EMG 81

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Ceramic magnets, horseshoe shaped coil, 25k Ohm impedance I believe.

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Epiphone stock "Gibson-designed"
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81 in Bridge position.
Artists using this pickup: Metallica, Tom Morello, Slayer, et al.
You musical style(s): Metal, Rock, Blues, Funk
Reason for pickup change: Epiphone's pickups are not bad for stock, but for clarity and definition, aftermarket parts are the best.

Perceived output level: Much hotter than stock; clips the input circuit of my POD well enough.
Tone: Balanced, almost as if the signal has been equalized somehow before getting amplified.
Sonic evaluation: When I first fired it up after some wiring headaches, I was blown away. The highs ring out clear, the bass is full and defined, and the mids snuggle nicely in between. I can get a crisp bright clean single-coil sounds and when the overdrive is laid down, I get all the humbucker crunch I desire. I very highly recommend this to all the modern music fans out there.
I'm using my Les Paul with now dual EMG 81's through a Line 6 POD.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For what I play, I doubt I will never replace this pickup.

Comments: I give this a full score, but a slight caveat here.
I could really give a rat's ass if the next guy to flip through these review pages doesn't agree with me. This pickup is perfect for me.

Pickup features: active humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ibanez rg470
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: ibanez v8's i think
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: khary alexander and jeff miller of panofobia
You musical style(s): good
Reason for pickup change: old ones sucked balls big time

Perceived output level: they rattle my lower regions very nicely
Tone: see my lower regions tingling again.......yeah man thats EMGs for ya
Sonic evaluation: Mesa boogie dual rectifier
Mesa dual rectifier cab 4x12
ibanez
gibson <-------in a few months BIATCH!!!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: we play everything even stuff ya momma would like the clean tone is a lil over powering but ...............................USE A JC-120 and its all gravy baby =P

Comments: If i gots my stuff stolen i dont know what id do ...probably get another clone but there would be that ten minute period where id be sad.....or something
ive been playing (self taught) 6 years.....but i still blow
other gear?...........*checks pants*.....not much of anything else
i love that it doesnt suck and i hate that khary and I dont have an EMG sponsorship........ya momma told us we should have one
When choosing this product we basically listened to alot of people on the "local scene" and said............nope we dont want tone like that
so khary (being the super cool genius guy that he is) went out and tried many many pickups........they all sucked until he grabbed the EMG and like he played it and it made his lower regions tingle and he bought it.......but then decided to explore more so gave it to me and i kept it and rocked the house with it now he's putting more in his guitar (cheap dude)
anything i wish it had?............hrmmmmm An advertisement with khary and myself on it holding an EMG with a cheesy ass "we making money" grin.
IM SATISFIED WIT IT!! ......khary strayed for a while hung out with the folks at ........seymoure duncan.........he said they smelled funny so he came back to hang out with the EMG addicts
anything else id like to share?....................WWW.PANOFOBIA.COM
WWW.MP3.COM/PANOFOBIA
and joel sucks he doesnt use EMGs cause he's a smelly and fat bass player END!!
www.panofobia.com www.panofobia.com www.panofobia.com

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Tech talk that has already been mentioned.

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Delray
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epiphone pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG89 coil tap/ neck position
Artists using this pickup: Too many to mention.
You musical style(s): Rock/Blues
Reason for pickup change: Looking for more output, and better overall tone. I wanted to make a fairly inexpensive guitar a solid sounding back-up.

Perceived output level: More crunch, and clarity.
Tone: Stock pickups were muddy. These pickups are well balanced from top to bottom.
Sonic evaluation: I'm playing a LesPaul, which I've also changed the stock pickups to an EMG81 in the bridge position, and a EMG85 in the neck position, also, I play my Delray. Both are played through a Marshall AVT275. After years of tone searching, I finally got "THE" sound to die for.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For the music that I play this pickup is perfect. Good bite on licks, classic crunch for rythums.

Comments: If this pickup were stolen I would track down the person that took my guitar and string him up by his nuts. This is a fine product and I would suggest it to all players.I love everything about this pickup.
Always remember, tone is a matter of opinion....what's good for others isn't for some.

Pickup features: Active Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: it's black

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD MH-301
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG hz
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85 (neck)
Artists using this pickup: myself, slayer, zakk, het, meshuggah, machine head
You musical style(s): metal/funk metal/punk/hardcore
Reason for pickup change: I wanted more clarity, definition, and output.

Perceived output level: It slaps you like a bitch, this thing is pretty damn hot
Tone: trebly, mean, as rip glitter says, "slutbanging"
Sonic evaluation: See above for the guitar, i'm running it directly to a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 and a Marshall 1936 2x12" cab, miked with an SM 57.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: see above. yes it's a good match, suits metal well.

