I just want to say that I'm really enjoying your content, it's like every time you manage to find the most interesting idea and do it in the best way possible
Great comparison! I’m a big fan of the 57 these days. I started with the 81 in 1985 but then started using the 85 in the bridge. It’s such an underrated bridge pickup. It’s very similar to the 57 with the Alnico magnet although the 57 is a bit tighter. Top work as always 🤘👍👍
Great comparison, And more importantly you are such a consistent guitarist, incredible , I can see why you are a sought after studio player, I am very impressed. I do like the 57 slightly better over the 81 some stuff I can't tell a difference but other instances the 57 seems to shine through a little better, so I would side with a 57 for my personal preference. Thank you for your time and effort for that comparison I enjoyed it
I went full circle with EMGs and landed back on the 81/85 set when required. The 85 is actually pretty good in the bridge too. Great explanation. Het Set comparison next time?
Oie Breacher....Any other requests?So Euge's a fukkin EMG HET SET representative?And l will add that the Het(field) Set,or JH signature EMG pick ups are gay....I think old Papa Het is just cashing in..milking it....Hasn't he got enough money?Dead set?Another signature rort addition..And Mr Breacher..the 81 is the bees knees...Alright..Now go out and put an 81 in every guitar you own...ffs..its even endorsed by King Fukkin Charles...Now F.O.A.D.
You can also try them at 18 or 24 volts for more dynamic headroom without hard clipping the preamps. This is something the X series addresses while needing only 9 volts, but the original preamp in 57/58/60/60A/66/81/85/89/89R/H/HA all support up to 27 volts and benefit from it if you want to reduce the perceived active compression. I've also found that Klon and clones of it work really well with these. Great demo and thanks
Really appreciate this, bro. I've actually never had a guitar with EMGs so this was very enlightening. For my vibe and aesthetic, the 57/66 seems like they'd be a great fit!
Sir Euge, I have to say Top Notch man Top Notch!!! Thank You for explaining and showing All of your content in detail once again Thank You Brother!!!🤘🍻
Outstanding demo/comparison!! I can always count on the best content from this channel. Thank you for taking the time and putting in all the hard work for this channel. Congrats on 15K 🤘🤘
I was really hesitant, then I found this video and it finally convinced me of the sound I wanted. great video, great comparison between both combinations very well developed everything. Thank you very much for sharing this comparison, you gained a new subscriber.💪🏽💪🏽 greetings from Argentina!
Hey Euge I just ordered 81/60 set for a LP copy I just bought. I love EMG pickups. I have a hard time dialing in a good tone with passive pu. Maybe it because I've been using EMGs so long. 81 is my favorite.l also use some 81X series in some of my guitars. Thanks for sharing the love my brother 🙏 EMG pickups are such a great bargain you get everything you need but a 9 volt battery! Thanks again Euge!!🤘🤘
@@martinemesguitar ye the RetroActives are closer to passives, but then again they are build closer to a regular hb with a preamp on top ...they even work with no battery
Like you I’ve got both sets in several different guitars. My favorite however are the 57/66 set. They’re a little more organic sounding. Still like the 81/85 though. Great comparison vid.
Ya man!......that thru the never riff is awesome to play!....love emg pickups. I own both sets and recently got an 81x....it sounds like James hetset 81. Love your channel Euge. The 57 66 has alnico magnets and the 81 85 has ceramic magnets
As a PAF guy I have an EQ in the loop cutting back the top end and it gets rid of the "kchhhh". It was driving me mad, my DSL does this especially byt Creamback and EQ in the loop plus a green box up front and it sounds beautiful with any pickups and you get that colourful rich PAF sound without the top end fizz, though my amp does it will all pups mever noticed PAFs to have it that much more but good ones are very bright. I often have treble at 3 or 4 max, mids 7,8, bass 5, EQ in loop cuts 6.4k and boosts 100 hz, green box to taste. I'm surprised how close 85/81 and 66/57 are. Building a Richie Faulkner V (58, in blue with Floyd) and so that's why I'm here. He sounds great but I wasn't floored by them... I have a set of FAT 55 which are absolutely wonderful, I love them. Probably gonna stick with those and not do the double pickguard and then it's a Faulkner-esque guitar not a clone... I have 81/85 in an RG and before getting these, I can just use the ones I have... but Fat 55 are beautiful, give them a try! Bright as a Telecaster :) And in the neck warm like a Telecaster.
