EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

[BrockSamson]

I'm getting a Jackson dinky for use in my buddies band which is heavily detuned for a Type O Negative / Amon Amarth type sound and I have an EMG 81 and 85 just laying around which I planned to use one for the bridge.

Just not sure which one.

What are the main tonal differences between the 81 and 85 when in the bridge position?

Also, note the guitar will be detuned BEADF#B if that changes the equation at all.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I've tried both as bridge pickups in floating-Floyd guitars, and they're both great -- but different.

The 81 has a ceramic pickup and sounds thinner but with more bite, more of a razor's edge to the tone. The 85 is said to have more output, but the 81 often ends up sounding louder, because its energy is concentrated in a narrow part of the spectrum.

The 85 has an Alnico V magnet and sounds beefier, but warmer on the top. It's more growl than slice-and-dice. I'm considering pulling the 85 out of the clusterF*** that used to be my Ibanez RG270DX and putting in the 81 from the neck of my Kramer -- because it just sounds too darn cuddly in that Ibanez, which is supposed to be a nihilistic assault on basic human decency.

Switch guitars and you might change your mind about which one you prefer. Maybe even, like, you switch from one Dinky to another.

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

Well I have to gut the Dinky, which is going to pain me to do so, and using my Duncan Blackouts wiring to setup an active setup.

Plus I have to get a stereo jack so my 9V's don't die every week.

Cant.... wait...

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

Well, try to take some comfort in knowing that it's easy to change from an 81 to an 85 to an 81. I don't know how your tuning will affect which one you'll like better. Once you get something you like, fasten it there with galvanized deck screws, construction adhesive, and maybe some wardrobe tape just for extra peace of mind.

Edit:

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I'll do that and then cover the guitar in clear coat, string and all, just to be sure.

 

[dominus]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I've got the 81 and 85 in the bridge positions of a pair of Strats (as well as Blackout Metal Bridge and Blackout Neck in the bridge of two other Strats), I think the 85 is the best sounding one for detuned (I tune in open B) metal.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

Also, note the guitar will be detuned BEADF#B if that changes the equation at all.

While I'm a huge fan of the 85 bridge, for this quoted reason alone I'd have to say go for the 81.

The 85 is looser and fatter, thicker with more low mids, and also a little sloppier and more forgiving.

The 81 is slightly scooped, punchier and more percussive. It retains clarity better and will sound tighter detuned than the 85.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

So you guys prefer the EMG to the SD Blackouts??

To each his own but the Blackouts get my vote by far. Especially the new Blackouts EMTY models!

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

85. That pickup is amazing.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

So you guys prefer the EMG to the SD Blackouts??

My legal team says that I neither state nor imply a brand preference between EMG or Seymour Duncan active pickups. I've only tried EMGs, and that's what the OP is asking about.

 

[Frogman]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I just installed an 85 bridge in my Mahogany RR/V. It's GREAT.

(I tune in open B) metal.

Crowbarrrrr :firedevil

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I prefer Blackouts Metals in my Jackson Soloist, but that's setup for an entirely different sound.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

85 in the bridge FTW. 81's do excel at thrash, but that's about it. 85 is a good bit heavier, lots of bass, more growl, less CHING.

 

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

The 81 is usually used for the bridge pickup, but I far and away prefer the 85 as a bridge pickup. My favorite EMG combo is the 85 bridge 60 neck. Far more usefull and dynamic than the usual 81b/85n combo.

 

[some_dude]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

81 in the bridge. Tighter, more percussive riffing.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

The 81 is usually used for the bridge pickup, but I far and away prefer the 85 as a bridge pickup. My favorite EMG combo is the 85 bridge 60 neck. Far more usefull and dynamic than the usual 81b/85n combo.

Lots of people use the 85 in the bridge; it really is an underrated bridge pickup. On the other hand, it's probably an overused neck pickup. I think it sounds muddy in the neck of some guitars, like an LP or that Music Yo! Kramer Beretta jobbie that I have. Although, I keep forgetting that I have an active bass/treble control in that thing, so maybe I should give the 85 another try.

 

[jmh151]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I had the zak wylde combo and thought the 85 was too dark and bassy in the neck, and 81 too thin in the bridge.

I switched them around and it solved the problem. The neck was now clear, and the bridge was nice and full.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I had the zak wylde combo and thought the 85 was too dark and bassy in the neck, and 81 too thin in the bridge.

I switched them around and it solved the problem. The neck was now clear, and the bridge was nice and full.

:fing2:

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

I'll second a lot of the comments. I love the 81 in the neck of a Strat; it's clear and tight there. I had the 85 direct-mounted in mahogany Strat and it was really fat and thick. The lead-tone was killer: totally overdriven thick blues and hard rock. Unfortunately, for clean tone, I had to drastically change the EQ to make it work. The 85 was not "sterile" at all, other than being noise-free and a having more presence than a passive. The 85 can get sludgy or bass-heavy in the wrong setup with the wrong EQ (my tube amp uses a detuned cab with a bass-heavy speaker, so fat-sounding pickups cab be muddy in my rig). If you want tight-metal, the 81 is probably a better choice.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: EMG 81 or 85 for bridge pickup?

This is a very useful comparison video on youtube about the 85 vs 81. 81 wins.