Comments: If it was stolen? usually people steal the whole guitar and not just the pickups, but hell, if that happened, yeah i'd buy em again. been playing for 6 years, i've tried a few different humbuckers, duncan distortion, duncan invader (which is a very shitty pickup IMO), this is the hottest one i've heard. NOT FOR CLEAN TONES. with the EMG 81, simply turn the gain up and crank that volume, you will not be disappointed, these things sound brutal as fuck.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD MH-300
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock EMG-Hz
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-60 (heard it was a good combo)
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Hetfield/Hammet, SlipKnot, Systematic, Nickelback
You musical style(s): Rock - from lighter more melodic styles to heavy detuned styles
Reason for pickup change: The HZ's were not only weak, but had a very hollow tone and hummed as bad as some single-coils I've played through.

Perceived output level: More output than the stock pickups by far, more output than Duncan high output pickups
Tone: Trebly but not too bad. The common complaint that these pickups are treble heavy is true, but a simple adjustment of your bass and treble nobs and they will sound just fine.
Sonic evaluation: I have an LTD MH-300 (Mahogony Neck-through), Schecter C-1 Elite (Mahogony Set-Neck), and a Washburn 7-string (Basswood, bolt-on) that I run through a Dunlop Crybaby into a Peavey Ultra half-stack.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is really good for heavily detuned and distorted guitar work. The active circuitry helps to pickup low end notes very efficiently and the fact that it's a little more treble balanced keeps the guitar from being muddy when you start dipping into baritone ranges. My one and only complaint about this pickup is the clean tone. It's simply too...nasally. A good deal of this, I realize, is my amp, but even played through other amps I prefer passive SD pickups for clean tone when compared to this.

Comments: If this pickup was destroyed I might very well go with passive SD pickups instead. These pickups have an amazing high-gain distorted sound that I love, but I need something that's a little more versatile. I know that many advocates of EMG products say that these pickups can be used for clean tones just as effectively as any other pickups, but I still find that the tone I prefer has more body and more crispness as opposed to the almost whiney quality this pickup can take at times. The stock duncan designed pickups that came in my Schecter sound more like the clean tone that I'm looking for. Someone said that these pickups sound good clean when run through effects and I'd have to agree, but I'd prefer something that could stand on it's own.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a bad pickup at all, but be careful before you buy one. If you play a lot of high gain distorted and/or detuned music then this pickup is definately a good choice. Probably the best, but if you tend to play more clean riffs and prefer a full-bodied clean tone then I wouldn't suggest going for EMG's.

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson les paul custom shop all mahogamy classic and ZAKK WYLDE sig gibson.
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: fitted when guitar was made
Other pickups on guitar: emg 85 at neck
Artists using this pickup: ME! Zakk (god) Wylde, The mighty Het and noone else who really matters!
You musical style(s): MMEEEETTTTTAAAAAALLLLLL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! waaaahhhh!
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Like a freight train hitting you in the face ! massive output.
Tone: Big round, punchy bass, Sweet mids and glistening treble.
Sonic evaluation: MARSHALL JCM 800 2203, Marshall 4x12 a and b. Boss OD1 and a jim dunlop cry baby.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: perfect match for metal and hard rock, but you can pull anything you want outa this baby.

Comments: Go and buy this pickup. Mind you, it will only sound good on a

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: i dunno

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock ibanez, i think it was a V8 pickup
Other pickups on guitar: stock V7 and a V1, all original ibanez crap pickups in my RG570
Artists using this pickup: everyone. and if youre not, you should be
You musical style(s): punk/hrdcore/metal
Reason for pickup change: i play sovtek mig100h through a 4x12 cab loaded with eminence v12's. i wasnt getting the crunch that i was looking for with the stock ibanez pickup, so i figured i'd give emg81 a crack.

Perceived output level: "very hot"...what ever that means. i dunno, my guitar sounds ALOT better now
Tone: this pickup gives an extremely balanced sound. there is just a perfect amount of lows highs and mids. couldnt ask for more
Sonic evaluation: so yea ibanez RG570 directly into sovtek mig100h. no fx loops, or digital processors or pedals. simple as it gets. this pickup was made to be played through a TUBE amp. i now get perfect overdrive distortion thats just right. not muddy, very crisp and defined. every note in the chord is perfectly heard. palm mutes come out awsome, growling lows, just like they should be. i also tried my guitar with emg81 through a solid state amp, my crate gx1200, and there was no difference at all. so if youre playing through a solid state, dont bother wasting the money on this pickup. but as i said, this pickup really defines the tone of the guitar through a tube amp.
this pickup is also meant to be overdriven....i personally prefer the sound of a single coil for clean tones, but i rearly use clean, so if doesnt even matter

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play fast punk/hardcore/metal...as i already said....this pickup suit everything....i dont even use the switch on my guitar its always inthe bridge position.

Comments: if something happened to this thing, i'd definitely get another one. this was the best mod i made to my guitar....from now on every new guitar i get, i'll get an emg81 at the same time. the tone is perfect. i also have an ibanez sc420 which i wish i could put an emg81 in, but unfortunately there is no room for the battery...so o well.
i compared this pickup to dimarzio evolution (which i put in my sc420) and this one is quite a bit louder and gives off more gain. very easy to do pinch harmonics.
i am indeed very satisfied with this pickup, highly recomend it to anyone looking for more gain out of their amp, and a more balanced sound in general. i guess this does get me alot closer to getting "that" sound, i think when i get a marshall 1960, cab i'll be there.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: See www.emginc.com

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Pro Reverse with maple fretboard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Unknown
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-H Neck
Artists using this pickup: Who cares?
You musical style(s): Primarily, I love power tube driven rock and blues with strats, but I have angry days reserved for heavy styles
Reason for pickup change: As a seasoned Stratist, I have a wanting for a second guitar with a completely differing character.

