Thanks for making this video. I have 81 in the bridge and 85 neck. Heard a lot of talk about putting tge 85 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck. But after hearing this I'll stick with the 81 in the bridge. And I'll also keep the 85 in the neck. I just think that's the best overall set up.
I've been playing with different models and settled on the 85 in the bridge and the 60 in the neck. Try an 85 in the bridge and then also use an OD like a Klon style or tube screamer. That combo beats the 81 straight in for me
Exactly what I'm doing! I tried the 81 in bridge. Tight, but too thin. Put the 85 in, driving the Ultra Gain channel of a Marshall DSL with a Klon type OD. Nice and thick booming distortion. Straight nails! 🤘 Now I need to figure out my neck position (mostly clean). 81 isn't cutting it there either. Gonna try a 60. Les Paul guitar.
@@bernardfoshage9901 81 is a very midrangey and squawky pickup with rolled off highs. It's great for smooth and cutting leads in the bridge , not so good for cleans. The 60 is what you want, it's their brighter and cutting mini humbucker with scooped low mids, perfect for the neck. Take a look at Mike Stamper's comparison videos too
85 sounds waaaaaayyyyyy better clean, but I may like the 81 a hair better on dirt. I bet boosting the treble a tad on the amp with the 85 when running it dirty would get you where the 81 is.
85 is fuller, bigger sounding but a little loser. 81 is much tighter, probably better for lower tunings and cutting through a beefy band sound. Some of my favorite EMG tone is Fletcher from Pennywise, he uses an 85 in the bridge of his Ibanez RG through a Recto. I think the 85 has always been a bridge pickup that got turned into a neck pickup because of Zakk. But it's thicker and hotter, and not as tight than the 81 so it's like the last pickup I'd want in the neck (I like the 60 best in the neck.)
Hey dude! I loved the EMG 81 in the bridge with distoriton! That was gnarly! I actually am kinda curess what pattern you played there. It was melodic and very edgy.
I had an 85 in the bridge position of my Charvel Model 5fx and seemed like the highs end got cut and swapped the old EMG-81 back in but now the low end is gone. Currently looking to try an EMG-89XR in the bridge position and maybe an EMG-SLVX single coil in the neck
The 85 is a pickup I wanted to like SO badly, but it’s got way too much low-mid for me; it’s a very “stuffy” sound. I ditched em and got EMG Fat 55s instead.
I have them both and love them both. If I had to chose to keep just one it would be the 81 for sure. The 85 is a bit hotter and more hairy but the 81 is smoother and tighter. I don't use them for cleans, I use an EMG 60 in the neck on one guitar and I use the EMG SA single center position in the other for clean sounds. BTW the EMG SA single is an amazing pickup. Although it's active it still has that quacky passive single coil sound to it and produces the smoothest clean sounds I've ever heard.
It depends. The 85 is beefier a little smoother, up top, but also a has a slightly hollow character.. But it can sound great on cleans and perhaps fatter up leads higher up in the neck. The EMG 81 cuts like a katana and baseball bat at the same time where it counts. It's one of the punchiest, most satisfying recorded tones there are. I love it recorded... But sometimes I can't gel with the feel when I'm playing them... But coming up, I'm gonna force myself to play actives. One thing to note though it s that I typically dislike buffer pedals, even the high end Mesa one (except the output section at the end of my board - just not the front). It gives my passive that active feel, breaking the direct interaction between my guitar and overdrives or whatever. It activates the highs and Mids, but all ao seems to tighten the bass, removing any kind of sponginess and sag. That's exactly what some people want, but it sterilizers the sound a bit to me. EMG's *kind of* do the same thing, but they sound so glorious in 95% sound comparisons, I can't knock them. These are just my opinions of course.. But in the end, I just bought 3x early 80's EMG's to try hehe.
It's awesome and the solderless system helps make it easy to do in between string changes. I never went back after using the 85 in the bridge, and then replaced the neck with an EMG 60 which has some great chime to it missing from the 81 or 85. Next up take a look at a 24 volt mod too
@@metal571 yes i have tried every combination even with the kerry king boost and i think its smart to have some guitars with 81 und some with 85 in the bridge just for different tones, the 60 is a great neckpickup for sure, the 81tw was i big flaw for me..
To my ears the 81 sounds a bit more “beefy” , very very nice on clean sounds , it supplies a bit more fullness than 85. Is it true and correct ?? Thank u.
Try 18v mod, sounds much better 'cause electrical scheme inside the pickup can run from 6 to 27v, but typical working voltage is 15v or higher. This mod increase a little more output, less comprasion, more "organic" sound, pickup sounds more like passive pickup. I use 18v on 81 for last two years, and it's sound awesome!
