EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
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some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
I just installed an 85/81 set in my LP today.
I've heard some peoples concerns about using the 85n/81b configuration. They say the 85n is too bassy and the 81b too thin.
Personally, I've found I love the 85 in the neck. Huge rhythm sound. It chords well and stays articulate, even on my Rectifier's dirt channel (vintage gain, around 13:00).
Those are just my initial impressions (I had to turn it down as the sun went down), but I suspect they'll hold up tomorrow.
P.S. The middle postion combining the 85n and 81b rocks. The 85 adds chug while the 81 adds crunch.
I just installed an 85/81 set in my LP today.
I've heard some peoples concerns about using the 85n/81b configuration. They say the 85n is too bassy and the 81b too thin.
Personally, I've found I love the 85 in the neck. Huge rhythm sound. It chords well and stays articulate, even on my Rectifier's dirt channel (vintage gain, around 13:00).
Those are just my initial impressions (I had to turn it down as the sun went down), but I suspect they'll hold up tomorrow.
P.S. The middle postion combining the 85n and 81b rocks. The 85 adds chug while the 81 adds crunch.
jmh151
Active member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
Like screamingdaisy said, I have a Les Paul Custom and did not like the 81b/85n combo, so I switched the 2. I love the 85 in the bridge, the 81 in the neck is nice overdriven, but not so good on cleans. I'm trying to find a dealer near me that has a 60 in stock.
Also, despite what people say, there is a huge difference with EMG's depending on what guitar they get put in. The EMG81 in the bridge of a alder bodied, vintage trem or hardtail strat sounds killer, but the same pickup sounds weak in a basswood bodied Ibanez with locking trem. It also sounded thin in the bridge on my Les Paul.
The 85 in the neck of my Les Paul was too bassy, but I think that's due to a bass heavy guitar. I did the 18 volt mod, put the 85 in the bridge, and it's never coming out now. It nails Zakk Wylde's tone and harmonics through a Marshall (DSL401) better than the 81. Again, the 81 neck- great for overdriven solos, not cleans.
EMG now has a new 60 with an alnico magnet and I'm thinking of trying that once I find one, I figure it may closer to a vintage type sound than the ceramic magnet version.
Like screamingdaisy said, I have a Les Paul Custom and did not like the 81b/85n combo, so I switched the 2. I love the 85 in the bridge, the 81 in the neck is nice overdriven, but not so good on cleans. I'm trying to find a dealer near me that has a 60 in stock.
Also, despite what people say, there is a huge difference with EMG's depending on what guitar they get put in. The EMG81 in the bridge of a alder bodied, vintage trem or hardtail strat sounds killer, but the same pickup sounds weak in a basswood bodied Ibanez with locking trem. It also sounded thin in the bridge on my Les Paul.
The 85 in the neck of my Les Paul was too bassy, but I think that's due to a bass heavy guitar. I did the 18 volt mod, put the 85 in the bridge, and it's never coming out now. It nails Zakk Wylde's tone and harmonics through a Marshall (DSL401) better than the 81. Again, the 81 neck- great for overdriven solos, not cleans.
EMG now has a new 60 with an alnico magnet and I'm thinking of trying that once I find one, I figure it may closer to a vintage type sound than the ceramic magnet version.
lateralus
New member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
ive heard all three models in the neck. the 81 is good for a lead guitarist.. but some may find it too trebly. and the 81,85 combo is used by zakk wylde.. thats a great combination... but my personal favourite is the 60. james hetfields signature esps had a 60 in the neck, its all round great rhythm pickup
ive heard all three models in the neck. the 81 is good for a lead guitarist.. but some may find it too trebly. and the 81,85 combo is used by zakk wylde.. thats a great combination... but my personal favourite is the 60. james hetfields signature esps had a 60 in the neck, its all round great rhythm pickup
B
Bones
Guest
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
dual 81s
dual 81s
:friday:
Sweet Leaf_Sabbath
New member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
so you guys are saying if i put an 81 in the bridge of a jackson dk2 it would sound thin and all gay-like?
so you guys are saying if i put an 81 in the bridge of a jackson dk2 it would sound thin and all gay-like?
fenderiarhs
Active member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
almost everybody thinks that the emg 85 is a neck pickup........i'd say give it a try at the bridge and you will be surprised......much much better than the 81.....at least for genres outside the metal/numetal spectrum
almost everybody thinks that the emg 85 is a neck pickup........i'd say give it a try at the bridge and you will be surprised......much much better than the 81.....at least for genres outside the metal/numetal spectrum
jmh151
Active member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
It depends on your amp. If you have a bass heavy amp like a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, then the amp trebly thin tone of the 81 will fit well with the amp (Like Metallica). The 85 has more bass that compensates for midrange heavy amps like Marshalls. And on EMG's site, it says the 85 has more output than the 81. I believe it, the 85 screams in the bridge when placed very close to the strings and gives a thump I can't get with an 81.
