I think this is the best EMG bass pickup comparison video on RUclips! Well recorded, consistent playing, objectively (and pretty thoroughly) analyzed. I only wish a PJA set had been thrown in to the mix too, since the comparison was so good for the others I'd love to have seen it there too.
It's interesting how different the OG set is to the rest. I think the PJ set sounds meanest, it has a specifc growl or snarl that the others don't. The others, particularly Alnicos have a midrange grind that is also pleasing to the ear. I think it depends on what I wanted to do, for modern sound I'd like PJ. Alnicos or one of the others for a more classic sound.
This is super helpful. Been really interested in throwing a soapbar PJ EMG set in my Spector but haven’t been able to find any good A/B comparisons or sound samples of a lot of these pickups, even on EMG’s website. Really thought I’d prefer the X’s but I’m loving the growl of the originals. Going to be going with them. Thanks a lot!
I hear you Daniel. This is exactly what I did - sort of. It still cost me approx. $800 USD back in 2008 so it was technically a mid-range bass. Anyway, I used the stock pickups for several years but I finally threw EMGs into it last year and it really brought the bass to life. I have a couple other similar basses now but this bass is my go-to for playing live and recording. Basically, if you like the feel and playability of the bass you can easily upgrade the sound with some EMGs instead of spending a lot more money on a brand new bass.
@@jameshawkins6760 here in Brazil due to the currency the stores are not importing anymore of Ibanez, esp, etc. Been some years that they are expensive so I actually don't know if the playability of mine is near any brand like that. Been wanting a six string fretless to do new things anyway.
THIS is the video I've been looking forward to seeing. By the way, EMG is here in Sonoma County, so when Geezer came to Santa Rosa he hung out here in Petaluma all day and was very accessible and willing to talk and just kick it. I'm looking to get the best P/J tone.
Thanks for this! for me the classic set is "The Sound", when I read of the benefits of the X series I thought of the classic sound in steroids, but their sound don´t match the idea I made in my head, even when their true to their technical claims, the ony one I´d try would be the CS but still prefer the classic. Thanks, you saved me a lot of money XD
I'm of the same opinion. I'm looking into another bass guitar to add to the collection (a LTD Phoenix 1004), and I wanted to see what all my options are with EMG pickups. I know it's down to preference, but I'm of the opinion that the original sounds the best. The X may be nice if you're using a heavily distorted bass tone, but I play metal that grooves more, so I prefer that clean and tight punch you can hear in the mid low frequencies.
This is a really awesome rundown. I played a American ultra precision bass that sounded great and I am trying to duplicate using a squire pbass. the last section was great at helping to define which pickup to use. I'm thinking the pairing it with a mid cut/boost eq. really great job
I had put Fishman Fluence in my Ibby 5 string thinking I would like them and also grabbed a Schecter Evil Twin , but found I didn't like the Fishmans so I bought the PX( put in neck position) and CSX( put in bridge) on both with BQS systems and it was exactly what I was trying to find in a sound. I love this combination and will be upgrading a few more of my basses with it.
Thanks for putting this up. I currently have the PJAX in my alder bodied Fender and love the sound. I'm building a lighter weight PJ now, and after hearing this demo, I think the PJX may be better suited to that bass, with it's basswood body.
This was fantastic! So much more helpful than random demos of pickups in different instruments. I’ve wished somebody would do something like this for Spector and the different EMG options, PJ, DC, TW etc. One bass, multiple pickups.
Hi Rodney. I have a PJX setup on my Dean Vendetta bass. Sounds great to me but I haven't tried the other versions. When I bought the PJX I researched the hell out of all the setups, looked at online comparisons and read reviews. In the end, I knew I would likely go with the PJ or PJX setup. I chose the PJX because the cost difference wasn't very much and it just seemed to give that little bit extra over the normal PJ. I figured it would allow me more space when playing live. Thanks for doing this shootout video. Seeing the EQ of each pickup and getting to hear them, I'm happy with my choice for this bass.
The original is my idea of what EMG tone sounds like in my head. It's cool there are more traditional options but I'm not likely to go for an active pickup in that situation.
Excellent review, and thank you for the comparisons! Honestly, I like all of the variations. I have 45P-X/J-X’s in my Spector Euro 6LT along with an EMG BTS 2-Band eq system. I’m really liking the sounds I can get out of this setup.
Great vid, I would have liked it if you put each riff / pickup adjacent each other so i could compare easier without getting tuned in to the sound. I ended up flicking back and forward to compare- just a thought
I'm trying to decide on what pickups that I want to use on my next bass I'm building. I have used 40DC's in the last few and was looking at maybe a PJ setup. This video helped me decide on the originals, so thank you for this.
Thanks for the great video! Would have saved me a fair bit of headache some half a year ago :)) At least now there's a reference for the future. The good part is that all of them sound usable.
Would you recommend that RIOT 5 for a beginner? I switched to seven string and am kind of falling in love with the idea of the bass register... also the bands I want to play with have guitarists BUT would kill for a bass player... I am just concerned about learning to use my fingers as I am really used to using a pick for the past 20+ years. That base just looks so damn good + the scale length seems long enough to support some lower tunings (if I'm not mistaken) Cheers! also amazing sound / playing!
