EMG 81

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

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

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: I just wanted to agree with the guy who wrote the review after mine. You can get TONS of Bass from an 81, if you know how to properly EQ your Amp and/or Modeler/EFX Unit!!!
These Pickups can make ALMOST ANY Amp or Guitar sound GREAT.

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

Comments:

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

Model of guitar or bass: Various ESP/Ibanez/Gibson guitars i own
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: All stock
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81
Artists using this pickup: Any serious hi gain user
You musical style(s): Metal/Rock/Anything (session playing)
Reason for pickup change: EMG rules basically the best sounding and clearest pickups available.

Perceived output level: High output
Tone: Balaced, very sharp attack.
Sonic evaluation: Mesa/Boogie Dual rectifier various effects mesa tri-axis, mesa boogie Mark IV, ADA-MP, krank revolution, peavey 5150, marshall Super lead plexi, mesa stereo 50:50 (these are all the amps/pre amps/power amps i've own/have owned if only for a few months in the past few years)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: ALL/ALL if you know how to use AMPS and GUITARS! not that hard!

Comments: I've just had enough of complete rejects bitching about this pickup i use it in all positions and if you know how to EQ your amp you roll down the volume and change the guitars tone you can get beautiful cleans, fat distortion ANYTHING!!!
Some complete reject saying theres no bass a couple of reviews down, have you ever heard of a band called metallica or slipknot? would you say there sound wasn't bassy? get a good set up good speakers (i use V30s) and learn how to eq your dads stereo! These work beautifully with gain are silent and capture your playing style and amps charactor. It sounds gorgeous on the neck with the volume rolled down with a bassy tone, clear, sparkling and fat and perfectly balanced. What do you expect when you play it at full volume through a crap clean channel? its breaks up and sounds driven....thats how gain works you see overloading the preamp! so learn how to use your amp and guitar well and don't expect this pickup to turn your marshall MG15 into a mesa/boogie triple rectifier! OK!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Tone Control is set at a lower frequency than passive Pups.

Model of guitar or bass: Currently residing in an Ibanez RG550
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: God-Awful Ibanez "A"-series pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG "H" model single coil in a Humbucker housing.
Artists using this pickup: If I had a dollar for all the players using it, I could retire at 32
You musical style(s): Dark, Moody, and Gothic Super-Blues.
Reason for pickup change: The guitar had Ibanez pickups; need I really say more?

Perceived output level: Balanced output level. I'm not using tubes, but I hear they overdrive a tube amp nicely.
Tone: Clear, present, and QUIET when not played! Even freq. spectrum
Sonic evaluation: Bought the 81 and the H model to replace bridge and neck pups in a RG550. Run my guitars through an Amp Modeler/Effects Unit, then straight to a 450-watt Carvin FET series Amp. Stereo signal is then routed into two Behringer 4 X 12 Straight Cabs. A simple setup that gets the job done.
I bought the H pickup figuring I would need a single coil sound as well as the Humbucker. The H is lower on the output than the 81, and is really noticeable; not a great match volume-wise, but that's o.k., and here's why:
I can thankfully say that I am done searching for pickups; I've found what I needed in the 81 alone.
I keep my tone knob around 6&1/2 when playing distorted rythm guitar( which is 90% of the time ). When I need a clean tone, I change patches or toggle channels with my Modeler, and turn up the Tone Pot all the way. For a humbucker, the 81 gets a great sound when used for attempting Sparkly clean tones. Just make sure you're clean channel E.Q. is set right, and the 81 will deliver. I just LOVE this pickup, and I do not forsee any changes in my setup any time soon.
GREAT JOB EMG!!!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For Rock and Rock clean tones, you just can't go wrong.

Comments:

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dont know

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: thousands of metal players
You musical style(s): all
Reason for pickup change: i just wanted to try it in my guitar

Perceived output level: slightly more than a SD invader pickup
Tone: trebly,strerile, no BASS!
Sonic evaluation: it doesnt matter

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play rock to metal, blues to jazz...everything

Comments: i just have to agree with a previous review by a guy named edward, he?s absolutely right.ok , YOU THINK this is a good metal pickup...but that?s just your opinion.IN MY OPINION,this lacked warmth and tone.too much treble, not enough bass.You?ll sound like everyone else in metal...that?s pretty good if you?re a kid playing in your bedroom,but not for someone who is searching for his own and personal sound...of course it will depend on your rig too , but remember that after the strings it?s where it all starts.if you crave the slipknot or slayer sound ONLY, this is a good pickup for u,but i can?t understand why copy another guys sound, when you can at least try to innovate...but of course...that?s just my opinion.

