EMG 81/85 vs EMG 81TW/89

doc-phil

Both being EMGs, I assume they must be quite similar. A guitar I'm thinking of buying comes with either of these two pick up choices, and I really don't know which I would choose...

Has anyone played both these sets of pickups? Which is better in your opinion and why? (bearing in mind that I play mostly metal) ?

Gearhead

Dunno about any TW but the 89 is a 3 coil pup that is meant to sound almost exactly like the 85 in humbucker mode and almost exactly like the SA in stacked single coil mode. I went for 89/89 since I prefer its tonal flexibility.

Explorerlover

For mostly metal I would suggest 81/85 or 81/60. Have you tried the Seymour Duncan Blackouts?

doc-phil

No I haven't tried the blackouts... I've heard from many people that they're somewhat superior. The only thing is every guitar I get quoted with blackouts is savagely expensive. From my price trawling it seems that upper mid-range guitars generally come with the emgs whereas the more high end come with seymour duncan or dimarzio. I really want my new guitar to have some 'designer' pick-ups, I'm not interested in buying anything that says 'Duncan designed' ? I want the real thing!

Cellie

81/60. ?

shadow1

I have had the 81/85 and gigged in a somewhat "metal" band (the riffs anyways) and they work perfect! i dont think you need anything more. Asi lay dying and Killswitch use these live....that should settle it for you ? (altho As i lay dying have been known to put the 85 in the BRIDGE - less output and warmer sound but on their rig which is boosted with a maxon od808 still plenty enough gain/balls)

Never heard of the other design,always seen the 81/85 combo,i personally would go with that as its tried and tested and the metal standard ?

doc-phil

Hmmm well if As I Lay Dying (one of my all time favourites!) use them.. then that does indeed settle it! If it's good enough for them it must be good enough for me ?

shadow1

doc-phil wrote: Hmmm well if As I Lay Dying (one of my all time favourites!) use them.. then that does indeed settle it! If it's good enough for them it must be good enough for me ?

thats what sold me on them too ? i LOVE them for live,as they nice and tight. I recorded with them but think i prefer passive pups for recording maybe with a EMG layered over it lightly in the background. now go get them and tune to drop c ?

bENDER

Hey doc!

What aXe are you bying?

doc-phil

shadow1 wrote: thats what sold me on them too ? i LOVE them for live,as they nice and tight. I recorded with them but think i prefer passive pups for recording maybe with a EMG layered over it lightly in the background. now go get them and tune to drop c ?

I've been tuning to B lately, mainly cos I've been playing some Parkway Drive songs. Why do you prefer passive pickups for recording? I still don't really know the difference between active and passive pups.. maybe I'll find out when I play some active ones ?

bENDER wrote: Hey doc!

What aXe are you bying?

I have two options in mind.. either the Ibanez RGT6, or the Schecter Hellraiser, but only if I can get it for under R10k including delivery (unlikely). So I'm leaning towards the Ibanez, but I haven't even played it yet so I can't say anything for sure yet. Plus I'm only going to be able to buy a new guitar in about 6 months.. so this is early scouting ?

shadow1

@DOC- well i find that the emg is very compressed and almost sterile sounding compared to a passive pickup. I like both active and passive hence why i have 2 axes one with passive seymour JB's and one with active EMG81. i toss between both depending on how i feel ?

mattyd

doc-phil wrote:
shadow1 wrote: thats what sold me on them too ? i LOVE them for live,as they nice and tight. I recorded with them but think i prefer passive pups for recording maybe with a EMG layered over it lightly in the background. now go get them and tune to drop c ?
I've been tuning to B lately, mainly cos I've been playing some Parkway Drive songs. Why do you prefer passive pickups for recording? I still don't really know the difference between active and passive pups.. maybe I'll find out when I play some active ones ?