I would still recommend it, and if it's what you need to do for a while or maybe even all the time, don't let anybody push you away from being a pick player either. It's just as valid so maybe you play with a pick until you get your finger style chops up, or maybe you just wind up enjoying it. give it a shot and do what's right for you. Good luck.
I have the Studio riot, great bass that can do a variety of sounds and plays comfortably. If you use pick, that is what you do. I started with guitar and now it is bass only. Still use pick for metal. Many of the best guys do.
Liked the original PJ more, especially for the low notes. I think the fact the PJ sounds more "narrow" and compressed makes those low notes ring out more clearly and cleanly, while the PJXs seem to make the B string sound a bit more wooly due to hearing all those frequencies ringing out. It's hard to explain without sounding dumb, but I think the original PJ's "flaws" make it sound great here lol.
Thanks for the video... I cannot figure out, which one is right. This comparison you made would be helpful on the EMG website, which makes it hard to deside.
wowsers, fantastic. I need to find some replacements for my RBX765a soapbars. i dont want the same sound i already have, namely mid ranged average, i want something akin to the modern spectors super scooped, i wonder how these would work on what i have
The growl of the original PJ is my kind of flavor! The PJ-X is not bad at all either. If I was going for something more fitting for classic rock I would probably choose the PJ-A (not the X, the original PJ-A).
Awesome comparison! I take it that this bass also has the onboard pre-amp removed like your others now? Overall I think I liked the PJX the best, but PJX-A was good too.
I generally don't like onboard preamps because they are just more Electronics to have something go wrong. As I've mentioned in another video if I really like the preamp that came in a base that I bought, a lot of the time I will take it out and re-house it inside of a foot pedal format so that I can set it and don't have to worry about my hands hitting it and changing the settings while playing live, but also get to use that one preamp with all my bases and not just the one that's installed in.
@@PabloAGarcia73 I don't like a lot of excess electronics in the bass. Too easy for things to go wrong. If I like the preamp, i will put it in a foot pedal housing so it's separate, and I can use it with all my basses, not just that one.
Nice video. I'm getting one of the C-5 GT's which comes with a EMG 40P5 and 40DC which I'm replacing that with another 40p5 and planning on making them X-series just still deciding 40P5-x, 40PCS-x, or 40PA-x which this video will help. Just need to listen a couple more times.
I have the p5AX, i like it. It sounds really big and it fills rooms well. I never cared for the regular emg p sound because it was too clanky and scooped for me. I like to have a big and bold kind of sound because it makes big rooms really thump. That 150 to 500 hz just makes the bass sound huge and you feel it in your chest without having to crank up the sub bass if the pa's subwoofers are all the way jacked and youre playing through a mic'd up cab
This hippie does fantastic vids! I was looking for a video like this 2 days before it came out. Makes me wonder if he has transcended the thought realm to read my mind. Hippies, am I right?
Wow very good explanation 👌i like this kind of video! I don't know if u are interested to try/show the Nordstrand Dual coil Alnico 3 and alnico 5 version... Parallel windding vs serie winding with each different magnet? That would be awesome!
Wonderful video, thank you! I love the original PJ or the PJX. Could you please tell me are you playing your own bass lines or is this a song I can look up the tabs for? I absolutely love it.
Thank you, Shirley! The music is just some things I played to demo the pickups. Some parts may wind up in a song eventually, but right now it's just a few loose ideas.
I need a video like this for the DC and CS models and different bridge and neck combos. I have 2 DCXs in mine and I'm currious if I would prefer to swap out one of them with the CSX and which position would be best for each.
Very interesting video, especially the thinking and the right match to make between the PU and the neck wood, explained at the end of the video. Also as I asked you in the previous video regarding preamp and distortion, if your Schecter SLS Evil twin was still with the stock Fishman PU, and you answered was customized with an EMG PJ set. I was like: a PJ set in an original soapbar PU size ? Ok got it, was on EMG website and found out. I am not in electronic, but what is happening with the preamp in the bass, is it still used after the PU switch ? As I assume the single coil function can be forgotten. And which version did you chose for your Schecter SLS Evil twin ? I bet for the CS version
Hey Phil - Preamp is completely bypasses, so you're hearing the Pickups uncolored. The only EMGs with single coil are the TW series. For the Evil Twin I went with the PJX.
@@RodneyMcG Thanks a lot for the answer ! So if I intend to install one of the tested set in a bass, no need to invest in one with an onboard preamp with fancy functions. Vol/bal/2 or 3 bands EQ would be enough and work
@@RodneyMcG I found out a Schecter model, already with a 40P5 in neck position, stock, it is the C-5 GT. Which will also ease the switch for an X series in the future in case. But I keep the idea to bypass the onboard preamp. Thanks for all your knowledge sharing
This is, by far, the most helpful demo I've found for any kind of bass pickup. Thank you for the obvious time, effort and expertise required. One question: I'm having trouble finding the soapbar PJX-A for a 4-string. All the soapbars I've found on the EMG site are CS. The only Alnico is the PJAX I found isn't a soapbar. Do you recall their model number?
