EMG 81

Pickup features: active humbucking
Impedence or other specs: output impedence 10kohm

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Radius 540R
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: 2 single coils
Artists using this pickup: kirk hammett
You musical style(s): metal
Reason for pickup change: i wanted this pickup because of its high output ability..just want the axe to scream!

Perceived output level: this pickup is mainly for high output playing..fullshred metal..
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is generally an all rounder for me...usually suitable on the bridge

Comments: i'm quite pleased with the overall performance of this baby.although people say its no good for clean..which i generally think so..its perfectly normal for me..but i'm having another 2 passive single coils on my axe ..sound of the single coils are pretty lame when you compare it...so in that way it sux..its advisable to put all active pickups on your guitar

Pickup features: humbucking, active
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Crappy factory single coils
Other pickups on guitar: more crappy single coils
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield, many many others!
You musical style(s): fat, screamin' metal
Reason for pickup change: When I bought this crummy little strat about 2 years ago I thought I got a great deal (it was only $180!) But when I plugged it into my effects processor, it started spewing out this horrible noise on all of my distortion settings, and it sounded awful. I didn't exactly realize how bad they sounded until I played one of my friend's ESP guitars! Anyhow he had a set of EMG-81's in there and man! They sounded SWEET! The highs were biting and the lows were extremely percussive. The midrange also just burned right through. So I went and rewired the entire electrical system in my strat with a couple of these and what a difference! The bridge pickup was so tight and best of all didn't squeal with feedback. You could actually control the pitch and intensity of the feedback with a little practice. The one in the bridge position gave me this perfect replica of Stevie Ray Vaughn's sound because it was so punchy and fat. With infinite gain from the battery powered preamp you can sustain a note forever. Provided the amp is loud enough. This one is a definite must buy for those who want an ultra phat sound. :)

Perceived output level: So hot you don't need an amp
Tone: Extremely bassy but at the same time balanced. It's got phat balls
Sonic evaluation: IT HAS MONSTER BALLS!!!!
See also above on reason for buying.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: country- that's about it

Comments: I would buy it again in a heartbeat. This one doesn't need comparing to other products because once you've heard it, that's it, your search is over. This one is a must have.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson LP standard (from sometime in the late 80's)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickups
Other pickups on guitar: Standard stock pickups (1 other humbucker in the neck)
Artists using this pickup: See above reviews (I bought it because of Metallica)
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal and heavy rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups were pussy wipy-ass creations. I knew when
I bought the guitar the pickups would need to be replaced.

Perceived output level: Really damn hot. I also have a Screamin' Deamon and the EMG is hotter.
Tone: Mid + treble boost and fat bottom end. Only muddy when tuned way down.
Sonic evaluation: This pickup is awesome for me because i am a thrash/metal/heavy rock player.
Primarily, though I am a shredder and this pickup works real well for me.
I really like the clean sound too. My setup is Marshall w/assorted crunchy
pedals and amp reverb on 50% to max, Gain at 11. The best pickup for heavy
music with lots of distortion.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You can actually coax out just about any sound with a little tweaking.

Comments: I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It is not expensive and perfect
for metal. The clean sound is nice too. I would like to put it in my
Ibanez guitar but I dont think with the wide string spacing in the floyd
rose it would work.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RBM
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: Slayer, Metallica, Exodus
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a more screaming sound for my guitar, and tested the EMG.
I liked it immediately. Great sound.
I read that some people don't like it's clean sound, But I guess it's
Allright for a good clean feel, Don't buy if you only play clean, This
baby was designed to rock!!

Perceived output level: It has a very high output. At first I used it in combination with two other stock single coils, (Parallel connection) but they sounded real weak compared to the EMG, so I disconnected them.
Tone: Screaming, Mid & High boost
Sonic evaluation: One of the best sounds ever heard from a pickup, and still NO NOISE,

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I only tried this in bridge position, so I can't really tell.

Comments: I would definately buy it again. I just LOVE the sound of it.
I only wish it wasn't active so that there was no need for a battery that can run empty.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker (ceramic magnet)
Impedence or other specs: low

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Custom Showcase
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG 85
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85 (neck position)
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Blues, Southern Rock, Classic Rock, Metal, Jazz
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a little more edge when using the bridge pickup for power chords.

Perceived output level: The hottest pickup I've ever used
Tone: Very midrange and treble present.
Sonic evaluation: It's mainly a metal pickup, but if used just, right is the cleanest bridge pickup I've ever heard. It sound great when mixed in with the bridge pickup for slightly dirty leads.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I can make this pickup sound good for any style of music.

Comments: I would buy it again. I found that EMG pickups make a Les Paul sound more like a Les Paul. I only wish I could splitt the coils and adjust the gain.