Pickup features: Humbucker- Active
Impedence or other specs: emg.com

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG 2020
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez
Other pickups on guitar: Emg - 81
Artists using this pickup: Kirk, James, Kerry, Hanneman...
You musical style(s): Heavy Shit
Reason for pickup change: I thought it would be asskicking

Perceived output level: MegaHot (VERY high Output)
Tone: Big Bass, mid mid, mid treble
Sonic evaluation: + mesa Roadking combo+ tc electronic g-major+ rocktron Hush

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: May be it's good if you have a RACK-WALL, Like Metallica had. With my equipment you can hear and Very GOOD hear the ACTIVE disadvantages!! Very Glassy and flat.

Comments: Wanna know how the 81 truly sounds??
listen to Metallicas Master of Puppets(NOT LATER ALBUMS!!!!)
or to Slayer (for instance Diabolus in musica)
you WILL hear the cheapness of the sound!!
After that listen to St. ANger. Can you hear the difference??
The main part of St. Anger was recorded with Les Pauls with PASSIVE electronics. But at all, metallica isn't a good example for 81 Pickups (Don't forget: except MASTER of puppets

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: www.emginc.com will tell you

Model of guitar or bass: ESP F-200 (2002 model)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG-HZ 4
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-60
Artists using this pickup: Pretty much everyone
You musical style(s): Too much to say.
Reason for pickup change: EMG-HZ 4 was a bit flat sounding.

Perceived output level: Hot enough to overdrive my crybaby (ie, smudge too much)
Tone: Beautifully bright, not harsh sounding.
Sonic evaluation: I use an ESP F-200 (2002 model) with either a Peavey BAndit 112 (100watt solidstate amp) or a Laney LC50 (50watt tube amp) either straight into or though my uber-pedalboard. If you really wanna know the full extent of it, email me and I'll send you the full list.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I have many styles. I have only tried it in the bridge position, and it works well there. Would imagine it would be reasonable for the neck.

Comments: This pickup is very bright (in a good way). Problems though. Its too hot for me (adjusted the pickup height to fix that though) and the clean tone is kinda nasty sounding. The clean is very good when coupled with an EMG-60. The harmonics are fantastic, they will satisfy you way more than a good woman (or man, depending on your gender and orientation). I do love this pickup, gives me a fantastic lead sound. Been playing for 3 years (ie, not very good), but I imagine this pickup will be with me for many years to come. It has a nice shiny silver logo as well :)
(gets a 9 because of the nasty clean sound, its a fantastic distortion pickup though)
Email me with any questions

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 3000 hours of battery life

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson DK2S
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Jackson USA J90C
Other pickups on guitar: duncan design single coil middle, sustaniac in neck
Artists using this pickup: Metallica ,Slayer and ME
You musical style(s): Thrash, Speed Metal
Reason for pickup change: Played it in a similar guitar to my jackson and loved it

Perceived output level: You wouldnt want it any hotter
Tone: balanced and tight with a touch more highs and mids
Sonic evaluation: my guitar goes through a Ampeg VH140C head, Genz Benz 4x12 cab,Digitech 256XL,Rocktron 360Hush/Compressor and a Sonic Maximizer. Of course this is a metal setup and the EMG is a metal pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: metal in the range of Metallica to Slayer. perfect for the bridge.

Comments: C his is one of the pickups that anyone in their right mind will buy as many times necessary. Now that its part of my tone its never going to change(at least in the Jackson). The USA J90C pickup that was in it is one of the best passive pickups I ever had(it put alot of seymour duncans to shame) but the EMG was just more alive,sensitive, and more clear. It wasnt a quantum leap from that pickup but defanetly a great buy. The EMG 81,simply put is the pickup if you want to play metal.

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: see others' submissions

Model of guitar or bass: 96 Jackson Kelly Standard (bridge), 00 King V (neck), 01 Dinky Reverse (bridge)
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: various Duncans
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60 (Kelly Standard), EMG 89 (V), S/SA/EXG midrange scooper (Dinky)
Artists using this pickup: would be redundant to say
You musical style(s): metal
Reason for pickup change: needed more harmonics, clarity during distortion, sustain.

