Dragonfire HCZ Active Humbucker

active humbucking
25k pots, pre-wired on 2 humbucker strat pickgaurd

installed on strat body
bridge and neck position
installed as original pickups on new build
removed these, replaced with Dimarzio's
No other artist I know of uses these
Thought I'd try these as inexpensive alternative to EMG's

high output
use with Marshall DSL
Absolutely no treble , pure underwater mud
rock, blues
unusable in bridge due to no treble at all

I would never buy it again if destroyed; if I hadn't paid nearly $100.00, I would destroy it myself
Been playing over 35 years
love nothing, hate everything about the bridge p-up
Chose for price, read reviews
wish the bridge had some treble bite!
Unsatisfied with this, found my sound with Dimarzio
I believe people who rated these positively are perhaps not as critical as I am in terms of sound quality, but when you switch to the bridge pickup for some bite and harmonics, these are the worst I have ever played

Purchased a set of 2 Active Double Humbuckers, with the battery clip and 2 25K volume pots, as required for actives

Alnico magnet in the 85c (neck pickup)

Ceramic magnet in the bridge pickup (81c)

I did not measure the resistance or impendance

These are kind of big; I had to cut the holes bigger in my floyd rose guitar pickguard. It normally houses uncovered humbuckers and they fir fine. But these pickups are bigger with the black covers they have.

I put these into an Epiphone SG Bully

81c Bridge, 85c neck

Replaced the stock bully bridge pickup, which was high output and bassy. The guitar sounded good for blues but that was about it. It did not have a ncek pup in it or even a bridge when I bought it used on CL.

I wanted to try actives and didn't want to spend too much. Being that this SG is plywood, seemed like a good fit for actives.

Ouput level is high

Using it with a Boss ME-30 multi effects pedal (octive, distortion, wah, presets with names like monster, etc.) into a cheap crappy lil squire amp.

Tone: Actually pretty good, suprisingly. I wasn't expecting it, but I like the tone of these. It is strong in the lower midrange. THe neck pickup sounds pretty sweet. I normally don't like neck pickups, but I like this one. Has an alnico magnet in the neck pup.

Very much like a black sabbath tone. Made this the perfect little budget iommi SG build! Should have went with a black bridge instead of chrome!

I play bluesy/hard rock/metal, my influences include Zep, Rhoads, Kiss, Boston, Priest, Queensryche, Sabbath. It is a perfect match for most of these. Actually very Sabbath like, but a bit more modern.

Both pickups work well in their positions. Bridge is crunchier, neck a little more organic sounding.

If it was destroyed or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else? Depends; I would like to try guitarheads actives, blackouts and EMg's. So no, but only because I want to try others still. Besides that reason; I so no reason NOT to buy these, they are very nice, epecially at $80 for both PUPs and includes the battery clip and the tone pots!

Been playing on and off for 20 years. Just a hobbiyst but I love playing. Have owned about 10-12 guitars over the years.

I love the Sabbath like tones, lots of sustain. It is not realy strong in the HIGHS, but it does have some.

I bought the hcz active humbuckers. Man they really cheap. I havent installed them yet but judging by all the reviews on here i hope im gonna be happy. I have an sg with an emg 85 in the bridge, a les paul with a 81 in bridge and 85 in neck. And these babies are gonna go in an ibanez rg570 from the early 90's. I do alot of pickup wiring and im telling you to get the best sound you need 25k pots not 500k. also a stereo output jack not mono. you dont need to but it will have a more pronounced sound.. Would you buy a brand new mercedes and put dollar general tires on it.

Ibanez rg570 both neck and bridge.

dont know yet havent installed them

i have been playing for 8 years. I have 13 guitars and 5 amps. MY 2 pride and joy amps are my vox 2x12 combo and my crate blue voodoo half stack( the sweet old series with the blue tolex)