EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

[SGFanatic]

I've read a lot of criticisms about these pick ups. I like them. I like mostly all quality pick ups. They all have their place somewhere, in some guitar for some genre of music. Sure, some pickups are more versatile than others, but for the most part, most of us like a few certain pickups that do most of the things we like. And I'm speaking about humbuckers specifically.
The discussion I would like to start is about the EMG 81-85 setup. Tell me what you think of it. And please try not to speak beyond your own experience. Also, try to refrain from hyperbolistic phrases like "soulless" and "awesome". Discuss why you think they are soulless or awesome. I've used them in a 1/2 dozen guitars throughout the past 23 years along with other actives and passives, including Blackout AHB-1, Dragonfire and the Jackson actives.
I like them because they have compression and tightness which benefit the fast rhythm playing and palm muting that I mostly play. They also have a unique sounding midrange presence that has a "sticky" feeling to it which cuts through the mix well without being too bright or shrill. It goes without saying that they are quiet, but most humbuckers have never given me a problem in that department. The pickups also have a responsiveness which I like I have grown familiar with.
What I dislike about them is they do lack a smidge in the low end, but just a smidge. And for leads, I think the compression that makes the rhythm playing so enjoyable for me, chokes out some of the frequencies in the upper register of the guitar while I'm playing single notes. Also there are very limited numbers of colors available for these pups, as opposed to Duncan or Dimarzio.
So that's about it for me. Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to the comments.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

The EMG-81/-85 pair is certainly a reference point. In my opinion, the -81 is a good pickup for some Rock/Metal styles … in which I do not happen to specialise. The -85 is more to my liking, especially in -85X guise.

I have enjoyed recording with these (and other) EMG active humbuckers. Overall, however, I prefer the Duncan active pickups - Live Wire Classic II, Active EQ Bass, Pro Active and Phase II Soapbar bass designs.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

EMG's are the only active pickups I've played, so I can't compare them to Blackouts or LiveWires or anything else. That said, I've played the usual 81/85 types of sets in a good number of guitars, and I currently have the following:

- an Ibanez RG270DX with a Floyd Rose Original, brass 32mm Big Block, and glued-in neck:
85 bridge
SA middle
89R neck (the "single" coil is opposite the logo)

- a Kramer "Music Yo!" Baretta (neck-through 24-fret with a floating Floyd copy):
81 bridge
81 neck
EMG active bass/treble control (for bass guitar)

The 81 is a great metal pickup in a meaty-sounding guitar. Unlike the 85, the 81's output is focused more in the treble and upper midrange. It has more bite to it than the 85, which sounds warmer and bassier by comparison. I've had the bridge pickups in the two guitars switched, but in that case I thought the 81 was a little too thin in the Ibanez, while the 85 didn't have the bite I wanted in the Kramer. There was a similar situation in the neck -- the brightness and articulation of the 81 was welcome in the Kramer, while the 85 was a little dark and muddy for my tastes. Swap them, though, and the opposite layout was just what I was looking for.

As SGFanatic alluded to, there's a chewy texture to the midrange; it seems to come from the compression when you dig in with the pick. It's a nice effect -- not something I want on all my guitars, but very fitting for the kind of playing I do on these.

I don't think the 81 is soulless or sterile. I might describe it as "cold" or "clinical", but consider that the heavy album I grew up on was …And Justice for All. I consider the unique characteristics of these pickups to be good things.

 

[loversmoon]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I have played 81,85,60 and the live wires set.

Breakdown for me:

81 I dont like it. for metal it is really great. It does what it should do which is give you massive amounts of gain. Clean to me it sounds kind of lifeless. It lacks the warmth and feel of a passive pickup.

85: (in the bridge) I liked it better than the 81 because it gave me more bottom end and more mids. It wasnt horrible clean but still didnt have that warmth I prefer.

60: Honestly, as odd as it may sound I love this pickup in the neck. It very soulful when you want it to be and can handle gain very well. I would love to try the hetfield set just to see if the pole pieces actually give it more warmth like a passive pup.