Perceived output level: probably would have considered them hot if I played with Duncans or Dimarzios a lot, now EMGs, and even Mastertones, just sound average
Tone: middy, very Slayer drone to it. Would like less mids, more response to harmonics
Sonic evaluation: 2000 Carvin MTS3200, BBE Sonic Maximizer in loop

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: European death metal, like In Flames. Sounds more like a Paul when in the neck.

Comments: I've a pretty serious posting of complaints at http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=491557&perpage=20&pagenumber=1. I don't know how people can say anything about harmonics "leaping" off of fretboards, but in my opinion, a decent lead pickup should sustain pinch harmonics as clear and as naturally as natural ones and sustain should be as long as 30 seconds or more. Not so with the 81. I've links to various soundfiles in that thread demonstrating my frustration with the 81. The only reason why I continue using it is because it's better than any passive I've heard. I disagree on the remarks about a terrible clean (although it is pretty sterile),and think that, for what it does, the 60 is a much better clean pickup than the 81 is a "metal" pickup. If you guys think an 81 is hot, then show me how Slayer sustains for 30 seconds or more or how Arch Enemy gets harmonics on every fret on every string. It may be my technique, or my guitars, or my gear, but in my experience, I have to fight the 81 to get a lead tone and must generally resort to a line-in device to get decent sounds or rely on a wah wah pedal's trebling effect to get any kind of response to nuances, tapping, trills, etc.

Pickup features: active humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: hight out put, muddy, and powerful!

Model of guitar or bass: ESP - Ganesa
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: well....u know
You musical style(s): japanese hard metal...and anyother metal style music
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: i have to say..i didn't know that EMG can be so powerful!! be4 i bought this guitar, i heard a lot of ppl saying about thsoe pups, but i was never realli into EMG, these active pups are so hot it would realli blow ur mind away.
Tone: for the 81 it delivers a bright, and a punchy sound that is so loud, it will blow women's cloth off!!! as for the 85, it has a nice worm tone, and a punchier sound.. great for soloin in my opinion...
Sonic evaluation: the ESP goes to a Boss V-Wah - Line 6 DM4 distortion modeler - Ibanez Tube Screamer - DigiTech turbo Flange - Boss CE5 chorus Ensemble - Boss DD5 Digital Delay - Vox Volume pedal - Mesa/Boogie amp (forgot the model #)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i am japanese, so ESP all the way, they make the best quality/look guitar EVER...if u don't believe me go check out the Japanese wed site www.espguitars.co.jp...anyways i listen mainly to japanese metal/rock and i play a lot them...and of course American metal, as well as Rock' n Roll...so these pick ups have wide variety of tones..it is just depend on how u set it up to extend to the pup's full potential

Comments: ..acutally...i bought the guitar the ESP "Ganesa" that came with the set of 81 and 85, the grand total was 506,000 yen, the price is about US $5,060...i bought it in Japan...it is 100% ESP made in japan. However,this review is not about my guitar, its about the pick ups.
like i said...i don think there is any HOT or a everyone-should-get-it pick up out there. overall, pick ups are just tools that help u in order to achieve the tone YOU seek, and more omportantly the tone that BELONGS to YOU...not Kirk, not Zekk...so if you want something that sounds more hardcore, or metallic...then these are the ONEs...but it all depends on how u set up ur other equipments as well as ur guitar...i have heard the 81's sounded worse than the HZ's cuz they weren't set up right to use their full potential...
my guitar has a alder/quilted maple top body, Maple neck w/ Ebony fingerboard...Bolt on...Oringal Floyd Rose, 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way switch...i think it's a guitar worth of putting the 81 and 85. i absolutly love the guitar cuz it has the sound that i have been searching for a long time plus i have never seen any guitar that is made so sexy and beautiful something u can't find in US. one thing i might point out is that i didn't know Kirk and Zekk and other artists use these pick ups after i got the guitar...i am also a Seymour Duncan pick up lover...so i know some of you out there hates EMG, and some hates SD...i am not goin to argue which is better...but jsut remember...gettin a these pick ups won't take u anywhere close to being Kirk...so if u r thinkgin about gettin either the 81's set or the 81/85 set...make sure u try it out..hear the sound...love the tone...compare the prices...and then decide...thats all i can say about these pick ups...peace!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Output Impedance 10, Output Noise (dBV) -91, Battery Life (Hours) 3000, 25K ohm pots

