EMG neck pickups

[alex1fly]

I've had an 81 in the bridge of an axe for about 6 months, love it, want to add a neck pickup to it. Looking at splittable versions mostly - 66, 81, 89. Also open to the 60, I know its a classic pairing with the 81, but its not splittable.

The guitar a PRS SE Custom and is primarily a recording guitar for my home studio. The 81 brings a clarity and an ease to recording everything from high gain metalcore to clean pop. Looking for its equivalent in the neck position.

Anyone have success stories to share for EMGs in the neck position? Preferably not just for high gain leads, but I'll welcome any input



Caveats: I'm likely not buying an old pickup or doing voltage mods, and I don't mind the "sterility" of the unmodded 81 as it saves me steps in my DAW.

 

[jeremy]

89 is a fine neck pup. basically an 85 and sa, some like the 85 in the neck, some dont. the 60 is a great neck pup, but as you said, not splitable. sounds great, clean or dirty though. i dont have much experience with the 66 so cant comment on that

 

[Juanhanglo]

66 is a great neck pickup. I like it the best out of what I've played and heard. The tw version offers a great emg single coil sound as well, but is seriously thick compared to normal humbuckers.

aside from the retroactive series, which are passive humbuckers with an active onboard preamp, the 66 is the most passive sounding. I would say half way between passives and actives.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

My favorite is the 60 and then the 66.

The 60 is not coil splittable, but it's almost sincle-coil-y, IMO. Very bright and spanky. I love that pickup.

 

[El Dunco]

The 89 split to SA mode is a gorgeous clean. Similar timbre to a strat neck with less twang and more jazzy. It can be as hi-fi or spanky as you want and then the 85 is great for neck leads (woody, not too notched) so it’s perfect for me.

I run mine at 18-24 volts for extra headroom if that’s of any importance. I feel it’s the “right” way to run them because I love how they sound at higher voltage and hate the internal clipping at just 9v.

 

[donaldr]

I have a 60 in the bridge and I agree with Rex_Rocker about its "single-coily" sound.
I also have a set of Retroactive Fat 55 and I like them A LOT. I know nothing about PAF, but I would say it's in that direction but with a bit more juice under the hood. Not splittable but I don't need it.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I personally like the 89 better than the 85 in humbucker mode.

None of the coil-splittable EMG's I've tried sound the same as their humbucker only countarparts. The 81TW is fatter and lower output than the 81. The 89 is tighter, leaner, and clearer than the 85.

 

[skelt101]

I personally like the 89 better than the 85 in humbucker mode.

None of the coil-splittable EMG's I've tried sound the same as their humbucker only countarparts. The 81TW is fatter and lower output than the 81. The 89 is tighter, leaner, and clearer than the 85.

Does that mean you find the 89 to be somewhere in between the 85 and the 60, Rex?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Does that mean you find the 89 to be somewhere in between the 85 and the 60, Rex?

Well yeah. Sorta.

Closer to 85, though.

 

[alex1fly]

Thanks all. I’m leaning toward the 89. Iconic sound and all that. Do y’all think I should get the reverse model? The guitar is a 24 fretter.

 

[PFDarkside]

There IS a splittable 60. (60TW) it’s currently ESP/LTD only, so you have to find on that was pulled from a guitar. They show up on reverb from time to time. Rob Turner implied that there is an exclusivity time for ESP, then it may be released to the market.

 

[Teleplayer]

If you putting it in a 24 Fret guitar, the 89R is a more logical choice than the regular version.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yep, 89R in the neck regardless if it's a 22 or 24 fret guitar.

 

[alex1fly]

Thanks all. 89r it is.