Noise issue with EMG pickups

[Dr d]

Has anyone had any problems using EMG pickups through Dumble style amps? I have got an ongoing issue with EMG at the moment. I have a set of EMG SA pickups which have an audible hiss when played through my low plate classic. I was wondering as these are a relatively "hot" pickup whether the 22K grid stopper to the first valve might be a bit low and might be exaggerating any noise present in the pickup. Anyone else had problems like this?

[butwhatif]

active system right, it's not the pickups

[Structo]

I have a 33K grid stopper on my 100w ODS.

I simply chose that as that is what #124 had.

My amp doesn't really hiss, but has that "pushing air" type sound.
Not sure if that is what you are referencing but it is not a harsh hissss.
Has to be quite loud before that is even noticeable.

[ER]

Shouldn't be a problem, is the hiss not there with other guitars? How old is your battery? Try pulling the battery and take your hands off the strings, if the hiss is gone with no battery or a dead battery then it's in the circuitry, if theres no hiss with hands off the strings then the system may still grounded at the bridge (it should be lifted).

EMGs should be as quiet as with nothing plugged into the amp.

Just curious what's the ongoing issue? I used to work for them many moons ago and they were good folks (Rob and Gary are stand up guys), maybe it's changed in the last 20 years?

-ER

[jaysg]

I have the SA, EXG, SPC setup. Mine has lower output than standard pickups when the EXG and SPC are nulled out.

[husky]

Has anyone had any problems using EMG pickups through Dumble style amps? I have got an ongoing issue with EMG at the moment. I have a set of EMG SA pickups which have an audible hiss when played through my low plate classic. I was wondering as these are a relatively "hot" pickup whether the 22K grid stopper to the first valve might be a bit low and might be exaggerating any noise present in the pickup. Anyone else had problems like this?

EMG's do have Hissssss compared to passive systems.
I have noticed this since the 80's and it is still there today especially when feeding high gain circuits.

[husky]

Has anyone had any problems using EMG pickups through Dumble style amps? I have got an ongoing issue with EMG at the moment. I have a set of EMG SA pickups which have an audible hiss when played through my low plate classic. I was wondering as these are a relatively "hot" pickup whether the 22K grid stopper to the first valve might be a bit low and might be exaggerating any noise present in the pickup. Anyone else had problems like this?

EMG's do have Hissssss

[gary sanders]

I got rid of all of my EMG sets for the same reason.IMO if you preamp and pedal a guitar too much,its then more a synthesizer than a stringed instrument.

[Dr d]

Thanks for your input, guys. I went for the emgs in the hunt for the Larry C Last Nite sound and indeed they do sound amazing through my low plate classic....feedback is a sinch!!! However, with the set that I have, i have been stunned by how much hiss comes through the when when not playing. My passive giutars are absolutely silent. just curious to see what other peoles experience is as i am in the middle of correspondence with EMG on the noise isssue as I am not sure if I have faulty p/ups or whether the noise is "normal".

[husky]

Thanks for your input, guys. I went for the emgs in the hunt for the Larry C Last Nite sound and indeed they do sound amazing through my low plate classic....feedback is a sinch!!! However, with the set that I have, i have been stunned by how much hiss comes through the when when not playing. My passive giutars are absolutely silent. just curious to see what other peoles experience is as i am in the middle of correspondence with EMG on the noise isssue as I am not sure if I have faulty p/ups or whether the noise is "normal".

There can be a situation where one pickup has a noisy opamp and being that they are both tied to the same supply I have seen the hiss extend to the other pickups. You really need to disconnect the power to the battery and try each pickup one by one. IF you still have hisssss it is normal. I have installed thousands of them and always been bugged with the hiss when using high gain amps or pedals. First time I switched to passive humbuckers I was amazed and the absence of the hisss

[ER]

I'm lazy and usually played mine with dead batteries so never noticed the hiss. Only had an SA in the bridge of my strat but went back to stock because I liked the tone better, still have an SA in my lap steel but the battery must be 10 years old, it's quiet too.

Don't ask how old my strings are!

-ER