About two years ago I got my first guitar that came with EMG's, I kinda always stayed away from the active thing. I got into guitar when Dimarzio's were really the big thing, I stuck w/ Dimarzio's for about 20 years then I decided to try Seymours, which I really liked. But two years ago, like I said I got a guitar w/ EMG Fat 55's and I fell in love with them. And now that my eyes aren't what they used to be, I can't solder anymore, so EMG's became my go to pups. I love the Fat55's, but I also really got into the 57/66's, which has a more punch than the 55's. I have yet to try the 84/85's. I know Reb Beach uses 85's in the bridge so I've been interested in trying that, but haven't yet pulled the trigger on it. might have to.
The best comparison video of 81/85 vs 57/66 and I've seen a few others before I did my purchase. I installed 57/66 in my ESP Horizon and two days ago a set BB in another guitar. I agree with you it's just a matter of taste which one prefer. All of them are good enough. I probably will try swap the two sets and see if I like them better in the other and the best is no soldering.
Did you ever try the Hetfield set? If yes, what‘s your opinion on it? If not, a comparison video of the Het Set with 81/85 and 57/66 of you would be nice!
For clean and low gain for sure the 57/66 sounds more pleasing and natural. For heavy stuff, nothing has ever beaten the 81. It just does the thing. Something about the high mids and the slight roll-off of the low end just makes for super tight and in-your-face aggression.
this video is exactly what i was looking for i was about to pick a schecter with the 66/57 but i actually heard that it has more low end once again thanks for solving the problem
I had a pair of 81/85 until I almost stopped playing guitar 20 years ago. Recently I played again and replaced my current guitar stock PU with 57/66. And I thought, well, why not trying something new? But only two weeks later I changed them again with 81/85. Have to say that 81/85 is THE iconic tone I always wanted, despite of PU advancement nowadays.
I agree. I mean I like the 57/66 combo a lot and have those on many of my guitars but if I had to choose between those and 81/85 I’d go with the good ol’ 81/85 combo 👌.
@@pavelm9078 I used to own a Duncan Blackouts set. Fairly good. But in comparison I think EMG is still a bit better. Blackouts is quite scooped while 81/85 sounds more solid in my opinion. I also tried Fishman Modern. Disappointed and disliked. It has too much trembles for me. But that's just my opinion.
Great informative video. Thanks for doing it! edit: very happy with the tightness and versatility of my EMG 81/85 sets. I have four guitars with 81/85, two guitars have Roland GK pickups. I find the EMG 81/85 work great with the GK. I can get the right blend of both outputs without losing either. The EMGs don't get lost nor do they overpower the GK, unless it's what I want. IME
Hey Father EV, Thanks for putting this up. * oops hit send by mistake. I always believe, to my ears and my hands, 81/85 sounds is a bit more aggressive, great for hard rock metal. 57/66 go well with straight rock and blues. You can reverse this obviously and create some great tonal qualities as well as coloring and and textures in in sound.. This is only theoretically speaking, since there are no rules after all and true tone comes from one's hands.
81 vs 57 : we can prefer one or the other, but the question is: does this difference worth the money in buying the pickup you like but still don’t have?
Awesome video, thanks! I have the 81/85 combination in my Jackson USA Custom Shop and like them a lot in that. Bought a new ESP Eii Eclipse with the 60/81 set and they seem too harsh/bright no matter how meticulously I redial the amplifiers. EMG suggested the 57/66 set so might as well give those a try before selling the guitar.
Thanks! Yeah pickups are quite a bit easier and cheaper to change than guitars 😊. Especially EMGs since they are solderless so it takes about a minute to swap them 👌.
I have an axe with each of these sets. Originally I intended to pick one and sell the other, but actually they both earned their place. The alnico set is more articulate and suits lead playing better, but the 81 is the king of high gain rhythm pickups.
Nice comparison demo. Been curious about the 57/66 combo, since that's what Richie Faulkner swears by. But.....the crunch of that 81 is unbeatable. Too much mid/mud for my taste with the 57/66.
I wonder how similar the 66 is to the 60A. I’m guessing the Het Set is a modded 81/60, while the 57 is a modded 85 and the 66 is a modded 60A. Rather, that’s where EMG started and ended up.
Yeah 57/66 and the HetSet are pretty similar. Just a bit different on highs IMO. Might do a comparison video about those too since I have HetSet on one of my gtrs.
hello thank you for your videos and your creativity, I have been following you for many years, on the Web you remain my guitarist, favorite musicians and by far!! little parenthesis your video on Thin Lizzy was Fabulous you knew how to appropriate the style of this period and its guitarist so good and flamboyant !! as you know you are too, yes I love your presence, you are big cat, big hard rocker, thank you for all the pleasures and great moments, your pedagogy is crystal clear and your bad boy, wow, a legend!!! I like your LP guitars is it possible that you are a range of LPs to recommend the models with Floyd are my sin ahaaa ahaa in short I am a fan of your beautiful career, a Doc on your background would be great, you have class Sir! !!! thank you take care of yourself cordially Salva.
