EMG 81/85 vs 57/66 sets?
- Thread starter Artie
- Start date
Metalman_666
New member
Re: EMG 81/85 vs 57/66 sets?
Artie, didn't know you were a Schecter guy! I've loved my C-1 Classic for years and have done everything from metal back down to Blues, classic rock and even classical clean playing.
I also have to throw in for putting the 85 in the bridge. But in general if you aren't thrilled after that, EMG may not be your bag. Trying the Livewire set you already know is a good bet.
As someone who doesn't play metal, what was it about that particular guitar you liked? Mine has the amber quilt top and "vine of life" inlay but I never liked Schecters without fancy finishes
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Artie, didn't know you were a Schecter guy! I've loved my C-1 Classic for years and have done everything from metal back down to Blues, classic rock and even classical clean playing.
I also have to throw in for putting the 85 in the bridge. But in general if you aren't thrilled after that, EMG may not be your bag. Trying the Livewire set you already know is a good bet.
As someone who doesn't play metal, what was it about that particular guitar you liked? Mine has the amber quilt top and "vine of life" inlay but I never liked Schecters without fancy finishes
Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk
allstarrme
New member
Re: EMG 81/85 vs 57/66 sets?
What you really need to try is the fishman fluence classics. Pure Paf tones but better, then switch over to voice 2 for the best JB you’ve ever heard. The wiring drops right in, but I always add a push pull or 2 for voicings and splitting.
I’m sure the live wires are nice to, but the fishman are phenomenal.
What you really need to try is the fishman fluence classics. Pure Paf tones but better, then switch over to voice 2 for the best JB you’ve ever heard. The wiring drops right in, but I always add a push pull or 2 for voicings and splitting.
I’m sure the live wires are nice to, but the fishman are phenomenal.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Thanks all. I'm definitely going to swap the two positions. I think it's like a 10-minute mod. Probably before the day is over.
Yeah, I like Schecters. Besides the C-1 and Blackjack, I also have a cool old Daisy Rock, in a rare and unusual Champagne Sparkle. Given that the CEO and founder of Daisy Rock is the wife of the CEO of Schecter, I'm sure it's basically a Schecter. It has Schecter design and character all over it. I have PG's in it. Sounds killer.
The C-1 was purely an impulse buy. It was gorgeous and felt good in my hands. I like Schecter necks. I knew I could always swap pups, so I didn't even care about that. I'll try the bridge/neck flip, then go from there.
Yeah, I like Schecters. Besides the C-1 and Blackjack, I also have a cool old Daisy Rock, in a rare and unusual Champagne Sparkle. Given that the CEO and founder of Daisy Rock is the wife of the CEO of Schecter, I'm sure it's basically a Schecter. It has Schecter design and character all over it. I have PG's in it. Sounds killer.
The C-1 was purely an impulse buy. It was gorgeous and felt good in my hands. I like Schecter necks. I knew I could always swap pups, so I didn't even care about that. I'll try the bridge/neck flip, then go from there.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Artie, those Blackouts you bought from me were from my C-1. It’s too bad it’s such a “metal” looking guitar, with the DD JB/59 style pickups it’s great all around guitar and the neck feel great, it’s thicker than most guitars that look like this.
The two options I’d be interested in trying would be the RetroActives and Fluence Classics. Are your EMG Quick Connect? Could be an easy swap.
The two options I’d be interested in trying would be the RetroActives and Fluence Classics. Are your EMG Quick Connect? Could be an easy swap.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Yes, they are. (Quik connects, I mean.) Those Blackouts are one of the things I was going to try in there. You didn't like them?
(Probably a dumb question, since you sold them to me.)
Well, to be honest the C-1 was supposed to be on the selling block but after I put the Duncan Designed back in I started playing it a bit again. Nothing against the Blackouts, I was selling a bunch of stuff to get my two Fender Elites.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
They were the stock set, the JB/59 style ones with coil splits. It don’t currently have a JB loaded guitar, I had forgotten what a great pickup it really is (and it’s not even a “real” one)
Its a C-1 Elite, I got it from a forum member here quite a while ago. It was definitely affordable and the quality is really quite good.
Its a C-1 Elite, I got it from a forum member here quite a while ago. It was definitely affordable and the quality is really quite good.
Artie
Peaveyologist
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
Well-known member
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.
Blackouts definitely have more bass. Too much, IMO.
ColeJustesen
New member
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
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
Well-known member
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.
The 57 running at 18V is fantastic. It really does open it up.
ColeJustesen
New member
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
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
