EMG 85

Pickup features: active
Impedence or other specs: output impedance (Kohm) 10. Same as the other EMG humbuckers

Model of guitar or bass: 1984 Kramer maple body Baretta. HEAVY BRIGHT HEAVY!!!
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan EVH custom shop, EMG 81.
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: who cares
You musical style(s): blues, rock, and yes, remember the catagory of hard rock boys and girls?
Reason for pickup change: The body is so bright and sustaining. Needed to warm things up a bit.

Perceived output level: I have used alot of different pickups over the years. This is about an 8 on the hot scale. Just enough to push the front end a little.
Tone: In my opinion this one is fairly balanced. slight accent on the bass, mid range. Slight cut to the treble, but like I said, fairly balanced, no peaks on any of the ranges. Just slightly shifted.
Sonic evaluation: I am using this one in the bridge of an '84 maple bodied baretta. I plug into an MXR phase 90, modified TS9, MXR dist+, ADA MP-1, MXR 10 band EQ in the effects loop, Korg A-2, for speaker simulation and eq, Alesis Q2, for delays, modulations, and reverbs, finaly into a Behringer Intelligate. I prefer to go line in on the sound system, rather than futzing with cabinet micing for live applications. I tried a Duncan EVH wind fist off. The pickup was such a horrible match for the maple body, kinda overkill in the mids. Then I tried an EMG 81, and that one was too much over the top, trebly. Then decided to try an emg 85, ahhhhhhhh, just right. I noticed first of all that this pickup helped tame the high end beast. Accented the lows a touch, and the mids were brought out a touch also, while the high end was cut a bit. In my opinion this one helps a bright guitar in the bass and mid range while using the bodies bright tone for the high end. I use an 81 in a alder body, bridge position, and I realy love the tone I get with it, but it didn't suit this guitars tonal shape. My candid opinion is that if you have a real bright body, and want to warm it up, go for this one, I realy enjoy it! Great for the warm, thick marshall sound. Not so much for the metal side of things, a lillte too subtle. As far as clean tones, I like this combo. Not as much as a nice single coil, bridge and middle pickup combo of a fender strat, but that goes without saying! Still has enough highs to make natural harmonics stand out, but overall not what this pickup is made for. To sum things up, this pickup effectivly shifts your tone to the thicker, warmer side of the spectrum. Thus helping immensely to warm up a very treble heavy guitar.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I mainly play rock-hard rock. Which still includes the use of clean tones, as well as distorted tones. For distortion, this is a good match for the warm distortion range. While not a perfect match for metal, I think this one still has enough umph to push your rig a little bit. Still, if you want clean tones, strap a single coil strat on for size. But all in all a prety well rounded pickup.

Comments: This pickup, as well as all EMG's, hold up to time, and most abuse. I can't immagine wearing it out, but if it happened to walk off, I would replace it. I have been playing for 20 years now, and have a pretty good ear for tone. OK, I'm no eric Johnson, but who else is? I use EMG pickups exclusively live, and no they don't pay me to say so. For the studio, I use what ever I can get my hands on. EMG's have almost no interference problems, and I have never been shocked using them. They are extremely quiet in live applications. Which ,in my opinion, is one of the biggest battles to playing live. The only drawback is trying to obtain a GREAT clean tone, but will do. I don't think I will try any other pickup in this guitar, Thank god! I believe this one has finaly made a friend with the maple body. My only wish is that all pickups would be based on a standard. Sort of an extremely balanced output and tone model, for single and double coil pickups. But then again, who sets the standard? Tone is the spice of life to me! Thank god for all the options out there. Just remember to do some research! If you are trying to narrow the field a bit, first play the guitar acousticly. Get a feel for the overall tone. Bright, warm, or dark. Now where do you want to go from there, brighter, darker? Then read the reviews, don't go by the companies opinion, they are just compairing their pickups to each other. Be an individual. Most of all, make yourself happy between the ears! Good luck on that ever illusive quest for the holy tone. By the way, If anyone has questions about what I have typed here, and I may just question myself also, feel free to write me. Remember, this is just my opinion, I am in no way the master of the tone. Plug in, tune up, and rock on!

Pickup features: Active Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG-81
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-60
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Indie/space rock/hardcore thrash/emo
Reason for pickup change: EMG-81 sounded too harsh and trebly, not enough body to it. I have an ash-bodied strat and the EMG-81 just didn't give it enough bass response since the guitar was bright to begin with.

