EMG 81

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: low impedance

Model of guitar or bass: Lotus strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock bridge humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Stock single coils with EMG PA-2 Preamps
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield
You musical style(s): Metal, (Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Slayer)
Reason for pickup change: I wanted higher output and a better tone

Perceived output level: Hot, more output than any other pickup
Tone: Very bright, mostly trebly, very clear and open sound, you can hear every sting in a chord clearly
Sonic evaluation: I am using a Lotus strat with a Digitech RP-6 guitar processor (sucks) through a Charvel and Epiphone amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal and this is a good match, although this pickup has a great clean sound, which is surprising because all of the other reviews said that the clean sound is bad. This pickup should be used in the bridge.

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen I probably would not buy it again, it's too expensive. When buying this pickup I was also considering a
Seymour Duncan Invader or a Dimarzio Evolution. This is a great pickup but it really doesn't change your sound that much. The other reviews seem to really exagerate the output and the overall differance in the sound. Also, changing the battery is a pain in the ass. I have to take off the strings, open the pickgaurd, and then very carefully change the battery. This is probably the best pickup you can get but a better amp or a distortion pedal would improve your sound more. I am going to buy a BOSS Metalzone, this will really let me take advantage of this great pickup.

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

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson PS6-T
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: J70 (Jackson)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Jeff Hanneman, Eric Peterson
You musical style(s): Thrash 'n' Burn
Reason for pickup change: Jackson Pickups are too noisy and feed back too much.

Perceived output level: So hot you don't need an amp
Tone: Crunchy mids, lots of bass, Harsh treble
Sonic evaluation: Great pickup for what I do. Jackson PS-6T and VS100 (Marshall). This pickup is really deep Crunchy and tight. Very harsh (in a good way).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Thrash. It is the best for what I play- in the vien of Megadeth, Testament and Sacred Riech. I wouldn't use It for the neck, not warm enough not clean enough

Comments: The holy grail of thrash tone. I am so satisfied. I will never use anything else.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: forgot

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Rx series
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Shitty stock pickup, Yuck!!
Other pickups on guitar: Two shitty single coils, Yuck!!
Artists using this pickup: The best in the world-Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield(METALLICA)
You musical style(s): Metal, Mainly Metallica and Megadeth
Reason for pickup change: If you heard the other ones you would think the guitar came from K-mart

Perceived output level: Kick Ass
Tone: If you play lead this is the pick-up to get, pretty good for lows, but dont try clean sounds you wont get it
Sonic evaluation: Using Crate 30W with Zoom 1010, and Crybaby Wah.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Play Metal, this is the only pickup for metal any other would be an insult to metal, best in bridge position.

Comments: This is the best you can buy and not that pricy compared to some shittier sounding fender or Dimarzio pickups, I am going to put EMG's on my Les Paul to, the pickup sounds better than those too. if anyone knows a kick ass EMG single coil good for clean sounds please E-mail me and tell me.

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 4 conductor

Model of guitar or bass: BC Rich Gunslinger
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion (stock)
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Pepper Keenan, Woody Weatherman, Eric Peterson, Robb Flynn, Max Cavelara, MORE!!!
You musical style(s): death-speed-psycho-thrash metal
Reason for pickup change: I wanted the best!

Perceived output level: Extremely hot.... more than anything made by Dimarzio
Tone: Lots of lows and highs, sucked mids
Sonic evaluation: BC Rich -> Vox Wah-> Peavey TT Supreme Head or Crate Stealth head; effects loop is: rocktek chorus->boss phasor->ART 32 band EQ
Sounds great for metal!!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Perfect for metal. Good for lead guitarists too (Does a very good "Whole Lotta Love")

Comments: Definitely buy again (I'm trying to find some to put into my other two BC Riches). Played about 9 years and am yet to find anything that even come close for a metal sound. Active though, so bring a spare battery!!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson PS-3T
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Stock
Artists using this pickup: ? (i think metallica... but who cares)
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: New sound, better highs, nicer lead sound

Perceived output level: Louder, and it cranks harmonics up.
Tone: Bassy and High
Sonic evaluation: Peavey 160 W solid state, DOD death metal distortion, morley pro wah

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal... it does suite it.

Comments: If it were stolen, I would smile. I've been trying to sell it or
trade it. Its too much hassle to change batteries the whole time,
especially if your guitar has a front cavity (under the dials) for
the pots etc. So think about your guitar's design before you buy it.
One Note : If you replace only one (of 2 or 3) pickups you must
disconnect your ground wire which means **noise**.
I'm going to replace it with a Seymour Duncan Trembucker Distortion
if its a passive :)

Pickup features: Active Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG 470 L
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Infinity
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SA
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett, Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: Needed more output, distortion, gain. Needed guitar to overdrive amp with ease.

Perceived output level: Tons of gain. Much more than enough
Tone: Lacks lows and mids. Amp tweaking gets things close. EXG mod would help.
Sonic evaluation: Using Marshall JTM 30 all valve amp through Zoom 505 then Boss Metal Zone. Tons of gain and distortion. Pickups have too much gain to play anything clean. I have to switch guitars for clean sounds

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal is primary music type. Pickups are perfect. 81 in neck position is too hot.

Comments: The EMG 81's do the job for me just fine. They SCREAM. It tkes some time to get use to the high output. Pickups are VERY quiet. Iam sold on EMG's. I will probably put them in my Fender strat and Carvin CM 140. The sonic variations that can be had are endless. I wish the pickup had more lows to it but I think a add on module would do the trick. EMG sells a lot of stuff to tailor the sound to meet your needs. Beware of placing a factory order. They screwed up my order twice. I ma still happy with the end result.

