[Comments] Latest Comments from Ultimate-Guitar.Com. en-us Copyright 1998-2013 Ultimate-Guitar.Com. All rights reserved. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html webmaster@ultimate-guitar.com Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:34:21 -0400 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:50:43 -0500 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/img/logo_rss.gif http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ 144 44 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_1 It is best paired off with another EMG, possibly an 89 or in my experience an 1, which is a classic pickup set-up.

Meant to put 81, not 1
POSTED: 06/30/2009 05:44am]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:44:08 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_2 EpiExplorer wrote:
Meant to put 81, not 1
Yep =)
POSTED: 06/30/2009 06:13am]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:13:52 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_3 POSTED: 06/30/2009 09:10am]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:10:26 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_4 POSTED: 06/30/2009 01:01pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:01:24 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_5 it's much better then 81 in the bridge

Completely agree. I find it lacking in the neck position but in the bridge it cuts a lot better than an 81. I didn't feel the like I absolutely had to boost solos(I mean I still will because it's the principle of the thing ) because I just felt it cut through more due the more midrange.

Also the 18 volt mod give more headroom and less compression, so I'm told. I plan on trying it out as I've heard almost everyone rave about it.
POSTED: 06/30/2009 01:06pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:06:26 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_6 POSTED: 06/30/2009 02:07pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:07:45 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_7 POSTED: 06/30/2009 03:54pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:54:54 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_8 POSTED: 06/30/2009 03:56pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:56:24 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_9 mekani wrote:

I have it in bridge position in Les Paul Custom, and sounds incredibly good. NOw, 81 is in the neck position and it seems to me sound is more balanced (85 adds some bass to the bridge, 81 takes some bass from the neck). Anyway, it's much better then 81 in the bridge, in my opinion (depends on the style you're playing). I didn't notice any "problems" with the strings you've mentioned, but every guitar is uniq, so who knows what's cousing it.

That's a really interesting and good point.
I have 81 in bridge, 85 in neck, but I do find my 85 in neck can be a tad over-bassy.
the 81 sounds nice and crunchy, I see maybe why Kirk Hammet likes 81/81.

POSTED: 06/30/2009 05:05pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:05:39 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_10
I have an EMG 81 in my LP. I have it mixed with two passive humbuckers (stock right now). I am going to add in 2 Seymour Duncans, and will have the most versatile guitar in the world.

Don't expect the best cleans outta these, it's their downfall. They aren't brutal and I'm sure the 85 is better for cleans, which is why they say to get the set.
POSTED: 06/30/2009 05:57pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:57:16 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_11 POSTED: 06/30/2009 06:10pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:10:00 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_12 POSTED: 06/30/2009 06:41pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:41:47 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_13 I meant G B E didnt sear like the 81 in bridge.
POSTED: 06/30/2009 06:43pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:43:17 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_14 it will drastically improve lead tone.
POSTED: 06/30/2009 06:45pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:45:19 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_15 POSTED: 06/30/2009 07:52pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:52:12 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_16 POSTED: 06/30/2009 08:15pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:15:07 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_17 POSTED: 06/30/2009 10:02pm]]> Comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:02:53 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_18 POSTED: 07/01/2009 02:56am]]> Comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:56:48 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_19 POSTED: 07/01/2009 03:25am]]> Comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:25:41 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_20 POSTED: 07/01/2009 04:36am]]> Comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:36:44 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_21 blankoff wrote:

i thought machine head used EMG 60 for soloing

Foooool XD Naw, Flynn and demmel both use 81's to solo, Demmel uses and 85 for rythm and Flynn uses his stock pickup from his ESP Flying V
POSTED: 07/04/2009 01:26pm]]> Comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:26:03 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_22 mekani wrote:

I have it in bridge position in Les Paul Custom, and sounds incredibly good. NOw, 81 is in the neck position and it seems to me sound is more balanced (85 adds some bass to the bridge, 81 takes some bass from the neck). Anyway, it's much better then 81 in the bridge, in my opinion (depends on the style you're playing). I didn't notice any "problems" with the strings you've mentioned, but every guitar is uniq, so who knows what's cousing it.

Thats true, probably cuz I have new strings, still need to be worked it so to speak

POSTED: 07/04/2009 01:28pm]]> Comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:28:30 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_23 hoppy_pantera wrote:

is the 81/85 combo good for soloing?

Read the review -.-
POSTED: 07/27/2009 05:58am]]> Comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:58:19 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_24 POSTED: 05/21/2010 08:21am]]> Comments Fri, 21 May 2010 08:21:16 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_25 POSTED: 12/23/2010 03:31pm]]> Comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:31:41 -0500 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_26 POSTED: 09/03/2011 04:55am]]> Comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:55:36 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_27 POSTED: 11/03/2011 08:16pm]]> Comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:16:08 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_28 Dark_Iran wrote:

85 for solo 81 for n rhytm are best pickups for heavey distortion. but emg 60 is goodThe 85 is far better than the 60
POSTED: 05/09/2012 03:57pm]]> Comments Wed, 09 May 2012 15:57:32 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_29 POSTED: 06/30/2012 06:36pm]]> Comments Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:36:10 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_30 POSTED: 07/03/2012 10:24am]]> Comments Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:24:51 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_31 POSTED: 10/16/2012 05:42pm]]> Comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:42:19 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_32 As for your second question, it's a matter of preference. If you can, just go to a store and try out guitars with those pick-ups to see what you prefer. In general the 81's the best bridge pick-up for metal. The 85 is intended more for use with distortion and works well for leads and the 60 I think is more for clean playing, but works fine for leads too.
And using the 85 in the bridge is done by many, but I have no experience with it in that context. Personally, my set-up is 81/85.
POSTED: 10/25/2012 11:43am]]> Comments Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:43:50 -0400 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/pickups/emg/85/index.html#u_33 POSTED: 11/05/2012 06:50pm]]> Comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:50:43 -0500