EMG 81

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: 25k

Model of guitar or bass: B.C. Rich Warlock
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: DiMarzio
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Passive
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett-- need I say more? Jamez Hetfield
You musical style(s): MetaL, Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: The 81 kicks ass and everybody knows it. More of a soloing tone needed and it looks cool.

Perceived output level: UltraHot
Tone: Hardcore
Sonic evaluation: The Warlock through a MetalZone Pedal (Save your money) and a crate 212 Amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal. Yes. It roxs

Comments: Get one or the second best choice is a Dimarzio X2N...
Thats hot too...

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1985 Charvel Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan Full Shred, Invader, and Di Marzio X2-N
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: n/a
You musical style(s): Instrumental rock.. ala Via, Satch, Eric Johnson etc. ..
Reason for pickup change: I had an old Charvel body and built a great guitar with the best parts.. I kept switching pick-ups until I found a tone I loved..

Perceived output level: Peels paint on walls.. Rapes and pillages women and small children.. HOT
Tone: Neutral tone.. very clear and sparkling.. even with MASSIVE DISTORTATION
Sonic evaluation: Charvel Guitar - Marshall JCM2000 Full Stack (one JCM800, one JCM900) limited effects.. Morley Wah.. Alesis Rack Reverb/Delay

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Instrumental rock.. Original Metal/Blues/Progressive Rock.. this pick up is the KING..

Comments: The BEST. The ONLY pick-up I have found that can really be used for chords and lead with a JCM2000 on Ultra Gain Lead II (the super distoration chanel).. I have a brand new Jackson SL-1 with a Seymour Duncan JB.. It gets muddy as hell when the overdrive is blazing.. I need to see if I can use an 81 with the stock Seyour Duncan single coils that sound so nice..

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Low

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Iceman
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60 (neck position)
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Kerry King, Max Calvera, Zack Wilde
You musical style(s): Metal, blues, funk
Reason for pickup change: Got sick of the cheesy stock "shred" tone. Wanted more guts and harmonics.

Perceived output level: The output level was at least TWICE as loud as the stock pickup. Excellent feel when guitar volume cranked all the way up or turned down.
Tone: Very crunchy. The treble and mids are awesome, but if you're looking for real thick lows, you won't find them. Excellent balance of tone, though
Sonic evaluation: Crate Blue Voodoo 120 Head
Blue Voodoo 4x12 Cabinet

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly thrash/metal combined with blues and funk. The 81 is outstanding for these styles. While the 81 is mostly regarded for metal, I think it's perfect for anyone wanting tonal balance and clarity.

Comments: I've been playing for only three years, but when I first heard it in my
Iceman, I knew I was in love. The clarity of the 81 GREATLY outdoes
the muddiness of coil pickups. I also have an EMG 60 in the neck which
also does a great job. I'm disappointed with the Iceman at this point
and am going to get a Jackson Rhodes and the 81's are going right in.
The only thing about the 81 that people have accused it of is sounding "artificial" as
opposed to the natural coil pickups. And I'll agree that the internal
sheilding and ground within the pickup (hence the term "active system")
does sound a bit dry, I don't care. The thing I love most about the
81 is that when you hit the strings, you can actually hear EVERY
string being played. It's amazing. If you don't care what your guitar
sounds like, go buy a Duncan or Dimarzio. But if you are a discriminating
musician like me and want the best highs, lows, and mids go get an EMG
81. You will NOT be disapointed. And if you are........sue me.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Impedance: 10 Kohms

Model of guitar or bass: Old Ibanez RX
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: stock humbucker at neck, and stock single coil in the middle
Artists using this pickup: Jamez Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Metal, Hard Rock, Classic Rock. Some classical stuff...
Reason for pickup change: I was getting tired of the stock pickup sound, and since
this is my old axe, I decieded to mess around with it a bit,
And try out this pickup. I had heard great things about it.

Perceived output level: So damn hot it hurts to look at it...
Tone: pretty well balanced, bassy though.
Sonic evaluation: right now I am running it through shit, but I have head it through a good
setup, and plan to have a similar setup in the very near future.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For Metal it is great. unsuitable for alternative crap.

Comments: I basically found such a great deal, I decieded to try it out... I really
like it, so I probably would buy it again. I have been playing a litttle
over a year, and my other axe is a Ibanez Satriani, which is still a
million times better than this one even with the 81. Remember, if you are
replacing passive pickups, actives need that battery, so make sure you have
room. I need a new amp to get my desired sound though...