Model of guitar or bass: ESP V-350
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan Designed
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Designed- Neck (to be replaced)
Artists using this pickup: Slayer, Metallica, Zakk Wylde, Dino Cazares (demanufacture) to name a few
You musical style(s): On this guitar, Metal
Reason for pickup change: Needed more attack and clarity

Perceived output level: More hot than passives, passives don't compare
Tone: More trebly than passives
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a ESP v-350 into a Marshall. Totally changed the overall vibe of the guitar. Pickups are more bright and trebly than passives and don't have that warmth/thickness of passives. They have a much better attack and sustain. I also like the clarity it brings when playing with distortion. The pickups are also very quiet.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Mainly Metal. It's excellent for this style if you're looking for clarity and a tighter attack. It's unsuitable for clean guitar work and blues work as it lacks that warmth.

Comments: I've been playing for 10+ years and these are, in my opinion, the best pickups for metal players especially if you're recording, they are quiet. I prefer the vibe of these pickups over invaders and screamin demons. For this style I'm extremely satisfied and this is it for "that" sound for me on the guitar. I'd also like to add that EMG's customer service is superb and helpful.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG470
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez Stock
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Metallica, Zakk Wylde and every sreious player in the world
You musical style(s): Metal!!!!
Reason for pickup change: Stock Pickups were dead.

Perceived output level: It's an ACTIVE pickup so it has a built-in PREAMP which supplies TONS of output level, so don't give me shit about Gibson 500T or Seymours.
Tone: It's a trebly pickup with blistering tone!!! Just listen to Zakk Wylde, Metallica and you'll understand!!
Sonic evaluation: I am using this pickup o an Ibanez RG470 and I'm planning to add one to my Gibson Les Paul Standard which I'm getting right now!!I plugged it in a Marshall DSL-100 with an 1960A cab with Boss Metalzone and Dunlp Wah-Wah all the way and the pinches of Zakk were piece of cake!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Metal(metallica, megadeth, iced earth, black label society) and rockies(AC/DC, Zeppelin) and it's heaven!!!I use it in the bridge and it's awesome.I believe it's only for the bridge.

Comments: I will buy it for every guitar I am gonna use.I've been playing for 4 years.ITS ACTIVE!!!! It HAS THE BIGGEST OUTPUT, 10 TIMES BIGGER THAN OTHER PICKUPS!!!!

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 25K ohm pots

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez SC620 prestige
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock Ibanez pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81 neck
Artists using this pickup: Richard Z. Kruspe-Bernstein (Rammstein)
You musical style(s): metal / modern metal
Reason for pickup change: wanted to upgrade electronics and heard alot about EMG's.

Perceived output level: pretty high output
Tone: trebly, with fair amount of mids and good bass.
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez SC620 *thin bodied mohagany with flame maple top* with dual EMG-81's into a Mesa Single Rectifier and vintage 30 cab. these pickups sound a little bright and trebly. i have to cut my treble on my amp to about 12 o'clock and the presence at about 9 o'clock otherwise it is just too bright. they have a lot of output and remain clear, but the overall sound a little sterile. the volume and tone pots are very sensitive and reponsive, and seem to taper pretty evenly.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: again i play metal, some Nine Inch Nails, to modern stuff like Mudvayne and tool

Comments: i've been playing about 5 years, and have finally gotton a nice setup that i'm pretty happy with. these are a little too bright and a bit sterile in my opinion, but are still a very good metal pickup. i'm going to keep them around a while longer and play around with them. if they were somehow lost or stolen, i'd prolly try a warmer less bright pickup like maybe some duncans.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Deluxe Double Fat Strat (Alder Body)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan JB
Other pickups on guitar: Emg 85
Artists using this pickup: Zakk, Hammet, others
You musical style(s): Blues, Hard Rock, Metal
Reason for pickup change: The JB was very nice but in a strat it can be rather trebly. I was looking for something more capable of getting a bassy sound.

Perceived output level: Fairly Hot, More than the JB
Tone: Trebly, yet very balanced, the bass end is definitely there and mids are cut but not too much. This thing kicks ass!
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a deluxe double fat strat into a korg ax1500 to a fender princeton '65. My guitar sounds f*ckin great now. People say that the clean tone on this thing is bad. Not in my opinion. It was real easy to get a great clean tone, however, i will say that the clean sound can be a little thin though. So Clean is suitable, but distortion is fantastic. You get alot of room to work with, the sound is fat, VERY clear for soloing and can pound out some mean f*ckin riffs. I have tried many pickups (mostly duncans), while most of them were nice, the emg best suits the sound i'm after. This ones staying in for a long time.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal and hard rock and this thing definitely gets the job done.

