Emg sounds good too, but, Basslines sounds cleaner and more organic in to my ears

[rebain18]

i like distortion/overdrive on a bass. but californication just sounds wrong with that distortion

[josepablosequeira]

use the fucking bass clean!

[novoorkutedu]

Man please, this is not a guitar.... Play like a bass player. If you are one...

[Jinxerz010792]

What is it with you people and playing Muse and Californication? Do you not have better songs to test pick-ups with? What about people who're looking for tonal variety? Like someone looking for that signature sound from Orion by Metallica, when Cliff drops into a solo? Or Steve Harris as he's hammering away during the Trooper? Other than Distortion, you didn't touch on tonality at all.

[Twatzaki101]

Are the emgs passive or active?

[scarred2112]

@Twatzaki101 Except for their "HZ" line, EMGs are Active Pickups - they have an Internal Preamp built into the design, but that doesn't mean you then have an "Active Bass" (being able to cut & boost different frequencies such as highs, lows & mids) - that calls for a "Active Preamp" like Bartolini, Aguilar, or EMG make. Basically, just having Active Pickups doesn't mean you have an Active Bass.

[impulsoprog]

does the EMG 40J in the bridge have the classical "hum" from a single coil or is it very silent?

[scarred2112]

@impulsoprog *All* EMGs (the "standard" as well as the newer, more vintage-sounding "JX" & "JVX" lines) are internally grounded, so they're dead silent. Even if you're playing in a club with crappy power that has a neon beer sign in the same area as your rig, nothing. Along with their modular wiring system absolutely one of their biggest positives.

[talevicz]

Basslines is more traditional R & B sound, soft, round, personally - I like it. EMG have a stronger, harder, fuller tone, and your bass will sound clearer to him. It all depends on what you play and what you want...

[Ookarl01]

so yyeah, i can see you playing hysteria with a pick :p

[cowbelltell]

hey yo, can you play that song that goes like, da da da dum da dum da dum, da da da dum da dum da dum

[Connor6Sixx]

what should i replace ibanez PFR-4 pickups with? on an ibanez iceman

[StopperChopper]

i find the basslines cleaner the emg's got a little noise back there

[xMasterxRazorx]

The Duncans have a nice clear classic bass tone. They sound great clean. However, I love the extra "oomph" of the EMGs. Personally I prefer the EMGs.

[leetheviolet]

con esa mala tecnika de dedos, es imposible diferenciar la calidad del sonido....ponte a escuxar cualkier otro estilo.......y para que decir de la distorsion, peor aun, no se puede apreciar el verdadero sonido del bajo, sin contar que no hiciste la prueba por capsulas independientes, pero que và, con ese pesimo "touch" no sirve hacer una comparativa

[rdrake316]

Love the sampling of Muse you threw in there!

[RichNick77]

It's Seymour-Duncan hands down for me.

[esejonan]

Thanks for the vid, man...its great for compare the picks!

[m3lram]

could you do a demo of the seymour duncan blackout active bass pickups?

[maggot653]

i like that shirt

[greyfoxzero]

My experience with basslines pickups is that their great but the preamps are not as good so if you get them go for a different preamp like an aguilar. Of course this doesnt apply to the passive seymour duncan bass pickups. I prefer basslines over emgs and barts but it really has alot to do with the bass itself.

[FlyingAero]

I love the EMG's on my Schecter Studio 5. Im considering basslines for the bass im building though

[diseasedvirus]

ur line 6 POD distortion sounds like shit, i suggest upgrading to a Boss ODB or even the Boss ME-50B

[synystersevilheir]

Jules and Vince!

[PhuckHue2]

EMG sucks. all you hear are the electronics. SD pickups you can hear the wood of the bass

[qbeo2912]

so hard to say but for me, the EMG is better a little bit :D

I'm using a fender jazz style MIJ with an EMG J-set and there's no point in changing the PU :D

[fluxcapga1]

I have a jazz bass and p bass, and, take this for a nice grain of salt since i am a drummer.

The mexi pbass I have a put active EMGS in and routed out a Jazz EMG slot for, and, this thing sounds ridiculous. I figured, hell, might as well wire 2 batteries in series for an 18v push/power source.

End result, you could move a car with this.

The jazz, also Mexi made, just has active Qlbs SDs. Which sound very rude and aggressive.

