EMG: 10 years later

[JB_From_Hell]

Got a guitar with the EMG 81/85 set today, first time I'd used them in about a decade. Plugged in, dialed up a high gain model on my Vypyr, flipped the switch to the 81, and went down thrash memory lane. Spent a good amount of time riffing with the 85, and I gotta say, I still love both of them.

No, they do not respond to volume knob adjustments or dynamics like single coils or PAFs. For me, what they're doing is reminding me of a sound and style I've been neglecting for way too long. I'll be the one guy who says this: I love how both of them sound clean. The 85 can do some awesome jazz tones if you know how to adjust the tone knob, and both together sound incredible for faux-classical finger style.

First string change, I'm gonna try swapping them. I never spent much time with the 85 in the bridge, but I used to LOVE the 81 in the neck. Might add another battery to give 18v a shot, too.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

EMG: 10 years later

I used them a lot back in the 80s when I worked at American Showster.

I like the guitar pickups better than their bass pickups.

I actually preferred them on 9v (18v for bass). I liked the compression you get on 9v.

They are great in the studio because they are so quiet.

If you ever get a chance check out the 58. It was the original PAF style model. They felt it was a bit noisy and it became the 85 (in 1985). It’s a bit warmer than the 85. Very nice pickup. It’s available from them again.


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[JB_From_Hell]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

Thanks, I’ll look for one.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I really like the EMG 85 in the bridge.

I also kinda like the 85 in the neck as long as it's not paired with an 81 in the bridge.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

^ ?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

^ ?

I guess he doesn’t like the 81 at the bridge. lol


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[Rex_Rocker]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I do like the 81 in the bridge. I just don't like how the 85 in the neck pairs with it. I think the 81/81, 81/60, 85/85, or 85(B)/81(N) combos are more balanced. Then again, many people make the 81/85 combo work, so what do I know.

 

[Silver]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I love the Blackouts neck model... it's quite like the 85. But just, I dunno, more!

Check it out if you haven't.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I think I’m gonna swap them tonight. Love the 85 neck, but I’m curious about it in the bridge. It’s interesting how less noisy it is than the 81 (which isn’t very noisy as far as hot pickups go). For all the time I’ve been dorking around adjusting the neck pickup in my ‘62 LP/SG, I think I prefer the EMG neck tone. I know, sacrilege, but whatever. Is what it is.

Also heard nothing but good things about the 57/66 set. Never tried the Blackouts, either. They were coming into play around the time I was moving away from hot pickups.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I actually preferred them on 9v . I liked the compression you get on 9v.

Me too, to me an 81 on 9v's is THE classic EMG sound. For as many pickups that ive had and tried ive always kept at least 1 axe with an EMG in it.

 

[donaldr]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I have a very old set of 60/S/S that I put in a Godin Exit 22 three months ago and they are very responsive to volume and tone, I even rarely play with volume at 10 except when I really want to rock hard!!! Like them a lot, but not doing any metal with them, more blues/classic rock/'80s rock, maybe the 24.75 scale and 11-48 strings help. Never tried 81/85 combo.

 

[Silver]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I like the 85 in the bridge. Probably more than the 81.

I have a buddy who has a HSS guitar with an 89 in the bridge and two SAs. The 89 is pretty much a 85 and an SA in one.

The EMG SA single coils are also fantastic!

 

[Toejam]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

The 85 in the bridge with an 81 or 60 in the neck is the way to go. The 58 is like a P90 with about the same single coil hum.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

Me too, to me an 81 on 9v's is THE classic EMG sound. For as many pickups that ive had and tried ive always kept at least 1 axe with an EMG in it.

I also agree with this. I used 81's with 18v in all my guitars for 10yrs or more and within the last 5yrs or so I'm going more into passives but I always had atleast 2 guitars with an 81 just because it's a good tone that I like having there when I want it.

Im tempted to put this old tan epoxy EMG-58 in my Kramer V and make it a Judas Priest guitar cause everyone needs one of those. (KK used 58's as well as 81's in his guitars) It is very much like a P90 but noisier like stated but it's not too far removed from an 81 because they both share a ceramic and the 58 came out in 1974 years before, so the 81 was more or less based off of the 58 but with a quieter preamp.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I got my first EMG [an 81] in 1999 @ the old Mars Music for an 80's Charvel, still have it and it rocks.

But i bought a Zakk 81/85 set for a Les Paul Custom and within a couple months i yanked it out & put the Duncan Custom/59 back it.

The Zakk set @ $225 bucks was very un-inspiring at best.

IDK if the older EMG's were made different or not.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I also agree with this. I used 81's with 18v in all my guitars for 10yrs or more and within the last 5yrs or so I'm going more into passives but I always had atleast 2 guitars with an 81 just because it's a good tone that I like having there when I want it.

Im tempted to put this old tan epoxy EMG-58 in my Kramer V and make it a Judas Priest guitar cause everyone needs one of those. (KK used 58's as well as 81's in his guitars) It is very much like a P90 but noisier like stated but it's not too far removed from an 81 because they both share a ceramic and the 58 came out in 1974 years before, so the 81 was more or less based off of the 58 but with a quieter preamp.

The 58 is alnico.

 

[Toejam]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

The 85 is actually based off of the original 58.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

Yes you guys are correct, my apologies.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

I've actually looked at a few EMGs recently, the Retroactives looks like they have some promise, but I have not quite yet had the chance to use them.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: EMG: 10 years later

They’re a different creature, for sure. The pickups in my PRS SE are more dynamic, but the more time I spend with the 85, the more I love it. Pretty sure I could make the C-1 work for whatever style I needed to. The PRS would be easier to adapt, though.