I was a little bit surprised. After hearing the original PJ, the X and and X-A felt like they we're missing a little bit of body, if that makes sense. I liked the X-CS the most. They sounded to me like the original PJ, but with more clarity. I don't want to pretend that I know what frequency is responsible for what characteristic. Just trying to explain with my own words.
As I mentioned in the post comments, the more extended bass and treble compared to the original set will sound mildly scooped. It's not that the mids aren't there, it's that there is much more in other areas as well. That's really the big difference in between the two. The original set sounds great immediately but has less maneuverability. The x-series has less compression but more available frequency. It gives you more maneuverability to create your sound. Not everybody wants that, though. With EQ and compression I can make an X sound like an original. I can't make an original sound like an X.
I'm kinda new to the jargon. The Schector Riot comes with an ebony fretboard and a swamp ash body. They also come with CS pickups. Do these compliment or contrast each other?(As a tech guy, I find it funny to be lost in jargon for once.) Also, thanks for giving our Aurora Burst baby some airtime.
Love the comparisons. Just what I needed to possibly finish my new Schecter Stiletto Studio basses. The sound demo worked better for me than the graphs (with headphones), but the descriptions underneath didn’t quite match. (apologies, production) Nice, anyway!
I'm thinking about gettin the Studio 4, Purple........If I do a mod on the pickups.....what would U suggest? U know I dig the stock Riot sound. Thanks Bratha!
Thank you this video was so helpful! I got a C-5 GT and this vid convinced me to buy a JAX for it cuz I don't like too much scoop. I'm going for a similar sound to a sadowsky which I think is midrangey but still clear, growly and has a big dip at 300hz (which I can do with an IR maybe). So I'm gonna try the JAX in the bridge flipped upside down for a more 60s position kinda thing maybe. I just gotta figure out what other EMG to put in the neck to get that growl. Do you recommend anything?
good morning Rodney...congratulations for the video! I'm a bass player from Brazil... please can you tell me which pickups and circuits you are using, the sound at the beginning of the video, 0:50? thank you very much
Hello! :) Super video thank you very much. For me the best sound of p+j. I have a question, I own a Spector mk 5 pro. All maple, ntb construction. It's cool but it has emg hz and total weak sound. Without that power without that punch. I have mounted a Mayones preamp and it sounds better but it is time for an active emg. I play heavier stuff. Or emg dc? Or maybe another configuration? Thank you and kind regards! 😊
I'm not too much a fan of the DC set. If you like older Alex Webster, it may be for you though. I feel like you can't go wrong with the original PJ set. It's been used on plenty of great tones. My personal preference is a P in both positions. The most aggressive combo i've heard.
Okay here's my dilemma I have an 1998 Dean Edge select 6 string neck through Bass. Mahogany body, 5 peace maple and walnut neck. For pickups has EMG -HZ. Looking at Replacement EMGS. Wanting a pickup that is aggressive yet has note clarity low end but not muddy, some mid-range mids and some top end. Play in a death metal band. Also wanting to cut through the mix. Rodney what do you suggest?
A lot of this is up to your personal tone style. I would secribe my tone the same way, and I use P-x in both positions. I use different mids than what I hear in most Death Metal though. If you are after a more Alex Webster tone, DC in both positions will get you there.
I have a 100% passive Spector Performer 4 string and I also have a set of PJ EMGs.....Originals..... In your experience would the EMGs be a good upgrade even if the Spe tor sounds good stock, would the EMGs add much tonal variety or mainly just clarity?
Hey Rodney, I recently bought a Mexican J bass with the fender select pickups designed by emg. They sound cool, but are noisey. Any replacement ideas that don’t involve routing out a battery box or the too small bridge pickup cavity?
Also, random question... have you tried mixing the P and the J from different sets together? I wonder if there are any issues mixing ones with the standard range with the X range (more headroom in the X series makes me think they might end up mismatched in volume). I like how both the original PJ sounds and how the PJX-A sounds, just in different ways, and was toying with the idea of combining a PXA in the neck with a J in the bridge (or possibly with just a PA in the neck) to get some combination of the two.
I've tried every combo you can think of because i'm insane! You can combine both series, but if you want equal volume you will need to pan more towrd the X series, or lower the non x series height.
This is something I've wondered in the past and it might be on point: there's no doubt you can fit a J style pickup in a soapbar, but what about the spilt P? The original form factor (summing both coils) is a bit wider than even the widest EMG soapbar - not to mention Bartolini's standards. I wonder if they have to go for a taller and narrower coil compared to their split coil version or if, being active and supposedly underwound, their windings in the active split coils are by nature slimmer and can get away with squeezing the same coils in the width of a soapbar. Did you ever compare a EMG soapbar P to a "classic" EMG split coil P? Any thoughts on that? Re. the video: the original "non-x" formula probably sounds the punchiest and most produced one solo, but I wonder if the CS and the Alnico ones retain more info in an area which is useful to glue the bass in the mix, can be in case tweaked later on and give more peace of mind to the engineer. As always, really nice videos! 🤟🙌
I have compared the split with soapbar - they are indentical. The EMG P split is designed to fit the existing route. The winding doesn't fill the entire casing. 2 can fit easily into the soapbar. There are diagrams on the website. As far as X vs non X, I look at it as non X is finished, but less maleable. It's already compressed and has more EQ applied. The X leaves you more room. I can get an X to sound like the original with compression and EQ. I can't get an original to sound like an X.
