EMG 85 bridge

[alex1fly]

Ok pickup gurus. Have a scenario/conundrum to throw at ya. What does the EMG 85 excel at in the bridge, and what are some comparable pickups? Most of what I find googling is just Harmony Central type “it’s great! 18 volt! It’s better than the 81!” basic stuff.

Reason for asking is a lot of my favorite heavy music is recorded with EMG 85, and I have a set but due to some reorganization in my gear the set doesn’t have a home. So I’m wrapping my head around whether to seek out a guitar to put the pickups in, or if I maybe already have an equivalent setup in another instrument.

 

[ColeJustesen]

I think you said it already. I love the 85 for that mid grind it has, plus the compression, to really drive heavy music. I suppose you could use it for other varieties of rock that aren't as heavy, i.e. Steve Lukather, Reb Beach. I like it for using wet effects as well, well EMGs in general to be honest.

Cole

 

[Rex_Rocker]

IMO, what it excels most at is in the bridge is the The End Heartache fat 2000's Metalcore sound. Many of the bands at that time were using it. Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, All that Remains, Shadows Fall, and then some of the Gothenburg bands like Soilwork.

I like it. It's pretty cool. It's actually hotter and more compressed than the 81. It's got a cool low-mid grunt. I personally compare it to something like a JB, just smoother and not as bright. Not nearly as bassy as the average passive, though, JB included.

My gripe with it and why I ended up moving away from it was that it's a bit too round in the attack for my taste. Kind of a laid-back attack. Not as raspy or agressive as others.

EMG then came up with the EMG 57 which kinda does the "fatter than an EMG 81 but that still has the active vibe" thing better, IMO. It's clearer, tighter, and not as round as the 85, while still being hotter and fatter than an 81.

If you still want the fatter EMG 85 in the bridge vibe, the EMG 89 in humbucker mode is slightly leaner and clearer than the 85, yet still really close.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

To me, this is the prime of what the 85 in the bridge sounds like doing heavier(ish) tones. It's chunky and slightly stuffy in the low mids, but still can be shaped into sounding tight and agressive with the right amp and boost.

I also really like this sound of the 85 working its magic:

 

[Ascension]

The 85 has an alnico 5 mag and will be warmer and rounder than a 81 in the bridge. I have a 85 and a H 60A in one of my Washburns. Will feel and respond more like a passive pickup than the ceramic mag 81 will.

 

[alex1fly]

IMO, what it excels most at is in the bridge is the The End Heartache fat 2000's Metalcore sound. Many of the bands at that time were using it. Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, All that Remains, Shadows Fall, and then some of the Gothenburg bands like Soilwork.

I like it. It's pretty cool. It's actually hotter and more compressed than the 81. It's got a cool low-mid grunt. I personally compare it to something like a JB, just smoother and not as bright. Not nearly as bassy as the average passive, though, JB included.

My gripe with it and why I ended up moving away from it was that it's a bit too round in the attack for my taste. Kind of a laid-back attack. Not as raspy or agressive as others.

EMG then came up with the EMG 57 which kinda does the "fatter than an EMG 81 but that still has the active vibe" thing better, IMO. It's clearer, tighter, and not as round as the 85, while still being hotter and fatter than an 81.

If you still want the fatter EMG 85 in the bridge vibe, the EMG 89 in humbucker mode is slightly leaner and clearer than the 85, yet still really close.

i hear this and actually feel similar about the 81. In a mix you can’t hear the round attack but playing solo it’s definitely a softer attack than I would have expected. The ensuing sound is razor sharp for sure. I have it in a Strat clone and might just swap it out for the 85.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

i hear this and actually feel similar about the 81. In a mix you can’t hear the round attack but playing solo it’s definitely a softer attack than I would have expected. The ensuing sound is razor sharp for sure. I have it in a Strat clone and might just swap it out for the 85.

As far as the classic EMG lineup, it's kinda like the Tone Zone of that lineup. It's fat and kinda dark/round. It's also really hot. It's not as hot as the Het, which is IME pretty much Blackout levels of hot. But it is as hot as the 57 which is noticeably hotter than the 81. I actually find it kind of an odd pairing a hotter neck pickup (85) with a lower output bridge pickup (81), but it works if you can lower the neck pickup enough.

But if you compare it to actual fat passives (like the Tone Zone), it has still got the typical EMG lopass/hipass effect, making it tighter and more focused.

It's a cool pickup worth a try. It was really the first pickup that I went "aha!" for. I used to be obsessed with EMG's, TBH. I tried as many as I could. I didn't try them all, TBH, but I always had a soft spot for the 85 on bright guitars.

 

[BeKindRewind]

I'll start by saying that I have all but switched to EMGs in almost every single one of my guitars. There's just reasons I've gravitated towards them in recent times, nothing against SD but I require the noiselessness and convenience of actives. So I've been experimenting with EMG configurations endlessly until coming to the realization that really the only 2 good combos are 81\85 or 81\60, and it's not something to really be messed with.

It's not that great, IMO. You'd think it would be great, an alnico EMG so it must have a nice fat sound compared to the 81, right? But in practice it's just not as good in my experience. The 81 is the perfectly voiced bridge pickup and there's really no improving on it. They tuned the nasty out of the ceramic and voiced it so it's bright and clear. The 85 sounds a bit cool, but when you try to use it in the studio you'll notice it's a bit muddy and limited , the harmonics are not as rich, and you'll just want your 81 back. That's how it's been with me , anyway. I still have the 85 in the bridge of one guitar but I don't use it that much to be honest.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'll start by saying that I have all but switched to EMGs in almost every single one of my guitars. There's just reasons I've gravitated towards them in recent times, nothing against SD but I require the noiselessness and convenience of actives. So I've been experimenting with EMG configurations endlessly until coming to the realization that really the only 2 good combos are 81\85 or 81\60, and it's not something to really be messed with.

It's not that great, IMO. You'd think it would be great, an alnico EMG so it must have a nice fat sound compared to the 81, right? But in practice it's just not as good in my experience. The 81 is the perfectly voiced bridge pickup and there's really no improving on it. They tuned the nasty out of the ceramic and voiced it so it's bright and clear. The 85 sounds a bit cool, but when you try to use it in the studio you'll notice it's a bit muddy and limited , the harmonics are not as rich, and you'll just want your 81 back. That's how it's been with me , anyway. I still have the 85 in the bridge of one guitar but I don't use it that much to be honest.

I think that's a bit extreme, but I have to admit, I agree to an extent.

Even if you want a fat alnico EMG, I think the 57 is a better option nowadays. It's more attacky and not as stuffy.

I do still think the 85 has its place, though. It's the sound of the early-mid 2000's metalcore. But all of those bands basically used it for one or two records at most, and then moved to the 81 and/or later, to Fishmans.

Another option to try for that vibe, just better, is the Fishman Modern Alnico.

 

[ToneFiddler]

i have some EMG for nostalgic reasons, if i want to get some classic tones (yes, those 80/90 sounds are that old by now). Turns out i don't use those guitars as often.
But there is definitely better stuff out there by now. i don't own a 85 anymore because i like the 85X better (and this one also sitting in a box). More alive and brighter.
Also the 58X is really good.