EMG 81-85 for other style of music

[arwanfarizi11]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

So in conclusion EMG pickups could handle other than metal and also sound amazing, but they lack in dynamic and some people find it too compressed right

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[EDX]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

when compared with pafs, they lack dynamics, when compared with high output pickups..... not so much

 

[NjuiMusic]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

So in conclusion EMG pickups could handle other than metal and also sound amazing, but they lack in dynamic and some people find it too compressed right

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pretty much. they have no reason to really sound bad, it's all opinion at that point, I like them because they are very consistent, and the newer EMG 57/66 seem cool so I may give those a whirl soon.

 

[arwanfarizi11]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

when compared with pafs, they lack dynamics, when compared with high output pickups..... not so much

When you said compared with high output pickups, did you mean also when compared to passive pickups??

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[arwanfarizi11]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

pretty much. they have no reason to really sound bad, it's all opinion at that point, I like them because they are very consistent, and the newer EMG 57/66 seem cool so I may give those a whirl soon.

Yeah, so many great reviews about the new 57/66 set, I would also love to try that set cause that set just sound awesome

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[NjuiMusic]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

When you said compared with high output pickups, did you mean also when compared to passive pickups??

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high output passive pickups is what he meant yeah.

 

[EDX]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

haha brainfart, i forgot to write passive on the sentence, well, anyway, when you a/b an emg with a monster high output passive humbucker (like the distortion or hotter) the lack of dynamics isn't so big, against some pickups they will be more even, against some they will have less dynamics and against some passives they will even sound weak, soft and shy (compared to really monstruos passives, dimebucker, el diablo, slug, deathbucker, X2N you know things hot even on the high output realm)

 

[darthphineas]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

Prince used the 85

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

Prince used an 85 bridge and SA neck.

Prince's original "cloud" guitars were equipped with EMG-81 and -S pickups. (EMG used to market that pairing as a boxed set.) I have no idea what is in the Symbol guitar or what Schecter installs in the lookalike models.

 

[Benthedemon007]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

Honestly, there are far better pickups for non-metal styles. To be clear, EMG pickups have their place. But that place is in hardcore punk and modern forms of heavy metal. As much as an truly great player can make anything have soul, EMGs are add compression and lack natural character and soul. If you want to play non-modern metal styles, I'd get a "vintage" passive humbucker.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: EMG 81-85 for other style of music

Claudio from Coheed used to use an 81/85 set sometimes with a 60 in the neck.

Wolfgang Van Halen has some EMG loaded basses.

Claudio has changed to back to passives though, if it means anything.

To be fair, active basses are pretty common in a lot of genres other than metal. Most boutique basses are active even.


I don't know that I would use the EMG 81-85 combo for versatility. I had them in my seven string for a month or so, and I never really gelled with either in the neck position. So take that for what it is.

If you're looking at an EMG set for versatility, I'd say that the EMG 66/57 set is outstandingly versatile. Scale the Summit is an instrumental band that uses them and their guitar sound range from super super clean stuff to really heavy power chord riffs.