Perceived output level: Obviously hot.
Tone: Clear and hot without the overwound pickup muddy-mid soup.
Sonic evaluation: All of my guitars go through my own hand-crafted vacuum tube amps and a mesa or two. A good transparent tube or solid state amp will allow your guitar's true voice to be heard. These are the amps which use a minimum of gain-stages-so obviously, I'm not referring to certain Boogies, VHTs, and etc in this portion. That said, it is critical that you like the sound of that guitar straight into an amp before you decide on which step to take in regards to after-market pickups.
It should be noted that I grew out of metal guitars a long time ago and that I have come to love Fender strats for obvious reasons. However, when it comes to partaking of a crunch-off or getting down to the nitty-gritty and having it out with a Boogie or other square-wave generator, you cannot beat a loud, clear, and transparent humbucker slamming the preamp stages with a HOT SIGNAL.
I hated my friends JB's, EVH Musicman pups, and 490/590T's into these single-channel vintage amps. They had way too much midrange and were very muddy. These EMG's sound fantastic going into a Tweed Deluxe. Don't even think about playing it through a clean Twin or Super. A clean EMG-81 sounds like trash (unlike the H in the neck which is brilliant and sparkly). But throw it in front of an amp that reaches power tube saturation quickly or an amp such as a Mesa or a VHT, and you will be pleasantly stunned. I wanted to deny that it sounded incredible, but I couldn't. I didn't want to believe that an EMG could turn my Little Tweed clone into a demon.
It's a truly evil pickup indeed that doesn't muddy up your tone. On my Tweeds, it breaks up in a very compressed, jagged manner which is very "in your face" and tight. Through my boogies and vht, it's as tight, focused, brilliant, powerful, clear, and defined as I've ever (or never) heard. .
I don't care how many kids on this database say how great it is for metal or how Metallicunt uses them, it's an incredible pickup for Metal and Rock; both classic and new. Don't put them in a strat and expect sweet, delicate blues. Put them in a muddy Les Paul (and be amazed for once) and in your Jacksons and Ibanezes. This is where this pickup claims it's omnipotent and riteous position above the over-wound heaps of garbage on the over-flooded pickup market.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Hey kids and other folk: Overwound=muddy and middy. It's simple physics and you can't escape it. No marketing hype can change what is. Nu-Metal tone is cool as far as I'm concerned as I like heavy chunk, but don't let the passive guys fool you into buying an overwound pickup. All you are going to get is a muddy, mid-soup with increased string-pull which makes it impossible to raise the pickup closer to the strings.

Comments: I love these bastards, even though I was taught not to by morons on this board. Listen yourself and make your OWN decision. These are a fantastic value for clear, tight, saturated, overdrive or distortion. You purist freaks can read this and weep. I'm a 26 year old Electrical Engineer who can play the blues and metal. Good tone is good tone. Listen up, tone starts from your fingers and even these pickups cant mask that.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD M-100
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG HZ
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Many including myself
You musical style(s): heavy ballzy metal
Reason for pickup change: EMG HZ (or passive in general) just don't cut it for me in this guitar (basswood doesn't give good response from passives)

Perceived output level: Oh so hot..... hottest pickup i've ever tried
Tone: very balanced, a little on the trebly side.
Sonic evaluation: Now, let me say that alot of people criticize how the EQ is skewed to the mids and trebles. However, this is what makes this pickup the perfect soloing pickup! This leads me to believe that those criticizing this pickup either don't play live, or stick strictly to rhythm guitar. The mids and treble output on this guitar cuts through the rhythm perfectly for soloing! I've never tried a pickup that was so crisp even when you've got your gain dialed on 10. No where near as muddy as the 85 or 60. This is a great heavy metal pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: heavy freakin metal. I haven't tried this in the neck, nor do I want to, this is a perfect bridge pickup.

Comments: I'd buy this pickup again in a heartbeat. Been playing for 9 years, gone through dozens of different pickups before finally making the leap to try active PU's. I dont' regret it. This is great for making a guitar w/ crappy wood and horrible sustain sound like a $1000 guitar. I dropped these in my crappy backup guitar, now it sounds better than my main guitar.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Fucked if i know

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD V-350
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG-HZ H-4
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-85
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett, Zakk Wylde, plenty of dudes
You musical style(s): Thrash and Melodic Death Metal
Reason for pickup change: HZ's just didn't have enough balls. they were like baby versions of the 81. good, but not great