Both sounded good and very similar. But for leads, I far preferred the one with the gold pickup covers, as it had more of a singing, connected quality to the notes, and I preferred that tone. Thanks
hey Euge! This is a curious and honest question... How does someone gets at the same level as you stand with ESP guitars? Did you order them custom made? how does such deal works between you and ESP? is there a discount, do they offer you those guitars? I am a guitar player, just want to know what it takes to reach that level with a guitar brand... You can send me a PM if you prefer not to discuss it in public! cheers!
Good question. Thanks! In general endorsement deals are sort of marketing tools for brands / companies so a company needs to see ”brand value” in the player for them to offer a deal to a player. I got my endorsement deal in the early 2000s when ESP was still quite small company starting to enter the Finnish market and ESPs Finnish distributor Kai Saarikko / Musamaailma was the main factor for me getting the deal and to put myself (and my bands) on ESPs radar. The size of the player’s band (sales, streams, tours, visibility etc.) are a big factor and obviously the player’s persona and ”brand” so to say. Does it fit to the company’s brand? Etc. All my ESPs are handmade at their Tokyo Japan Custom Shop by my exact specs and all my guitars are designed by me together with Kai Saarikko & Roope Riihijärvi from Musamaailma. Here’s some more info about my signature models which one can order via Musamaailma: th-cam.com/video/DOL8WMWdWho/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JFDOYqojFfepsh2N
@@EugeValovirta230V Thank you for taking the time to reply to me! And very elucidating regarding my question! I know that store, Musamaailma, I am from Portugal but I have ordered stuff from them a few times, Roope is a good man, he always had time to answer my emails! They were the only store in Europe to have some especific Gotoh tuners that I bought for my ESP EX (which I sold last week but thats another whole story) your Eclipses look veeery good, I had a semi-custom 4-knob ESP Eclipse FullThickness in satin purple with white binding some years ago but I like longer fretboard scales since I play in B standard... Cheers Euge, good man, nice talking to you.
@@Zzzerof0xxX My pleasure! Yeah it's a fantastic store and I've been their customer since 90s and Kai & Roope have become also very good friends of mine. Roope was actually a good friend of mine long time before he started to work at Musamaailma. He is an awesome player and plays in Brother Firetribe and is also a very wanted session player (live & studio) in Finland. And he has a cool TH-cam channel as well: www.youtube.com/@rooperiihijarvi
57/66 sound more natural clean, and seem like a hifi version of the 81/85 set. However with high gain, the 81 just does the thing. What Kristian Kohle describes as "ghonk-ghonk-ghonk" Whether it's because we're so used to hearing it, or because there's some magic sauce in it that cannot be improved upon, there really is no substitute for an EMG 81. I say that, but I decided on an a Steve Lukather set for my first actives as I'm a strat guy through and through, and I'm a big fan of Steve Lukather. However if I really like them, which I think I will, then I've got two other strats and a jazzmaster that may end up with EMGs as well. I'm already thinking an 81/85 in my Blacktop HH, and a David Gilmore loaded pickguard in my beat up black strat from 1996. The baritone jazzmaster is definitely calling for some EMG J-Masters now that they're out. No more noise. I'm over it.
Hello Euge, thanks for this video! Have you experienced EMG 57 being more noisy in studio / loud stages? I like their sound, but it seems they can be easily affected by crappy power installations or when a lot of other electronic devices are running near. So need to set noise gate quite high sometimes. My bandmate has 81, and in our practice room which has poor power installation, it is much less noisy. I tested on 3 sets of 57's (one factory installed in Schecter) :)
Just ordered the Zakk Wylde Emg set and this is why I found your channel here. Great video buddy! You are a really great guitarist...like your style...I grew up with Gary Moore and Randy Rhoades as my ídols in the 80's and you have a bit of both in your playing. Keep up the great videos. Honestly it is such a minor difference that I honestly have a hard time deciding which I prefer. Almost bought the 57 66 but the Zakk Wylde set was on sale for 179.00 so went with them. They both sound awesome especially with you playing so I stand behind my decision. Do you know if there is a difference between the classic 81 85 set compared to the Zakk wylde set? Keep up the great informative content!!!Regards from Los Angeles. By the way...just listened to your bands album No halos in hell....Love it...you got a new fan🤘🤘🤘
Oh cool man! Thanks! Really glad to hear this 🤟🙏. The Zakk Wylde set is 81 & 85 so it’s just a marketing thing 😎. Like Celestion’s EVH speaker which is a 20watt Greenback but it just has the EVH graphics.
