EMG 89

Pickup features: humbucker active
Impedence or other specs: .

Model of guitar or bass: parker p-38
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: generic korean (but originally stock)
Other pickups on guitar: blue lace sensor in neck, stock in bridge
Artists using this pickup: .
You musical style(s): .
Reason for pickup change: the stock broke, then took it into a tech, who put a generic korean in. i then asked for the EMG.

Perceived output level: more than my other pickups. very unbalanced, but my other pickups are passive
Tone: .
Sonic evaluation: i originally didn't like it that much. it was very bright, and slightly piercing at first.
i was originally using all solid state stuff, but i got a tube distortion pedal, and they work together like nothing i've ever heard before.
i strongly suggest that if you have solid state stuff, then don't buy this. tubes work wonders.
this is a very nice pickup for heavy distortion and lead, but can be a little shaky on clean (although acceptable).
i usually use the humbucker for distortion, then the single for clean.

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

Comments: well, the tech had to do ALOT. none of the original electrics are in my guitar.
the problem was my piezo. you see, the piezo was active, and the pickups were passive. the original preamp for the piezo had to be taken out and an EMG put in, along with some complicated wiring stuff i modified my guitar with.
apparently, it took 2 days to fit the pickup.
7. not too shabby, but a little work. i suggest if you want to make the passive/active changeover, take it into your tech.

Pickup features: Dual-mode active humbucker
Impedence or other specs: see www.emginc.com

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Explorer'76
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 500T
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 60
Artists using this pickup: Don't know
You musical style(s): Pop-rock-metal
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup has way too much mids

Perceived output level: in humbuckin mode more than stock PU but in SC mode it is a little weak
Tone: Bassy wirh plenty of mids and highs, cuts trough
Sonic evaluation: Explorer into Tube Screamer into Yamaha DG-stomp

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play all kinds of music. In humbucking mode I only use it with medium to full distortion, in SC mode it sounds great clean to full distortion. I use the TS as a clean boost.

Comments: I like this PU but if it broke or were stolen I would try the 60 instead.

Pickup features: Active humbucker, 4 conductor split to single coil SA
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 79 Gibson "the paul" Mahoganey body, ebony fret board
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Schaeller golden 50's
Other pickups on guitar: Stock gibsons
Artists using this pickup: Zack Wild, idunno
You musical style(s): Everything but country
Reason for pickup change: Golden 50's sucked. Loved the SA's in my strat. Went for the 89's expecting the same kind of love fest.

Perceived output level: Higher output than a stock PAF.
Tone: Too clean. No color. Almost impossible to keep from being punchy.
Sonic evaluation: Marshall artist 3203, 69 Fender bassman. At first I liked them. then the more I played my other guitars. (73 les paul custom, DeArmond X155, strat) the more sterile the pickups sounded. Tone is a strange thing. One guys perfect tone is another guys white noise. I don't like EMG's humbuckers. I guess I'm just a PAF kind of guy.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's not a good match for me.

Comments: I'll be selling these puppies.

Pickup features: Humbucking with coil split
Impedence or other specs: Uhhhhhh...

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson DR3
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Garbage Duncan Designed
Other pickups on guitar: Emg 89
Artists using this pickup: No idea
You musical style(s): A little bit of everything mostly rock and metal
Reason for pickup change: The Duncan designed pickups were really cheap and thin sounding. I wanted some different tones and more flexability in my sound.

Perceived output level: They have a warm sound and a nice powerful response not too overpowering.
Tone: Bassy in the humbucker mode but with enough mid and treble to keep things interesting. In the Single coil mode a really singing bright sound that's sharp but not too much.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Crate GX 212 and they really compliment it. These things are incredible! I can go from and really raunchy cruncy tone to a nice big fat warm Les Paul sound. I would highly recommend these to people like me who want a lot of differen't sounds in one guitar. I can get Iron Maiden/Heavy Metal tones to Stevie Ray Vaughn/Blues tone. These pickups have it all. The only thing I've noticed is that in humbucker mode on clean its a big to big for strumming chords, but pop it into single coil and that problem is solved.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Like I said I play all kinds of music and these fit damn near everything. I really can't think of anything they would be unsuitable for.