Perceived output level: Pretty much the hottest pickup you can buy, as far as i know
Tone: In the neck it's kinda bassy, but clear and powerful. in the bridge it's trebly, but hella punchy
Sonic evaluation: I run the ESP into a ZOOM Tri-Metal, into a Dunlop 95Q, into a BOSS NS-2, which runs into a Marshall JCM900 2500, which runs thru a JCM800 300W quad box

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a metal pickup. It can pass for other things, but this is definately made for metal

Comments: I know people are cynical about this pickup, because they think it's too harsh sounding, or too loud or whatever. but remember, if it's too loud you can always turn your amp down. if it's too harsh, you can always turn your presence and treble down. once you configure your sound for this pickup, it is the greatest bridge pickup you'll ever hear. before choosing this one i played thru heaps of other pickups, such as the Gibson 500t, Seymour Duncan SH-6 SH-4 and SH-10, and Dimarzio Blaze, Evolution and Tone Zone
I found the gibson just didn't have any character to it. it was just loud, nothing else. the duncan SH-6 wasn't bad, but it mudded up a little. SH-4 wasn't hot enough, and the SH-10 was just a little strange sounding to me, not quite what i was looking for. The Dimarzios weren't bad, but the blaze to me wasn't hot enough, and the Tone Zone didn't get the 3rd order harmonics that i need sometimes. the evolutions were great tho, but the EMG shat all over it. it just gets everything. any harmonic, artificial harmonic, anything at all, it gets it. it has more balls than any other pickup available, and it just deals with the high gain like an absolute dream. you couldn't buy a better metal pickup for the bridge position. stay away nu-metal guitarists. this thing is way to clear and responsive for you guys. and punk guys, you need something gay like a strat single coil. it makes me shudder when i hear of a punk guitarist using EMG pickups

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 3,000 hours of battery life before battery needs to be changed. Thats approx 3 hours a day for a year!!

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul studio 2001
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Gibson pickup that came with my guitar
Other pickups on guitar: Coil tapped 85 in the neck
Artists using this pickup: Zakk wylde (Black Label society, Ozzy), Kirk Hammet (Mettalica), Kerry and Jeff (Slayer), the guy from Mudvayne, Mick and Jim (Slipknot), Dino C (Fear Factory), Robb Flynn ( early Machine Head)
You musical style(s): ROCK! ALTERNATIVE rock with my band, although I enjoy metal.
Reason for pickup change: The stock Gibson pickups are weak and really muddy, especailly with effects.

Perceived output level: Very hot powerful pickup. On smaller practice amps it can distort the clean channel.
Tone: Lots of midrange and treble. Can sound very nice if you spend the time to set your amp up just right. Great for playing pinched harmonics, tapping and really distorted leads.
Sonic evaluation: My Gibson Les Paul goes through a 80 watt Carlsbro GLX valve emulation amp. Effects include a Line 6 DM4 distortion modeller, Cry Baby wah wah and a boss tuner throught the front end of the amp. In the effects loop there is a Marshall Super Vibe chorus, Boss Flanger and Boss Delay.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I'm ABSOLUTELY sick of ppl saying this pickup is only suited to Hard Rock and metal. I play in an alternative rock band. The music is heavy in parts, but that is just only part of the bands style. There's alot of clean guitar stuff and loads of fx as well. I must admit with a clean setting this pickup by itself is a bit too shrill, but once i turn the tone down on the guitars bridge pot it instantly sounds fantastic. These pickups are great to use in with effects cos they clean up the tone making them not so muddy.

Comments: If this pickup was stolen I would buy it again without a doubt. Having an 85 that was coil tapped in the neck means there are a huge number of tones available. I've been playing for about 6 years now. I love this pickup because it is SO powerful and smooth.

Pickup features: Humbucking / Active
Impedence or other specs: Low impendance

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG - 320QS
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Powersound Pickups (Factory Standard)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde(Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) Kirk Hammet (METALLICA!)
You musical style(s): Hardcore Metal , Death Metal, and lullabyes
Reason for pickup change: Dude, they were factory pickups and sucked my asshole!

Perceived output level: Very High
Tone: High Treble
Sonic evaluation: I use my Ibanez through a Marshall 100 watt solid state head and 4x12 cabinet. I also use Dunlop Crybaby Wah original, a boss Flanger, Danelectro Fab Tone, and Ibanez Delay.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play death metal to its hardest from (think hatebreed on heroin) and this pickups sings as well shreds. It is a beatiful combination. I would probably not use this pickup in the neck position...

Comments: If this bad boy was stolen, not only would I find the guy that took it and kill him very very brutally...I would go buy a new one. I have been playing for about 5 years and like everyone else, looking for a pickup with the proper sustain and distortion for my style of music w/o it being muddy and unclear. Well this mother fucker has brilliant clarity for high levels of distortion. Thats why i love this thing so much...it could have a less powerful output though for clean tones, but it does get a nice crunch. Metallica's intro on the song "One" best describes that sound...

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1976 Gibson Explorer
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson stock pickups
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett (Metallica); Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)
You musical style(s): Speed Metal (early Metallica, early Megadeth)
Reason for pickup change: Seemed like a good idea at the time!