Pickup features: Humbucking, Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Custom
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Testament, Damn the Machine, and Zack Wyld
You musical style(s): Rock / Metal / Industrial
Reason for pickup change: stock pickup was muddy and noisy

Perceived output level: UltraHot
Tone: very solid for high distortion
Sonic evaluation: This pickup is very unique for control of massive distortion, I like it a lot in this contex. You can tell its lack of warmth in clean settings though. If you have a guitar you can spare for a unique distroted tone use this pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: rock / metal / industrial

Comments: I'd only buy it for its unique distortion ability

Pickup features: Active pickup, high output, low noise
Impedance or other specs: Low

Pickup features: active, low impedance, balanced freq. response
Impedance or other specs:

Pickup features: active, low noise, high output, more sustain
Impedance or other specs:

Pickup features: High-output active EMG humbucker
Impedance or other specs: low-impedance

Model of guitar or bass: BC Rich LA Series Model ST
Position: EMG-81 in bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock BC Rich Pickups (Unknown type)
Other pickups on guitar: Two EMG Single Coils in Neck & Mid Pos.
Artists using this pickup: Slayer, Metallica, Winger (Ugh), White
Lion, Exodus, etc.
Your musical style(s): Rock/Heavy/Thrash Metal (and sometimes Blues)
Reason for pickup change: New (louder) tone for instrument.
The stock pickups were very loud, would squeal,
and didn't have enough "balls". Once the EMG
pickups were installed, the output from the
guitar increased dramatically, as well as the
overall tone send to the amplified was improved.
Also, there was almost no noise.


Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG565
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez stock (V2?)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SA single coil (neck)
Artists using this pickup:
Your musical style(s): Hard rock, fusion
Reason for pickup change: Ibanez stock pu's were wimpy, muddy, noisy ('nuff?)


Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Radius
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez stock V2
Other pickups on guitar: Ibanez V1 custom tapped
Artists using this pickup:
Your musical style(s): Metal, funk, experimental
Reason for pickup change: shitty muddy sound from the Ibanez stock pickup.
not enough edge and thet cutting sound
little output


Model of guitar or bass: Steinberger R-Series
Position: Bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet ( METALLICA )
Your musical style(s): mostly blues, hard rock, metal
Reason for pickup change: because Custom Custom wasn't hot enough

Perceived output level: Very high output -- Similar to a Dimarzio
X2N level output.
Tone: In my observation, the EMG-81 has incredible high and mid range peaks.
The bass is cut a bit. The pickups really scream. They pick up
pinch and artificial harmonics beautifully. There is very little
magnetic pull from the pickup, so they are very close to the strings.
I would not say that the EMG-81 pickup has as much character as a
passive pickup. There is a definite difference comparing it to other
high-output passive models. The EMG-81 seems "sterile", yet very loud
and "hostile".
Sonic evaluation:
As mentioned above, the EMG-81 is very loud, very, VERY sterile clean
(if you're not clipping the input stages of your preamp). There are
incredible high and mid range tones, but a definite cut in bass ranges.
Overall, the pickup is good for high gain effects or amps. The pickup
is VERY quiet compared to other passive models.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
Thrash/Metal musicians will love the EMG-81. It's loud and ballsy, and
will not sqeak easily. You will not get shocked when holding your
guitar and touching a microphone (etc) because you do not ground the
pickup. Rock or other softer music musicians may find this pickup a
little too brass or too "cold". There is tons of pure gain pouring
out of the EMG-81, but it does not have the "warm" qualities of passive
pickups.

Perceived output level: _High_; you have to lower input volume for most
signal processors to avoid overloading
Tone: Punchy lower mids, piercing highs.
Sonic evaluation:
Without distortion sounds clean but harsh on bridge position. Deadly
with overdrive and scooped eq. No noise on any settings. No
uncontrolled feedback.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
A bit too sterile/cold for blues/Santana singin' lead tone (depends on
amp etc of course).

Perceived output level: WOW! Really high (it is the hottest of all EMGs)
much more than 'hot' (sorry) passive pickups

Uses a 9V battery (the battery lasts about half year). If you use it
along with passive pickups the EMG is much louder!
Tone: warm bass, distorted biting treble.
Sonic evaluation:
Really has that edge, cuts through for solos, not so great for clean
sounds (the thing is meant to be dirty).
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
Use it for hard rock/all kinds of metal. Bridge position. If you want
great clean sounds, which do not 'bite' then this is not the thing.

Perceived output level: Extremely high-output, almost too harsh
Tone: Very well balanced, kind of brittle in a maple body though
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Sucks for clean
or blues or even moderate rock, great for metal and thrash.

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10 (it is not that versatile after all)


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