Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

[Boleslaw Gers 666]

I have always been interested in this combo for my Les Paul. I have a huge Marshall amp (as you can see) and am a pretty big Zakk Wylde fan. But I play other things. I've heard EMG's are versitile. I want to make sure they won't pack all that crunch all the time. I was thinking about sticking a couple in an ebony Les Paul classic. Thanks for your help.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

The 81 pretty much needs to be distortd, it's not going to sound very good for much more than that. The 85 IMO is much better suited for the bridge than the neck because it's hotter than the 81 and a lot bassier; might be fair for cleans, but distorted it can get muddy quick in an LP. I think the 60 neck is a much better choice.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

It won't be that versatile with the 85 in the neck....I would never put that in the neck. With the 60 it will be VERY versatile.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

I would go 85b/81n (which I use in my LP Gothic), or 85b/60n...I´m not really a fan of the 81 in the bridge, not enough balls for me, but the 85 just rocks

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

I have always been interested in this combo for my Les Paul. I have a huge Marshall amp (as you can see) and am a pretty big Zakk Wylde fan. But I play other things. I've heard EMG's are versitile. I want to make sure they won't pack all that crunch all the time. I was thinking about sticking a couple in an ebony Les Paul classic. Thanks for your help.

here i come to save the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laugh2:
The emg 81/85 set is to me godlike BUT they are not as versilte as my lester loaded with the JB/jazz through my same rig
I also am a huge ZW fan as you may see from my rig and avatar! LOL!!!
and i can assure you that for a versitle set of pups that WILL DO THE ZAKK TONES and MANY others the JB/JAZZ cannot be beat.
IF you like just metal ala ZAKK,SLAYER,etc the EMG 81/85 cannot be beat
the JB is the best passive pup i ever tried it will do everything :saeek:

 

[Boleslaw Gers 666]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

I was wondering how you could get away with a higher output model in the neck. How does the 81 sound in the neck? I'm not a huge fan of the 60. How would a 81/85 combo do with the 81 in the neck?

 

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

I just switched my PUPS around today during a string change 81 bridge and 85 neck. I kind of wished I just left it alone. The 85 IS the better bridge pup for me. Oh well next set of strings 10-52 and i'll change it back to normal.

what I have noticed about the 81 is it's kind of got a tight light punch to it. Whereas the 85 has got a rounder mid heavy punch. Also the 85 to me the pinch harmonics are pulled of with ease. Of course I changed to some heavier gauge strings as well. Over all not bad I just prefer the 85 there.

Now that I tried them both in the bridge I might just trade the 81 for a 60 if someone wants to part with theirs. I may just go to the trading post.

 

[Nate]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

i've liked my 81b/85n combo in my les paul for years. while i'm making the transition from EMG's to something else, i still really dig the sound i get from these things. with a little ingenuity, you'll be able to do damn near anything with them.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Les Paul owners with EMG 81/85 combo

I bought the Zack Wylde combo for my LP Custom. I'm playing it through a Marshall DSL401 and Valvestate VS100 combos. The 85 was too bassy for the neck, 81 too thin for the bridge. I switched them around. The 85 in the bridge now gives a great low end punck and grind, whereas the 81 neck sings on solos. It has an OK clean tone in the neck, not great, but some delay and chorus fixes that. I'm trying to find a dealer that has a 60 in stock so I can try that in the neck