@@EugeValovirta230V Thanks for the reply....yeah that's what I thought...just marketing and his name on the product...and you get a pic with his name on it😁. Keep on rocking bro🤘🤘🤘
Great video man! Just curious if you have tried the bluguitar blubox for a speaker simulator?? If so what are your thoughts? It would seem to me that it would be a great match for your iridium. Love your content brother
The sets are a lot more similar than I thought they would be - a couple questions I have are 1) Can you do tapping and get different types of voices with the wiring and 2) would it be possible to just have one EGM in the bridge position, and a passive for the neck?
1) I think so but I’d check from EMG’s website. 2) Yes but if I remember correct a tech told me that by doing that the battery will wear out all the time like you’d have a plug connected 24/7 which you don’t really want to have with actives unless you’re willing to change the battery quite more often 😎.
Hi Euge, I have a really really dark-sounding ESP EII 7-string guitar. I have tried all sorts of passive pickups, and they do make *some* difference, but the guitar always end up having a HUGE bass response, virtually no low-mids, and, depending on the pickup, some high mids and top end. I would like to add some low mids and mids in general, make the guitar less scooped sounding, control the bass and make it sound more like my other guitars. Which EMGs would you recommend for that in the bridge? I play high-gain stuff (doom, some melodic death metal).
Your videos are great!!! I'm just getting into active pickups now, I'll purchase my first for a Charvel guitar with a Floyd Rose trem... Should I go with regular 81 or 81x? I'd highly appreciate the the help. Thanks brother 🤘
@@EugeValovirta230V yeah I have noticed something. I found the Het Set more gainy and the high-frequency is not as “bright” as the 57/66, I mean, still present but more rounded. Are you with me? Or am I deaf as fuck? 🤣
@@EugeValovirta230V this could be a great idea for a new video 🤪 Anyway, love your channel, it’s by far my fav, very informative, nerdy, cool and the right place to hear some tasty riffage 🤩
I have to say i like more 57 than 81! That sounds more wintage to me and Evert riff you play clean sound and distortion that sounds more like home! Have to change my own😁
Yep! There is no big difference but i can hear that little thing ☺️ What i know you, you like more 81. But when do you use 57 sound and why? In what situation
I definitely prefer the 57/66 for clean tones. When you get to the high gain stuff, it gets a lot closer to me. The 57/66 set definitely seems a little warmer, a little more bass response, maybe a touch more versatile while the 81/5 set are pretty much very high-gain focused pickups, maybe a little tighter with not as much bass, a little more aggressive highs/treble, pretty much what you'd expect from an 81. I've played with the 81/85 set a lot over the years. In LP style guitars like the Eclipse with a mahogany body, I liked the 81 in the bridge but I had a couple super strats with alder bodies that were naturally a little brighter sounding, and I ran the 85 in the bridge with those guitars and thought they sounded KILLER for high-gain rhythm playing. 85 is traditionally thought of as a neck pickup but it makes a killer metal bridge pickup too in the right guitar. Might be worth trying out if you haven't yet! I've since moved away from active pickups in pretty much all of my guitars, my tastes sort of changed to like more medium to slightly hot output passive pickups. I just like the dynamics you get with them, but I still think EMGs can sound killer in the right guitar for sure. Great comparison.
hey man, any recommendation on EMG 81/85 PUs height ? the EMG active set is quite different to get to the sweet spot tone compared to Seymour passive. Should they be as closest to the strings as possible ?
No idea about any measurements. I just find the sweetspots; on some of my guitars I have them pretty close and on some not so close 😎. Whatever sounds the best on a particular guitar 👌.
Despite all internet hate to 81, I can't find anything wrong with them. It is easy to dial a good hi gain tone with it. It may a bit ear piercing in the treble, especially in E standard tuning, but it can be tweaked easily. 57 has different prominence frequency. I believe is lower than 81. Your demo of 57 sound really good so I have to try it someday.
Dude, don't you know that EMGs sound sTeRiLe and sOuLlEsS? dIGiTaL even! What's even worse, they make every guitar sOuNd tHe SaME! I''m so happy that I read that on the internet, otherwise I wouldn't know.
Hi Euge, very good comparison, thanks! I have both 81 and 57 and like them both but I noticed that 57 is a little noisier that 81 (at least in my setup). Did you noticed that too? In the video I also heard a lot of noise in the SD-1 part when you changed to 57 (around 11:23).
