EMG85: passive equivalent?

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

Just found this description and specs list of each HZ series pickup online from Dave Hunter's book "The Guitar Pickup Handbook: The Start Of Your Sound."

One could infer based on its description of the H4 as being the passive equivalent to the 81, that the H4A therefore is the passive equivalent of the 85... But it doesn't explicitly state that. Nor does it that the H3 is the equivalent of a 60, but the specs and description do seem to back up that theory.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

The EMG 85 is not just an 81 with an alnico magnet, AFAIK. They're pretty much polar opposites in the active EMG catalog. The 81 is the tightest with an intense upper-mid focus and a strong attack, and the 85 is by far the fattest, with the most low-end, slightly scooped high-mids, and a squishy attack compared to the rest of the EMG line. The 81 has the ceramic/steel magnet structure, while the 85 is plain alnico. The only EMG with the alnico/steel structure is actually the oddball 58.

However, some guitar makers do use the H4/H4A combo in some of their guitars, so I guess someone does consider the H4A to be close to the 85.

Take that as a grain of salt. Based on my experience, I don't think the H4 is spot-on just like the 81 to start with. The H4 is kinda dull, muddy, and weak compared to the 81. I think that's pretty much the reason the HZ line isn't all that popular.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: EMG85: passive equivalent?

The EMG 85 is not just an 81 with an alnico magnet, AFAIK. They're pretty much polar opposites in the active EMG catalog. The 81 is the tightest with an intense upper-mid focus and a strong attack, and the 85 is by far the fattest, with the most low-end, slightly scooped high-mids, and a squishy attack compared to the rest of the EMG line. The 81 has the ceramic/steel magnet structure, while the 85 is plain alnico. The only EMG with the alnico/steel structure is actually the oddball 58.

However, some guitar makers do use the H4/H4A combo in some of their guitars, so I guess someone does consider the H4A to be close to the 85.

Take that as a grain of salt. Based on my experience, I don't think the H4 is spot-on just like the 81 to start with. The H4 is kinda dull, muddy, and weak compared to the 81. I think that's pretty much the reason the HZ line isn't all that popular.

Great info thanks.

I just reviewed the EMG site to learn about the 58 - hoping it might be 85-like - but their description says its voiced like a P90. Drats.

Earlier this morning I found a used H4A online for only $20 and pulled the trigger - so I Wil find out soon if I think an H4A is close to 85 in tone.