Thank you for making such a well detailed review, but I have a question, I have a Spector legend 4 I am considering putting EMG's in and was wondering if any of these pickups come with a preamp or if I have to use the existing preamp.
Hi excellent demo would you reccommend the PJX on an PRS ash body to get me more of a tone towards a Rick or what? this is for studio use therefore don't want the single coil hum hope you can help for my purchase thankyou
A Rick is a very specific tone. I don't know that I would be looking at anything except a Ric picup to get it. Closest would be the J pickup in both positions. There's no hum with them.
hi rodney my spector legond 5 standard has 102mmx38mm soap bars they sound cheep when recording . it looks like emg 40 line will fit ... do I need a P and a J or 2 of same types ? please help
It completely depends on the tone you are looking for. You could do 2 J, 2P, P and J, etc. Look into what people who's tone you like are using, then experiment a bit yourself. You'll find the right fit.
It's just bass, mid and treble. The center points are flat. I think you have about 12db of boost and cut. If you search for emg b64 you'll find the exact eq points
There's a really interesting interview on the Bass Players Only channel with EMG founder Rob Turner. YT won't let me link to it but the vid is here /watch?v=DQ7u1GO5I5E
Defiitive guide for EMG purchases!!!
Original PJ and PJA-X for me.
Really terrific playing and excellent demo. Thank you.
Thank you too!
The original PJ feels like home to me. Thanks so much for doing this!
I thought it would make a good sample to start as people were familiar. Glad you enjoyed it.
I think this is the best EMG bass pickup comparison video on RUclips! Well recorded, consistent playing, objectively (and pretty thoroughly) analyzed. I only wish a PJA set had been thrown in to the mix too, since the comparison was so good for the others I'd love to have seen it there too.
Thanks The A -x is in there which is the same thing but the newer preamp.
It's interesting how different the OG set is to the rest. I think the PJ set sounds meanest, it has a specifc growl or snarl that the others don't. The others, particularly Alnicos have a midrange grind that is also pleasing to the ear. I think it depends on what I wanted to do, for modern sound I'd like PJ. Alnicos or one of the others for a more classic sound.
They all sound good to me, I'd use any set. I did like the PJX-CS more.
This is super helpful. Been really interested in throwing a soapbar PJ EMG set in my Spector but haven’t been able to find any good A/B comparisons or sound samples of a lot of these pickups, even on EMG’s website.
Really thought I’d prefer the X’s but I’m loving the growl of the originals. Going to be going with them. Thanks a lot!
Glad it helped
God damn just what I needed!!! I've got a cheapass bass but it's my first and I love it, been wanting to put EMG for so long
Hope it helps your decision making
I hear you Daniel. This is exactly what I did - sort of. It still cost me approx. $800 USD back in 2008 so it was technically a mid-range bass. Anyway, I used the stock pickups for several years but I finally threw EMGs into it last year and it really brought the bass to life. I have a couple other similar basses now but this bass is my go-to for playing live and recording.
Basically, if you like the feel and playability of the bass you can easily upgrade the sound with some EMGs instead of spending a lot more money on a brand new bass.
@@jameshawkins6760 here in Brazil due to the currency the stores are not importing anymore of Ibanez, esp, etc. Been some years that they are expensive so I actually don't know if the playability of mine is near any brand like that. Been wanting a six string fretless to do new things anyway.
finally someone is comparing all the different EMGs, not just the ...vs seymour duncan, ...vs dimarzio stuff. Thanks!
THIS is the video I've been looking forward to seeing. By the way, EMG is here in Sonoma County, so when Geezer came to Santa Rosa he hung out here in Petaluma all day and was very accessible and willing to talk and just kick it. I'm looking to get the best P/J tone.
Wow! That would have been awesome to hang with the Godfather!
Just an absolute boss of a bass player. 🔥
Thank ya, sir!
Gay?
I installed their original P and J along with their BQS active EQ. It gives me the ability to shape the sound and find the perfect fit to any song.
Thanks for this! for me the classic set is "The Sound", when I read of the benefits of the X series I thought of the classic sound in steroids, but their sound don´t match the idea I made in my head, even when their true to their technical claims, the ony one I´d try would be the CS but still prefer the classic.
Thanks, you saved me a lot of money XD
Glad it helped!
I'm of the same opinion. I'm looking into another bass guitar to add to the collection (a LTD Phoenix 1004), and I wanted to see what all my options are with EMG pickups. I know it's down to preference, but I'm of the opinion that the original sounds the best. The X may be nice if you're using a heavily distorted bass tone, but I play metal that grooves more, so I prefer that clean and tight punch you can hear in the mid low frequencies.