Well Alexi uses an EMG HZ. He actually has a signature set you can buy with a quick Google search. Maybe you really want an active pickup, idk but if you're really trying to emulate Children of Bodom's tone you might as well go straight to the source.
Devansh Singh All the more reason to go with an HZ I suppose. I'm not familiar with switching out pickups let alone what goes into switching from a passive to an active but surely going from passive to passive has to be equally or less difficult.
If you had to go with one of the two, I personally think the 81 is better as a bridge pickup, especially with the extra crunch for a good CoB tone. That's just my personal opinion though. Good luck getting it set up! Hope it all turns out well.
0:13 emg 81 clean
0:52 emg 85 clean
1:34 emg 81 distortion
2:31 emg 85 distortion
The 85 in the bridge sounds darker. Sounds like more low-mids. Distortion seems to benefit from it tho!
Thanks for making this video.
I have 81 in the bridge and 85 neck.
Heard a lot of talk about putting tge 85 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck.
But after hearing this I'll stick with the 81 in the bridge.
And I'll also keep the 85 in the neck.
I just think that's the best overall set up.
Great video! Definitely shows the differences.
The 85 clearly has a lot more mids, but I love the way it resonates with cleaner tones.
I've been playing with different models and settled on the 85 in the bridge and the 60 in the neck. Try an 85 in the bridge and then also use an OD like a Klon style or tube screamer. That combo beats the 81 straight in for me
Exactly what I'm doing! I tried the 81 in bridge. Tight, but too thin.
Put the 85 in, driving the Ultra Gain channel of a Marshall DSL with a Klon type OD. Nice and thick booming distortion.
Straight nails! 🤘
Now I need to figure out my neck position (mostly clean). 81 isn't cutting it there either. Gonna try a 60.
Les Paul guitar.
@@bernardfoshage9901 81 is a very midrangey and squawky pickup with rolled off highs. It's great for smooth and cutting leads in the bridge , not so good for cleans. The 60 is what you want, it's their brighter and cutting mini humbucker with scooped low mids, perfect for the neck.
Take a look at Mike Stamper's comparison videos too
85 sounds waaaaaayyyyyy better clean, but I may like the 81 a hair better on dirt. I bet boosting the treble a tad on the amp with the 85 when running it dirty would get you where the 81 is.
85 is fuller, bigger sounding but a little loser. 81 is much tighter, probably better for lower tunings and cutting through a beefy band sound. Some of my favorite EMG tone is Fletcher from Pennywise, he uses an 85 in the bridge of his Ibanez RG through a Recto. I think the 85 has always been a bridge pickup that got turned into a neck pickup because of Zakk. But it's thicker and hotter, and not as tight than the 81 so it's like the last pickup I'd want in the neck (I like the 60 best in the neck.)
The 85 in the Bridge is the best,bigger, Ballz selection! I know I own them in a 2001 les Paul standard ! SMOKIN⚡️✌🏻️😝✌🏻
Hey dude! I loved the EMG 81 in the bridge with distoriton! That was gnarly! I actually am kinda curess what pattern you played there. It was melodic and very edgy.
Tyler Green Thank bro.
Curess lol
I had an 85 in the bridge position of my Charvel Model 5fx and seemed like the highs end got cut and swapped the old EMG-81 back in but now the low end is gone. Currently looking to try an EMG-89XR in the bridge position and maybe an EMG-SLVX single coil in the neck
I swapped my 81 for an 85 and am happier with it. Less compressed, more growl.
What is your guitar tonewood?
The 85 is a pickup I wanted to like SO badly, but it’s got way too much low-mid for me; it’s a very “stuffy” sound. I ditched em and got EMG Fat 55s instead.
I like the 81 best. Good video.
I have them both and love them both. If I had to chose to keep just one it would be the 81 for sure. The 85 is a bit hotter and more hairy but the 81 is smoother and tighter. I don't use them for cleans, I use an EMG 60 in the neck on one guitar and I use the EMG SA single center position in the other for clean sounds. BTW the EMG SA single is an amazing pickup. Although it's active it still has that quacky passive single coil sound to it and produces the smoothest clean sounds I've ever heard.
I reversed mine a couple of years ago. 85 in bridge sounds chunkier and slightly darker / less brittle. You're a Manowar fan I think. :)
I’m Zakk Wylde fan. ; )
By moonlight, we riiiide
Ten thousand side by siiide
sounds damn good clean and hi gain
It depends. The 85 is beefier a little smoother, up top, but also a has a slightly hollow character.. But it can sound great on cleans and perhaps fatter up leads higher up in the neck.
