Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 3,299
Re: Forgive me for I have gone active.
I wonder sometimes if anyone has ever used any other EMGs besides the 81 or 85.
Yes, I think they are great pickups, but there are other ones. I have a guitar with a 60 in the bridge and a 60A in the neck, and it is a world of difference between an 81/85 equipped guitar.
Yes, the 81/85 is a great combo for metal/shred/whatever, but the 60/60A is a completely different ballgame. Brighter, but less brittle, with very pronounced mid presence. The cleans on them are very much more natural sounding as well.
60A is probably the best neck pickup EMG makes. 60 in bridge won't do it for everybody (especially metal chugga chugga type stuff) but it sounds unbelievably better than an 81 when doing lead stuff with the bridge pickup, and it is a wonderful neck pickup as well.