This is a really awesome rundown. I played a American ultra precision bass that sounded great and I am trying to duplicate using a squire pbass. the last section was great at helping to define which pickup to use. I'm thinking the pairing it with a mid cut/boost eq. really great job
I had put Fishman Fluence in my Ibby 5 string thinking I would like them and also grabbed a Schecter Evil Twin , but found I didn't like the Fishmans so I bought the PX( put in neck position) and CSX( put in bridge) on both with BQS systems and it was exactly what I was trying to find in a sound. I love this combination and will be upgrading a few more of my basses with it.
Yeah, I like the EMG offers over the Fishamn stuff for sure.
Thanks for putting this up. I currently have the PJAX in my alder bodied Fender and love the sound. I'm building a lighter weight PJ now, and after hearing this demo, I think the PJX may be better suited to that bass, with it's basswood body.
Good choice
This was fantastic! So much more helpful than random demos of pickups in different instruments. I’ve wished somebody would do something like this for Spector and the different EMG options, PJ, DC, TW etc. One bass, multiple pickups.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Rodney. I have a PJX setup on my Dean Vendetta bass. Sounds great to me but I haven't tried the other versions. When I bought the PJX I researched the hell out of all the setups, looked at online comparisons and read reviews. In the end, I knew I would likely go with the PJ or PJX setup. I chose the PJX because the cost difference wasn't very much and it just seemed to give that little bit extra over the normal PJ. I figured it would allow me more space when playing live.
Thanks for doing this shootout video. Seeing the EQ of each pickup and getting to hear them, I'm happy with my choice for this bass.
Glad it cleared up any curiosity
The original is my idea of what EMG tone sounds like in my head.
It's cool there are more traditional options but I'm not likely to go for an active pickup in that situation.
Excellent review, and thank you for the comparisons! Honestly, I like all of the variations.
I have 45P-X/J-X’s in my Spector Euro 6LT along with an EMG BTS 2-Band eq system. I’m really liking the sounds I can get out of this setup.
By far the most well done pickup comparison video I have seen. Very well done!
Great vid, I would have liked it if you put each riff / pickup adjacent each other so i could compare easier without getting tuned in to the sound. I ended up flicking back and forward to compare- just a thought
Thanks for the input. I still have to add timestamps to the video, that should solve the problem for you. You can jump to each Mark as you like.
I'm trying to decide on what pickups that I want to use on my next bass I'm building. I have used 40DC's in the last few and was looking at maybe a PJ setup. This video helped me decide on the originals, so thank you for this.
Glad I could help!
Thanks for the great video! Would have saved me a fair bit of headache some half a year ago :)) At least now there's a reference for the future.
The good part is that all of them sound usable.
Glad you found it useful, and I agree. All of them have their place.
Dig the AX
Would you recommend that RIOT 5 for a beginner? I switched to seven string and am kind of falling in love with the idea of the bass register... also the bands I want to play with have guitarists BUT would kill for a bass player... I am just concerned about learning to use my fingers as I am really used to using a pick for the past 20+ years. That base just looks so damn good + the scale length seems long enough to support some lower tunings (if I'm not mistaken) Cheers! also amazing sound / playing!
I would still recommend it, and if it's what you need to do for a while or maybe even all the time, don't let anybody push you away from being a pick player either. It's just as valid so maybe you play with a pick until you get your finger style chops up, or maybe you just wind up enjoying it. give it a shot and do what's right for you. Good luck.
I have the Studio riot, great bass that can do a variety of sounds and plays comfortably.
If you use pick, that is what you do. I started with guitar and now it is bass only. Still use pick for metal. Many of the best guys do.
Liked the original PJ more, especially for the low notes. I think the fact the PJ sounds more "narrow" and compressed makes those low notes ring out more clearly and cleanly, while the PJXs seem to make the B string sound a bit more wooly due to hearing all those frequencies ringing out. It's hard to explain without sounding dumb, but I think the original PJ's "flaws" make it sound great here lol.
I think PJ X Sound Great
in My Opinion
How in the hell do you hear a difference? After all that, it'll probably sound way different if you plug into a different amp.
This video is as good as it gets.
Thanks, Kenneth!
What a brilliant review! Thanks much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice comparison 😎🤘🏻🎸 and cool bass. I’ve always liked schecter basses. Between all these pickups, I like the pjx-a pickups the most.
Thanks! The A defintely have an interesting flavor
@@RodneyMcG indeed it is.
Thanks for the great comparison! The CS sounds to me to be the most versatile, but like you say, "horses for courses"...
Something for everyone!
Very helpful video, thank you man
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for checking it out!