The EMG 81 cuts like a katana and baseball bat at the same time where it counts. It's one of the punchiest, most satisfying recorded tones there are. I love it recorded... But sometimes I can't gel with the feel when I'm playing them... But coming up, I'm gonna force myself to play actives.
One thing to note though it s that I typically dislike buffer pedals, even the high end Mesa one (except the output section at the end of my board - just not the front). It gives my passive that active feel, breaking the direct interaction between my guitar and overdrives or whatever. It activates the highs and Mids, but all ao seems to tighten the bass, removing any kind of sponginess and sag. That's exactly what some people want, but it sterilizers the sound a bit to me. EMG's *kind of* do the same thing, but they sound so glorious in 95% sound comparisons, I can't knock them.
These are just my opinions of course.. But in the end, I just bought 3x early 80's EMG's to try hehe.
85 sounds more ful, thicker, jucier, maybe i should just try to switch the 81 and the 85 around
It's awesome and the solderless system helps make it easy to do in between string changes. I never went back after using the 85 in the bridge, and then replaced the neck with an EMG 60 which has some great chime to it missing from the 81 or 85. Next up take a look at a 24 volt mod too
@@metal571 yes i have tried every combination even with the kerry king boost and i think its smart to have some guitars with 81 und some with 85 in the bridge just for different tones, the 60 is a great neckpickup for sure, the 81tw was i big flaw for me..
81sounds clearer
85 sounds crushing
I played for years with 85 in the bridgeposition in my Destroyer, I replaced it with an 81 and I think this one sounds better more chugga chugga!
85 is a bit warmer than the 81
dude i want tabs for the clean riff you played lol
Jake Lee he’s playing 4 miles an hour you can’t just figure it out by ear? This is your chance to get away from tabs..
@@snapascrew a moment of silence for those who google "4 miles an hour tabs"
EMG 81 2:03
EMG 85 2:59
85b+60n=the best config.
I use the all new 91 emg just came out
Kinda sounds like Danzig - How the Gods Kill.
wouldnt it be better for the 85 to be on the bridge for metal, to get a thicker tone?
Give me that thick, warm, brown tone 85.
I would have a one night stand with the 85, but would definitely date the 81 .
81 sounds better both clean and distorted to me. 85 sounded muddy for the clean and with some mid-resonance for distorted sound) I dont like it
85 owns it.
might notbe as noticeable here because the amp settings werent tweaked perhaps, idk? but it DOES own the 81. no contest
Andrey Dyumaev Yea,I think the preference of the individual.
bearcubclaw I want to see your guitar.
To my ears the 81 sounds a bit more “beefy” , very very nice on clean sounds , it supplies a bit more fullness than 85. Is it true and correct ?? Thank u.
Nice comparison! Better than the other 81/85 stuff on youtube. For me, 81 sounds better with cleans and distortion. Do you use 9v or 18v mod?
Данила Исакин Thank bro,I use 9v,Hope You Enjoy
Try 18v mod, sounds much better 'cause electrical scheme inside the pickup can run from 6 to 27v, but typical working voltage is 15v or higher. This mod increase a little more output, less comprasion, more "organic" sound, pickup sounds more like passive pickup. I use 18v on 81 for last two years, and it's sound awesome!
Данила Исакин Thank you for your advice
81
hey bro how would be emg 85 in bridge with drop b and 10-50 strings,
strings are to thin
better 12 - 60 for drop b
CallMe Demon okay bud..thanx :)
or 12-56
You'd have better luck stringing your guitar with angel hair pasta at that tuning. 10s are gonna turn into noodles man.
The 85 is kinda muddier
the 81 is brighter
85 bridge
are these fake emgs? they dont have the right stickers on them?
Sounds like an Ibanez
BigDiff Sounds
Wilson John Williams Nancy Wilson Michelle
tab!!!!
i play children of bodom
Well Alexi uses an EMG HZ. He actually has a signature set you can buy with a quick Google search. Maybe you really want an active pickup, idk but if you're really trying to emulate Children of Bodom's tone you might as well go straight to the source.
i have a passive guitar
Devansh Singh All the more reason to go with an HZ I suppose. I'm not familiar with switching out pickups let alone what goes into switching from a passive to an active but surely going from passive to passive has to be equally or less difficult.
i had to choose bw 81 and 85 for bridge...i ordered the 81...did i make right choice?
If you had to go with one of the two, I personally think the 81 is better as a bridge pickup, especially with the extra crunch for a good CoB tone. That's just my personal opinion though. Good luck getting it set up! Hope it all turns out well.
85 is for the neck not the bridge.