Comments: I have been playing for 7 years. I actually have been shopping around for a good set of pickups for a while now and i finally found what i'm looking for. If it were stolen i'd kick that unfortunate person's ass and put it back in my guitar in a second.

Pickup features: humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Strat (made in mexico)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock single coil
Other pickups on guitar: just the two stock bridge postion pickups
Artists using this pickup: Metallica, Zack Wylde
You musical style(s): metalcore
Reason for pickup change: I needed a cleaner crunch sound for muted strumming, and individual notes

Perceived output level: you don't have to try hard to get a big sound out of this. It makes my old strat pickups sound very weak
Tone: Alot of treble- Stephen Carpenter from the deftones uses this- thats about the sound i get from it. listen to the "adrenaline" album
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a fender mexico made strat, through a peavey blaze 110, and also through a fender 112 chorus(older model)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup sounds pretty close to bands like undying, seven day curse, caliban, autumn to ashes

Comments: I think i would probably get this pickup again if it were stolen. Its definitely the best pickup i've ever played through. I've been playing for almost 8 years, and i own a '72 restored guild acoustic (d50?), a yamaha rgx series electric with george lynch screamin' demon humbuckers, and a dod grunge pedal, that i use for all my distortion needs. The only thing more i want from this pickup is more of a compatability with the sound of bands like lamb of god, and shadows fall. it has more of a cutting deftones sound, whereas the seymour duncan (george lynch) has a more warm sound. Other than that, this pickup is awesome.

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Charvel: Model 4
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Jackson: J-50-BC
Other pickups on guitar: Jackson stock single coils
Artists using this pickup: Mudvayne, Slipknot, Metallica, Ozzy, Slayer, Static-X, and more!
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal, Altrative Rock
Reason for pickup change: I heard alot about the 81 and I figured that I needed a new pickup for this guitar.

Perceived output level: This pickup is WAAAY hotter than any other pickup I have used.
Tone: My other pickup was ALOT more bassy than this one, personaly I think its a little bit too much trebly.
Sonic evaluation: I am using a Spider212 with Dunlop Wah & BOSS TU-2 Tuner, along with a FB4(foot switch).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Well, its not as chucky as my old pickup, but I do not think that the problem is this pickup, I think its my Floyd Rose set up, I'm gonna play with it a little bit.

Comments: Personaly, I am looking for the Godsmack(Awake) and then Mudvayne(LD50) sound thru a cheap amp, (laughs) so, I got a Recto rip off, now all I wanna do is get my pickup hotter to make it a little bit more hi-gained sounding like so then I can get my chucky plam mutes the way I want them. Kinda like Greed by Godsmack.

Pickup features: humb
Impedence or other specs: specs ...

Model of guitar or bass: Warlock
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: whatever that was (duncan something)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: i dont know
You musical style(s): Blues, metal, alternative
Reason for pickup change: Because i needed high level output

Perceived output level:
Tone: mids and treble
Sonic evaluation: Peavey 5150 combo w/noise gate , volume, and chorus

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

Comments: Great for some leads and mostly rythm crunchy saturated sounds, sucks for clean sounds.
Thats why i got myself a EMG 85 at neck, for nice cleans.
So i give it a 10 for its metal sound, 2 for clean.
I use the EMG 85 for leads and clean for warm bass and lower mids
And by the way, you dont have to waste all the review space with little personnal issues.

Pickup features: humbucker
Impedence or other specs: sheilded/

Model of guitar or bass: 80's model plywood Kramer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: emg select
Other pickups on guitar: 85 Emg on neck
Artists using this pickup: Hammet, Zack, me
You musical style(s): name one
Reason for pickup change: looking for more more more!

Perceived output level: very hot
Tone: mids/ trebly with a bit of mud
Sonic evaluation: Kramer mid 80s through a Cry baby into a dbx noisegate into a Alesis midverb4 into a kawai eq 8 out of a Crate BlueVoodoo212.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play country to metal

Comments: I would replace if stolen. I have been a guitarist for at least 18 years, I like the way harmonics leap off the fret board. This pick up has a great sound coupled with my cheap plywood guitar. I was going to replace the guitar but could not find a guitar with the same "Kramer" sound. A Emg 81 can alter the sound of your ax but not in a bad way. If you like the voice of your ax go with a less hot pick up. If you like a balls to the wall wail, this is your ticket.