Pickup features: ACTIVE HUMBUCKING
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: WASHBURN DIMEBAG DARRELL SIGNATURE GUITAR, DIMEBOLT FINISH
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: washburn eliminater's in the neck and bridge
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Kerry King,Jeff Haneman (slayer), Max cavalera (sepultura) Alot of death metal guitarists
You musical style(s): death metal, trash metal, power groove
Reason for pickup change: The stock washburn pickups sounded very thin and muddy. The emg-81's are have much more gain, and retain clarity even dropped b-tuning..
The 81's are perfect for the metal guitarist...these babies have a very distinct tone....also, these have alot of treble and shred like a razer. These pickups a HOT as hell...well except maybe for the dimarzio's evoltution.
Any ways, if u cover bands like slayer, pantera, deicide, cannibal corpse, this is the one for u. If u want more bass n less treble, then the emg-85's are your next best choice.
The only downfall of this pickups is that you haveto replace the 9 volt batter everyonce in a while.Secondly i wish emg made this pickup a little MORE cruNchY

Perceived output level: HOTTER THAN HELL, this thing MELTS
Tone: TREBly, retains alot of clarity
Sonic evaluation: IM using a marshall vs-100 head thru a boss metal zone pedal into a marshall 4x12. and a fender m-80 chorus head thru another marshall cab. i run it also into a digitech rp-6 and vox wah

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: MeTaL, but u get great clean sounds outa this too

Comments: i would buy it again
But i would like something with more crunch to the tone

Pickup features: high output active humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Kelly KE-3
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, James Hetfield
You musical style(s): metal, progressive rock, classic rock
Reason for pickup change: wanted a higher output pickup, the EMG's had long sustain and low impedance which was a definite plus

Perceived output level: hot enough to overdrive my amp with the gain turned to 0
Tone: very balanced, nice bass and highs, very nice mids
Sonic evaluation: Fender Ultimate Chorus

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is just what I wanted, hot with killer sustain and awesome balance

Comments: I love the sound, but the sound in my head still needs a killer amp

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: I have no idea

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson RR-4 pro
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock Jackson
Other pickups on guitar: stock Jackson neck
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett, Kerry King
You musical style(s): thrash, progressive, death metal
Reason for pickup change: stock didn't have enough punch

Perceived output level: kicks stock pickup's ass..LOUD!
Tone: enough bass, low mids, nice treble
Sonic evaluation: running a Jackson though a Peavey Special 212

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: play a hell of alot of METAL...a match made in heaven ( or hell )

Comments: I will put this pickup in all my future guitars...I have been palying for 6 years and belive me...this is what I've been looking for..thankx EMG for making a killer pickup!!!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ??????

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Explorer
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: 81 in the Neck
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet? Hetfield
You musical style(s): Blues -->Metal
Reason for pickup change: None came in used 81 custom shop Explorer

Perceived output level: Hot, but then we all know that.
Tone: Good Lows and Highs very little mids. The Metal pickup of legend.
Sonic evaluation: These are in an 81 Explorer neck and bridge. Currently playing through a Johnson millennium amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: When I play metal this is what I use. These may be a bit tonaly challanged for less distorted more mellow music.

Comments: I have been playing for 19 years. If this guitar was lost or stolen, I would find something else with EMG 81's These are a must for Metal players!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG470
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ifinity 1
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SAV, EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield, Kerry King, Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Metal, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, Blues
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups sounded very weak, no beef to them. Had uncontrollable feedback

Perceived output level: Extremely high output, a lot of balls. Strong enough to overdrive my clean channel. Sounds almost identical to the Kirk Hammet signature ESP.
Tone: Ideal for metal. Very balanced tone. Able to achieve squealing harmonics easily.
Sonic evaluation: I have an Ibanez RG 470 loaded with EMG's playing through a Digitech RP 12 into a 100 watt Crate 212 combo

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For Metal I can't think of a better pickup. Works very well for any style

Comments: Would buy again in a heartbeat. The pots that it comes with suck ass! They're very fragile.

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

Model of guitar or bass: JS-1
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Fred (see review)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Metallica, Zakk, Testament, Slayer, etc.
You musical style(s): Heavy/Progressive metal
Reason for pickup change: Fred was fizzy and middy

Perceived output level: About as hot as you can get
Tone: Very good balance between highs and lows (not many mids though)
Sonic evaluation: I am using an Ibanez JS-1 directly into a 5150 stack. It sounds like Satan lives in my amp!!! This is IT!!!
The sound is heavy as hell, but very balanced and smooth.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy/Progressive metal...this is IT!!! Nothing else will do

Comments: I only payed $25 for it, so this was the deal of the century. These are the only pickups I will ever use....Just watch out for the cheap-ass pots that EMG includes (I bought a few extra pot sets...only $5 a set)