Perceived output level: Just about the hottest available (just as long as you are using a good battery)
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: This pickup is meant for heavy metal and it is well suited for that. One of the major criticisms of the EMG 81 and EMGs in general is that it has an "electronic" and somewhat unrealistic frequency response. You can see this in the clean introduction off "One" or "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. Personally I like that sound, so the pickup works well for me. Before buying the pickup listen to the sound of the guitar on those songs and see if it works for you. If you want a more conventional clean sound, try a Seymour Duncan JB or PAF.
The EMG 81 sounds best (and is probably mean to be played) with heavy distortion. This pickup sounds good with scooped mids and for obvious reasons is good for reproducing the characteristic sound of Metallica.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For speed metal, punk, or anything thing with heavy distortion this pickup is well suited. It would probably be unsuitable for classical or jazz or blues.

Comments: This pickup is really very unique and ought not be compared with Seymour Duncans or Dimarzios. If it were destroyed or stolen, I would by it again in a heart beat. I cannot over emphasize the importance of carefully listening to the clean sound of Metallica before buying this pickup! I know a LOT of people who bought this pickup and were disappointed because they didn't like the electronic sound when played through the clean channel!

Pickup features: Active Dual-Coil Humbucker (EMG "single coils" are humbucking too)
Impedence or other specs: Low-impedance...for more info, check out their website. They update it once a year!

Model of guitar or bass: Carvin DC127
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: EMG 60, Dimarzio Air Zone, Dimarzio Fred, Seymour Duncan Jazz, Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell, Carvin M22V (reverse chronological order)
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: a bunch of metal guys...but they mostly use its bridge sound. Kirk Hammett's 81 neck tone is excellent though.
You musical style(s): Various Wall-of Sound styles: Dance/Goth/Jap Metal, Dance/Goth/Jap Pop, 90's Alternative (a la Hum, The Rentals, or some Smashing Pumpkins),
Reason for pickup change: I've been tuning lower and using a lot of two-hand tapping techniques recently. My other favorite pickup brand, Dimarzio, doesn't offer active pickups, which I've found really are necessary to give the high amount of clarity I desire in this situation. The EMG 60 I first put in after switching this guitar to be wired for EMG's was a bit too "classic", muddy, and trebly for me.

Perceived output level: Depends on how high you adjust it to the strings. It's the loudest pickup I know of other than the perhaps the Duncan Live Wire Heavy Metal (but that soudns like SHIT clean), but it doesn't have to be...you can lower it so it's more at the level of most other pickups. Mine is set medium-high, but a good amp will be able to handle the volume without distorting. Unfortunately, I prefer solid state, and I don't OWN a good solid state amp.
Tone: In the bridge, I find it to be too trebly, but in the neck, it's perfect: even balance across the board, with plenty of power in all registers.
Sonic evaluation: I have a Carvin Legacy 100W head that I like to use with a Metal Zone and the EMG's due to its clean headroom. I'd prefer to just get a solid state head though with the same characteristic. For recording, and as a backup live head, I use a Flextone II HD. My cabs are Carvin Legacies with Vintage 30's in them. Though this guitar sounds good through either of these setups, neither one is my really my thing anymore, so I'm playing mostly through the tiny Fender Frontman 25R in my aprtment, which is very good at showing the true sound of whatever you plug into it with. Initially, when I put them in my Ibanez RG470, I thought that EMG's made me sound worse than I was, robbing me of tonal nuances. However, putting them in a better guitar, and using a slightly unorthodox configuration (most people use 85 in neck, 81 in bridge), showed that they are actually quite remarkable. They are much better at picking up harmonics than passive pickups, but apparently, a bright guitar is needed to exploit this. So, I now have a super smooth, yet perfectly clear, tone with this 81 in the neck, and the 85 in the bridge gives more growl, which is reminiscent Tool, but sounds more ballsy.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I disagree with most people here. I think the 81 is perfect for the neck, but is too trebly and lacks character in the bridge. I'm at Berklee now and have to play a lot of weird jazzy stuff, and it's smoothness and clarity are perfect for this. Very versatile when not in the bridge.

Comments: EMG's selection is quite meager, and as far as their humbuckers go, I only really like the 81 and 85, in the positions I mentioned. The 85 is even more muddy in the neck than the 60 is, so I guess I'd have to buy this one again if something happened to it! I've been through all the Duncan and Dimarzio pickups that interested me, and unfortunately, these three companies are the only ones that get stocked well at guitar stores, so the only pickup I know of that will work well for my all my neck applications is the EMG 81. I've been playing guitar for a little over six years, and in that time have become fed up with all the "classic" tones...they bore me. Learning at Berklee has allowed me to draw a lot more tones out of whatever equipment I use, so whatever "sterile" qualities this thing may have, I guess I fix with the way I play, because when I let other players try out my passive humbucker guitars through my tube amps, and then I use my active humbuckers through my solid state, I find that the soudn I acheive ends up being deeper and more satisfying. I have the EMG-S and EMG-60 in my $80 Kramer guitar now, which sounds like shit, but the active pickups do allow it to be a permissable backup for me, even if their tone does not suit me. The 81 and 85 have much better bass response than other EMG pickups, so they give me a huge-sounding heavy tone, even through the tiny solid-state amp I mentioned, with mids scooped, anyway, and with the mids up, in this configuration, they are very "toney" and sing beautifully. If you're fed up with not being able to get a heavy and bassy but clear enough tone, check these out. Seriously, you can play can even thrash metal in the neck position with the 81! I give it a 9 because it's excellent, but not a fantastic value. No pickup should cost $90.