Live wires: I love the jb and jazz set which is basically what this is...however I wasnt a big fan of them either. They sound much thinner than I had expected them to be. That being said of all the actives Ive had experience with Id have to say I prefer this set over all.

Id like to try the blackouts just because I havent. I cant say I believe they will change my mind but Id still like to give them a go. Ive come to realize Im just a passive pup kind of player.

 

[baron55]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

The only EMG's I like are the new 57/66 pickups. For actives the Gus G are the best ( basically a A5 distortion) toned down into the blackouts preamp. I am a passive guy and for actives the Gus G and EMG 57/66.

But as always it is all subjective

 

[SGFanatic]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

Like Little Pigbacon, I was raised on 80's thrash. I'm kind of biased towards that tone, I suppose. I like the 81 better than the 85 in the bridge, I've tried both. I would like to try the Het set, but I really like the 81's. I don't hear harsh in my rig, and it's pretty high gain. I have a 6505, and that's about as bright/fizzy as you can get. If the grittyness that I hear and love in the pickup is what people mean by "harshness", then I find that to be a plus.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I have 2 EMG 81/85 sets. Only one set is currently installed, in a Performer series Jackson. I like it for what it is. I think it's great for metal. It has a nice tight compressed tone with some bite. In my opinion the EMG 81 is one of those pickups that does what it does like no other pickup can. If you need an 81 then you need an 81, if that makes sense.

 

[XPAULPITT]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I have 2 EMG 81/85 sets. Only one set is currently installed, in a Performer series Jackson. I like it for what it is. I think it's great for metal. It has a nice tight compressed tone with some bite. In my opinion the EMG 81 is one of those pickups that does what it does like no other pickup can. If you need an 81 then you need an 81, if that makes sense.

Yup.

 

[allstarrme]

EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I like the 81 bridge with a 60 neck compared to the 85. The 85 isn't bad but the 60 is great. That said I swapped them out seeking a little more bass response & tried the blackouts.

I tried the ahb-1 set, even swapped the neck for the bridge but it wasn't what I wanted. Just lacked the low end thump and high end cut even thought the output and midrange was increased. Swapped back to the 81/60.

I finally settled on a blackouts metal bridge (ahb-2) with an ahb-1 blackouts neck and its so much more than the 81, thicker, more punch, more output yet more cut. Great.

I tried an ahb-3 blackout mick Thompson set in my backup guitar but went back to the 81/60 in that to. I think I'm gonna settle on a Gus g set for it though.

I still have a Jackson other an 81Tw and an 89 which I'm gonna keep as is for the versatility it has. Its great for cleaner or low gain stuff.

 

[metalmachine]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I never got along with the 81. Too thin. Too much compression. I also find it strange to pair it with a 85 in the neck

 

[Mosher Zone]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I only have experience with 81, i have it fitted in a Bc rich Ironbird & it is a perfect fit for that guitar cause i always struggled to find a pickup i liked for it, whether that is because as a lot of people say that EMG's use very little of the guitars sound i don't know cause i've never tried it in another guitar. It does sound quite compressed but still cuts through very well in band situation but i agree that it could do with a little more low end.

The other Actives i have are the 18v Livewire Classic SSH set & a BMP-1 paired withe a JB/Hotrails combo, out of all of them my faves are the Livewires they cut through very well & sound kinda like a JB to my ears but they are not as hot as the EMG 81 to compensate this i run a 5dB boost which gives it that extra edge.

 

[Alex79]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I think the EMG 81/85 set is pretty mediocre nowaydays. When it came out it was a different story and probably cutting edge; nowadayds there are lots of better options, in part also because high gain amps have come a huge way as well in what the preamps can offer.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I still favor the 81/81 set. Still not sure why people complain about it's clean sound as I love the 81 in the neck, especially for jazz/fusion material. For high gain stuff it's a no brainer as that is what the EMG 81 is known for. Hell, I even like the HZ H4 passive versions of the EMG81s as well.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I think the EMG 81/85 set is pretty mediocre nowaydays. When it came out it was a different story and probably cutting edge; nowadayds there are lots of better options, in part also because high gain amps have come a huge way as well in what the preamps can offer.

