EMG 81/85 vs 57/66 sets?

[dave74]

Yes it's more open and less mid-pushed than the standard 81 preamp. Close to the same tone as an 81 at 18v.
I tried the x-series when they were released and really liked the 85x as a bridge. I still prefer the standard 81 at 9v as a bridge.

[ArtieToo]

So, I raised the 81 up as high as it will practically go, (as Top-L suggested), and it definitely helped. Gave the 81 a bit more girth and body. More bass, I guess, would be what it is. Still not enough to make me love them, but I could live with this if I played metal. I'll be trying the Blackouts, and then later, the Dave Mustaines, as soon as I find good 100k pots.

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, the low-end rolloff is a characterist of every EMG model in the classic lineup. Even the X series, IME. Not even the bassiest EMG in the classic series, the 85, has more bass than something like a JB, which is not a low-end monster in itself to begin with.

Blackouts definitely have more bass. Too much, IMO.

[ColeJustesen]

It really depends on the guitar for me, and the tuning. I have a Jackson Stars Soloist in Drop B with an 81/58 combo that sounds incredible. I don't know that I would personally want an 81 in a standard or Eb tuned guitar. For those, the 85/58 combo works great. The 60 used to be my absolute favorite neck pickup from EMG. Now, it is a toss up between the 66 or 58.

I personally don't understand why the 58 doesn't get more love. It is an incredible pickup. I actually would like to try a dual 58 setup at some point.

As far as the question about the 57/66 vs 81/85, I would take the the 57/66 everytime. I feel like EMG really found the right combination of headroom and drive with them. They can be heavy, or they can do cleans.

Cole

[Rex_Rocker]

Funny you mention the headroom. I actually find the 57/66 really benefits from the 18V mod because they have the exact same preamp as the classic 81/85/60 combo, but they're hotter before they hit the preamp, so their preamp clips/compresses more.

The 57 running at 18V is fantastic. It really does open it up.

[ColeJustesen]

I have multiple sets of 57/66 sets, as well as other EMGs (both original design and the X series), and I don't hear lots of compression in the 57/66. Yes they have plenty of output, but I hear the preamp volume, not pickups output. I would say that I hear/feel the response more in line with the X series than the original preamp. I also feel they are way more dynamic than the original preamp design. Once again, they feel/respond more along the lines of the X series for dynamics.

I am also certain EMG use a different preamp for the 57/66 than the original lineup. I feel like I read/saw something from EMG when these were released about that too. I have never tried the Retro Active pickups from EMG, so I can't compare there. However, I think the design was something similar in idea to the Seymour Duncan Duality; a traditional pickup design with a preamp. I don't know if the 57/66 is anything like the Retro Active design, but it doesn't sound like the original preamp to me at all. Like I said previously, I think the preamp is more like the X series preamp.

Cole