Comments: If it was stolen I'd cry then go get more. I have played for 5 years and have not found better pickups. I put EMGs in my ESP Explorer as well and I have a Jackson KV3 that has real Duncans although I haven't played that one much since I got into EMGs these are the best out there period. I had a friend and my tech talk me into active pickups because I could not find what I was looking for. Well lucky for me they did because I can find no problem with these or any other EMG product.

Pickup features: active humbucker, splitable to active single coil
Impedence or other specs: I dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Epi Sheriton II
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epi's
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Ranges from rock to jazz. Play mostly modal based leads and very few power chords (no country, sorry)
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups were reputed to suck, as well as being muddy on the neck and shrill on bridge.

Perceived output level: Higher than stock epi's. (Stock epi's impedance is around 8 ohms.)
Tone: Little mid. All highs and lows Balance between neck and bridge is OK.
Sonic evaluation: Using Marshall 3203 Artist half stack and 69 Fender bassman.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Play originals mostly. Style is fusion of everything I can absorb. Latley focusing on Jazz

Comments: I've had these pickups for years now. Bought them originally for a Ibanez roadstar II that I routed out for two pickups. Originally I was determined to love these pickups, as I have been happy with EMG SA's in my frankenstien strat. As time passed, so did my love for these picups. When compared to the stock PAF's in my 73 Les Paul Custom they seem sterile. Recently I ripped out the epi stock pseudo PAF's in my Sheraton II and strung the guitar with flat wound 10's. Yuck! Only lots of Highs and Lows. These pick ups have also lived for a long time in a 79 Gibson "The Paul". They sounded better there than in the semi-hollow Epi, but I'm convinced that overcoming my cheapskate nature and springing for Gibson pickups would make me much happier. Sorry guys, but I don't like the EMG buckers. I tend to agree with the folks that say that they sound too similiar regardless of what guitar they are in. Now I wonder if I should re-think the SA's in my strat???

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

Model of guitar or bass: 83 USA Kramer Pacer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Came on my guitar
Other pickups on guitar: EMG single Coils
Artists using this pickup: Does it really matter
You musical style(s): Progressive Rock, Floyd, Rush, Dreamtheater
Reason for pickup change: no change, came with guitar

Perceived output level: Average output level, on par with my duncan 59, much less than both my Tone Zone and my Duncan Distortion, less output than my Screamin Deamon. For single coil mode, the output is a lot lower than humbucker mode. Probably on par with any Fender single coil in terms of output. DO NOT BUY THIS P/U EXPECTING HIGH OUTPUT, its actually pretty modest for an active pickup.
Tone: Balanced tone in the humbucker mode, like a PAF. Single coil mode is crisp and snappy, with good bass output for a single coil.
Sonic evaluation: Use it in my Old Kramer USA made Pacer. Play through a Carvin 50 watt tube amp and a 5150 cab.
Humbucker sounds like a duncan 59. maybe slightly more stale sounding. My 59 seems to project more mids and resonant bass. Notes seem to jump out. With the EMG, I have to give it more pick attack to get that mid and bass presence. Basically it responds to how you play better than any of my pickups. Dig in and spank those notes and it responds, back off with a light touch and it mellows out. This is a good thing IMHO, and it makes this pickup very unique in todays era of high output shred machines.
Combined with my two active EMG single coils, makes one extremely versatile setup. Through a cranked set of tubes I can get close to a brian may tone, and Eric Johnson. I can nail david gilmour tones with the 89 in single coil mode in conjunction with my neck single coil. Alex lifeson overdrive is easy with the 89 activated by itself.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Progressive rock. Rush, pink floyd, dreamtheater. Classic rock. Perfect match for this. This is the best "Hybrid" pickup I have ever used... Fender Strat and Gibson Les Paul in one!!! I probably could care less for it mounted in the middle position.

