EMG 81

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone G310
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde (god), Metallica, Slayer, RATM (?)
You musical style(s): Metal, blues, classic rock, everything
Reason for pickup change: stock pickups sucked

Perceived output level: Easily the nhottest pickup ive ever heard (except maybe the Duncan Livewire)
Tone: Pretty balanced but a bit cold w/ high gain. Im not a big fan of its clean tone though.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using this into a boss metal zone and the sound is amazing which then goes into a marshall vs100 combo w/ various other effects in between. It definatly works for me.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal, Blues, etc. exceptionally suited to these styles, i however havnt tried it in the neck position but kirk hammet does so its probobly cool.

Comments: Easily the core of my tone and ive grown used to it so it would definatly be replaced if something hapened to it. But then again i wouldnt have bought it ive the Seymour Duncan Livewire wasnt sold out (only because i knew what that sounded like) but thank god it was sold out because i love this p.u. ann id be up the creek w/o it.

Pickup features: humbucker/active
Impedence or other specs: huh?

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG470
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: bridge, infinity/made by Ibanez
Other pickups on guitar: Infi
Artists using this pickup: briefly: King/Hanneman- SLAYER, Peter- VADER, Chuck- DEATH, oh yeah, and a couple other sellouts mentioned above.
You musical style(s): just fuckn' said, I think you can tell
Reason for pickup change: The Ibanez infi's are just to weak for what I play and expect from my sound. EMG's are simply active as shit to throw out extreme output and produce the sharp edge presision and crunch for every aspect in metal.

Perceived output level: Bright and heavy if intended
Tone: has more of a bass and treble boost
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez RG470 and Peavy 5150 half stack.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I live metal. This pickup is the soul of my distortion.

Comments: I would buy this again. I have been honored to play guitar for over eight years. I own numorous amounts of gear and I need not list them. The EMG81 extends the character of your sound. That is all. Spread metal, not rumors!- BRUTAL REGARDS...

Pickup features: Active Pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jap Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan Hot Rails
Other pickups on guitar: Cheap-ass single coils
Artists using this pickup: Over-paid endorsers
You musical style(s): bedroom rock
Reason for pickup change: I thought it would give me more output and a heavier sound.....WRONG!

Perceived output level: Less output than the hot rails
Tone: sharp, scratchy
Sonic evaluation: Jap Strat through a Johnson Millenium. Don't play this pickup through a Johnson or any other Tube wannabe amps.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Classic Rock, Metal

Comments: If it were stolen it would probably be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I would have better luck with an all tube amp, but it doesn't work through my johnson. I use my g & l with a schaller golden 50's and it sounds very thick and creamy. The hot rails didn't sound bad, but I was just looking for more output. What I got was a very thin sound, no balls. I thought my guitar had been neutered

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 25k

Model of guitar or bass: 90's Fender Mexican Squier :-(
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Entire Electronics and Pickguard
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SA (middle), 85 (neck)
Artists using this pickup: a bunch
You musical style(s): hmmmmmmmmmmmm???
Reason for pickup change: I bought this guitar for $200 inorder to experiment. When I decided to try EMG, I figured I might as well go for the whole kit and caboodle.

Perceived output level: Simply more gain and volume than any other pickup. I might try hooking in another 9v for 18v all in all. Just have to do a little more routing.
Tone: I would definitely say that EMGs have their own tone - unlike any other. The mid-range boost really gives it some character. The 81 is very even, but on the higher end of the frequency spectrum. I have to add more bass when using it, however I have to
Sonic evaluation: I have a Fender Blues Jr. which I like to use alot, simply because it is simpler to use, evaluate, and compare devices on. And I don't care if I blow the thing up trying something, either. My other amp is a 1970 100 watt lead head sitting on a 4x10, 540 watt Eden cab. My list of pedals consists of an MXR distortion, Big Muff distortion, Boss overdrive, Vox wah-wah, ancient Morley volume, 1974 MXR Phaser, Danelectro analog echo, old Electro-Harmonix envelope filter, and newer Uni-vibe w/ foot controller. My other guitars are a '91 Strat, a '94 Lucille, a G+L Legacy Special, and a to be assembled Tele ash body with gold hardware and probably Lindy Fralin pickups. I'm really running out of room!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: From rockabilly to classical. I love Hendrix, old Genisis, Yes, ELP, and Pink Floyd. The 81 seems better suited to the Metal, Studio, and more technical, less bluesy material.

Comments: I think this pickup is O.K. It's tone doesn't really grab me and pull me in like my other guitars do. I like the 85 in the neck, but when in humbucker mode, it over powers the SA s.c. as does the 81. What I would really like to do is put an 81 and an 85 in either a Les Paul or a Korina flying V with the mid-range boost and treble boost. The mid-range cut is pretty useless. The single coils have more character and punch as well as more tonal range. Well, if they were stolen or whatever, I would not buy them again. The advantages of more power and the cleanest signal around do not outweigh the lack of warmth and the sterile feel of these pickups. If you must have active pickups, then go for EMG. If you want great tone, go for passive.

Pickup features: humbucka
Impedence or other specs: activo

Model of guitar or bass: strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: has that sheety metal sound. not shity, just sheety
Tone: no bass. I'll take my duncan for a better overall sound
Sonic evaluation: i use a carvin sx200, which is a killer amp for being solid state. It actually does have a warm sound, only with my epiphone lp ,or the strat turned down too much.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play white trash rock/punk. this pickup isn't that good for that stuff. I'll replace it with a duncan most likely.

Comments:

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dont know th technical stuff

Model of guitar or bass: custom warmoth soloist
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: put in when guitar arrived from warmoth
Other pickups on guitar: none just the bridge
Artists using this pickup: every one thats serious about metal
You musical style(s): all metal 80's
Reason for pickup change: like i said no chabge just wanted the best in the best. by the way warmoth makes awsome guitars if anybody is enterested.

