EMG 85

Pickup features: Active Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: Low

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Explorer
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 500T(bridge) & 496R (neck)
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde
You musical style(s): Aggressive Music with a Bluesy Edge
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: More output than a regular humbucker(PAF)
Tone: Bassy with scooped mids and good clarity and string definition
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a Gibson Explorer and a Laney GH100L all tube head with 240-watt Laney Cabs.
This is my main rig, but I also use this pickups on a few other guitars I own.
This pickup is very loud but not overly distorted. It retains the characteristics of your instrument.I also use this pickup in a strat-style guitar and it sounds completely different.
Their 81 model is also a good sounding pickup but I think this one sounds a lot better. I'm using distorted tones most of the time and I don't even own a real clean sounding amp, so I don't think I'm the best person to evaluate this pickups clean sounds.
However, I can achieve some moderately clean sounds by simply backing off my volume pot, which means that this pickup is very dynamic.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For metal this is a better choice than the EMG 81 because of its increased bass response. The output is lower than the 81 , which makes high gain amps sound cleaner and tighter.I think it suits all music styles and can be used on all positions.

Comments: I'm very satisfied with these pickups. I put EMGs in every guitar I own.
I'm been using it for 10 years and I never considered going back to passive pickups again.
It not only alters the way your guitar sounds, it also alters the way your guitar feels because it doesn't push your strings too hard.
The closer you place a passive pickup from your strings, the stiffer your guitar will feel, because the magnets on these models are too strong.
Active pickups, on the other hand, use weaker magnets and circuits to amplify it internally.The only thing I don't like about these pickups is the way they look. I would very much like to see an EMG pickup that looks like an regular humbucker but sounds like an active one.

Pickup features: Active Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Hamer Centaura
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan JB
Other pickups on guitar: EMG SA/EMG SA
Artists using this pickup: Many different artists and styles
You musical style(s): Rock,fusion,avante garde
Reason for pickup change: I wanted more clarity when using heavy distortion. I found the Duncan JB a bit too muddy

Perceived output level: Definately hotter (around 15%) than the JB
Tone: Slightly scooped mids giving a very clear tone, lovely string to string definition. Awsome crunch and clarity.
Sonic evaluation: My Hamer is going straight into a Mesa Boogie DC5 head and dual caliber 2/12 cab which has proved to be a fantastic and reliable combination.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For what I do, which is basically everything, this is a great pickup. Clean to filth, no problem!!!.

Comments:

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

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Kelly
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Kent Armstrong shitty stock PU
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-81
Artists using this pickup: All of them should!!!
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal
Reason for pickup change: Wanted sterile clean sounds.....Pantera like....

Perceived output level: Hotter than the EMG-81
Tone: a little bit too much bass, but I like it that way!! otherwise, balanced
Sonic evaluation: I now have the best clean sound in the world....sounds awesome!!
I run it directly into my Crate SS half-stack...with chorus....INCREDIBLE!!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: suits all styles except country!!

Comments: Wich I could have on in the bridge too!!
Great PU....much better sounding that the 81!!!
My next guitar will have a pair of those babies!!

Pickup features: Humbucker thats Active
Impedence or other specs: HIGH OUTPUT(less than EMG81) Long endless sustain

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Explorer
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 496
Other pickups on guitar: Emg 89
Artists using this pickup: Zakk Wylde, Maybe Kirk Hammett has it in a Few guitars
You musical style(s): Metal/Hardrock
Reason for pickup change: 496 was great with good sustain but 85 had more and Gets harmonics
alot better. Its also smoother with lots of bass

Perceived output level: Hot but Not as much as Emg 81
Tone: Bassy
Sonic evaluation: I uses a Fender Priceton Chorus, IMO this amp does no guitar justice so
ill rate the sound from The Peavey Ultra112 i used in the store.
This pickup is so smooth and with high output that gives thick balls to the wall sustain.
The sound is as thick as cream cheese. A joy to listen to.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: great for Hard Rock and Metal and Even Jazz on a clean channel with a little chourus. Its great in the neck and its like a toned down version of the emg 81 in the bridge(more bass) less output

Comments: I would buy it again without question
Emg's are the best pickups money can buy and I will never have to look for an other pickup

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

Model of guitar or bass: Hamer Centura
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fender Lace Sensor
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: ME
You musical style(s): Progressive/Death Metal
Reason for pickup change: I hate Lace Sensors (I also had other EMG's and liked the sound)

Perceived output level: The younger brother of the EMG 81...less output, but still hot.
Tone: Slightly bassier than the 81 and less trebly. Very smooth and balanced.
Sonic evaluation: Hamer Centura into a Marshall VS-100. It is great with this setup. It is a good pickup for rhythm, not so much for leads. It has a smooth sound that is great for metal/hard rock.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Progressive/Death metal and this is pretty good when I want something with less output than the 81's

Comments: Yeah, I would buy it again. EMG makes great pickups and this is another in a long line of great products. If you like the 81 but want something a little lower in output (with more bass) pick the 85 up.