EMG EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup Gold

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

This pick-up is really really really awesome... if you are playing metal. And metal only. I put this thing in my epiphone sg for when I was in a metalcore band and it did exactly what I wanted it to do. It sounded perfect for metalcore, chugging, and just heavy music in general. But, when I left that band to join a new softer sounding indie band that uses a lot of clean tones, it was awful. The pickup was really bright on clean channels in a bad way. I had to play softly and be sure not to strike the strings to hard because if I did the sound would crack and sound bad. Bottom line, this pickup is really awesome if you are playing in a metal or hard rock band. But if you want to play some blues or country or softer stuff, FIND ANOTHER PICKUP!

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

On a whim I picked up a cool looking Godin Redline 1 with a single EMG 81 in the bridge. So out of character as I've been playing Fenders and Ibanez's w/single coils and have a LP copy with Duncan 59/JB. Never had any experience with active pickups, but was completely blown away by the clarity of tone and especially how well it cuts through the mix. Talk about turning heads! Had to do a few tweaks to my amp Eq and pedal levels to get better control, but it's really growing on me. Even sounds decent clean through my tube amps-real nice bite that cuts through for funk (tele on steroids). So far I've been able to play everything from funky rhythm to Living Colour and even had to try some Metallica! The 81 simply excells with any kind of Drive or Distortion. Be careful as you may make your cats explode!!

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

If you play modern nu metal this the way to go

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

Great way to upgrade a mid range or entry level guitar.
Got these as a replacement set for my Jackson Warrior JS32.
Solderless pickups (which is awesome). A word of caution: If your output jack is on the opposite end of the control cavity (i.e. controls are in the lower wing, output jack is in the upper wing), you'll need to contact EMG to get a longer set of battery/tone cables. They'll send you some for free but they're not standard included with the package.
Anyway they work as I expected. Nice saturated tone, great sounding pinch harmonics.
Great for distortion, too much output for clean playing.

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

I have played metal, blues, and various other types of music for the last 18 years on a gillion different guitars and amps, alone at home, in a band, and recording tracks on my computer. I have used Duncan Blackouts, passive pickups of all sorts, and I always keep coming back to the EMG 81. It's just my staple sound and I like it more than anything else out there. I cuts through the mix in a band or recording better then the Blackouts, clean tones are still clean, and they are plenty brutal when you want a metal sound, which is what they are made for. They don't get muddy when you play more than 2 string power chords like others do. I have 8 guitars, and my favorite is an Ibanez SA that was reloaded with these pickups in the bridge and neck, and just articulates every little gritty, grainy, gain-saturated note I play like no other guitar I own or have ever played, with any type of pickup or wood. These are the best!
It's a pickup. Not a lot in the way of features.
If these weren't top notch pieces of gear, then professional musicians wouldn't all be usng them and swearing by them.
You get what you pay for, and these are worth more than what they cost in my opinion.

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

I used to run an 85 in the bridge due to its warmth and because It was easier to get harmonics, but I found that I like the 81 in the bridge. I have a Warlock NJ with Blackouts and I think the 81 has a little more attack, but the blackouts fall between the 85 and 81 in terms of sound. ( I like the EMG's a little better in the bridge, but I like the blackout better in the neck). I play through a Bugera 6262 and a TBX150H and these sound great!
The EMG 81 features clarity and attack that cannot be found elsewhere.
Made in USA. The solderless connections make installing these really easy. I always had a hard time soldering the ground leads to the back of the pots and stripping the pickup wires. EMG has made this really easy. If you have a 3 way toggle switch, you still need to do a little soldering, but its no big deal.
A little more expensive than the blackouts, but the solderless wiring and sound is worth the money.

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

10
I stayed clear of this picup for so long, and now that I've played it, I cant give it enough praise. I have this pickup equipped in my b.c. rich asm pro and I play through a peavey vypyr 30 watt amp. This pickup has major guts and tons of tone. Its also dead silent when your not playing "no hum". Chords are tight and single notes are clean, clear and focused. I love this pickup. If your having second thoughts about using this like I did for so long, just buy it, I think it will win you over like it did me.

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

I am a very slow convert to EMG pickups in general. I am an engineer, and when you look at the idea of using an active preamp at the source and having a low impedance signal to connect your source (guitar) to your amp, it makes sense that it would solve alot of problems like noise and hum. In addition, because these are epoxied, the possibility of having one become microphonic is The first time I bought them and installed them in a Les Paul, I did not like them - I was very into the passive pickups I was using at the time, but because of the high gain/low noise features these offer, I have kept coming back and trying EMGs again. I now have 2 similar type guitars with EMG 81 in the bridge, and also about 4 similar type guitars with a passive higher output in the bridge. i often go between them to see which tone I prefer. These days, I am becoming more of a fan of the EMGs. Some people have accused the 81 of always just sounding like an EMG 81 and masking the voice of the guitar. That is completely false. They, like all other pickups or microphones, are voiced to enhance or excite certain frequencies, but the voice of each of my guitars, which I know well, still comes through when I install EMGs. For recording, they are an answered prayer because they are high output with very low or even no noise. The 81 has abundant midrange which is important to me. The 81 has a sharp attack, which I expect as it is a ceramic magnet powered pickup. I think when most people hear the term "EMG" they assue "81" and judge what all active pickups will sound like based on the 81. However, the 85 to my ear responds more like an Alnico pickup would normally respond, and the 81 responds like a ceramic pickup would normally respond. That is another great feature - the quick disconnect makes it a snap to change pickups. So if I need a more classic vibe for a recording, i will pop in an 85 in the bridge. When I I need the power and attack to rip it up, I put the 81 in the bridge. I am a passive purist who has converted to the active pickups of EMG. I like them, I like the idea behind them. I like the way they sound, and I like the versatility. I just wish they looked like a normal humbucker so it did not change the appearance of my guitars so dramatically from the "stock" look.

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

great pick ups i use them in my B. C. Rich warlock they have great sustain a killer bite and a sound perfect for any metal head ot there dont listen to me though try em yurself

Comments about EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup:

Hey guys, I have a Kramer Vanguard 2010 with this pickup in the bridge and the 85 in the neck. All I have to say is that this pickup is amazing for leads when you need to get through the bass and drums! Very nicely designed pickup. And for the people wo say the 9V's cost a lot, they don't. They're 6$ each? I go through 1 a year, and it's worth it. These things may have a distinct picking tone with gain but the home made EQ tone is amazing once you hit the right sound. BUY AND TRY THEM FIRST THEY'RE NOT FOR EVERYBODY.