Comments: If stolen, would Demo an EMG81 first and then pick between the two of them.
Been playing since 85. All my guitars have pickup modifications except the Hamer.
86' Ibanez Roadstar II
92' Fender Prodigy
98' Hamer Duo-tone
99' Ibanez RG 220
I love its tone and versatility. Love its low noise. Hate the need for batteries.
Did not compare, came with my Kramer Pacer, previous owner swapped out the stock Duncans.
Tone wise, I'm satisfied 100%, it does humbucker and single coil tones equally well. But, I'm still searching for a way to get Brian May's tone... without forking over $1200 for a VOX AC30.
again.. DO NOT BUY THIS EXPECTING HIGH OUTPUT. My Duncan Dist, Screamin Deamon, and Dimarzio Tone Zone all are passive and have higher output. High output is not this P/U's thing.. get an EMG 81 for the Kirk Hammet vibe.
Since I did have to pay for it, I cant possibly give it a 10, and it requires a battery to get its tone without hum or buzz... major inconvenience having to unplug all the time... -1, so I'll give it an 8.

Pickup features: dual mode active humbicker
Impedence or other specs: yes i would

Model of guitar or bass: Squier Affinity Strat, Gibson Gothic SG both tuned CGCFAD low to high
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stocks
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-81 in the SG, 2 SA's in the Strat
Artists using this pickup: Mudvayne
You musical style(s): Melodic Metal with so much low chunk it would rip your ass off
Reason for pickup change: The stocks had almost no output. single coils in the bridge get no chunk.

Perceived output level: This thing has the perfect amount of output. It slams the signal into the tubes with a VENGENCE
Tone: Real bassy. great low midrange rumble. the highs are precise and not overly harsh. great for that good 'ol ROAR. my bass player kept commenting on how this was the first SG he ever heard that got a really really deep tone.
Sonic evaluation: right now im using a Marshall JCM-900 run to a crate 4x12. the only effect i use is a vox wah

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The easiest way to descirbe my style is Pantera meets Tool meets Prodigy. the pickup is awesome in the bridge but i havent tried it in the neck. it mathces great with the SA's

Comments: i havent definetly found MY sound, and these pickups were the key. i would not change one thing about these guys. if my SG was ever stolen i would go punisher on the pussy-ass peice 'o shit that thought he could get away with it. ive been playing since i was 7 and these are without a doubt the PINNACLE of pickup perfection. i cant say enough but im sure your gettin sick of my ranting. well done EMG.

Pickup features: Active Dual Mode Pickup (both hum and single)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez S-series 470 FM CUSTOM, Les Paul Custom, also on my "Bastard" Custom axe
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stockers
Other pickups on guitar: EMG 81 in neck, an SA on the ibanez, and a 60 on the Les Paul
Artists using this pickup: Hetfield has one in his guitar, but I woulden't go so far as to say he can use the damn thing...
You musical style(s): Progressive Technical Rock/Metal
Reason for pickup change: All guitars I play are carefully customized to my satisfaction

Perceived output level: Very high output, blew away stock pickups, goes well with 81, but slightly overpowers EMG 60
Tone: Great rhythm tone, also distinctive and edgy enough for single note riffs or leads, despite what you hear, PLEASE try this in the bridge, when put in the neck, it's bass is overwhelming and muddies things up. Solos sound a little bit too brittle, I solo using the neck pickup for a fatter, fuller sound.
Sonic evaluation: I use 2 ams simultaneously, my signal first enters a VOX wah, then goes into a whirlwind A/B box. One side goes directly into a JCM 2000 TSL head (only on crunch channel)and into a 1960a cab. This side is used to double my sound or add rhythm. My main sound goes through an Ernie Ball Volume peadal, a Tube Screamer, and then into a Mesa Boogie Formula Pre amp. That signal is ran via mono into a rocktron Intellifex which is controled by an X-15 (Awesome controller) midibitch. It exits stereo and is fed into a Mesa Boogie Dual Stimul 2:90 Power amp into another 1960a Marshall cab.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup perfectly suits the style of music I play, and when tapped and combined with an SA in the middle position, you get EMG's replication of a strat which is very convincible, especially if you add a touch of mid via an EMG expander knob.

