81/85 combo

anewdefguitarist

anewdefguitarist

New member
ok, hopefully this isn't suppose to be common knowledge - BUT - do EMGs designate their pickups as neck or bridge? for example, a bridge SH-6 reads like what, 17k? and the neck around 12k? so, if i took the bridge 81, and swapped it with the neck 85, is it going to be (just for examples sake) 16k in the neck and 12k in the bridge - again, i KNOW those aren't the read-outs for the EMGs im just using it as an example for maths sake, and the fact that im too lazy to go emg's website to get the readings. thanks in advance!!

:friday:
 
Re: 81/85 combo

No.

You can buy a Kirk Hammett model guitar with twin EMG-81s. Somebody, somewhere, probably offers a guitar with twin 85s. Try 'em in any combination you desire.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

The 85 is a killer and underrated bridge pickup. because of Zakk, everyone thinks its a neck pickup. My favorite EMG combo is an 85 bridge and 60 neck.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

My two fav EMGS are 85 and the 58, the 89 isn't too shabby either.

You can get some great tones out of the 81/85 combo though, Just listen to No More Tears or Coheed and Cambria's Good Apollo, really cool sounds from that combo on those albums.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

TattooedCarrot said:
The 85 is a killer and underrated bridge pickup. because of Zakk, everyone thinks its a neck pickup. My favorite EMG combo is an 85 bridge and 60 neck.
Click to expand...

The 85 was originally created for Larry Carlton who wanted the something closer to an elite strat in his trademark 335 style guitar. A pair of 85's is the closest you can get from EMG to the pickups Les Paul himself used from the late 60's on.
James Hetfield uses twin 85's in some of his guitars.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

89 is just a 85 with a coil tap if you want it?

I'm digging the 85 lately, I could never vibe with an 81
 
Re: 81/85 combo

just put emg 85 in the bridge my sons sg.... then when i got the 81 we swapped it to go to the 81 bridge 85 neck set up...big mistake....wow what a diff...the 85 is sweet in bridge
 
Re: 81/85 combo

Yeah, the 85 is massive and chunky in the bridge and muddy in the neck. The 81, while not all that bad, is a bit over-the-top, imho, though if I end up with a guitar with that combo, I do 85b/81n. I still prefer the 60 for the neck over the 81. It's much clearer yet less aggressive.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

John_L said:
James Hetfield uses twin 85's in some of his guitars.
Click to expand...

Really not sure that's accurate, at all? Not for any of the albums that matter, that is.


Warheart said:
89 is just a 85 with a coil tap if you want it?
Click to expand...

Not quite... it's two pickups in one housing - the 89 is like an 85, but it's tighter and has a bit more pick attack going on. Somewhere between an 85 and an 81 but definitely with the organic, A5 characteristics of the 85.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

He used twin 85's in his white explorer at the time he used twin 85's and Kirk twin 81's. It was only around the time of The Black Album he mixed them. Coincidence I was reading a '92 magazine with an interview with him and a review of an ESP Explorer with batman graphix (which I was wanted to copy)
 
Re: 81/85 combo

Virtual Kevorkian said:
Not quite... it's two pickups in one housing - the 89 is like an 85, but it's tighter and has a bit more pick attack going on. Somewhere between an 85 and an 81 but definitely with the organic, A5 characteristics of the 85.
Click to expand...

I've always defended the 85 in the neck because I assumed it is the same as an 89, but I guess that isn't the case? Regardless, I love the 89 in the neck, I've never even considered anything else, it can go nice an clean, also super hot and smooth under tons of distortion. I also like the 81 bridge, 18volt mod is an absolute must though.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

TattooedCarrot said:
The 85 is a killer and underrated bridge pickup. because of Zakk, everyone thinks its a neck pickup. My favorite EMG combo is an 85 bridge and 60 neck.
Click to expand...
Though you must take in the fact that Zakk plays mainly in the neck (you can hear it a lot at Live at Budokan).
 
Re: 81/85 combo

Virtual Kevorkian said:
Not quite... it's two pickups in one housing - the 89 is like an 85, but it's tighter and has a bit more pick attack going on. Somewhere between an 85 and an 81 but definitely with the organic, A5 characteristics of the 85.
Click to expand...

So why did you choose the 81TW in bridge and 89 in neck for your Stinett? Just curious.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

John_L said:
He used twin 85's in his white explorer at the time he used twin 85's and Kirk twin 81's. It was only around the time of The Black Album he mixed them. Coincidence I was reading a '92 magazine with an interview with him and a review of an ESP Explorer with batman graphix (which I was wanted to copy)
Click to expand...

No, he most definitely had an 81/60 in his white explorer, as well as all of his main guitars, well through The Black Album.


speed2dirt said:
So why did you choose the 81TW in bridge and 89 in neck for your Stinett? Just curious.
Click to expand...

I didn't? It's got the 89 in the bridge and 81TW in the neck.
 
Re: 81/85 combo

speed2dirt said:
Are the EMG split coil sounds worth having or is it more just gimicky?
Click to expand...

I like the sound of the EMG SA in the neck myself, which is what an 89 becomes when you split it. It is sterile and very clean, but super responsive, the split helps prevent the full on 89 from overdriving the amp. I don't have any use for a split emg in the bridge however.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top