EMG81 for metal only?

kevlahnota · #1 10-19-2008, 04:26 PM

i find it's not only for metal stuffs. proper use of gain and EQ will do it.

my sample of emg81 bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoGzhAJcxxg

sorry for sloppy playing. i think it's decent enough.

shreddersymphony · #2 10-19-2008, 05:12 PM

Well, "for metal only" is really a subjective thing as I'm sure ya know. Personally for me, I would only use a pickup like the 81 for metal stuff. I don't like how they sound clean, or for certain kinds of leads. Despite a common misconception that's not the case for all EMGs though, I have the David Gilmour EMG set in my custom strat and it's EXTREMELY versatile.

GuitarBizarre · #3 10-19-2008, 05:41 PM

THe problem with the EMG81 isn't that it can't technically do other styles.

THe problem is that it goddamn sucks at them compared to a very, VERY large amount of other pickups on the market. I've owned and played guitars with both and in every instance the EMGs were heavy as **** but a total fail at everything else, COMPARITIVELY.

Foulacy · #4 10-19-2008, 05:42 PM

it's funny because it still sounds metal... but you're right, you can play things OTHER than metal with it.

shreddersymphony · #5 10-19-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

THe problem with the EMG81 isn't that it can't technically do other styles.

THe problem is that it goddamn sucks at them compared to a very, VERY large amount of other pickups on the market. I've owned and played guitars with both and in every instance the EMGs were heavy as **** but a total fail at everything else, COMPARITIVELY.

Exactly.

kevlahnota · #6 10-19-2008, 08:11 PM

Ok, thanks.

LonePhantom · #7 10-19-2008, 08:41 PM

Gee, it's amazing. The EMG 81 is quite capable of doing styles other than metal. People need to think a little outside the square with them.

Just because you can put the pickup closer to the strings than passives doesn't mean you should. Also, eq-ing amps for actives is a little different to passives. People are stuck in the box passively speaking, so when they grab a guitar with active pickups they don't think about the differences.

GuitarBizarre · #8 10-19-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonePhantom

Gee, it's amazing. The EMG 81 is quite capable of doing styles other than metal. People need to think a little outside the square with them.

Just because you can put the pickup closer to the strings than passives doesn't mean you should. Also, eq-ing amps for actives is a little different to passives. People are stuck in the box passively speaking, so when they grab a guitar with active pickups they don't think about the differences.

I understand the differences more than well enough, and I have a POD X3, so its not like I have any shortage of tonal options to pair up with my EMG equipped guitars. Despite that, I still came to the conclusion it wasn't a versatile pickup on the level of vast legions of others. It was a metal machine and trying to get it to sound convincing in other situations was a half hearted job at best because it frankly won't do it anywhere near as well as other pickups in very similar guitars.

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Now playing: Queens of the Stone Age - Battery Acid
via FoxyTunes

shreddersymphony · #9 10-19-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

I understand the differences more than well enough, and I have a POD X3, so its not like I have any shortage of tonal options to pair up with my EMG equipped guitars. Despite that, I still came to the conclusion it wasn't a versatile pickup on the level of vast legions of others. It was a metal machine and trying to get it to sound convincing in other situations was a half hearted job at best because it frankly won't do it anywhere near as well as other pickups in very similar guitars.

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Now playing: Queens of the Stone Age - Battery Acid
via FoxyTunes

Bizarre I agree with ya personally but I dont think this is something worth debating. It's all opinion anyway...some people might love a certain pickup for X and Y and another person wouldnt use it for that if they were paid to do it. It's all good as long as everyone's got the tone they prefer

buddroyce · #10 10-19-2008, 10:08 PM

Actually the EMG81 is also a great pickup for dirty blues if you're using a low gain amp. In fact I've seen a guy use a guitar with a set of EMGS AND a Mesa Dual Rectifier on the green 'pushed' channel and it sounded great when the guy was dishing out some heavy blues stuff.

Although the EMGs are generally associated with metal they DO work exceptionally well in other styles as well, even more so when you get the 18v mod going on them to give them the increased headroom to get rid of that nasty compression that EMGs have.

LonePhantom · #11 10-20-2008, 12:07 AM

Definitely, the 81 is great for dirty blues, 89 in the neck position can also sing for blues, in single coil or humbucker mode.

18volt mode is also brilliant, and definitely increases the pickups versitility.

-Rhaab · #12 10-20-2008, 03:37 AM

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE
zakk on the 81...? with no insane gain in the begining

kotornut · #13 10-20-2008, 04:21 AM

I always thought it was the guitarist that played the "styles" and the pickup that delievered the tone. And anyway you put it the 81 sounds scooped and chunky. Take it for what it is. If that's what you desire then more power to ya'. James Hettfield made me want to be a guitarist with that pickup so I'm not against them.

But if you can't play other styles then no pickup will help you do it. And I'm not talking to anyone specifically when I say that.

MT01 · #14 10-20-2008, 03:06 PM

I have an EMG81 fitting in the bridge of my RG and on a clean setting I do find it to be quite "sterile" lacking any warmth, body or fullness when compared to passives. That said I haven't tried the 18V mod and I'm also keen to hear how it will sound when fitted into the neck position. I'm also curious how the 85 & 60 sound clean.

Having said all this, with a distorted high gain amp, for getting a decent metal sound and that monsterous palm mute "chug" there really is no other alternative. EMGs make passives sound incredibly weak.

**jaxadam** · #15 10-20-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT01

I have an EMG81 fitting in the bridge of my RG and I do find it to be quite "sterile" lacking any warmth, body or fullness when compared to passives. That said I haven't tried the 18V mod and I'm also keen to hear how it will sound when fitted into the neck position. I'm also curious how the 85 & 60 sound clean.

Having said all this, with a distorted high gain amp, for getting a decent metal sound and that monsterous palm mute "chug" there really is no other alternative. EMGs make passives sound incredibly weak.

60 sounds super duper nice clean, as does the 60A, especially with an 18 V mod.