Comments: I have several high-quality guitars and put the 89 in the brige on all of them. I would give this a pickup a 10 in the bridge position, but only a 7 in the neck. It sounds best when tapped for clean, imitating the SA, and in humbucker mode it is an 85. I highly recomend this pickup for anyone, regardless of your style of music.

Pickup features: humbucker/single active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: carvin
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: carvin c22
Other pickups on guitar: emg 81
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): metal, rock
Reason for pickup change: went active, 81 was awesome for the bridge but just to harsh
for clean stuff. It's a little difficult to have an active emg
and a passive pickup in the same guitar although it is possible.

Perceived output level: pretty hot humbucker mode, single coil less comparable to SA.
Tone: humbucker bassy, warm, although little to hot, single coil clean and warm not as thin as most single coils.
Sonic evaluation: Carvin 127 through H&K triamp. actually has two individual pickups in it. originally had humbucker toward neck, to much bass, turned it around now the single coil is bassier which I prefer. alnico magnets, nice warm sound in both modes, although not much color. The single coil doesn't match the HB's output so a end up playing with volume nobs a little. Also the HB distorts a little to early for my tastes, again it's fix by playing with the volume.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock, metal, others ? I'd be interesed to see it in a bridge pos.

Comments: Nice pickup. Great idea combining an SA and an 85 in one pickup. HB sounds great backing my 81 bridge pu. for phatter metal sound. I'm satisfied for now. My only gripe is having to adust volumes and switches to get various clean tones which gets a little frustrating during live performances. It has the tones I want I just have to tinker to get them. Maybe when I'm famous I'll have them balance this pickup to my tastes.

Pickup features: Dual Mode Active Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG-350
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Crappy Ibanez stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: EMG-81(bridge), stock single coil(middle)
Artists using this pickup: I don?t remember anyone, altought Zak Wylde uses an 85 on the neck, which this thing sounds like when it?s on humbucker mode.
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup was crap, and I loved the sound of my 81, so I give more money to the guys of EMG, coz I knew I wouldn?t be dissapointed.

Perceived output level:
Tone: Relatibly more bassy than the 81.
Sonic evaluation: I?m using it through a Marshal VS-230r(which I?m selling soon if someone in santiago, chile is interested) and my ibanez RG-350. The sound of this thing is great, just what you need to heavy metal, and the possibility to turn it into a single coil just pulling a knob it?s fuckin great, it gives you a lot of versality on sounds. I wish the guys of EMG could develop a pickup that sounded like the EMG-81 on humbucker mode and like an EMG-S on single mode, that would really make my day. (especially for my other guitar, a Fender Strat).
The pickup is noiseless, and has excellent control of gain.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy Metal. This pickup is great for this. I really can?t think for what this thing is unsuitable, for the bridge must be great on a strat, altought i read another guy?s review on a single coil EMG and said he found them too trebly for the Chili Peppers sound. Well, try to play one to make up your mind, but i would reccomend it to anyone.

Comments: I?ve read all kind of jokes in this section about gear being stealed and the owner reactions (replace gear, cry, hire a PI to track it down, homicide, suicide, etc.) so I am only going to say that I would do any of those to get mine back, It?s just a fuckin great pickup. Like I Said, EMG(are you listening guys?) should make a dual mode PU that sounds like an 81 and a SA or S.