Seen DiMarzio.com lateley? They seem to be pushing their D Activator pickup pretty hard, it is the #1 suggestion in "more output" and "better harmonics" for me, #2 in "more sustain" and #3 for "warmer/fatter".. Pretty odd.. My best guess is that it's voiced like an EMG 81, but in a passive pickup so it's not that compressed, plus it doesn't have electronics in it so it won't clip like when you pick real hard on a 9v emg 81 (18 volt doesn't have this problem). Maybe it's pretty good, i'm looking for a new bridge bucker anyway. What do you guys think? A more organic EMG 81 would kick ass. I've tried the BK NailBomb pup, which is a passive emg 81-alike, and it's pretty much godly. Cost more than my car though and only comes in black or crappy camo or crome covers. If the dimarzio is somewhat similar, well kickass.

Never had that problem digging into an EMG-81 with 9V. :?: It doesn't respond to picking dynamics at all, so if I play soft or hard I can barely hear any difference.

Passive pickups are not going to sound like "more organic EMG's" man, they're going to sound like good passives. Take a look at the kind of EQ response their new pickups have then make up your mind.

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You don't? o.O It's a very harsh distortion, like a clean boost on a JC120.. BTW i'm probably getting it anyway, it costs like nothing and i could sell it for more than my price (i get retailer pricings).

No idea about the D activator, but I thought X2N was basically the pup to get from Dimarzio if you like the high output of active EMGs. Then again, this is the first time that I've heard fo the D activator, so I may very well be clueless.

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lol, you are clueless, i believe theyre revealing it at namm, so you wont have heard of it yet or tried it.

I dare to say that the X2N actually has more noticeable output than the 81. I've owned both in different guitars and the X2N always sounded louder and more sensetive to me than the 81. In a good way, the 81 was more sensetive to string noise and mistakes when too close to the strings, the X2n was only sensetive to my playing. The preamp inside the EMG might give it more gain but the sound of the bare bones of the pickup itself doesn't sound as hot or as brutal as the X2N to me really.

I wish it were easier to try out new pickups in different guitars at stores before buying them. Dimarzio, BareKnuckle, Seymour Duncan, etc. should catch on to the EMG "quik connect" thing on their pickups so they'd be easier and faster to swap and try before buying...

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+1. Although you could use standard cable connectors, crap about them is that they're a worse electrical connection. Most hassle IMO is detaching the floyd and reattaching, de-soldering 4 points and resoldering is quick and easy Iif you're not switching actives/passives that is). Anyway i'm buying one to check it out, will report.

(OT: I've tried recording a Decapitated clip for you Soeru, it's coming up soon i promise )

Barenuckle pickups do uncovered pickups as a standard option- you don't have to have the covers on them.

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Cool man thanks. You had the 530 or the 620? I might not get the preamp after all but I still wanna hear it so I can finally make up my mind. Thx!

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Yes but DiMarzio's come in all kinds of colors.. BK comes in black.

Soeru: 530. Don't bother listening to the clip i posted earlier, the power amp there is wired out-of-phase somewhere so it's horrible.. man what a difference it made when i wired the output transformers properly. I'll put the 530 directly to desk though next time.

I'm about to install my 81/85 combo into a guitar. I'm dying to hear the comparison to my X2N/PAFPro combo. That D Activator sounds interesting.

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Please post your impression of it when done Davie BTW I'm getting the acivator to see how it holds up.

I will. Should get it installed by this weekend.

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If it creates a worse electrical connection, then does that also mean that the EMG quick connect thing gives it a worse connection too?

I think those are pretty tight and gold plated so it won't make much of a difference. Now cable connectors are made of aluminum, which corrodes the instant it comes in contact with oxygen, making the connection pretty bad. Gold doesn't corrode.

Does copper corrode?

Yes, but not as bad or as fast as aluminum, from
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Ma.../corrcopper.htm :

"The resistance of all grades of copper to atmospheric corrosion is good, hence their wide usage for roofing and for contact with most waters. The metal develops adherent protective coatings, initially of oxide, but subsequently thickening to give a familiar green patina on roofs and the dark brownish color of bronze statuary."

Then why would gold plating be used? Copper is a better conductor than gold.

I've about had it with EMG's

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