Perceived output level: Hot! Almost has hot as the EMG-81, great output level for my taste!
Tone: It has more bass and mids than an EMG-85, sounds great!
Sonic evaluation: I'm using an ESP ash-bodied strat through a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde OD pedal into Carvin Bel-Air 2x12 combo. I can NAIL the tone on The Cancer Conspiracy - The Audio Medium which in my book has some of the sweetest overdriven tones ever on that album. Anyway, like I said earlier the reason I changed from the 81 was that I felt the 85 with its description of more bass and less high-end would be a better fit for my strat, and boy it's true! The 85 is just an overall more expressive pickup, and more transparent to me. It is darker, which I like, and to me the tone is just way FATTER, I can't say it any other way. If you already have a dark sounding guitar the 81 might be the one for you, but if you have a brighter guitar, definitely go with the 85. I had the EMG-85 in a Guild Bluesbird before I put it into the strat and it sounded incredible in there too. The EMG-81 excels more at extreme gain settings, but the 85 sounds great with huge amounts of gain but also it's very articulate for medium gain applications. Like a previous reviewer said, this is a common neck pickup but try it in the bridge! I love this pickup!!
Oh yeah, a note on the clean tone: It still sucks, but I use my EMG-60 in the neck position for warm clean tones anyway, so I never intended the 85 to excel at cleans, especially in the bridge position.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Indie/emo/screamo/hardcore/metal It is definitely a great match! I think it's suitable for ALL positions.

Comments: I would definitely buy this pickup again. I've been playing for almost five years, and also own a Carvin Legacy 2x12 extension cab and a Guild Bluesbird. There's nothing I don't like about this pickup, except for the cleans which I don't use it for anyway. Comparing it to the 81, it's just a different voicing, and I like the darker voicing of the 85 much better. So I just recommend that if you have an ash/alder bodied guitar or something that's bright, stay away from the 81 and get the 85. This pickup just rocks!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul, American Stratocaster
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 498t, Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Rhythm Pickups
Artists using this pickup: Who Cares
You musical style(s): Punk, Garage, Emo, Reggae, Folk, Classic Rock, Funk, New Wave, etc.
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to check out something other than the stock Pearly Gates Pickup on the Fender, and the Stock on the Gibson was really harsh.

Perceived output level: Too hot. It makes the guitar sound super messy if it is not as far from the strings as possible.
Tone: Middy, Fat, Lots of Lows. It overpowers the guitar, so that none of the wood tone comes through. This is probably a great pickup if you are playing on a piece of cardboard through a triple recto.
Sonic evaluation: I have used this on many different amps, so I will outline how it sounded through each of them.
Triaxis into VHT 2/90/2-Muddy, and too Compressed. Really made it unclear and very bassy. Sounded Very Solid State.
Recto Preamp-Nice, but really really too buzzy. Two waaaaaayyyyyyy too overprocessed pieces of gear. No Dyanmics at all.
Marshall MG80RCD-Worst sound ever. Sounds like you are just altering the pitch of an overcompressed recording of a chainsaw, but I blame the amp.
MXR Distortion II into Sovtek Mig 50 with reactive recitifier. Very nice sound, but again too muddy, and a little bit too buzzy if you dont drop it way down from the strings.
Sovtek Mig 50 with reactive rectifier-Good Solid Overdrive. Kinda sounds like the solo in Jimmy Eat World's song "the middle" Still too muddy though. Way too muddy. Mediocre through this.
Sovtek Mig 50 without reactive rectifier-Good Solid Overdrive. Kinda sounds like Jimmy Page or ACDC. But again, too muddy. Mediocre
Line 6 Flextone 2, Rectified Setting-Great sound. Smooth, soft, elastic, and a really blink-182esque palm mute I only played this at fairly low volumes. This was muddy in a good way.
This pickup was in the bridge position

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I am looking for a pickup with a good palm mute that does cleans well and distortions that are very clear and very rectified sounding (not mesa rectifier, but tube rectified). This pickup does not get that done. I would recommend this pickup to people with a high gain amp looking for a disturbed sound. Probably works well for kids that are into screamo or any other type of Mesa Rectifier music. This is a better pickup than most on the market, but be careful that this is just what you are looking for. It tends to dominate and buzz up your rig, and does not let your rectified amp sound come through, or the guitar sounds either. It is also muddy regardless of what these metalhead morons are saying here. This pickup did sound good as a blues clean in the rhythm position, but not for jazz or distored blues. Trust me, it just dosent have the versatility to pull this off. Basically you get one heavy metal, muddy as hell distortion tone, or mediocre OD sounds. The cleans really fail to impress me.

Comments: I have already put in an order to buy some adder plus persuaders to drop into my Paul and Strat. They should be sweet. The thing is that I am not a gearhead or tone geek, but this AND the 81 just are really harsh when they are used. They get that kinda 80s metal sound that is tough on the eardrums, or they get that kinda overcompressed Disturbed sound that annoys the eardrums. Again, this is just my opinion. Anyone looking for tone closer to Fugazi, or The Ataris, or any other band that does not like to mask their shitty playing with this muddy pickup should stay away. But if you own a recto, this will allow you to be as muddy and heavy as you want to be. I am going to give this a 6, because its a good pickup for some, but not for people who don't play shitty music.