For me, emg 57 doesn't have the best noise performance. Far from. Emg 81 better -- like many others, including fishman modern bridge PU. That said, I do tend to like how EMG 57 sounds. I believe they could bring down the noise levels by using ceramic magnets, but that would radically change the feel of the pickup -- it's a game of compromises imo.
@@Dimiguitar Thank you! Clearly in high gain some of my pickups are a little noisier than other, but I always thought that it has to do with the fact that in some humbuckers the two coils are not exactly the same (i think i read that somewhere), never thought that the magnets matter in this aspect. But its true! I didn't make the connection but now that i think about it, the ceramic humbuckers are indeed the silent ones.
I just want to say that I'm really enjoying your content, it's like every time you manage to find the most interesting idea and do it in the best way possible
Oh thanks man! So glad to hear this! 🙏
Best comp on the EMGs out there. Thanks !!!
Glad to hear! Thanks!
I EFFING knew it, lol, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist using the BOSS SD1!!! Definitely glad you did! 🔥🔥🔥
😎👌😁
Great comparison! I’m a big fan of the 57 these days. I started with the 81 in 1985 but then started using the 85 in the bridge. It’s such an underrated bridge pickup. It’s very similar to the 57 with the Alnico magnet although the 57 is a bit tighter. Top work as always 🤘👍👍
Thanks man!
Love my 57/66 pick ups. They always sound great!!!
👌🤟
Great comparison, And more importantly you are such a consistent guitarist, incredible , I can see why you are a sought after studio player,
I am very impressed. I do like the 57 slightly better over the 81 some stuff I can't tell a difference but other instances the 57 seems to shine through a little better, so I would side with a 57 for my personal preference.
Thank you for your time and effort for that comparison I enjoyed it
Oh thanks man! Really glad to hear this! 🤟🙏
I went full circle with EMGs and landed back on the 81/85 set when required. The 85 is actually pretty good in the bridge too. Great explanation. Het Set comparison next time?
😎. Thanks! Yeah why not in due time 👌😊.
Oie Breacher....Any other requests?So Euge's a fukkin EMG HET SET representative?And l will add that the Het(field) Set,or JH signature EMG pick ups are gay....I think old Papa Het is just cashing in..milking it....Hasn't he got enough money?Dead set?Another signature rort addition..And Mr Breacher..the 81 is the bees knees...Alright..Now go out and put an 81 in every guitar you own...ffs..its even endorsed by King Fukkin Charles...Now F.O.A.D.
The 81 is all I need I think. Cool stuff Euge.
🤟💪
Indeed
You can also try them at 18 or 24 volts for more dynamic headroom without hard clipping the preamps. This is something the X series addresses while needing only 9 volts, but the original preamp in 57/58/60/60A/66/81/85/89/89R/H/HA all support up to 27 volts and benefit from it if you want to reduce the perceived active compression.
I've also found that Klon and clones of it work really well with these. Great demo and thanks
Thanks!
The 81 in the bridge never gets old. "81-killers" come and go but it's been here since the '80s so it does something really well :)
Exactly 👌💪
Lol 😂 they ve never been able to kill it
Really appreciate this, bro. I've actually never had a guitar with EMGs so this was very enlightening. For my vibe and aesthetic, the 57/66 seems like they'd be a great fit!
Glad to hear!
Thanks Euge for this review! I just ordered EMG81/85 for my LesPaul.... looking forward to experience the change in sound...
You’re welcome! Cool man!
Love this no no nonsense to the point we are here for.
Sir Euge, I have to say Top Notch man Top Notch!!! Thank You for explaining and showing All of your content in detail once again Thank You Brother!!!🤘🍻
Oh thanks man! Glad to hear! 🙏☺️
Honestly just watch to listen to the riffing 😂 always sounds amazing
Thanks!
thx bro, love u vibe)
🙏🤟
I’ve used the 81/SA in my Esp Horizon for over 30 yrs. Both of them wired! Maybe it’s Me but the older wired ones I prefer over the quick connect.
Outstanding demo/comparison!! I can always count on the best content from this channel. Thank you for taking the time and putting in all the hard work for this channel. Congrats on 15K 🤘🤘
Oh thanks man! 🙏🤟🙏
Great video Euge this has to be the best comparison video on TH-cam of these classic Emg pickups but your playing makes any pickup sound killer Euge.
Oh thanks man! Glad to hear!
