I've noticed some players will mix and match active and passive pickups in their guitars, and only use one volume pot. For instance, Glenn Tipton (of Judas Priest) uses a SD '59 in the neck position and an EMG 81 in the bridge. He wires them straight to a 3 way toggle and then to a volume pot. The pot works for both pickups, and since these pickups require different pot values, how is this possible?

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Actives and passives can work together but you do have to sacrifice tone.

From the EMG site:
"Can I mix EMG's with passive pickups?

It is possible to mix EMG's with passive pickups. There are three possible wiring configurations; one is better than the other two.

Use the high impedance (250K-500K) volume and tone controls. The problem is that the high impedance controls act more like a switch to the EMG's. The passive pickups, however, will work fine. If you have a guitar with two pickups and two volume pots, with a three-way switch, there is another alternative. Use the 25K pots for the EMG, and the 250K pots for the passive pickup. This way you can use one or the other with no adverse affects, but with the switch in the middle position the passive pickup will have reduced gain and response.

Use the low-impedance (25K) volume and tone controls provided with the EMG's. The problem here is that the passive pickups will suffer a reduction in gain and loss of high-frequency response.

This is the best alternative. Install an EMG-PA-2 on the passive pickups. There are two benefits to doing this. With the trimpot on the PA-2, you can adjust the gain of the passive pickups to match the EMG's. The PA-2 acts as an impedance matching device so you can use the low-impedance EMG controls (25K) without affecting the tone of the passive pickups. You will also be able to use other EMG accessory circuits such as the SPC, RPC, EXB, EXG, etc. For this application, we recommend ordering the PA-2 without the switch for easy installation on the inside of a guitar."

As for using the same volume, sounds like the last example of PA-2 is being used.

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DS-1 Mods // SD-1 Mods // Guitar LED mod // Storm trooper amp // Crybaby Mods



Sorry guys, mod help is on hiatus

if you sacrifice your tone pot you can use one 25K ohm pot for the active pickup and one 500K ohm pot for your passive. just make sure you wire the switch after the volume pots.

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This IMO is really the only problem with mixing active and passive (especially with a rotary PU selector). It might not be a big problem for many since a lot of Metal players use the bridge for Heavy and the neck for Clean but the middle position is great place to be sometimes.

Just recently I was mixing active and passive and even more recently realized I didn't like the mix.

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Fat Strat into a Soldano, always.

If I were in your position, I'd look into this; http://www.emginc.com/displayproduct...&catalogid=135 but its probably a bit much for the use of the middle position, I rarely use mine with my passives!

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Call me Will

My Rig Thread

Mods:
DS-1 Mods // SD-1 Mods // Guitar LED mod // Storm trooper amp // Crybaby Mods



Sorry guys, mod help is on hiatus

I have that on my radar ... very curious. I'm picking up EMG stuff on ebay as they show up. I recently got a EMG-sa for the neck of my Super Strat. Hopefully next will be an EMG-89 and PA2.

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Fat Strat into a Soldano, always.