I can kind of see what shadow1 is talking about. In a loud, live situation (as in a hardcore gig - where the subtle nuances of your sound get lost) the EMG's definitely work better because they give you that processed, tight sound. They are very responsive to your touch and so work really well for metal (where you need to do tapping and stuff).

Passive pickups are much more responsive to your style of playing. They have a better "feel" (IMHO). To me it feels like I'm actually playing a guitar and working with it to create a beautiful, soulful tone.
That's not to say that you don't get some killer, high gain passive pickups.
The JB is a great example. It's very versatile and has more than enough gain to spare.

Passive pickups tend to interact and sound very different through each guitar. Actives kind of sound the same through anything.

For a classic example think:

As I Lay Dying = Active

Underoath = Passive

Of course it's also the guitars, pedals, amps, and all-important fingers, but that should give you a general idea.

BMU

I know this isn't really the thread topic, but just to add my 2c on passive vs active, I don't really hear/feel any "sterile" thing with my EMGs. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's because I only use amp sims, or maybe it's because when playing very high distortion levels (i.e. metal) the amp compresses so much in any case, it hardly makes a difference.

I can only compare to DiMarzio Blaze II's - EMG707s are tighter as stated, and have far superior note separation on B-string low-down power chords. I.e. they're clearer. At the same time they also sound "sweeter" to me high up for solos. The DiMarzios are great too, but I love my EMGs.

shadow1

BMU wrote: I know this isn't really the thread topic, but just to add my 2c on passive vs active, I don't really hear/feel any "sterile" thing with my EMGs. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's because I only use amp sims, or maybe it's because when playing very high distortion levels (i.e. metal) the amp compresses so much in any case, it hardly makes a difference.

I definately agree, when im playing metal im generally using the EMG setup hence i told him to go for the 85/81 combo.? I think you nailed it becuase of the high gain emg/passives do sound close (close not exactly the same) PLug both into my mesa/6505+ and you WILL hear a difference. I just found that in studio i prefer to use passive (seymour duncan JB's (pretty hot pickup) and maybe layer a EMG over it for that tight low end. that seems to creat a nice full "round" sound ? Live and bedroom jams EMG's ROCK ? but im not going to carry on here otherwise the topic will go abit off subject ?

doc-phil

Shot guys thanks for the input - I don't mind going a bit off topic as long as I am learning something, which I am!

I prefer AILD tone to Underoath tone, it seems to melt my face just a tad bit more. The more face melting the better so I think the active EMGs would be the best choice for me. ?

BMU

shadow1 wrote: I just found that in studio i prefer to use passive (seymour duncan JB's (pretty hot pickup)
...but im not going to carry on here otherwise the topic will go abit off subject ?

You're right, we're derailing...ok just ONE more thing... ?

I've never actually played SD JB's but listen to Arch Enemy. I mean that rhythm sound is brutally tight as tight can be. They sound like absolutely killer pickups, I'd love to install a set. I actually highly doubt that in a blind test, many guitarists could tell whether those are actives or passives. (Well I know I couldn't.) It's all obsessive-compulsive guitar nerdery! And we love it! ?

@Doc-Phil: right on, get the ones you wanna get!!!! (That's kinda my point above, believe it or not.)

shadow1

BMU wrote:
shadow1 wrote: I just found that in studio i prefer to use passive (seymour duncan JB's (pretty hot pickup)
...but im not going to carry on here otherwise the topic will go abit off subject ?
You're right, we're derailing...ok just ONE more thing... ?

I've never actually played SD JB's but listen to Arch Enemy. I mean that rhythm sound is brutally tight as tight can be. They sound like absolutely killer pickups, I'd love to install a set. I actually highly doubt that in a blind test, many guitarists could tell whether those are actives or passives. (Well I know I couldn't.) It's all obsessive-compulsive guitar nerdery! And we love it! ?

@Doc-Phil: right on, get the ones you wanna get!!!! (That's kinda my point above, believe it or not.)

HAHA well said ? word i agree