It depends on your amp. If you have a bass heavy amp like a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, then the amp trebly thin tone of the 81 will fit well with the amp (Like Metallica). The 85 has more bass that compensates for midrange heavy amps like Marshalls. And on EMG's site, it says the 85 has more output than the 81. I believe it, the 85 screams in the bridge when placed very close to the strings and gives a thump I can't get with an 81.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
I'd have to agree with what jmh151 said, but I'd like to add;
If you're one of those guys who might as well not even have a pickup selector because your current one is always stuck on bridge, you're probably better of with an 85 in the bridge, as it has a fuller, thicker tone than the 81.
I rely on my bridge for when I want tight, cutting distortion. Too much bass in the bridge and that'll go to sh*t under high gain. That's why I like the 81 in the bridge.
I rely on my neck for a looser rhythm tone, or those searing, blured high gain solos. The extra bass of the 85 helps achieve both of those sounds.
For most rhythm work, I sit in the middle position. I run the bridge near or at full volume, and slowly raise the neck volume until it adds enough bass to thicken up the sound without making it muddy.
For full out leads, I like to run both at full, although I find I get better harmonics using just the bridge.
That said, I'm thinking about installing a 60/81 set in my one Strat, and a SA/SA/85 set in another.....
...I really love these pickups.
Sweet Leaf_Sabbath said:
I'd have to agree with what jmh151 said, but I'd like to add;
If you're one of those guys who might as well not even have a pickup selector because your current one is always stuck on bridge, you're probably better of with an 85 in the bridge, as it has a fuller, thicker tone than the 81.
I rely on my bridge for when I want tight, cutting distortion. Too much bass in the bridge and that'll go to sh*t under high gain. That's why I like the 81 in the bridge.
I rely on my neck for a looser rhythm tone, or those searing, blured high gain solos. The extra bass of the 85 helps achieve both of those sounds.
For most rhythm work, I sit in the middle position. I run the bridge near or at full volume, and slowly raise the neck volume until it adds enough bass to thicken up the sound without making it muddy.
For full out leads, I like to run both at full, although I find I get better harmonics using just the bridge.
That said, I'm thinking about installing a 60/81 set in my one Strat, and a SA/SA/85 set in another.....
...I really love these pickups.
DiminisheD-7th
New member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
the EMG 81 keeps getting labled as a heavey metal pickup.
this pickup has outstanding features for lead guitar!
i got a 81b/89n combo in an alder kelly and im very very happy with it. the 81 has a soaring cut-thru-the-mix lead tone with excellent crunch for rhythm playing and the 89 just sounds plain huge. both are extremly articulate (good trate in a lead pickup imo) and very defined sounding.
the EMG 81 keeps getting labled as a heavey metal pickup.
this pickup has outstanding features for lead guitar!
i got a 81b/89n combo in an alder kelly and im very very happy with it. the 81 has a soaring cut-thru-the-mix lead tone with excellent crunch for rhythm playing and the 89 just sounds plain huge. both are extremly articulate (good trate in a lead pickup imo) and very defined sounding.
D
DeadSkinSlayer3
Guest
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
An 89 IS an 85 and SA I thought?
An 89 IS an 85 and SA I thought?
Nate
New member
Re: EMG Neck Pickup? 81/85/60??
It's a dual-mode pickup. You can switch between the two via push/pull pot.
I haven't tried it at all. The extent of my EMG fidgeting is switching positions of my 81 and 85.
I like the 85 in both positions, actually. I won't go into specific reasons since they've pretty much been stated before. I didn't like the 81 in the neck all that much. I'm going with the Zakk Wylde combo for now.
Also, a 707 in most 7 strings made by ESP/Ibanez would be a bad idea? I have a set of 707's waiting for me at the store right now. Oh no, thin tone....
DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
It's a dual-mode pickup. You can switch between the two via push/pull pot.
I haven't tried it at all. The extent of my EMG fidgeting is switching positions of my 81 and 85.
I like the 85 in both positions, actually. I won't go into specific reasons since they've pretty much been stated before. I didn't like the 81 in the neck all that much. I'm going with the Zakk Wylde combo for now.
Also, a 707 in most 7 strings made by ESP/Ibanez would be a bad idea? I have a set of 707's waiting for me at the store right now. Oh no, thin tone....
