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Thoughts on the EMG 81

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  • #1

    Thoughts on the EMG 81

    Hi guys

    I was sifting through the threads here and I noticed many ppl have different things to say about the EMG 81. Some say its very trebly and midrangey, or too much so.... some seem to think its bassy! So I was wondering what all of you thought, and then we can have all the opinions on this pup in one thread.

    Nick
    • EBMM JPX BFR (Crunch Lab/Liquifire)
    • Schecter C-1 Classic (Custom8/Jazz)
    • Mayones Duvell 7 Standard (Instrumental SFTY-3/Decomp)
    • G&L Tribute Comanche
    • Godin Stadium 59 (Custom Cajun/'59)
    • Horizon Precision Drive --> Fulltone FB3/FD 2 --> Crybaby From Hell (Fasel) --> Boss BF-2 --> CH-1 --> TC Flashback X4
    • Mesa/Boogie Mark IV-B (SED =C= 6L6) + EarCandy BuzzBomb 2x12 (V30/C90)
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

    Originally posted by Metalman_666
    Hi guys

    I was sifting through the threads here and I noticed many ppl have different things to say about the EMG 81. Some say its very trebly and midrangey, or too much so.... some seem to think its bassy! So I was wondering what all of you thought, and then we can have all the opinions on this pup in one thread.

    Nick
    all i can say is that IF zakk wylde, jeff hanneman,kerry king, kirk hamett,james hetfield, james murphy, and a crap load of others love them so much they must me great!
    I tried a KH esp sig guitar through a mesa rectifier and man it was devastating!
    big low end,crunching mids,and searing trebles.
    through a JCM 800 reissue it still sounded real good but a lot different of course more like slayer and the mesa sounded like old metallica

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

      I am not a big fan of the emg81...i think it is a bit exagerated and has a lot of highs which i don't like.I think the emg85 is a much better design than the 81.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

        to my view, one of the best pickups out there, especially for lead playing.
        Guitars:
        -Ibanez RG2820CTTW Limited Edition (with Dimarzio Steve's Special bridge and Air Norton neck)
        -Peavey Harley Peavey Signature Guitar
        -Admira spanish classical guitar

        Amps:
        - Line6 POD 2.3 Rack with poweramp and cab
        - Marshall 1st Generation Valvestate combo
        SHREDDING IN THE HOLY LAND

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

          Hi I have to agree pound for pound the 81 can obtain all the classic rock tones of the 80's and all of the modern tones of todays Nu-Metallers. After all unless you are into other musical styles then yep maybe the 81 is not for you but at the end of the day I have not found one thing that I don't like about it and if it sounds too trebly turn your amp settings to compenste and if its bassy dial in more treble. I think with all pick-ups you can expect to do some tweaking to get the sound where you are happy at and whether its an EMG or Seymour,Di-Marzio or whatever nearly always you will end up as near as possible to the sound you're looking for. Kammo1

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

            I think it depends on what guitar you put them in.I have a Emg81 in my 91 Les paul classic and it sounds killer with the 85 in the neck.I had a pair of 81's in my ibanez rg520 but I changed those to duncans which I glad I did.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

              what wood do you find best compliments those active beauties?
              • EBMM JPX BFR (Crunch Lab/Liquifire)
              • Schecter C-1 Classic (Custom8/Jazz)
              • Mayones Duvell 7 Standard (Instrumental SFTY-3/Decomp)
              • G&L Tribute Comanche
              • Godin Stadium 59 (Custom Cajun/'59)
              • Horizon Precision Drive --> Fulltone FB3/FD 2 --> Crybaby From Hell (Fasel) --> Boss BF-2 --> CH-1 --> TC Flashback X4
              • Mesa/Boogie Mark IV-B (SED =C= 6L6) + EarCandy BuzzBomb 2x12 (V30/C90)

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                Just about any wood, as long as it's good in the first place.

                Active pickups are said to ignore many tonewood qualities when compared to passives.
                || Guitar | Wah | Vibe | Amp ||

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                  Put the EMG in a cardboard guitar and it will be sheaper , you will still have a smoking sound !!!

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                    I had an 81 in my old ibanez s. It was really big and bold in the bottom. soloing seemed to come easily (there weren't a lot of weird noises from other strings or from the sound of the frets being scraped). but i found the thing very sterile. I didn't find that the notes articulated well, particularly when distorted and as I like to play a lot of funky chords this made my work more difficult. M7th's just sounded like crap when I was playing them, and forget about 13ths.
                    Fender Twin w/ Weber Speakers, keeley ts-9, RMC2 wah, EB MusicMan Axis Sport w/ p-90's, Heritage Les Paul (HC150) Custom Order w/ AIIpro/Custom shop bridge, various accoustics

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                      I have it in my MIM strat and I think it's a great lead pickup. Rythms are simply chunky, you can get a ridicolous amount of gain! Cleans are decent, pretty bright too. In a strat it sounds way better than in a les paul type guitar. I play some jazz on it, too.
                      Matteo P.
                      Aka Invader
                      Toys:
                      - MIM Strat with Antiquities
                      - MM J. Petrucci 7 String
                      - Duncan Invader
                      - Kent Armstrong Hot Rails
                      - Air norton
                      - Steves Special
                      - EMG 81

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                        has anyone who complains about EMG's being sterile ever tried the 18 volt mod? that's supposed to breathe new life into the pups
                        • EBMM JPX BFR (Crunch Lab/Liquifire)
                        • Schecter C-1 Classic (Custom8/Jazz)
                        • Mayones Duvell 7 Standard (Instrumental SFTY-3/Decomp)
                        • G&L Tribute Comanche
                        • Godin Stadium 59 (Custom Cajun/'59)
                        • Horizon Precision Drive --> Fulltone FB3/FD 2 --> Crybaby From Hell (Fasel) --> Boss BF-2 --> CH-1 --> TC Flashback X4
                        • Mesa/Boogie Mark IV-B (SED =C= 6L6) + EarCandy BuzzBomb 2x12 (V30/C90)

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Thoughts on the EMG 81

                          Originally posted by Metalman_666
                          has anyone who complains about EMG's being sterile ever tried the 18 volt mod? that's supposed to breathe new life into the pups
                          I have, and it makes them sound A LOT better. Big improvement, but they still have that EMG vibe. I like 'em alot, just favor passives now after using EMG's for a long time.

                          Comment

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