I’m so glad you did that video. Thanks a lot for the explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video... I cannot figure out, which one is right. This comparison you made would be helpful on the EMG website, which makes it hard to deside.
wowsers, fantastic. I need to find some replacements for my RBX765a soapbars. i dont want the same sound i already have, namely mid ranged average, i want something akin to the modern spectors super scooped, i wonder how these would work on what i have
For that, I would go with the origianl PJ set
I like the PJX the best… The PJX CS might interfere with the mix too much
Very helpful comparison, thank you
Happy to do it 🤘
CS sat the nicest in the mix. I couldn't hear a difference between X vs non-X versions beyond subtle things that could be due to other factors.
The growl of the original PJ is my kind of flavor! The PJ-X is not bad at all either. If I was going for something more fitting for classic rock I would probably choose the PJ-A (not the X, the original PJ-A).
Awesome comparison! I take it that this bass also has the onboard pre-amp removed like your others now? Overall I think I liked the PJX the best, but PJX-A was good too.
Yep, preamp bypassed
@@RodneyMcG great video! Quick question, why bypass the pre amp, is there something specific about how they sound with or without? Trying to learn.
I generally don't like onboard preamps because they are just more Electronics to have something go wrong. As I've mentioned in another video if I really like the preamp that came in a base that I bought, a lot of the time I will take it out and re-house it inside of a foot pedal format so that I can set it and don't have to worry about my hands hitting it and changing the settings while playing live, but also get to use that one preamp with all my bases and not just the one that's installed in.
@@PabloAGarcia73 I don't like a lot of excess electronics in the bass. Too easy for things to go wrong. If I like the preamp, i will put it in a foot pedal housing so it's separate, and I can use it with all my basses, not just that one.
Nice video. I'm getting one of the C-5 GT's which comes with a EMG 40P5 and 40DC which I'm replacing that with another 40p5 and planning on making them X-series just still deciding 40P5-x, 40PCS-x, or 40PA-x which this video will help. Just need to listen a couple more times.
Hope it helps.
I have the p5AX, i like it. It sounds really big and it fills rooms well. I never cared for the regular emg p sound because it was too clanky and scooped for me. I like to have a big and bold kind of sound because it makes big rooms really thump. That 150 to 500 hz just makes the bass sound huge and you feel it in your chest without having to crank up the sub bass if the pa's subwoofers are all the way jacked and youre playing through a mic'd up cab
Yeah, if you're tone centers around the top edge of the low-mids into the center mids, the a series is definitely going to be your jam.
This hippie does fantastic vids! I was looking for a video like this 2 days before it came out. Makes me wonder if he has transcended the thought realm to read my mind. Hippies, am I right?
Glad to be of service...........and yes.........I"M INSIDE YOUR HEAD, MAAAAAAN!!!
Great video. I've got a MIJ Fender Aerodyne I want to put a set of EMGs in. Just have to decide which will sit best with the basswood body.
I would think the most aggressive one as basswood can be a little dark
Great Bassist!
Thank you!
@@RodneyMcG You're welcome, Sensei.🙏
Wow very good explanation 👌i like this kind of video! I don't know if u are interested to try/show the Nordstrand Dual coil Alnico 3 and alnico 5 version... Parallel windding vs serie winding with each different magnet? That would be awesome!
If Nordstrand wants to send them out, i'm happy to try them.
@@RodneyMcG Yeahhh thanks Bass Masta🤘
Wonderful video, thank you! I love the original PJ or the PJX. Could you please tell me are you playing your own bass lines or is this a song I can look up the tabs for? I absolutely love it.
Thank you, Shirley! The music is just some things I played to demo the pickups. Some parts may wind up in a song eventually, but right now it's just a few loose ideas.
I need a video like this for the DC and CS models and different bridge and neck combos. I have 2 DCXs in mine and I'm currious if I would prefer to swap out one of them with the CSX and which position would be best for each.
Very interesting video, especially the thinking and the right match to make between the PU and the neck wood, explained at the end of the video.
Also as I asked you in the previous video regarding preamp and distortion, if your Schecter SLS Evil twin was still with the stock Fishman PU, and you answered was customized with an EMG PJ set.
I was like: a PJ set in an original soapbar PU size ? Ok got it, was on EMG website and found out. I am not in electronic, but what is happening with the preamp in the bass, is it still used after the PU switch ? As I assume the single coil function can be forgotten.
And which version did you chose for your Schecter SLS Evil twin ? I bet for the CS version
Hey Phil - Preamp is completely bypasses, so you're hearing the Pickups uncolored. The only EMGs with single coil are the TW series. For the Evil Twin I went with the PJX.
@@RodneyMcG Thanks a lot for the answer ! So if I intend to install one of the tested set in a bass, no need to invest in one with an onboard preamp with fancy functions. Vol/bal/2 or 3 bands EQ would be enough and work
Exactly. I tend to like emg without a onboard preamp. It's more aggressive
@@RodneyMcG I found out a Schecter model, already with a 40P5 in neck position, stock, it is the C-5 GT. Which will also ease the switch for an X series in the future in case. But I keep the idea to bypass the onboard preamp.
Thanks for all your knowledge sharing
This is, by far, the most helpful demo I've found for any kind of bass pickup. Thank you for the obvious time, effort and expertise required. One question: I'm having trouble finding the soapbar PJX-A for a 4-string. All the soapbars I've found on the EMG site are CS. The only Alnico is the PJAX I found isn't a soapbar. Do you recall their model number?