Pickup features: active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: bc rich warlock, gibson ORIGINAL 61 sg, fender double aft strat (with the floyd rose)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: yet another gibson paf
Other pickups on guitar: gibson paf
Artists using this pickup: too many
You musical style(s): hard rock
Reason for pickup change: took a BOYS opinion

Perceived output level: "HOT"
Tone: "BALANCED"
Sonic evaluation: GUITAR-AMP-PEDALS

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: "GOOD FOR EVERYTHING"

Comments: i just want to add some things to my past review (look for the guy named Edward). listen people, dont get angry with someone just cause they dont like the pickup. mind you these are all OPINIONS! for all you metal wannabes who all have the same stupid guitar sound (emgs and mesa boogies), relax and consider what YOU think about the pickup. so what if someone doesnt like it? its our opinion. im stating this cause some nerd thinks i cant play guitar...lemme tell ya, i aint no 3rd rate malmsteen, and i sure aint no cheap rip off of hammet. emgs are for a specific sound. "metal." not hard rock. i do play metal (anything iron maiden) and i also search for their sound SOMETIMES. but to be successful in the business, you cant have someone elses sound. you cant get famous playing someone elses solo. think about it. if john sykes were to play everyone of jimmy pages solos, someone is gonna notice and say "hey, those are jimmy pages." my point is that im looking for a specific sound too, and emgs are not my way of going. so please, all you dipshits who sit in your room and play guitar with your practice amps dancing around thinking youre kirk hammet, ease up. and remember, these are opinions. if everyone liked the same stuff...well...every other company would go out of business. i took this guys advice about putting the emg in my gibson. lemme tell ya, i take back everything i said...and i will say it again and mean it twice as much. HORSES SHITTING SOUNDS BETTER. dont ever try and confront me thinking youre all tough...emgs....HAH! seymour duncans are way better. I KNOW SEYMOUR DUNCAN, he custom makes my pickups now. listen, i know all you morons like emgs, but dont get on my case. after all...theyre only words!
"we must fight and defend the name of our great leaders! EMG!" i mean cmon, how and why would you defend a pickup. if i hurt someones feelings (somehow your brain is attatched to the humbucker) im sorry. please forgive me. i didnt mean to make you cry. after all your pickup almost made me cry. ive NEVER modded or opened or anything like that my gibson sg. ive owned it for 24 years. i think i accidently stated in my previous review that i had been playing 7 years. i meant 27. so, dont think im new at this stuff. ive owned about 6 guitars, but i sold them because i had to help my nephews out. so i kept it to my best 3. yeah most of you would think "you kept the bc rich? what an idiot!" yeah, but none of you would have known that i had it handmade in here and i watched it get made. its not made of that chesswood or whatever. its made of MAPLE. can we say "expensive"? i paid more for that than i did for my car. (71 boss mustang, orange and black, its beautiful) alright, but anywho, i hate the emg. it sucks to me. may sound good to everyone else, but im not everyone else.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Output Impedance (Kohm) 10

Model of guitar or bass: ESP V350
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG HZ H4
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Hetfield, King, Hammett, Borland, slipknot, Wylde
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal, anything!
Reason for pickup change: The EMG HZ H4 pickups were absolutely useless!

Perceived output level: Hot Very good treble cut
Tone: Very well balanced more to the side of screaming treble than bass, crunchy
Sonic evaluation: I'm playing into a Marshall Mode 4 with MF400 Straight cab, Crybaby Wah, Digitech Whammy, Ibanez delay/echo & flanger/Chorus and Boss Advanced EQ20.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I tend to play more metal or rock than anything else and this is an amazing bridge pickup its the most amazing pickup i've ever heard with gain, TURN IT DOWN FOR CLEANS!

Comments: I Love the in your face cut of this pickup its even nice clean its not bassy but just tweek the tone n eq n TURN THE VOLUME DOWN on the pickup and its crystal clear. This pickup practically overdrives itself when turned up! There is NO better rock metal pickup than this, hearing is believing! Good with an EMG85 on neck, the 85 has a lil less treble cut but is massive sounding on the bass and nice clean TURNED DOWN! I've tried EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Gibson & at the end of the day EMGs just blow them out of the water! Overall Especially at high gain!

