Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

wildstar

wildstar

New member
In my never-ending effort to eliminate/minimize RFI noise in my home studio I plan try out a pair of EMG pickups. I have zero experience with them. Can you guys help me out?

My favorite passive pickups, in order, for my main guitar are:

Bridge: JB/Custom 5 hybrid, Custom/Distortion hybrid, A2P, CC

Neck: Alnico 2 Jazz/59 hybrid, A2P, Alnico 5 Jazz/59 hybrid

Which EMGs do you think I might like? Not an exact science, I know. But some opinions from EMG users might help me get in the ballpark with the sound I like.

Cheers
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

It seems to me you like a clean and warm neck sound and a high output bridge tone with good mids.

I'd recommend the 85 in the bridge and a 60a in the neck, with the possibility of a SPC control.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

I've tried 89 and 81. I really like the 89, it has a warmer humbucker tone that resembles the 85 and it has a real (instead of a coil split or such) SA single in it too. I don't know how they do it but it's nice. I'd get a pair of them.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

The 85 is definatley my favorite. The 81 is more compressed and tighter, wheras the 85 has a much more open fullness to it. I can get a wide variety of really good tones with it, both classic and modern.

The 60 is a top notch neck pickup, and i hear the 60a is even better, but I haven't tried one out yet.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

You can play all day on the 85 bridge. Big, open, chimy. The 81 can get more shnazzle- only really shines going into something dark, rough and high gain.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

I like the 81/60 combo. Maximum crunch and sizzle with the 81 and smooth
thick and clear tone from the 60. My favorite combo especially when wired
at 18v instead of 9v.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

They only make 4 different 'buckers.... try 'em all! :D

85/60 sounds like a pretty good jumping off point for you, though.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

the only EMG combo to use is the 81b/60n ;) Its a great combo, but get ready for a HUGE change in sound, and i hope you like metal!
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

Benjy_26 said:
It seems to me you like a clean and warm neck sound and a high output bridge tone with good mids.

I'd recommend the 85 in the bridge and a 60a in the neck, with the possibility of a SPC control.
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:bigthumb:

I´d also wire them for 18 volts for maximum headroom and a slightly more open tone ;)
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

Zerberus said:
:bigthumb:

I´d also wire them for 18 volts for maximum headroom and a slightly more open tone ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks everybody! This is so helpful. Based on what everyone's posted, I'm thinking an 85 bridge and a 60 or 60a neck. The 81 bridge kind of scares me! Any other opinions?

Zerberus: is 18 volt operation a user mod or a "factory approved" alternate wiring scheme?

You guys rock. Cheers

:beerchug:
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

The 18v "mod" simply requires wiring two battery clips in series (attach a red end to a black end, then install as if it's only one clip). EMG states that it's safe to run them anywhere between 9v & 27v.

An alternative 18v setup would be to wire them in parallel (attach the black ends together, and the red ends together) then install as normal. This would have no tonal change, but it would extend the battery life, which before anyone gripes about it, is approx 1500 hours with two pickups (off a single 9v), so it's not really in need of extension :)
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

Just to clarify, two 9v batteries in parallel yields 9v with twice the life. In series yields 18v and the same life as one battery.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

85 is such a boring pickup for bridge don't do it! 81 can do hard rock good too i was just messin with you :D 81 is a GREAT pickup
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

Can anyone compare/contrast the 85 and 60a in the neck position? All others things being equal, is one smoother, warmer, or fatter than the other? is one more chimey, clearer, articulate?

My benchmarks for neck pickups are an A2P for smooth, warm, and fat, and a 59 for chimey and articulate. I'm thinking that the 85 might play the role of an A2P, and the 60/60a the role of the '59? Or do I have it backwards?

And I know that the EMGs do not sound like Duncans! I've trying to make an SAT-style analogy: as the neck A2P is to the neck '59, the neck 85 is to the neck 60/60a. Something like that, you know?

I'll be buying a pair of EMGs on Monday, so I won't drag this decision out endlessly.

Stangme01: :biglaugh: I would try the 81 next, if the 85 doesn't work for me.

thanks everyone!
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

wildstar said:
Can anyone compare/contrast the 85 and 60a in the neck position? All others things being equal, is one smoother, warmer, or fatter than the other? is one more chimey, clearer, articulate?

My benchmarks for neck pickups are an A2P for smooth, warm, and fat, and a 59 for chimey and articulate. I'm thinking that the 85 might play the role of an A2P, and the 60/60a the role of the '59? Or do I have it backwards?
Click to expand...
I think you've got it right with your analogies. The 60 is very articulate in the neck, the 85 does some really good blues tones in the neck. Buddy guy used to use a Guild bluesbird with two 85's, so I think they've got the blues stamp of approval!
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

wildstar said:
Can anyone compare/contrast the 85 and 60a in the neck position? All others things being equal, is one smoother, warmer, or fatter than the other? is one more chimey, clearer, articulate?
Click to expand...

The 85 is a very fat sounding neck humbucker. Chords are very full bodied and bottom heavy. Legatto lead lines blur together in a very pleasing way.

The 60 is a very clear sounding humbucker (I've only used the ceramic version). A little less full sounding but much more articulate than the 85. Very focused on the midrange.

My benchmarks for neck pickups are an A2P for smooth, warm, and fat, and a 59 for chimey and articulate. I'm thinking that the 85 might play the role of an A2P, and the 60/60a the role of the '59? Or do I have it backwards?
Click to expand...

The 85 would be closer to the sound of both the A2P and 59. The 60 is in it's own world....it doesn't sound like any other humbucker I've ever heard.

Stangme01: :biglaugh: I would try the 81 next, if the 85 doesn't work for me.

thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

I prefer the 81 in the bridge.....it's tighter, more focused, and has a more percussive attack to it. HOWEVER, it's not very classic sounding as it is all midrange and treble with almost no bottom end....this makes it cut through and maintain definition under high gain, but it sounds super bright/thin with less gain.

The 85 is again very fat sounding. It has a more classic humbucker vibe. I don't find it nearly as articulate in the bridge as the 81, but it works better with lower gain sounds.

With the sounds you're after I think you'd be happy with either an 85/85 or 85/60a setup.....or, if you like the idea of dual 85s and you want more tonal options go for an 89/89 setup.
 
Re: Moving to EMGs: recommendations?

The 85 is not even close to as nice as the 60, i bet the alnico 60 is very nice too. 81 is not thin and lacking bass unless your amp is lacking bass. In my rig the 81 is very chunky and hits hard but i can dial in some pretty good bass with my mxr 10 band. Personally i just don't like the 85 nearly as much as other EMGs. They are decent pickups but just boring in the neck compared to the 60 and boring in the bridge compared to the 81.
 
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