Active and passive pickups?

[ThisIsTheEnd]

What are the differences between both of them?

 

[kdash]

in a nutshell, active pickups incorporate electronic circuitry to modify the signal. passive pickups are usually wire wound around a magnet. They can generate electric potential without need for external power, though their output is relatively low, and the harmonic content of output depends greatly on the winding.

this means that active pickups require an external power source while passive ones do not. generally this is in the form of a 9V battery somewhere behind the guitar. another difference is that the signals for passive pickups are generally weaker.

electric guitars generally use passive pickups while bass guitars have either active or passive.

just my 2-cent's worth, please feel free to correct me or add on!

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

So, if i were to use active pickups, need change battery? (please DONT LAUGH AT MET.T)

 

[kdash]

haha don't worry, no one is laughing at you.

yes you will need to change the battery once in a while, the most telling indication is when the signal coming from your guitar becomes weak.

hope this helps!

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

Haha ok thanks. Got any pickups to recommend? Looking to replace my guitar's pickups. Below 170 have? And do they install it for you?The pickups i mean.

 

[kdash]

haha so sorry i'm a bassist so i can only suggest double buck pickups for bass haha

i'm sure the other SOFTies will help you out very soon. i also found a similar thread somewhere that talks about pickups modifications for electric guitar.

 

[gjtaylor]

u can take a look at emg 81 and 85. they're pretty popular.
i'm a noob guitarist too. =D
i want to change pick-ups too.
i've got an even more silly question to ask.
where's the battery placed ?
it's not like semi-acoustic guitars with the battery box right ?

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

Yeah but would they install the pickups for you after you buy them or would you have to install them yourself? Would be pretty stupid if i bought and dunno how to install eh ? haha. Approximately how long is the battery life?

 

[Dime]

one got battery one dont have battery.haha.

for active the battery acts as a pre-current charge for the amp or something like which i dont know how to put is to words.

remeber its not entirely true that active pickups are better than passive.little tip check out tone rider pickups.

 

[Dime]

Yeah but would they install the pickups for you after you buy them or would you have to install them yourself? Would be pretty stupid if i bought and dunno how to install eh ? haha. Approximately how long is the battery life?

shops will install for you.battery life depends.if you keep your guitar unplugged after every jam than maybe couple of weeks to months but if you keep your guitar plugged in than most likely a couple of hours to days.

 

[loldude333]

Basically, the electrical current boosts the normal output of the pickup, thus giving a very thick and 'hot' sound when distortion is used. Most metal players use these to get that super heavy sound that passive pickups might not be able to handle. 170 is a bit low, 200-250 might be a better budget. Remember, u have to count in installation charges too.

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

So is the SD Jb/Jazz active or passive? and roughly how much is installation charges?

 

[Dime]

Majority of Duncans are passive which includes the aforementioned models.installation prices?the last time i asked was like pickup price($99 each) + $20 if im not mistaken.someone correct me if i wrong.

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

hmm. Ok i think i can save up for that. But on the website it says that it is sold in pairs so will it be cheaper?

 

[kdash]

u can take a look at emg 81 and 85. they're pretty popular.
i'm a noob guitarist too. =D
i want to change pick-ups too.
i've got an even more silly question to ask.
where's the battery placed ?
it's not like semi-acoustic guitars with the battery box right ?

for electric and bass, usually there's a battery slot at the back of the body, it's very easy to spot.

if you keep your guitar plugged in, the battery will run out very fast, so always have the habit of plugging out after use, even if the power switch is not on.

thanks for the advice, dime