If that line of thinking was true noone would use a 60 year old PAF

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I like EMG's even though I don't have any in my guitars any more. I often get tempted to buy them again, but I simply prefer passives. I tried a Blackout when they first came out on the market and wasn't so impressed that I thought it blew EMG out of the water or anything. Personally, even though the Blackouts are cool, they don't have the same deal going on that the EMG's do. I haven't tried any of the other SD actives. My preference is the 81 although the 85 has it's place. Someone mentioned the "chewiness" of the 81 and that's something I would agree with. I really like that about it. It has a unique mid range and it's not too bassy. I think the 81 is more versatile than just metal, but that's my opinion.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

back when i used EMG's, i prefered an 85 bridge and 60A neck. the 81 was too shrill in both positions.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

The 85 in the bridge has always been one of my favorites, it brings the beef, but with the tightness, overall it (usually) stays clear.

The 81 in the bridge is OK, whether I like it or not depends on the rig it's used with more. I really like it in the neck though, actually makes a warm sound, great for shreddy stuff, and it can be more dynamic than you'd think with light picking technique... and no flub on low notes.

I liked the blackout neck, but the bridge didn't do it for me. I like the 85B/81N better.

 

[J E C]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I like the 85 in the bridge much better. Better bass and mid response, warmer. I also like the SA singles better than the S singles.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I also tried he 18v mod too, but it just got too fuzzy and i went back to 9v.

 

[Grindspine]

Re: EMG 81...Love it, hate it, tell me about it.

I am going to interject a very important point; the EMG 81 and 85 were designed to have 9 volts for a single pickup without additional electronics with a capacity to handle up to 27 volts.

I wired my B.C. Rich Virgin with a mini-toggle switch to compare 18 volts and 9 volts for the 81 at the bridge and the 85 at the (22 fret) neck. My findings were that the EMG 81 is less compressed at 18 volts, has less distortion in the mids at 18 volts, less fizziness to the high end, and more dynamic lows at 18 volts. It still sounds like an 81, but with more nuance--the things associated with "too compressed" and "soulless" are drastically reduced by the 18 volt mod on the 81 at the bridge.

The difference is less apparent with the 85 being that the 85 actually has a bit more headroom than the 81 by design.

As a reference point, my main guitar is a B.C. Rich Warlock NT loaded with a Seymour Duncan Distortion at the bridge and Alnico II Pro at the neck. The 18 volt mod EMG 81 is similarly aggressive and tight through the Mesa/Boogie Triaxis lead 2 red circuit. The Distortion has a bit more low end throatiness that the 81 still lacks. I would say that they are at least comparable in output and have some similarities in response due to the ceramic magnet structure with the TB-6 Distortion having a bit more low-mid punch. This also becomes apparent through a cheaper amp. My old Crate GX212+ loaded with Celestion 80 watt speakers handles the EMG 81 very well, but tends to become muddy and boomy with the Duncan Distortion. There is just enough difference in the low mid response between the two pickups to make a difference between working well with some amplifiers.

Concerning the 85, I am generally not big on Alnico V based pickups--I usually find them to have a dull midrange response. The exceptions to this are the Duncan JB, the Full Shred, and the 85, which are all drastically different pickups. The 85 is not nearly as aggressive in the upper mids or high end as the JB or 85, but does have a certain breathiness around 4 khz that is still apparent. The 85 does not share the sweetness on the high end that the Alnico II pros have in the neck position, but due to the winding and preamp voicing, is every bit as dynamic. Again, I am referencing the 85 as having the volt mod, which did improve the dynamic response, if not quite as much as it improved the 81's response. The cleans on the 85 are solid, very open and dynamic without sounding harsh, though still not quite as sweet on the high end as Alnico II based neck pickups.

I will say that EMGs do have a distinct voice on recordings. I can often tell when someone is using an EMG 81 or 85, whereas some pickups have a distinct voice, but will also emphasize the wood of the guitar. In my experience, the 81 and 85 are less dependent on having great tonewoods than some other pickups, which can be an advantage. A cheaper guitar can be equipped with EMGs and sound like a distinct, EMG voiced guitar. Of course, that applies less to clean or low gain sounds than high-gain sounds.