I was really hesitant, then I found this video and it finally convinced me of the sound I wanted. great video, great comparison between both combinations very well developed everything. Thank you very much for sharing this comparison, you gained a new subscriber.💪🏽💪🏽 greetings from Argentina!
Thanks man! Really glad to hear!
GREAT BOTH,THANKS FOR REVIEWED
Thanks man! You’re welcome!
Hey Euge I just ordered 81/60 set for a LP copy I just bought. I love EMG pickups. I have a hard time dialing in a good tone with passive pu. Maybe it because I've been using EMGs so long. 81 is my favorite.l also use some 81X series in some of my guitars. Thanks for sharing the love my brother 🙏 EMG pickups are such a great bargain you get everything you need but a 9 volt battery! Thanks again Euge!!🤘🤘
Cool man! Thanks!
I liked the 57 and 66 better, I think I have a 57 in the bridge of my old Jackson... great video as always
Thanks!
what i learned from this: 57/66 is still closer to 81/85 than to PAFs.
Nice comparison and choice of riffs as usual :)
👌😎
Thanks!
EMG fat55 is somewhat closer to a passive PAF sound, more than these for sure.
@@martinemesguitar ye the RetroActives are closer to passives, but then again they are build closer to a regular hb with a preamp on top ...they even work with no battery
@@RapttorX that's interesting, i didn't know they didn't need the battery. I'm definitely looking at getting a pair of 55's.
@@altpath no no, they DO need it to work as intended, but they can still work at reduced output without one at all
So glad my Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid came with 57/66.
Great comparison!
Like you I’ve got both sets in several different guitars. My favorite however are the 57/66 set. They’re a little more organic sounding. Still like the 81/85 though.
Great comparison vid.
👌🤟
Thanks!
Ya man!......that thru the never riff is awesome to play!....love emg pickups. I own both sets and recently got an 81x....it sounds like James hetset 81. Love your channel Euge. The 57 66 has alnico magnets and the 81 85 has ceramic magnets
Indeed!
Oh yes indeed 👌. I forgot to mention that so thanks for pointing that out 😎🙏.
81 has ceramic magnet. 85 is alnico.
@@peevee605 .....very true, that slipped my mind. Thanksfor letting us know
@@michaelmitchell5909 rock on, dude! 💪
I bought 57 and swaped it with 81 today. Night and day, huge difference! 57 is more natural sounding, organic and versatile.
I like ’em both a lot but yeah it is a bit more organic and has that ”vintage sand” on the higher frequencies and a bit more low mids 👌.
@@EugeValovirta230V i play punk rock, 81 is very thin sounding and scoped for me. Especially with my Marshalls with V30 speakers.
Really great take on comparing those two. Could not agree more on your conclusion!
Thanks!
As a PAF guy I have an EQ in the loop cutting back the top end and it gets rid of the "kchhhh". It was driving me mad, my DSL does this especially byt Creamback and EQ in the loop plus a green box up front and it sounds beautiful with any pickups and you get that colourful rich PAF sound without the top end fizz, though my amp does it will all pups mever noticed PAFs to have it that much more but good ones are very bright. I often have treble at 3 or 4 max, mids 7,8, bass 5, EQ in loop cuts 6.4k and boosts 100 hz, green box to taste.
I'm surprised how close 85/81 and 66/57 are. Building a Richie Faulkner V (58, in blue with Floyd) and so that's why I'm here. He sounds great but I wasn't floored by them... I have a set of FAT 55 which are absolutely wonderful, I love them. Probably gonna stick with those and not do the double pickguard and then it's a Faulkner-esque guitar not a clone...
I have 81/85 in an RG and before getting these, I can just use the ones I have... but Fat 55 are beautiful, give them a try! Bright as a Telecaster :) And in the neck warm like a Telecaster.
love the emgs for metal music cheers and thank you bro!
👌💪🤟
About two years ago I got my first guitar that came with EMG's, I kinda always stayed away from the active thing. I got into guitar when Dimarzio's were really the big thing, I stuck w/ Dimarzio's for about 20 years then I decided to try Seymours, which I really liked. But two years ago, like I said I got a guitar w/ EMG Fat 55's and I fell in love with them. And now that my eyes aren't what they used to be, I can't solder anymore, so EMG's became my go to pups. I love the Fat55's, but I also really got into the 57/66's, which has a more punch than the 55's. I have yet to try the 84/85's. I know Reb Beach uses 85's in the bridge so I've been interested in trying that, but haven't yet pulled the trigger on it. might have to.
My ESP Eclipse has EMG 81-60 pickups. They work for me 💪
Amazing as always bro!!!!
Thanks C!