Pickup features: active humbucking
Impedence or other specs: low impedence

Model of guitar or bass: B.C.Rich Gunslinger
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: came with guitar
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: almost everyone
You musical style(s): rock, metal and, shred.
Reason for pickup change: n/a, came with guitar

Perceived output level: Nice crunchy clear sound. It's a clean hot sound.
Tone: A nice even tonal response. Not the least bit muddy.
Sonic evaluation: I'm playing this pickup in my B.C. Rich Gunslinger at the bridge position. It's slanted like the Barettas used to be. The body wood is alder. The neck is all maple. I'm playing it through my Marshall all tube/valve Triple Super Lead 602 combo. It's a great sound. If I play this through a Wah wah, the Wah wah sounds it's best. If I play it through my Metal zone it sounds brutal. This is the pickup to get if you like using effects, because it won't muddy up.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock and this pickup is a good match. It's probably best in the bridg position.

Comments: Sure, I'd buy another. I've been playing electric guitar for more than fifteen years. This pickup won't sound muddy. It has a great note definition, and that's one of the reasons why it's so popular.

Pickup features: Hum, Active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone G-310
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-81s
Artists using this pickup: The usual
You musical style(s): Anything from metal to blues
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a metal type of tone, and had heard good things about EMGs. I took a bit of a risk, only having played these pickups once before I bought them..
Boy did it pay off.

Perceived output level: Pretty damned hot, but not too much.
Tone: Pretty balanced, nice and smooth with tone rolled back
Sonic evaluation: Playing the guitar through my Flextone Plus.
The tone is great. The first thing I noticed is the precision and how articulate this pickup sounds.
The clean was surprisingly good as well. A bit of a twang on the bridge, nice and warm in the neck.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play a wide variety, and while this pickup is definitely on the metal side of life, it handles the more subtle stuff very well.

Comments: If ganked, I'd buy a new set, maybe trying an 85 in the neck next time around.
I've been playing 6 years, I own also a Gibson LP Double Cutaway.
I'm definitely satisfied with this pickup. Don't buy in to the common misconception that EMG clean sucks. Try it for yourself, and make up your own mind.

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: low impedance (i think)

Model of guitar or bass: BC Rich USA stealth, Gibson SG Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none in BC Rich, 498T in Gibson
Other pickups on guitar: none in BC Rich, EMG-60 in neck of Gibson
Artists using this pickup: Kerry King, Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, The Haunted
You musical style(s): metal with some hardcore
Reason for pickup change: 498T was too weak, good for classic rock, not what i play

Perceived output level: pretty hot, more than the stock gibson but not a whole lot
Tone: depends on wood of the guitar, middy in the sg, brighter and clearer in the Rich but with enough bass for palm muted parts and clearer
Sonic evaluation: I play both my guitars into a JCM 2000 Triple Super Lead, lead channel with gain to 10, treble to 5.5-6 (less with gibson), mid to zero, bass to 10 and presence to 9. i also use a boss super overdrive or sometimes a metal zone (but only when playing alone at low volumes for metal zone),. both with a noise suppressor

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is great for metal but you need to know what you're doing because it doesn't hide mistakes and can take some fiddling with your eq's to get the right sound. some say not enough thud, but i think so- i tune cgcfad and the rich gives me thud out my ass plus super clarity and the gobson is a little muddier, i think i don't like mahogany (i had a hamer satf that was mahogany and i sold it, didn't like that sound, either)

Comments: i just wanted to speak my mind about the misconception that emg pickups are sterile- you don't have (1) a tube amp or (2) a clue if you think that. dave gilmour of Pink Floyd uses EMGs and he has some of the best tone ever. So do Victor Whooten and Les Claypool. However, before i got the JCM 2000 head, i was using a valvestate and the sound WAS pretty sterile. guess what- no tube, no tone. that's cool because tube heads are expensive so maybe you can't afford one, or maybe you play a style that doesn't require tone as much as brutality, but you must consider your other equipment before blaming the pickup. any distortion pedal changes your sound, that's why i only use the overdrive pedal for live situations- it adds thump without significantly affecting tone. so i would say that in the BC Rich (i think it's alder), i have THAT sound, for myself. in the gibson, it's a little mid-rangey for my tastes, i'm going to try out the EMG-EXG circuit which boosts highs and lows while removing mids, it got some good reviews. so keep playing and remember to consider all things affecting your sound before deciding your pickup is sterile- i had an ac adapter giving me 'unexplainable' hum for three months before i realized the adapter and not my amp was making the noise...

