Best Pickup Combinations

I decided to start this forum for those that are looking to upgrade their axes via changing pickups. For the best tone in terms of; clarity, ability to cut through the mix, tone, versitility, etc. there are 3 great pickup combinations to choose from. In no particular order;

EMG Active 81's
Dimarzio Evolution / Breed
Seymour Duncan JB / 59' (Screw the Jazz Combination)

[font=trebuchet ms]As ever, personal taste plays a big role in the choices.

For me, a lot depends on what I want to do with a particular guitar. And the intrinsic tonal characteristics of that guitar determine what you have to work with. A pickup can't generate tone that isn't there to begin with. I use DiMarzio pickups simply because I know what to expect from them. I find the descriptions and technical info on their website to be useful guides in getting the sound I'm after. I've heard some great sounds from Duncan-equpped guitars, I just haven't felt any need to try them out, for what I know I can get from DiMarzio.

• For Classic Rock: DP 101 Dual Sound (bridge) & DP 106 SCHB (neck) in a Yamaha SBG1000
• for Hard Rock & modern Blues: DP 155 Tone Zone (bridge) & DP 151 PAF Pro (neck) in a Yamaha SBG1000
• for classic Blues: DP 155 PAF Pro (bridge) & DP 156 Humbucker From Hell (neck) in an Odyssey Custom V

Both the Odyssey V and my old Washburn A-20CS came with DiMarzios installed, but there's no model number stamped on the baseplates, so I don't know for sure what they are. They both sound great, but I'm going to change the V setup as listed above, to make it stand out a bit more. I really enjoy the PAF Pro, and the Humbucker From Hell is the closest thing now available to my much-loved, long-discontinued SCHB (Super Clear HumBucker), which I've been using since 1986.[/font]

is it possible to have active and passive pups on the same guitar?

Originally Posted by: alucard0941is it possible to have active and passive pups on the same guitar?

[font=trebuchet ms]Of course.[/font]

Originally Posted by: Lordathestrings[font=trebuchet ms]Of course.[/font]

even if they are totally different outputs and basically total opposites when it comes to specs.

if so,
then theoretically, its possible to have any combination of pickups in guitar right?

Originally Posted by: alucard0941is it possible to have active and passive pups on the same guitar?

I never thought of that actually... like have a duncan or something in the neck for a good clean sound, then a EMG in the bridge to really kick in the metal! sounds cool, but I doubt I'd ever do it.

[font=trebuchet ms]Search the forums for posts by incidents happen using different keywords. For a while, he was contemplating some truly bizarre switching setups. It should serve to open your eyes to some possibilities, along with some practical limitations to consider.[/font]