NVM. I called them and they answered my question. Short answer: they can build the PJX-A, but you need to call or email them to order.
I was a little bit surprised. After hearing the original PJ, the X and and X-A felt like they we're missing a little bit of body, if that makes sense. I liked the X-CS the most. They sounded to me like the original PJ, but with more clarity. I don't want to pretend that I know what frequency is responsible for what characteristic. Just trying to explain with my own words.
As I mentioned in the post comments, the more extended bass and treble compared to the original set will sound mildly scooped. It's not that the mids aren't there, it's that there is much more in other areas as well. That's really the big difference in between the two. The original set sounds great immediately but has less maneuverability. The x-series has less compression but more available frequency. It gives you more maneuverability to create your sound. Not everybody wants that, though. With EQ and compression I can make an X sound like an original. I can't make an original sound like an X.
@@RodneyMcG With the right EQ and compression, could you also make a PX sound like a PAX?
Hmmmm.....I actually think I like the original the best. Thanks Rodney
Thank YOU, Tony!
Great video! A lot of work went into creating this. What strings did you use?
Thsnkd, Dennis. D'addario Prosteels 130-45
@@RodneyMcG Excellent. I prefer steel strings.
Thank you!!!
You're quite welcome!
The original PJ sounds the best hands down, Warmth and grunt, cuts through the mix better. IMO
I'm kinda new to the jargon. The Schector Riot comes with an ebony fretboard and a swamp ash body. They also come with CS pickups. Do these compliment or contrast each other?(As a tech guy, I find it funny to be lost in jargon for once.) Also, thanks for giving our Aurora Burst baby some airtime.
They do both. They are design to create a tone together, but also give the option when soloed of a jazzish or Pbass style tone.
@@RodneyMcG thank you for the reply. I was wondering why I enjoyed the sound of tapewounds on her so much!
Love the comparisons. Just what I needed to possibly finish my new Schecter Stiletto Studio basses.
The sound demo worked better for me than the graphs (with headphones), but the descriptions underneath didn’t quite match. (apologies, production) Nice, anyway!
I have a riot studio, i am considering CS and P, maybe PX. 🤔
I'm thinking about gettin the Studio 4, Purple........If I do a mod on the pickups.....what would U suggest? U know I dig the stock Riot sound. Thanks Bratha!
My favorite right now is the PX in both positions
I put Seymour Duncan blackouts in my studio 4. I'd like to compare them with the Xs
Thank you this video was so helpful! I got a C-5 GT and this vid convinced me to buy a JAX for it cuz I don't like too much scoop. I'm going for a similar sound to a sadowsky which I think is midrangey but still clear, growly and has a big dip at 300hz (which I can do with an IR maybe). So I'm gonna try the JAX in the bridge flipped upside down for a more 60s position kinda thing maybe. I just gotta figure out what other EMG to put in the neck to get that growl. Do you recommend anything?
I would just go for another in the neck or the matched PAX
No gzr?
No gzr soapbar, and not active. Different animal
I wish they made these in soapbar I'd be all over it
good morning Rodney...congratulations for the video! I'm a bass player from Brazil...
please can you tell me which pickups and circuits you are using, the sound at the beginning of the video, 0:50?
thank you very much
In that part i'm using the original PJ set from EMG. No preamp or additional electronics. Thanks for checking out the video and greeting from the USA.
Awesome comparisons man. I was wondering if you ever put a P in the neck and DC in the bride? It's what I plan to do with my ltd
I tried that combo. It was cool, but just not my tone.
Hello! :) Super video thank you very much. For me the best sound of p+j. I have a question, I own a Spector mk 5 pro. All maple, ntb construction. It's cool but it has emg hz and total weak sound. Without that power without that punch. I have mounted a Mayones preamp and it sounds better but it is time for an active emg. I play heavier stuff. Or emg dc? Or maybe another configuration? Thank you and kind regards! 😊
I'm not too much a fan of the DC set. If you like older Alex Webster, it may be for you though. I feel like you can't go wrong with the original PJ set. It's been used on plenty of great tones. My personal preference is a P in both positions. The most aggressive combo i've heard.
@@RodneyMcG
I hadn't thought about 2 x P. But why not? It reminds me of BC rich constructs.
Okay here's my dilemma I have an 1998 Dean Edge select 6 string neck through Bass. Mahogany body, 5 peace maple and walnut neck. For pickups has EMG -HZ. Looking at Replacement EMGS. Wanting a pickup that is aggressive yet has note clarity low end but not muddy, some mid-range mids and some top end. Play in a death metal band. Also wanting to cut through the mix. Rodney what do you suggest?
A lot of this is up to your personal tone style. I would secribe my tone the same way, and I use P-x in both positions. I use different mids than what I hear in most Death Metal though. If you are after a more Alex Webster tone, DC in both positions will get you there.
To Thanks for the information Rodney McG definitely will go from there
Hi thanks for the review . What strings are you using with these pickups ? Thanks
SIT powersteel
I love you ❤️
And I love you!!