You are wellcome E!!!!
best comparison on youtube. thank u. I like 81 more than 57, I feel
Glad you liked it! Thanks!
Great comparison
Thanks!
The best comparison video of 81/85 vs 57/66 and I've seen a few others before I did my purchase. I installed 57/66 in my ESP Horizon and two days ago a set BB in another guitar. I agree with you it's just a matter of taste which one prefer. All of them are good enough. I probably will try swap the two sets and see if I like them better in the other and the best is no soldering.
Glad to hear! Thanks man!
Did you ever try the Hetfield set? If yes, what‘s your opinion on it? If not, a comparison video of the Het Set with 81/85 and 57/66 of you would be nice!
Yeah I have those on my Iron Cross. Quite similar than 57/66 but voiced a bit differently. On my to do - list 😎.
Thanks Euge for such a great demo. Looking to get a balaguer made and trying to decide on pups butttttttt might just have to get both pairs!
Thanks man! I know the feeling 😎.
Kickass, brother.
🙏😎💪
The 57 and 66 have much better clarity, definition and richer response to me. But tone is personal. It's taste and we all have different taste.
👌🙏
For clean and low gain for sure the 57/66 sounds more pleasing and natural. For heavy stuff, nothing has ever beaten the 81. It just does the thing. Something about the high mids and the slight roll-off of the low end just makes for super tight and in-your-face aggression.
great content as usual Euge
Thanks!
this video is exactly what i was looking for i was about to pick a schecter with the 66/57 but i actually heard that it has more low end once again thanks for solving the problem
Glad to hear! Thanks!
I had a pair of 81/85 until I almost stopped playing guitar 20 years ago. Recently I played again and replaced my current guitar stock PU with 57/66. And I thought, well, why not trying something new? But only two weeks later I changed them again with 81/85. Have to say that 81/85 is THE iconic tone I always wanted, despite of PU advancement nowadays.
I agree. I mean I like the 57/66 combo a lot and have those on many of my guitars but if I had to choose between those and 81/85 I’d go with the good ol’ 81/85 combo 👌.
@@EugeValovirta230V One year passed since your comment. Has your opinion changed over this year?
Been using 81/85 since early 90s and still my favourite 👌😎.
OK. Why EMG over SD, Fishman, Bartolini, etc.? Have you tried non-EMG active PUs?
@@pavelm9078 I used to own a Duncan Blackouts set. Fairly good. But in comparison I think EMG is still a bit better. Blackouts is quite scooped while 81/85 sounds more solid in my opinion. I also tried Fishman Modern. Disappointed and disliked. It has too much trembles for me. But that's just my opinion.
Great informative video. Thanks for doing it!
edit: very happy with the tightness and versatility of my EMG 81/85 sets. I have four guitars with 81/85, two guitars have Roland GK pickups. I find the EMG 81/85 work great with the GK. I can get the right blend of both outputs without losing either. The EMGs don't get lost nor do they overpower the GK, unless it's what I want. IME
Thanks!
Cool!
thank you for this!
My pleasure 😎. Thanks!
You helped me a lot! tks
Glad to hear! Thanks!
I have epiphone zakk wylde running with 81 85 and its still great after many years
Great demo. I will probably buy the 57/66 Set for my Vintage V100 Les Paul !
Thanks! 👌🤟
I've found this interesting and informative.
Glad to hear! 🙏🤟
Hey Father EV,
Thanks for putting this up.
* oops hit send by mistake.
I always believe, to my ears and my hands, 81/85 sounds is a bit more aggressive, great for hard rock metal. 57/66 go well with straight rock and blues.
You can reverse this obviously and create some great tonal qualities as well as coloring and and textures in in sound.. This is only theoretically speaking, since there are no rules after all and true tone comes from one's hands.
Thanks!
Thanks! Great explanation
Glad to hear! Thanks!
81 vs 57 : we can prefer one or the other, but the question is: does this difference worth the money in buying the pickup you like but still don’t have?
I like them both very much so IMO 👍👌😎.
Awesome video, thanks! I have the 81/85 combination in my Jackson USA Custom Shop and like them a lot in that. Bought a new ESP Eii Eclipse with the 60/81 set and they seem too harsh/bright no matter how meticulously I redial the amplifiers. EMG suggested the 57/66 set so might as well give those a try before selling the guitar.
Thanks! Yeah pickups are quite a bit easier and cheaper to change than guitars 😊. Especially EMGs since they are solderless so it takes about a minute to swap them 👌.
I have an axe with each of these sets. Originally I intended to pick one and sell the other, but actually they both earned their place. The alnico set is more articulate and suits lead playing better, but the 81 is the king of high gain rhythm pickups.