I love both.

EMGS=louder, more gain, more headroom, and more feel.

[sum33]

what would be a good pick up for metal

[kyral210]

The EMG 35DC (40DC for 5 string) is a great metal pickup. It was too agressive for what I wanted at the time, but with my new band I think I need that growl, so might go back to EMG. Then again the Basslines are a more NIN sound, so it depends what your looking for.

[sum33]

thnx

[RockOut113]

What is a NIN sound??

[FeistyMcLovin]

@RockOut113 Nine Inch Nails. You know, the band?

[thirty30150hates]

EMG DC's are very solid, tight pickups for metal. I prefer the the TW's because it is more versitile. They offer dual/single/cancell options. It's basicly an EMG J and a CS and/or DC all in one. I'd recomend either those or Seymour Duncan Blackouts.

[636117]

@sum33 doesn't matter, it all sounds like shit

[scrEMOhoLic044]

tnx for the useful post..

[Altemo]

Are you using identical effects for both pickup runs?

I'm upgrading my Schecter elite 4, and I am in a similar debate.

[kyral210]

yes, and the same strings!

[Altemo]

thats shocking. I guess the EMG's just pick up the effects better, although I probably prefer the non effect sound of the Duncans. It's too hard to decide!

[nemakur]

too much effects, I don't use effects at all but I always carry my boss overdrive just in case, and I don't notice much difference in my case accept tonal which is good sometimes and about the volume in my basses the active pickups are setup higher then the ones on my passive bass, and btw maybe it's the preamp on your bass that was causing all the trouble because I don't have preamps on none of my basses, also my bass tech told me that some basses with preamps distort the sound sometimes

[rockingowl55]

mos def the emgs. the seymores are just weak. the emgs have a better punch and are more sensitive. the seymores are quiet and they are bland.

[TheKnightofCydonia1]

a muse fan by any chance? i like it.... i gots my jet king ibanez with passive pick-ups....i know they arent seymour duncans but still i think i prefer the passive pick-ups to the active... they are more dynamic...

[reedorius]

The seymour duncans have very little of a midrange attack. I think that im getting the emgs

[funkaforfan]

omfg with those settings there is barely a difference. emgs are just so bad and have no clarity at all. they may have some bassy power but NO clarity or attack whatsoever. theyre just overrated cause the guitar EMGs rock. seymour for bass and for bassist who don't want to sound like a car just rambled by.

[scarred2112]

The Basslines don't have the classic EMG "grind", which simply a matter of preference. I like the tone of EMGs in *other* players hands and on recordings but they don't suit MY personal playing style at all, which is why I had custom-wound Nordstrand "Big Singles" made for my 4/5/5 fretless Spector ReBop DLX basses. Given that they are bolt-ons with different woods than the N/T models and add a Jazz Bass tone to the Spector sound, I felt going with Single-Coil pups would continue that.

[hiei114]

emgs all the way, those seymours cant touch the emgs.

[risenavicus]

haha!hysteria~~!!

[bfiorvante]

the emg's sound way better.....

[nancygunsnroses]

thanks for help me haha

[Nick5379]

I have questions :O

and I need you to pass down some wisdom

First, Could I put some EMGs into a Traben Array Attack?

Second, Should I?

And if no, why?

I just want to know what sort of downsides I'm facing to see if I wouldn't mind them.

[MCLOVIN50]

I got EMGs loaded in my stiletto 5, and it's got some serious growl! Especially plugged in a GK amp, it's fucking awesome.

BTW, are you recording this directly from your pod xt into your laptop without running it thru any DI's or anything like that?

Is it good for studio recording? I use my cab head to record into logic pro, and it doesn't have a lot of bottom end compared to this!

[kyral210]

Bass Pod Xt strait into the computer, no further processing or EQ. Same setting for both pickups.This is set as an SVT into a 8x10. If you like the sound of this, then the Bass Pod Xt is good for you. If not, then not.

[CodyGrey]

EMGs for me. More balls.

[comehead914]

basslines have a warmer sound that i really like but the emgs have a nice bite

[mickyhodge]

yeah i find that the active seymour duncans and passive emgs are quite nice too, also different beasts

[prekabreki]

I really do prefer the sound of those basslines over the EMG's. Which is good cause' I just ordered some!