SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

[CGord]

I wanted to see how these pups sounded compared to each other, & I figured it might interest some of y'all.

SH-6 vs 81 vs 85

Guitar 1: Dean Z-X (Explorer), Duncan SH-6 Distortion bridge. Basswood body, string-through fixed bridge, maple bolt on neck, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale. Older EB strings.

Guitar 2: Schecter C1 HellRaiser, EMG 81 bridge. Mahogany body w/maple top, string-through fixed bridge, mahogany set neck, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale. Older EB strings.

Guitar 3: Ibanez RG410, EMG 85 bridge. Basswood body, licensed Floyd Rose bridge, bolt on maple neck, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale. Newer EB strings.

Line 6 GuitarPort, boosted Uberschall/4x12 V30 cab model, PC.

Keep in mind this is intended to compare pickups, not a critique of the overall tone I used. These were not post-EQ'd for tone, I just plugged in & flogged away.

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Guitar 1 and 2 sounded real fat, guitar 3 is a bit weak.

You always used the same settings? Some clear differences, amazing.

Awesome riffage!!

 

[bigheadood]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Hard to beat the hellraiser for heavy riffing.
But the Dean comes close.

Ibanez was weak. More mids, less edge--It would be pretty good too.

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

That's odd because my 85 in my basswood schecter pwns anything with an 81. 81's just sound too harsh usually. Odd. I like passives more with my 5150 though.

 

[edsmith]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Guitar 1 and 2 sounded good, 1 being my choice of the bunch. I didn't care for 3 too much. I would have like to hear the lead tones.

 

[JustWendell]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

While all these pickups seem great for your style, I think I liked #1 best. Number 3 isin't quite up to par right now but after eq it too would be killer. Loved that fast bit at the end of 3:headbang:

 

[rashayritto]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

oddly i like the sh-6 the best! i have what is practically the active version (livewire metal) and i never thought i'd hear a passive that sounds as metal.

i want one now

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

#1 kills Bro!
The first riffage was amazing too.!
#2 sounds alot like Mr.Wylde...Was more clear ,and more agressive..but not better
#3 is actually an example for "active PUs are "not" same in every guitar"...
The RG didn't accept it well as i can hear.......

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Flog's'hot!!!
Get something else for the Ibby....but man...soooo wiiiicked

 

[CGord]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Guitar 1 and 2 sounded real fat, guitar 3 is a bit weak.

You always used the same settings? Some clear differences, amazing.

Awesome riffage!!

Thanks! Yes, there are no differences at all in settings, the only difference is the three guitars.

While all these pickups seem great for your style, I think I liked #1 best. Number 3 isin't quite up to par right now but after eq it too would be killer. Loved that fast bit at the end of 3:headbang:

EQ is coming. This is a tone I record with, but it's not the tone I upload; I eq everything, usually adding mids & cutting a bit of bass.

Guitar 1 and 2 sounded good, 1 being my choice of the bunch. I didn't care for 3 too much. I would have like to hear the lead tones.

Trust me, you wouldn't to hear the lead tones with me playing. Well, I might do a test with me torturing all three....

oddly i like the sh-6 the best! i have what is practically the active version (livewire metal) and i never thought i'd hear a passive that sounds as metal.

i want one now

Dude, I want to try other passives in my other guitars, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up wasting my money. I may as well be done with it & buy more SH-6's.

#1 kills Bro!
The first riffage was amazing too.!
#2 sounds alot like Mr.Wylde...Was more clear ,and more agressive..but not better
#3 is actually an example for "active PUs are "not" same in every guitar"...
The RG didn't accept it well as i can hear.......

Man, I just had the 85 installed! I AM NOT GIVING IT UP!!!

You just wait, I'll convince you yet! (goes off to record & eq a proper 85 clip)

 

[emilio]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

i don't know, the 85 sounds scooped. i like the distortion the best btw.

 

[edsmith]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

i don't know, the 85 sounds scooped. i like the distortion the best btw.

It is scooped. It's real heavy in the bottom and thin and fizzy in the top. The 81 is a whole different animal though. I hear a lot of mids in the 81. It might even be one of the most balanced sounding pickups to my ears. My opinion is 81 good, 85 bad.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

I thought the 85 was supposed to be warmer than the 81. It's more likely Schecter=good, Ibanez=bad.

 

[edsmith]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

I thought the 85 was supposed to be warmer than the 81. It's more likely Schecter=good, Ibanez=bad.

It's SUPPOSED to be. It could just be a personal preference to me. I dislike the sound of the 85 but love the 81. I would take your statement a step further and say Schecter=bad, Ibanez=bad. That probably won't go over real well with some folks though, but that's just my individual position on the matter.

One thing the clips did was impress me with the sound of the Duncan Distortion. I wish I had a Floyd Rose guitar to put one of those in!

 

[CGord]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

The best thing about the Distortion is that it's in a $199 MIK Dean.

 

[donahue]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

The best thing about the Distortion is that it's in a $199 MIK Dean.

Effin right. I have a DD in a cheap guitar and I think it sounds awesome. Thanks for posting those clips, cause that comparison is something I've wanted to hear for a while.

 

[CGord]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

**** straight! I love cheap gear. I should do another one & include my unmodified $99 Squier '51!

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Link doesn't work anymore

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

Link doesn't work anymore

:werd:

link doesn't work anymore

 

[metal]

Re: SH-6 Distortion vs EMG 81 vs EMG 85 test clip

what program do you use to record dude? regular pc speakers? i have a guitarport and when i record it sounds delayed or something!