Pickup features: active HB
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Squier stagemaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: bust stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: hehe a nice big gap where an EMG-85s gonna go
Artists using this pickup: Tom morello! woo!
You musical style(s): broad term - 'experimental rock'
Reason for pickup change: bust old pickups. sounded terrible anyway.
needed heavier tone.

Perceived output level: *much* hotter than any stock ive ever tried (but not an EVH stock)
Tone: treble heavy, mid weak.
Sonic evaluation: stagemaster (+EMG) -->Jim dunlop wah --> EH muff reissue --> fender frontman 15

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: sweet for most rock/metal sounds - covers shred and hair metal :D

Comments: if anything happened to it, id have a good look at SD's or dimarzios - i aint played em much
i own a fender strat, one i made (crappy), a squier strat, and a mountain of parts. theres a hohner copy in there somewhere...
i love the distorted tone, but hate the treble. it really needs an 85 to counter it.
i wish the tone control was a tad more flexible,
i have loads of new sounds that i didnt have before. it makes any guitar sound twice its value

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson SL1
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: 2 EMG SA
Artists using this pickup: who cares who uses them.
You musical style(s): Metalcore
Reason for pickup change: Needed a good metal pickup.

Perceived output level: Very high output pickups, feel like im straining to play louder on my guitars with Passives, to equal the output of the 81.
Tone: Has a very good balanced tone, not to middy, good bass, highs come right through.
Sonic evaluation: I use a 5150 head and cab with 4 Svetlana 6L6GC power tubes and 5 Sovtek 12AX7 preamp tubes. I also have it modified with an adjustable bias to get out of crossover distortion. This pickup screams, i have to turn down my amp when I use this guitar. It has great output, but still remains clear for intricate guitar work, very good sounding.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metalcore, perfect pickup for the style. This pickup is best in bridge position.

Comments: I'd buy EMG 81 for all of my guitars, and then for the new ones when they were stolen. I've been playing for 8 years. I currently own a Jackson Custom Shop Dinky, a Jackson USA Soloist, a Jackson USA Dinky, a Jackson USA DR2, a flamed koa Warmoth Dinky, and a Neal Moser custom (you guessed it) Dinky. I love how high output it is, it can pick up on the slightest movements, while thats probably not good for begginners, it's great once you know how to play guitar. This pickup is really clear even under heavy distortion. I found that sound, and it's an EMG 81.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: see: http://www.emginc.com/specs.html#EMG81

Model of guitar or bass: Cort M-500 "Mirage" (love it!)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Mightymite Vintage alnico
Other pickups on guitar: none (for now, will put in a second EMG81 soon)
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, James Hetfield, etc. etc.
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal/Speed Metal/rock/blues
Reason for pickup change: I recently accuired myself that nice PW-10 v-wah boss makes, and no matter how much I loved my old mightymite, it was never going to scream like this baby does.

Perceived output level: This would be in the so-hot-you-break-sweats-hearing-it, so-hot-your-crowd-gets-scared-by-your-output-they-start-running-during-the-soundcheck-your-roadie-is performing
Tone: This pickup is so versatile by means of tone, not as versatile as you'd like if you are an allroud player. I have never ever seen a pickup that gets affected by the tone knob as much as this. I'v got one pickup in the bridge (read this people...). When turning the knob to 0 it's to bassy to play rythms, when turned to 10 it's almost too hot for soloing. I wondered how the hell kirk hammett got his first ESP signature with one single pickup in the bridge. I was wondering about the rythms & stuff, now I know...
Sonic evaluation: I play this badboy on my cort m-500 (prs-style guitar, cool!) through the boss v-wah and through a tube-emulating solidstate (yeah kinda sucks saying it, but it's a good sound). The distorion is so crispy and sounds so natural. No more tone worries for me, every guitar I have/will have needs the emg's from now on. Superb lead-screams, heavy palm mutes. (I'm actually affraid of my own guitar tone, and wonder what will happen with another pickup in the bridge :))
You will have to adjust your gain settings because the emg distorts more easely that any pickup I've heard.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is definately a good metal-pickup. Cleans work ok, but I wouldn't recommend them to jazz players and effect guru's.