I have a 100% passive Spector Performer 4 string and I also have a set of PJ EMGs.....Originals..... In your experience would the EMGs be a good upgrade even if the Spe tor sounds good stock, would the EMGs add much tonal variety or mainly just clarity?
I'm not familiar with the stock specter performer pickups so I can't be much help there. I would just try the emg and see what happens
Awesome! Any tips where I get those soapbar housings?
You can order them from EMG, or get them from any place that sells them.
Hey Rodney, I recently bought a Mexican J bass with the fender select pickups designed by emg. They sound cool, but are noisey. Any replacement ideas that don’t involve routing out a battery box or the too small bridge pickup cavity?
I hear the JV series are pretty good
Also, random question... have you tried mixing the P and the J from different sets together? I wonder if there are any issues mixing ones with the standard range with the X range (more headroom in the X series makes me think they might end up mismatched in volume). I like how both the original PJ sounds and how the PJX-A sounds, just in different ways, and was toying with the idea of combining a PXA in the neck with a J in the bridge (or possibly with just a PA in the neck) to get some combination of the two.
I've tried every combo you can think of because i'm insane! You can combine both series, but if you want equal volume you will need to pan more towrd the X series, or lower the non x series height.
@@RodneyMcG Nice! I totally would do that too if I could. Any particular pickup mixings you liked?
I'm a P in both positions guy
This is something I've wondered in the past and it might be on point:
there's no doubt you can fit a J style pickup in a soapbar, but what about the spilt P? The original form factor (summing both coils) is a bit wider than even the widest EMG soapbar - not to mention Bartolini's standards. I wonder if they have to go for a taller and narrower coil compared to their split coil version or if, being active and supposedly underwound, their windings in the active split coils are by nature slimmer and can get away with squeezing the same coils in the width of a soapbar. Did you ever compare a EMG soapbar P to a "classic" EMG split coil P? Any thoughts on that?
Re. the video: the original "non-x" formula probably sounds the punchiest and most produced one solo, but I wonder if the CS and the Alnico ones retain more info in an area which is useful to glue the bass in the mix, can be in case tweaked later on and give more peace of mind to the engineer.
As always, really nice videos! 🤟🙌
I have compared the split with soapbar - they are indentical. The EMG P split is designed to fit the existing route. The winding doesn't fill the entire casing. 2 can fit easily into the soapbar. There are diagrams on the website. As far as X vs non X, I look at it as non X is finished, but less maleable. It's already compressed and has more EQ applied. The X leaves you more room. I can get an X to sound like the original with compression and EQ. I can't get an original to sound like an X.
Thank you for making such a well detailed review, but I have a question, I have a Spector legend 4 I am considering putting EMG's in and was wondering if any of these pickups come with a preamp or if I have to use the existing preamp.
They don't come with a preamp, but you don't have to use one at all if you don't want to
@@RodneyMcG Ok thank you, it will further help me make my decision.
Random thought, the PJX-CS with that boost to the 300, would that help or hinder a bass that's in CGCF tuning? Would that add too much mud?
Depends on your overall tone, amp settings, etc.
What strings do you use?
GHS Super Steels
Hi excellent demo would you reccommend the PJX on an PRS ash body to get me more of a tone towards a Rick or what? this is for studio use therefore don't want the single coil hum hope you can help for my purchase thankyou
A Rick is a very specific tone. I don't know that I would be looking at anything except a Ric picup to get it. Closest would be the J pickup in both positions. There's no hum with them.
@@RodneyMcG Thankyou for that valued opinion I guess you mean two j pickups?
correct
hi rodney my spector legond 5 standard has 102mmx38mm soap bars they sound cheep when recording . it looks like emg 40 line will fit ... do I need a P and a J or 2 of same types ? please help
It completely depends on the tone you are looking for. You could do 2 J, 2P, P and J, etc. Look into what people who's tone you like are using, then experiment a bit yourself. You'll find the right fit.
Can someone please explain to me how the EMG active EQ controls work? I have the Riot 4 Bass with same controls as this video.
It's just bass, mid and treble. The center points are flat. I think you have about 12db of boost and cut. If you search for emg b64 you'll find the exact eq points
The original EMG recipe is unbeatable... The X series is supposed to be better but is not....
There's a really interesting interview on the Bass Players Only channel with EMG founder Rob Turner. YT won't let me link to it but the vid is here /watch?v=DQ7u1GO5I5E
Very cool, thanks!
I think original sound better
Where's the hz?
Not active. Not comparable
@@RodneyMcG wah wah
@@RodneyMcG i'd think the hz's would be the base that they start with before adding the preamps and what not.
So this was only discussing the p and not the j correct?
No, it's P and J
@@RodneyMcG so those graphs are both pickups combined then?
@@nayr87 yes
@@RodneyMcG ok thanks rodeny.
Ps I am in love with You, you are soo beautiful. 🥰🤗🤤
You are welcome, and I'm flattered!
Robinson Maria Lewis Angela Lee John
Way To Much talk More Playing PLEASE!