Emg 81-85 or 81-60

[LpTino]

Hello To Everyone,

Tomorow I am buying some new pickups but i don't know wich one to choose between:
EMG 81-85 or EMG 81-60

I am tottaly a metalhead who loves to play metallica and iron maiden but i also want a clean and smooth sound for my acoustic songs

i am sorry for my english,i am a french canadian

thank you all

 

[EEF13]

Emg 60 in the neck will give you a nice clean sound. Better than the 85.

 

[LPGeoff]

Agreed. If those are the only choices. 81 and 60.

 

[EEF13]

You should try the 85/60 combo. The 85 is a little fatter in the bridge.

 

[meka]

Agree. For me, 85 is the best thing for the bridge there is. I would like to check out 60 in the neck (currently, 81 does the job), though.

 

[LpTino]

Well I know the zakk wylde set (81-85)is 195$ but how much do you guys think would be the 8160?? - thanks to all

 

[MrRhoads]

Hello To Everyone,

Tomorow I am buying some new pickups but i don't know wich one to choose between:
EMG 81-85 or EMG 81-60

I am tottaly a metalhead who loves to play metallica and iron maiden but i also want a clean and smooth sound for my acoustic songs

i am sorry for my english,i am a french canadian

thank you all

I think Metallica we´re using the 81/60 combo while recording "Nothing else mathers" and that´s some nice clean tones there

 

[General Disarray]

I have 81-60 in my Explorer...

The 60 was originally designed for Fender to be put in a Tele (Neck Position) but that was shelved and EMG decided to release as the 60 so that will give you an idea of how that sounds!

The 81 in the bridge is perfect for me, great clarity and low end through my dual rec!

 

[tonyg73]

Depends on the guitar I think.

My rule of thumb is that ceramic magnets do well with warmer woods (mahogany, rosewood) where alnico magnet do better with brighter tone woods (alder, ebony, ash, maple, etc.)

For my ESP Eclipse II which has a mahogany body and neck and rosewood fingerboard I'm digging the 81/60.

I have an Ibanez with a bolt-on maple neck and basswood body (with a longer neck scale) so that one has an 85 and 60A (the alnico 60, not ceramic).

Ultimately if you could fit it the battery cavity I would definitely recommend the 18 volt in series mod...it makes EMG's MUCH more dynamic IMO.

For neck pickups I like the 60 series MUCH more than the 85. The 60 and 60A kind of remind me of a P-90 in the neck. The 85/60A or 81/60 combo is like having a bridge humbucker and neck P-90. This works great for the cover band that I'm in...I switch to the. neck for funk-type cleans (think 311) and to the bridge for crunch and heavier sounds (Tool, Faith No More, Killswitch Engage, etc.) With an 80 series in the bridge and 60 series in the neck I get much more versatility than I would two 80's in the neck and bridge.

EDIT: EMG 81, 81-X, 60, 60-X have ceramic magnets. The 85, 85-X, 89, and 60-A have alnico magnets. Generally ceramics are brighter, alnicos are warmer. The 18 volt mod DEFINITELY warmed up my 81/60 though.

 

[LpTino]

Thanks To All Of You I Just Bought My 81-60 Combo

-Merry Christmas To All

 

[Underliner6]

81 85. The best match!