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: see www.emg.in

Model of guitar or bass: BC.RICH TYPE MOCKING BIRD
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG SELECT
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: ZAKK WYLDE,Bla...bla...and of course Me
You musical style(s): Rock
Reason for pickup change: When i used EMG select the sound is good but i want more powerful sound.So i decide buy EMG 81.But i buy used because i dont have much money to buy new pickup.Maybe if i buy EMG 85,i would buy it new.I used just EMG 81 Pickup in Bridge,in neck i dont use it.I conect EMG with just 1 vol pot and no tone pot.I conect with Rocktron Rampage dist stompbox and to my Marshall AVT 20.
The sound is so puch and powerfull,i feel this the sound i have been search for 8 years.I dont used many effect,because i dont much use it.So until now and if i died (if i can play guitar in heaven or hell)i just want use EMG.Baravo...for their Product.
Terima kasih

Perceived output level:
Tone: I cant explain because the good tone is the good tone.Nothing explained just buy ,install it,and play it..
Sonic evaluation: Marshall AVT 20 and Rampage distortion Stombox

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

Comments: If the pickup stollen i will find yhe stolen and kil him with active emotion.Because my heart it's a pasivve hahahaha..hahaha.No just kidding but i will take his heart and sell to market so i cant buy a new EMG 81..(this is not kidding).

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: no clue...i just play em, i don't make em.

Model of guitar or bass: ESP KH-2
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None, they came stock
Other pickups on guitar: Position : All Positions...durrr....
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett, Jeff Hanneman
You musical style(s): Industrial metal, Nu-metal (Static X like)
Reason for pickup change: I didn't change any damn pickups, they came on the guitar!!!!

Perceived output level: Hotter than two rats humping in a wool sock
Tone: kinda trebly...not enough lows for my style. too 80's metal sounding
Sonic evaluation: ESP KH-2 with a Crate GFX 212+ combo, pro-co cables thru a dunlop crybaby wah.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal (industrial, real heavy shit like static x and FF). Completely unsuitable for this type of music, not enough lows for me...maybe it's the amp/guitar combination, but sounds shitty. Good for Metallica and Slayer, standard tuned stuff.

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen, I wouldn't give a shit. I'm selling this guitar anyway, it doesn't suit my style anyway. It's good for 80's metal and the like. I've been playing for 3 years, and the EMG HZ's on my LTD are better sounding for my style. I like a fuller sound with more lows. I have a PRS, and it sounds MUCH better than any other guitar I've ever heard in my life. If it had more lows, it'd be perfect for MY style. If you're a Metallica freak, and an 80's metal fan, get it. If not, the drop tuning doesn't help much, get a different pickup.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: No Idea

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Standard(Black)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Shite Stock junk
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Lots
You musical style(s): Everything from jazz to metal
Reason for pickup change: I honestly believe that Gibson spends more money on the box their pickups come in than the Pickups themselves. I was amazed I COULD NOT get a good sound from the stock setup.

Perceived output level: These things are HOT!!!
Tone: I feel that the tone is pretty transparent, unless you add a module they're flat.
Sonic evaluation: Les Paul into a Digitech 2101 Preamp into a 50/50w stereo tube power amp.(Re-built Carvin Tube 100) Out to a Marshall 1960 4/12

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Like I said, I play lots of stuff, mostly rock/metal though. I am going to get two EMG 60's and swap one for the neck PU in the LP cause this PU is just a little hot for the neck. I will then put the remaining 81/60 in my Hamer standard. The 81 is very hot but very clear. Practice, because you can't get away with sloppy playing.

Comments: If someone stole this pickup, I would head straight for the hardware store for some fishing net and cinder blocks (I have a nice deep river near by)
I have been playing about 12 years, as far as I'm concerned, this is THE pickup for heavy rock. I don't have any problems with the high output because my preamp has so many features. For clean sounds I just use compression. Like I said, I will be swapping the 81 in the neck for an EMG 60, and my Hamer will be setup the same way.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD MV-300
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG HZ
Other pickups on guitar: EMG HZ single coil
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammet, Jeff Henemen (slayer), Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Metal, Punk, Hardcore
Reason for pickup change: Wanted something that sounded better.

Perceived output level: highest output I've heard on a pickup yet.
Tone: Trebly, yet it has a slight bassy attack.
Sonic evaluation: I run an ESP LTD MV300 through a Mesa Single Rectifier w/a 4x12 marshall cab w/celestion speakers. I put a 7-band graphic eq and a noise gate in the effects loop.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal and this pickup IS the metal pickup. It's best in the bridge position because it;s great with distortion for rythms. It's not the best with clean tones, but I hardley use them.

Comments: I've been playing for 7 years and was mostly searching through guitars and amps to find the tone I was looking for. I finaly found a guitar I liked and an amp, but there was still something missing. It was through this site that I read reviews on different pickups and found one that sounded like what I was looking for. It's deffinatley the final piece to my tone. I would deffinately buy another one or recomend it to anyone who playes metal, punk, hardcore, or any style with a lot of distortion. The only thing I don't like about it is the battery, because you have to change it every once in a while, but it's a small price to pay for the tone you get out of it. I just bought a Jackson AT-1, and I'm planning to put an EMG 81 in that as well.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Powersound-bridge
Other pickups on guitar: Emg-60 (not because of James Hetfield)
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, In Flames (i think), opeth
You musical style(s): Progressive Metal, Shred Metal
Reason for pickup change: because they're an improvement of the previous pickups.