Pickup features: active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Washburn USA Korina PT3
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan '59
Artists using this pickup: dont care
You musical style(s): Metal, Rock
Reason for pickup change: came stock

Perceived output level: pretty high
Tone: completely balanced, smooth yet crunchy, bassy yet cutting, decent mids
Sonic evaluation: I'm running this Washburn through an old Mesa Dual Rectifier head (green channel distortion) and 4x12 cab.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play metal and rock. This pickups is great for bridge or neck.

Comments: I have to admit. I've been an EMG hater for a long time. I've always been more into Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio pickups. I still love those. This came in a great guitar that I bought, and I figured id be switching this out, but damn it sounds great. I've NEVER heard an EMG sound this amazing before. I'm used to EMG pickups sounding sterile and boring, but this is just INCREDIBLE. My theory is that perhaps the high quality Korina wood of the guitar DOES help, despite my previous notion that EMG pickups werent effected by wood. It just sounds so full thick and crystal clear, not muddy. It cuts like a knife. Great high end for soloing, enough mids (dial in a bit more on my EQ), and great bass. Just perfect. I'm actually contemplating switching out my Duncan on my Custom BC Rich which is made of mahagony. I highly recommend this pickup for the bridge. The neck is great too but for different reasons. Lightyears beyond the 81. I dont know if this would sound good in a low quality import guitar though.

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez S (old model - before they were called "S")
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymor Duncan Pearly Gates
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 85 (neck) EMG S (middle)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): punk rock, metal, blues.
Reason for pickup change: the pearly gates sounded like mush and was too flappy sounding.

Perceived output level: just hot enough to push my amp into what its potential was
Tone: very middy - but thats what a guitar is meant for - its a "mid range" instrument.
Sonic evaluation: JCM 900 - Mesa Boogie 4x12 rectifier Cab.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: great match - not good for natural clean tones really - but if you have lots of effects and are into that shit then its probably good.

Comments: I've been playing 13 years and have a great ear for shit. The pickup sounds great but its only good for one sound. I plan on changing soon for the simple reason of wanted something new and different. It worked GREAT in the studio and was 100% noisless, great on stage too.

Pickup features: (active humbucker)
Impedence or other specs: Check out EMGinc.com

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Jem7D
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Breeds
Other pickups on guitar: another EMG 85 in the neck position, and possibly an S in the middle position (in the future)
Artists using this pickup: Wylde, Hammet, Lukather
You musical style(s): Hard rock, progressive, modern, metal, rock.......
Reason for pickup change: I wasnt to pleased with the tone of the Dimarzio Breed bridge pickup (atleast for my tastes). It sounded decent, but sported way to much midrange frequency. Not enough highs, not a strong enough attack, and not aggressive enough for my tastes.

Perceived output level: Every bit as hot as an EMG 81, but a totally different frequency spectrum (more focused it seems)
Tone: Very well balanced, lots of lows with seemingly the perfect amount of mids. Great highs too - good harmonics
Sonic evaluation: be candid. lol - anyway im using my Ibanez through a Boogie DC-5 head and a Marshall or Mesa cabinet. It sounds great through both, and Im happy with the EMG 85. I tried the 81 in the bridge before this.....and it was a little to harsh for me. Highs through the roof (almost to the point of being kinda ridiculous). My guitar does have a basswood body and a floyd bridge though, so that may contribute to that. Regardless, the EMG 85 is a severly underrated pickup, because the 81 seems to get all the attention. Give the 85 a try in the bridge! Its very powerful, full and smooth sounding with a great EQ balance. Not to mention it has a much better clean tone next to the shrill EMG 81.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This PU is great for hard rock, but is also good for much more. Its more well rounded than the 81 and can nail many great tones!

Comments: I would definitely consider getting this pickup again if something happened to it. Ive been playing for about 7.5 years and have tried many different pickups in guitars. I also own a Fender that I choose to use Seymour Duncans with (the SH-5 Custom). I like a pickup with a good full balls to the wall tone, with a good balance of frequencies. I dont tend to get into pickups that bulge one range out like crazy.....like highs through the roof. Or so much bass your body shakes when you hit a chord! The EMG85 was a great find for me, and ill probably be using it for some time. The only reason I dont give it a perfect 10 is because EMG's dont have the best clean tone. Although the 85 is smoother than the 81 for a clean sound.....it still is a little rough around the edges ;-)

Pickup features: Active Humbucker..
Impedence or other specs: Alinco 5 magnet..