Perceived output level: i love this pickup, like everyone else says though, it is a ittle trebly. the harmonics that you can get from this thing is killer. emg says its hot so i guess its hot i dont care how it works ijust know it is an awsome product from an awsome company.
Tone: little on the trbly side and i mostly play rythm so i will probably be putting an 85 in my esp.
Sonic evaluation: right now just a crat excaliber half stack, the only effects i have is my little pandoras box, but you can not tell that the awsome sound is comming from that little box.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play metal and that seems to be the norm for this pickup. i dont play anythingelse so i would not know if it is good for other styles or not metal most definately

Comments: i have only been playing for about 5 years off and on and owned more guitars than i should have. none of my other guitars had emg's in them but now i know what was missing about them. i have an esp from the custom shop $2600.00 and its about to get an 85 in the bridge and an sa in the neck. if your looking for a pickup look no further emg is the only way to go "EMG get active in your playing" pun intended ha ha ha

Pickup features: Humbucking... Very Active
Impedence or other specs: Yes, the EMG 81 contains these...

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone LP 100
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickup coil tapped by me
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Metallica and various other good bands
You musical style(s): Everything
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup sounded weak, and got on my nerves...

Perceived output level: hot when you want it to be, quiet when you don't
Tone: a little more trebly than the 85, but a good pickup for the bridge
Sonic evaluation: My Epiphone LP 100 through a 1970 fender princeton reverb, using a DS1 or a Big Muff when i want distortion.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play everything, this pickup is very suitable for metal, or even hard rock... it could be used for any style though, maybe not good for folk music or stuff like that...

Comments: If stolen or destroyed, i would definately get a new one, perhaps a different guitar thou... I have been playing for 3 years... i am very satisfied with this pickup so far, and have found "that" sound that i have been looking for... could have been a little less expensive, but hey, pickups are expensive, face the facts... over all, this is a really good pickup...

Pickup features: Humbucking Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Iceman
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez junk
Other pickups on guitar: just 2 81's
Artists using this pickup: Slayer, Metallica, testament, Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Metal, blues, classical,
Reason for pickup change: The other pickups had a dull tone,no output

Perceived output level: More output than any pickup I've played on
Tone: with my rig (Rivera Knucklehead Half stack) I have lows that shake the walls and highs that scream. More of a brighter pickup
Sonic evaluation: Like I said I have a 100watt Knucklehead thru a Marshall 4x12. The guy with the little Fender said this pickup had no low end. I don't
know but i know when I pall mute a low e, I can feel it in my chest.
That's the bottomline.
Probably the best distortion pickup out there. i can get an awesome clean sound by turning my volume all the way down. and that's on my heavy metal channel of my Rivera. Using the 81 in the neck I can get
as good of clean sounds as I'll ever want.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play everything but country. My band plays metal. Great for everything in my opionion. I use one in the brige for distortion. One in the neck for clean or pretty leads. I love it

Comments: YOu have to change a battery once a year. Cry Cry. Cry. I'm getting ready to order more 81's for my other guitars. Others say that the gibson t-500 has a livelier sound. But you can't beat how quiet and how much output this pickup has.

Pickup features: Active Humbucking Pickup
Impedence or other specs: 25k impedance

Model of guitar or bass: Cheap-o-Squier Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG 85
Other pickups on guitar: EMG singles
Artists using this pickup: Metallica, Zakk Wilde, Kerry King....you get the picture.
You musical style(s): Metal and Blues
Reason for pickup change: Liked the EMG 85 but wanted a higher output pickup.

Perceived output level: More than an 85
Tone: no bass or mids mostly highs
Sonic evaluation: I use a Strat and a Randall Halfstack and a Metal Zone. And to be honest I do see what all the fuss is about. I know lots of awesome guitarists use it but with the lack of bass it kinda sucked. I think I might be better if I had the EMG pre-amp that boosts the bass and treble, but then again there is already a lot of treble on this pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal and Blues

Comments: Well I'm going to sell this pickup I believe. I got a better sound with the 85. I'm just going to buy the pre-amp that has the boost on it. Then I believe I will have the tone I'm looking for. Maybe it's just hooked up wrong but maybe I just don't like the sound I get. Well out with the 81 and in with the 85 again.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Low impedance, hi output

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Kelly
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Jackson J50 and something else... ceramic...
Other pickups on guitar: 81's
Artists using this pickup: Kirk and James of Metallica
You musical style(s): Metal, Hard Rock, Blues, some R&B, NO COUNTRY
Reason for pickup change: The Jackson pickups had sucky sustain and I wanted to create the '5 minute' harmonic sustains that Kirk does sometimes... I also needed to hear the notes I played...

Perceived output level: Crazy Hot - you can still hear it when the amp's volume is on 0!
Tone: Totally Trebly, not much bass at all, come to think of it...
Sonic evaluation: Using a Fender Princeton 112, I find the clean sound very pleasing, the notes are distinct and fast phrases are clear. Overdriving my amp (using the amp's distortion) gives a great hard-rock sound. Also, slamming on the trem gives MUCH better results than with the old Jackson pickups. And surprisingly, when I play a note, i hear it. And when I don't play any, it's silent as ... something with no mouth...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great match for metal... Great clean sound for Rock or Blues, not too suitable for soft songs...

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen, I'd buy them again because of the GREAT deal i get from Sam Ash. I'm about to get a Metal Zone cuz i'm tired of acting like I'm playing rhythm with my DOD Grunge pedal. I love EVERYTHING about this little bugger and well, there's not much to hate. EMG Pickups rule and I'm gonna endorse them when I get famous (if??). I am totally satisfied with the 81, though i'll be testing out an 85 soon...