Perceived output level: its "so-hot-you-don't-need-an-amp" hehe, anyone whos filled out one of these will get the joke.
Tone: very trebly
Sonic evaluation: ibanez rg>crybaby>danelectro fabtone>octave>PeaveyBandit>4x12 cab

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is a little on the heavy side. Its great for metal rhythe (i hate spelling) or any metal for that matter. Way to trebly for clean sounds or solos, its way to piercing. If you want to solo use this pickup for rhythm and switch to another for so

Comments: If it were stolen, I'd try out a dimarzio steves special but probably come back to this pickup. I've been playing for 4-5 years. I love the distortion tone, VERY HEAVY. I hate its clean tone (sooo trebly). I chose this because of its reputation, and many of you helpful reviewers. I wish it had a little more low end. I quite satisfied with this pickup. All that its lacking can be made up with the EMG-60 in neck position. No, i'm not trying to imitate James Hetfield. He picked these pickups because they sound good together, and I picked these pickups because they sounded good together

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: explorer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock pick up
Other pickups on guitar: emg 85
Artists using this pickup: MetallicaA, slayer, zakk wilde
You musical style(s): all metal
Reason for pickup change: stocks sounded too shit for me

Perceived output level: hotter than any others ive played
Tone: trebly but bassy when palm muting
Sonic evaluation: explorer to shit no brand amp

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: old school metal suitable for this extremely well

Comments: if this was stolen the fucker that took it would have to go into the witness protection program because i would KILL them if they were caught. ive been playing for nearly two years and this is the best i have gotten my sound yet. if only i had a decent amp then they would be perfect

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: B.C. Rich American handcrafted bolt-on Warlock
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock B.C. Rich
Other pickups on guitar: Stock B.C. Rich (neck)
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Pat O'brien (Cannibal Corpse), Robb Flynn & Logan Mader (early Machine Head), Anders Bjorler & Jonas Bjorler(The Haunted, At The Gates), Kerry King and Jeff Hannemann (SLAYER), Kirk Hammet & James Hetfield (Metallica), Jari Kuusisto & Petru Kuusisto, fuckloads of other people
You musical style(s): Death Metal, Thrash and Speed Metal.
Reason for pickup change: Stock sounded like shit

Perceived output level: Very High, a lot hotter than the stock B.C. Rich, slightly hotter than my friends Seymour Duncan Invader.
Tone: Absolutely perfect for playing fast metal, trebly, which is good, but when palm muted is very chunky and huge sounding, very nice.
Sonic evaluation: Im using a 50watt Marshall Valvestate with a B.C. Rich Warlock (as stated above) I also run it through a BOSS CE-2 chorus and an Ibanez DS-7 distortion. The Ibanez pedal will be sold very soon, its shit.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is the perfect pickup for thrash and death metal. This is THE METAL HUMBUCKER!

Comments: If this were stolen, I'd hunt down the fuckhead who stole it from me, rip off his cock and jam it down his throat before stealing it back, I love it that much.

Pickup features: Humbucking active pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG 450
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: the dafault ones on the RG
Other pickups on guitar: A single coil default pickup, EMG 85
Artists using this pickup: Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield
You musical style(s): Metal, hard rock
Reason for pickup change: The old ones weren' cathing the harmonics and the tappings...
needed a change... and i wanted the metallica sound...

Perceived output level: IT catches all the highs more than lows... but it is really HOT STUFF!!!
Tone: as i said.. more highs than lows... I haf the 85 for the lows but i regretted it cos the 81 really kicks ass
Sonic evaluation: i'm using the Ibanez RG450 thru my ZOOM 4040 to my Yamaha 50 watts amp...
I mean.. even with this lousy amp i get that metallica sound (though the effects kicks ass too!)
Money well spent these pickups

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: SInce i play metal.. yea.. THIS IS A GOOD MATCH!!!! I feel that the pickup is suitable for both the neck and bridge positions coz it's great sound for soloing all over the fretboard!!!

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen.. I'd KILL THE ASSHOLE hu's responsible.. bt if i spoilt it.. i'd buy a new one..
i've been playing for 5 years now.. and i'm really satisfied with it and i'm sure it was money well spent.
i love the way i finally achieve that metallica sound i was looking for...
i hate the fact that i bought the 85! instead of both 81s!!!
THe 85 is too bassy for metallica and it doesn't compliment the guitar.. as in.. u haf totally two different sounds on ur guitar
so selecting pickups isn't smooth...
Well the pickup requires a battery which is the bad thing about it and my RG doesn't haf a battery compartment of some sort so the batts just are dumped in my machine.
I"M SATISFIED WITH THIS PICKUP!!!!!!!!!!
i'm telling ya... buy this pickup!!!! Dunt get the 85!!!