Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

[Rex_Rocker]

You know, hot, chunky, smooth, relatively tight but not overly so. Somewhat controlled low-end, big juicy low mids, relaxed upper mids with a hint of sizzle up top. Slightly compressed, liquid-y, mid-focused without being nasal, smooth pick attack. Is there anything like this in the passive realm? Like, perhaps a blade humbucker with A5 magnet?

Curious to know what you guys think gets close.

 

[dave74]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Bump for a good question. Maybe someone here has compared these straight-up through the same gear.

D'activator-X and Invader are in that realm, but both are ceramics. Alnico Warpig is in that EQ range also so maybe it would be closer.
I'm not sure how the Wilde USA alnico5 rails (l500xl) would compare either.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Good question as i have a 85 in the bridge on my one off Washburn USA MG 122 proto with the H60A in the neck. Maybe the Dimarzio Gravity Storm / Liquifire set up I just put in my Carvin DC 600 will do an ab and get back to you. That set up or the Alt 8 Sentient set up in my KOA DC 127 Carvin should be pretty close. The 85 is an Alnico 5 mag pickup BTW so is going to be rounder bigger and smoother than most ceramic mag pickups.

 

[Aliascent]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

You know, hot, chunky, smooth, relatively tight but not overly so. Somewhat controlled low-end, big juicy low mids, relaxed upper mids with a hint of sizzle up top. Slightly compressed, liquid-y, mid-focused without being nasal, smooth pick attack. Is there anything like this in the passive realm? Like, perhaps a blade humbucker with A5 magnet?

Curious to know what you guys think gets close.

That sounds like a sh5 to me. The fluid pick attack and liquid parts are up for debate though.

DiMarzio Crunchlab could fit too, that's how I'd describe mine.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Thanks for the replies, dudes!

Personally, I'd say the SH-5 is like the polar opposite, lol. TONS of treble and bass with some high-mid bite, but scooped lower mids. Lots of attack and snarl too.

The Crunch Lab... maybe. It's been ages since I had one, but yeah, I do remember it being low-mid emphatic. A bit more bassy than the 85, though, but then again, all passives tend to have more lows and highs than the average EMG active.

The Gravity Storm looks interesting, but I have not had good experiences with the Virtual Vintage thing with high output pickups. Haven't really liked the Dominion, Crunch Lab, or AT-1, TBH. I suspect it's not really all that hot either, but I must admit, it does seem interesting.

The alnico Warpig... man, that could be interesting!

 

[Ascension]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Crunch Lab is way off much harsher and thinner. The Gravity Storm is closer a little brighter and more open sounding to my ear but has some of that same vibe.
Dropped a Gravity Storm in a Carvin last night to replace a Crunch lab in fact!
The Gravity Storm I dropped in last night is pretty much giving me tones that are spot on this demo.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Suhr SSH+

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Thanks for the replies!

I have been very interested in the Suhr SSH+ for a while, but in the clips, it sounds more like a bright and open-sounding pickup rather than chunky and smooth. Am I wrong?

The Gravity Storm sounds cool in that clip. I'll look more into it.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Thanks for the replies!

I have been very interested in the Suhr SSH+ for a while, but in the clips, it sounds more like a bright and open-sounding pickup rather than chunky and smooth. Am I wrong?

The Gravity Storm sounds cool in that clip. I'll look more into it.

Probably the closest I have tone wise to my 85.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

To me the SSH+ is very smooth, which may be its weakness in some way. I think the EMG may have more bite and harmonics. I expect the SSH+ will reveal the character of the guitar, so there's a variable as always.
I also tried the Dimarzio Transition expecting it to be like a EMG 85. The Transition gives more bite and crunchy ceramic-like pick response.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Smoothest bridge pickup I have is invader but turns to mush below drop D

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

I was going to suggest the Invader, too, at least out of the Duncan lineup. Big, fat mids, with hint of sizzle.

The Dimarzio Tone Zone might also answer to that description.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

I would say Dimarzio tonezone was closest. Isn't the EMG H4a their passive version of it?

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Air Zone is closer, no cocked wah mids like the TZ.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Your description sounds to me like a PATB-1, but I have literally no experience with EMG's.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: Which passive pickup resembles the EMG 85 in the bridge?

Air Zone is closer, no cocked wah mids like the TZ.

Your right. I was thinking that after I posted, but didn't have time to correct myself.