Comments: Doesn't need to be stolen, Definately gonna get more of those things anyway. After a tone quest for the last 7-8 years of playing I finally found something to rely on. Just lay back and enjoy my tone when playing, it's an awesome feeling. Stock pickups, or even other great pickups didn't give me THAT sound, when playing you always hear a note here or there that doesn't sound crispy enough, hot enough,.. bassy enough... Now I have total control over my tone, the great attack-response of this pickup helps you to shape your tone with a standard distortion... all you have to do is... FEEL IT. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go enjoy some guitar ;) Peace!
btw us-people... your president's a fucking idiot! ;)

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Pickup is coverd for less noise.

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Gothic V
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 500t
Other pickups on guitar: Gibson 496n
Artists using this pickup: Metallica,Slayer,Machine Head,Dino Cazares.Lots of Metal bands
You musical style(s): Anything Metal except that fake crap.
Reason for pickup change: Always wanted to have a Emg-81 cause of its great sound.

Perceived output level: It didnt totally destroy the 500t in output but theres definatly more.
Tone: Its very thick sounding but has better clearity in the highs than the 500t.
Sonic evaluation: Well I'm using the Gibson V in either a J-station or a Crate Combo with a BBE and Metalzone.And I know how much better my guitar sounds in a amp of higher quality like the Engl Savage120.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For my style oh yes perfect not much better Ive heard yet.

Comments: For this guitar or any guitar with a Mahogony body Im putting the 81 in them.For its overall clearity in low tuning.And its overall character.For anybody who thinks they cant get good cleans roll your volume down man.If it were Destroyed that would probably be my own fault.But I always keep my guitar in its case when I dont use it.Oh yeah always unplug your guitar when not in use to save battery life.Ive been playing for 3 yrs and Im very satisfied with my guitar now.It definatly helps me in being a better player

Pickup features: humbucking
Impedence or other specs: NO clue BUT F******** HOT

Model of guitar or bass: guitar
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock jackson peace of S***
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Zack,kirt,Mudvayne But not my favort john Pertrucci :(
You musical style(s): Progressive,Metal,Rock
Reason for pickup change: The other stocker sucked

Perceived output level: So hot it makes my guitar Bleed my guitar
Tone: it is verry trebly and not to much bass but just the rite amount :)
Sonic evaluation: My rig OOOOO boy hear it go's A peavey XXX head>Lany 412 loaded with 30's>donlop wah>Boss Flanger>Boss Nosie supressor>into my Shure wire less>in to my guitar!!!!

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

Comments: If this was stolen i would cry theni would kick my cat then i would cry somemore and finaly buy a new one. i have ben playing for 12 years and this is the best pickup i played. TYO ALL U DREAM THEATER FANS LET THE SPIRIT CARRY ON!!!!!!!

Pickup features: i dont know
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: bc rich custom usa warlock
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: gibson paf
Other pickups on guitar: sd jazz neck
Artists using this pickup: weird people
You musical style(s): hard rock
Reason for pickup change: wanted to try it

Perceived output level: i thought it would be as said...to be "the best"
Tone: ugly
Sonic evaluation: my axe>ds1(with the mod!)>chorus>phaser>delay>randall head, peavey 4x12. it sounds....not good with everything ive tried. ive tried it with....countless distortion pedals (i never buy an amp for the distortion...what a waste of money), and every wah pedal i use doesnt like it. its too damn...ugly! no mids! too much highs! and....lows that make me look bad on stage!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play 80's hard rock, classic metal, classic rock....this pickup doesnt work. all the "Gods" used seymour duncans and gibsons...i wasted too much money on this piece of crap.

Comments: if it were stolen...hell id pay the guy for getting it off my hands. if it were destroyed....well....id be the one to do it. ive been playing for 7 years. i own 3 other guitars, and one other amp. oh and a whole shit load of effects. i hate everything about it. not only does it sound ugly...but it looks ugly. not just too plain, but too...harsh. compared to a horse ass, this thing is total shit. i wish i bought a seymour duncan screamin demon. i know they sound alot better. dont waste good, valuable money on something that will/can get you booed off stage. if youre some dumbass numetal/detuning/7string/raprock/punkshit/deathmetal/grindcore idiot who likes to look and sound like a goat pissing into a can, then be my guest and buy a few. but for that much money, it aint worth the shit out of jimmy pages ass. i wouldnt buy emg pickups if i had to waste 100 dollars. id at least buy something worth anything. like seymour duncans."emg"...hah! whats that stand for?! Electric Mouse Guts? its not even worth a 1. its worth...id say a....-75, only cause im nice.