Model of guitar or bass: 1989 Gibson LP Studio Lite..Great guitar
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Gibson
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60 in the neck
Artists using this pickup: Hell, I don't know.. and don't care to be honest..
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal, Rock, Metal, blues, Rock, bluesy rock, etc..
Reason for pickup change: Kept hearing great things about these pickups..

Perceived output level: Very hot.. Ultra hot.. To die for hot..
Tone: very balanced.. Middy I would say which I like..
Sonic evaluation: Using this thru a Digitech preamp modeling thing that cost a hundred bucks into a Peavey classic 30 combo with tubes.> Man, the sound is to die for.. What a great combo..

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock, blues, etc..Great rock pickup

Comments: I'm goibng to try the 81 to see the difference.. I'd like to get a few more pinch harmonics.. it does this very well now, but I'm wondering if it would be better with the 81.. I'm going to have this guitar refretted as the frets are very little, but I think with the new frets and the 81 it should be a great sound.. I might even try the 60 in the bridge later.. With EMG's its very easy to change pickups once you install the initial EMG's since they have this connecter.. U just take the pickup out, unplug it and plug in the new pickup .. Works like a charm.. Great idea..

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Penco Les Paul (mid70s vintage)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): hardcore, metal, heavy doomy blues (Infest, Slayer, Trouble, Sabbath)
Reason for pickup change: emg rules

Perceived output level: slightly louder than passive pick-ups, with no buzz! Gets weaker as battery drains.
Tone: thick tone but highs are still cutting
Sonic evaluation: mainly through Peavey Audition 20 practice amp (when I'm at home practicing) but also through various Carvin, Jackson, and Crate amps when I'm out.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: excellent for any hard heavy MUSIC (ie not that "Nu Metal" Chugga-Chugga garbage)

Comments: If stolen I'd get this or the 81. This is the 3rd guitar this pick-up has been in, I can't play without it. :-)
I have been playing 18 years and after hearing some hype about the EMG back in the mid-late '80s I just risked it and bought it. Don't regret it at all.
The only thing I hated was I had to cut into the body with the 2nd guitar this was in to fit the battery into it. Changing the bettery is a bit of a drag as well I guess. But it's active what do you want?
Since it seems 98% of the other reviewers are 16 years old and have terrible language skills and also not enough experience to mention this,
I will note I have had the same pick-up since 1988 and it still sounds fantastic. This is definitely a sturdy little pick-up, I broke the neck off one guitar and had a bunch of other throwing/dropping related abuse to another and this pickup even though visibly worn (string friction on surface and nicks) still sounds great.
I'll swap it into whatever new guitar I get next!

Pickup features: Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Don't know

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson LP Studio Lite
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Who knows
You musical style(s): Rock, blues and rock..
Reason for pickup change: I wanted quiet operation, less string pull, something to help balance the sound with this guitar since it has a Floyd Shaller made trem.. I also wanted the harmonics that one is able to get with these pickups..

Perceived output level: Hot, to ultrahot About like a duncan distortion.. Another great pickup
Tone: Balanced..
Sonic evaluation: Peavey classic 30, I tried it thru a line 6 spider and it sounded great on the crunch, and mesa channel..

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock, Blues, and mostly Rock

Comments: I'd probably try the 81 next as I hear it's pretty good.. This pickup although very balanced is a tad, and I mean just a tad dark in this Mahgany guitar if you ask me.. But I've heard that it was bassy.. I'd think that the 81 would really round out the sound.. With EMG's you just unhook the pickups after you've had them installed and then hook up another..

Pickup features: Active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: RMS Output voltage: 1.0. Peak output voltage: 3.0. Impedance: 10 Kohm. Output noise: -89 dBV

Model of guitar or bass: ESP LTD H-301
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock EMG Hz.
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81 in bridge.
Artists using this pickup: Only the good ones.
You musical style(s): Metal, blues, hard rock
Reason for pickup change: EMG Hz stock was too thin and didn't have enough output. Just needed a little extra oomph.

Perceived output level: It almost seems louder than my 81 in the bridge. Very powerful.
Tone: Crystal clear. The sound is very balanced and full. Sounds better than my EMG 81.
Sonic evaluation: I run my ESP through a Dunlop 535Q wah, Boss DS-1, into my Marshall AVT50. All I can say is TONE TONE TONE!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's a great match for playing heavy metal. Palm muting with this pickup sounds great. Played clean I'm able to play some blues as well.

Comments: I've been playing for about 8 years, and I stripped down my gear considerably. I only have my ESP LTD H-301, Dunlop 535Q CryBaby, Boss DS-1, and Marshall AVT50 amp. By far, this pickup gives me the tone I've been searching for. If it ever crapped out or was ripped out of my guitar by some bastard, I'd find him and gut him, then go and buy a new EMG 85.