EMG 81-7

Active humbucking pickup for 7 string guitar. Not quite sure about impedance but I know they use 25Kohm pots as opposed to the 250K or 500K pots used by most passive pickups. These have an extended bass-type encasement so they cannot be used as a replacement for standard stock open-coil pickups like EMG 6 string models.

I used this pickup in the bridge position of my Schecter Damien 7 as a replacement for the stock EMG HZ passive pickups that come with the guitar. I did this because the HZ pickups are complete crap: really bad sustain(notes cut short sometimes), and no dynamics like you'd expect from a passive pickup..just really dry and lifeless. Also the only pickups I could put in the guitar would've needed to be EMG since the cuts were made to fit the extended pickup encasements and the 81-7's are the same size as the HZ.
I've also tried it in the neck position but I think the tone of the 707 is much better for that. Artists that use this pick up? I think the guy from the Deftones does and also Devin Townsend from Strapping Young Lad although he plays a 7 string baritone so I could be wrong.

The output on the 81-7 is the highest EMG makes. Sound is really powerful. Like I said I use it with my Schecter Damien 7 into my B-52 AT-100 Head with a B-52 400watt 4x12 cab. I've got a Korg rack tuner, Boss noise suppressor and a BBE Sonic Stomp in front of the amp and a TC Electronic effects rack in the loop. The signal does remain fairly strong going through everything but I still like my sonic stomp for a bit more clarity.
The pickup tone is mostly in the highs and upper midrange which keeps the lows very tight. This is a plus for a 7 string for clarity on that low B. I play progressive, black, death metal and heavy rock mostly and most of these styles are what this pickup was created for. It's great for tight, chunky rhythm as well as solos that are clear and will cut through the mix. Better for high gain than clean in my opinion because its not what I would call a warm pickup. And like I said earlier it does sound much better in the bridge position.

If mine were destroyed I'd be pissed because they are expensive and kind of hard to find. Another review cited Guitarpartsdepot.com which is where I got mine as well though they had to be special ordered from EMG which took a while.
I've been playing for about 13 years and I've owned and played various different kinds of guitars including Strats, LP's, Ibanez, Etc... I've come to really like Schecters because they make really good looking and great sounding guitars for very reasonable prices. Like I said I have my Damien 7 with the 81-7(br), 707(nk) set up. And I just recently picked upa Schecter 007 Elite which has Duncan Designed JB in the bridge with coil tapping and a single coil at the neck.
The 81-7 overall is a great pickup for the metal player and I love how it seems to boost the single string notes like in solos and licks. However it does have its drawbacks in that it is very lacking in dynamics: you can only push it so much before its compression sets in which means it can sound kind of dead if you're really trying to play hard. Fans of hot passive picks may not like this. I also don't like the fact that when switching between bridge and neck with EMG actives there is a very noticable difference in volume, the neck being much louder. I would've like more balance in this respect.
But all in all I've been very satisfied with this pickup after using it for more than a year. Though I wouldn't say its the absolute best pickup ever, it is very close.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: hot

Model of guitar or bass: ESP H-307
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG HZ's
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 707
Artists using this pickup: Fear Factory
You musical style(s): Death Metal (fear factory and new chimaira style)
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups sounded crap and had no personality

Perceived output level: Hottest pickup i have ever heard
Tone: Its got the chunk that we all love, Its trebly aswell but in a good way. Listen to the new fear factory cd and you'll get an idea
Sonic evaluation: ESP H-307 on a Peavey 5150 amp with 2 4X12 Diezel cabs . Best pickup money can buy . I have this pickup in my Ibanez RG1077Xl guitar,i cant get over how good these sound :)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Death Metal and anything that requires clarity and articulation.

Comments: i bought these from www.guitarpartsdepot.com . There the only you can get them from . It took me a while to find these pickups and i thought it would be good if i made it easier for all you guys to find them. Here is the exact link to the site: http://guitarpartsdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?LNG=en-US&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EMG-81-7&Category_Code=

Pickup features: Active humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 10 kohm output impedance / -90 dbv noise /

Model of guitar or bass: JACKSON DR7T
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan designed 7 string A well balanced JB sounding pickup
Other pickups on guitar: none covered neck pu hole with white pickguard on gloss black
Artists using this pickup: STEPHEN CARPENTER of the DEFTONES
You musical style(s): metal techno rythum thrash lead bard metal heavy classical
Reason for pickup change: Getting better sound from a stock guitar.Custom modded jackson DR7T carved for access and refinished routed for EMG 1-1/2"x3-1/2"x0.75(3/4") deep. Get this pickup as close to the strings as possible! no string pull like crap designs

Perceived output level: There is not a higher output pickup for 7sevenstring period.
Tone: An EMG 81 for 7sevenstring has finaly arrived!!!!!!! scooped mids
Sonic evaluation: solidstate LINE6POD PRO
Soldano, mesa, Randall warhead. ULTRA high gain heads with 4x12 cabs will sound awesome.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy lead soloing and thrash speed etc etc. industrial techno real metal.

Comments: If it was no longer in my possession I would buy it again and get my old stuff back too ,I would search until I found it. This is the one we've all been waiting for and it is finally here! YESS!!!!!!!

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Hot as hell

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG1077XL
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Custom 7
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Custom 7
Artists using this pickup: Fear Factory
You musical style(s): Death metal and all heavy shit
Reason for pickup change: Stock sounded muddy and lifeless

Perceived output level: Hotter then you mums ass, Kicks all other 7 string pickups
Tone: Very bright,but in a good way,still some bass in there
Sonic evaluation: Im using a Diezel herbet with 2 4x12 Speakers and an Ibanez RG1077Xl with a few effects. This is the most BRUTAL sounding guitar ever to be heard . Sooooooo Much harmonics to be found here, Very Chunky Palm Mutes, Its amazing how crisp and clear these EMG 81'7's are. Very Good Clarity !!!!!!! . These Have less bass then the EMG 707, but sound much better in my opinion . More chunky and more clarity to be found with these baby's :o) .

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Very good for all types of metal, Especialy Fear Factory ;-)

Comments: Best Pickup EVER, Enough said. I plan on buying some more of these baby's for my other 7 strings.