Pickup features: humbucking
Impedence or other specs: low impedence

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez rg470 (basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock infinity 2
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-85 and EMG-SA
Artists using this pickup: Most metal musicians
You musical style(s): metal
Reason for pickup change: Heard how much ass they kicked, low noise, high output, looked cool

Perceived output level: it's definetly loud, probably the loudest pickup ever made
Tone: I've been using this pickup as my main pickup for over 3 years, and compared to other pickups, I'd say it's loud, but really that's about it. I mostly hear mids coming through though espesially in the 400-700Hz area. Not as much bass as just about any oth
Sonic evaluation: I have two 4-12 cabs loaded vith Vintage-30's, a tube preamp, tube equilizer, Peavey tube amp - what does it matter what I'm using! - think for yourself!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: metal, industrial melodic metal

Comments: I've been playing more than 5.5 years. For the longest time, I thought it was the pickup of my dreams, but after awhile...I discovered passive pickups again! Like any piece of music equipment, after awhile you start hearing things you don't like. I thought The EMG81 started sounding a little too midrangey (espesially in the 500Hz area) that and it is a little sterole - though that steroleness kinda gives it more of an edgey sound. I think passive crunch harder, but the EMG81 will slam your amp harder. So the choice is yours.

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: uh, no.

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG-570
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-60 (neck)
Artists using this pickup: SLAYER! metallica, zakk wylde, etc.
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: Needed DEFINITION.. too much muddiness with high gain previously.

Perceived output level: A lot! More than any passive pickup, a little more than duncan's active livewire bucker.
Tone: very clean, even with tons o distortion.. i.e. you can hear each individual note in a chord.. sorta sterile sounding, but it's perfect for recording and rhythm.. solos are good but occasionally lack warmth.
Sonic evaluation: ibanez into metal zone into marshall JCM800..
it sounds GOOD! very high gain.. only problem is it distorts the clean sound, and turning the vol
down doesn't clean up all that well.. but the 60 in neck works wonders for that. As previously
mentioned, for solos, it really lacks the super warmth, that, say, a Duncan JB or Dimarzio PAF Pro
or Evolution have.. but it's still pretty good..

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: perfect for metal! For blues, country, it ain't very good.. it's not a versitle pickup by any means.

Comments: I might replace it again.. I have it on 2 guitars. But it sounds SO much better
when teamed with the EMG PA-2 preamp.. you get more warmth this way.. i like the pickup
though. perfect for metal.. the battery lasts about 4 months for me (powering two
EMGs with one battery), that's okay.. I love recording rhythm with this..
when It comes time to lay down the lead, though, I pull out an axe with Duncans..
just for the warmth!

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: needs a 25k volume pot to work well.....

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Kelly
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio X2N
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-85
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield, Zaak Wylde etc...
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more clarity and wanted to cut through the mix better

Perceived output level: the Dimarzio X2N was really hotter!!!!!! the EMG is nothing beside it!!
Tone: Middy, no bass at all, balanced highs
Sonic evaluation: I can grok exactly the same tone as and justice for all from Metallica....no problem with that....the crunch is really hard and midrangey. But...........
This PU sounds really thin clean....it sucks!!!
With distortion, it really sucks for rythm too, but cuts through the mix for lead playing. Retains clarity even under massive gain. No bass, and I wanted something balanced...so I personnaly think it sucks for any other thing than lead playing....

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good for metal....but it's not as hot as other people may say...

Comments: I would buy a set of EMG-85....more bass...more output also!!
I play through a Crate stack and a digitech RP-12.
I'm still searching for THAT sound!!!
Should be hotter, crunchier, and should really have more bass!!

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Uhhh.... what?

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson King V Pro
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 89 (neck)
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups had good output, but were rather noisy especially when distortion and compression were both on at once (lots o' white noise and non-harmonic feedback). Also, just looking to get a better tone overall.

Perceived output level: heh... Radioactive! 20% increase in tonal response over stock pickups.
Tone: Well balanced, slightly scooped lows and highs (great for heavy distortion).
Sonic evaluation: The 81 was part of a total pickup overhaul in which it was placed in my axe along with its sister, the 89, in bridge and neck positions, respectively. Distortion is provided by a Boss Metal Zone placed just behind a Boss compressor/sustainer. At the end of the loop is a Boss noise gate and graphic EQ, which are all fed into a Crate G-130 CXL twin (all solid-state). The gain from the 81 is so good that I get distortion from a clean tone if I hit the strings moderately hard (which is just about damn near all the time). Cleans ring out very bright and clear. As for distorted tones, well, that's where this baby shines even more. I can get as much power output from using the Metal Zone ONLY through the 81 than I used to with added compression/sustain along with the Metal Zone through the stock pickups. As for sustain, well, if I could live a million years and just stand there after hitting an E chord, I'm pretty sure the 81 would still be sustaining it, assuming someone replaced the battery every 3000 hours or so!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is perfect for heavy metal. Distortion purists will not be disappointed!

Comments: As far as pickups are concerned, no others will ever be put into this guitar. I got what I heard was the best, and installed them in my best axe, and it's my best tone ever. Installation was a bit of a pain in the ass (not the 81 alone, but in combination with the 89), but well worth the effort. I'm always looking out for new stuff that will make my tone better, and the EMG's I installed gave me the greatest single-step improvement in sound quality I could ever expect. You shouldn't expect anything less either, so believe me when I say that the EMG's kick ass, and then some.