👌🤟
I just put an 81 in my jazz blaster build, it’s a spanky pickup but it hates the lights in my workshop :(
Damn.
Nice comparison demo. Been curious about the 57/66 combo, since that's what Richie Faulkner swears by. But.....the crunch of that 81 is unbeatable. Too much mid/mud for my taste with the 57/66.
I wonder how similar the 66 is to the 60A. I’m guessing the Het Set is a modded 81/60, while the 57 is a modded 85 and the 66 is a modded 60A. Rather, that’s where EMG started and ended up.
Yeah 57/66 and the HetSet are pretty similar. Just a bit different on highs IMO. Might do a comparison video about those too since I have HetSet on one of my gtrs.
I used to have an ESP that I put the James Hetfield (JH "HET" SET) EMG's into and it sounded really nice with them
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hello thank you for your videos and your creativity, I have been following you for many years, on the Web you remain my guitarist, favorite musicians and by far!! little parenthesis your video on Thin Lizzy was Fabulous you knew how to appropriate the style of this period and its guitarist so good and flamboyant !! as you know you are too, yes I love your presence, you are big cat, big hard rocker, thank you for all the pleasures and great moments, your pedagogy is crystal clear and your bad boy, wow, a legend!!! I like your LP guitars is it possible that you are a range of LPs to recommend the models with Floyd are my sin ahaaa ahaa in short I am a fan of your beautiful career, a Doc on your background would be great, you have class Sir! !!! thank you take care of yourself cordially Salva.
Thanks! Really glad to hear!
Both sounded good and very similar. But for leads, I far preferred the one with the gold pickup covers, as it had more of a singing, connected quality to the notes, and I preferred that tone. Thanks
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hey Euge! This is a curious and honest question... How does someone gets at the same level as you stand with ESP guitars? Did you order them custom made? how does such deal works between you and ESP? is there a discount, do they offer you those guitars? I am a guitar player, just want to know what it takes to reach that level with a guitar brand... You can send me a PM if you prefer not to discuss it in public! cheers!
Good question. Thanks!
In general endorsement deals are sort of marketing tools for brands / companies so a company needs to see ”brand value” in the player for them to offer a deal to a player. I got my endorsement deal in the early 2000s when ESP was still quite small company starting to enter the Finnish market and ESPs Finnish distributor Kai Saarikko / Musamaailma was the main factor for me getting the deal and to put myself (and my bands) on ESPs radar.
The size of the player’s band (sales, streams, tours, visibility etc.) are a big factor and obviously the player’s persona and ”brand” so to say. Does it fit to the company’s brand? Etc.
All my ESPs are handmade at their Tokyo Japan Custom Shop by my exact specs and all my guitars are designed by me together with Kai Saarikko & Roope Riihijärvi from Musamaailma.
Here’s some more info about my signature models which one can order via Musamaailma: th-cam.com/video/DOL8WMWdWho/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JFDOYqojFfepsh2N
@@EugeValovirta230V Thank you for taking the time to reply to me! And very elucidating regarding my question! I know that store, Musamaailma, I am from Portugal but I have ordered stuff from them a few times, Roope is a good man, he always had time to answer my emails! They were the only store in Europe to have some especific Gotoh tuners that I bought for my ESP EX (which I sold last week but thats another whole story) your Eclipses look veeery good, I had a semi-custom 4-knob ESP Eclipse FullThickness in satin purple with white binding some years ago but I like longer fretboard scales since I play in B standard... Cheers Euge, good man, nice talking to you.
@@Zzzerof0xxX My pleasure! Yeah it's a fantastic store and I've been their customer since 90s and Kai & Roope have become also very good friends of mine. Roope was actually a good friend of mine long time before he started to work at Musamaailma. He is an awesome player and plays in Brother Firetribe and is also a very wanted session player (live & studio) in Finland. And he has a cool TH-cam channel as well: www.youtube.com/@rooperiihijarvi
57/66 sound more natural clean, and seem like a hifi version of the 81/85 set. However with high gain, the 81 just does the thing. What Kristian Kohle describes as "ghonk-ghonk-ghonk"
Whether it's because we're so used to hearing it, or because there's some magic sauce in it that cannot be improved upon, there really is no substitute for an EMG 81.
I say that, but I decided on an a Steve Lukather set for my first actives as I'm a strat guy through and through, and I'm a big fan of Steve Lukather. However if I really like them, which I think I will, then I've got two other strats and a jazzmaster that may end up with EMGs as well. I'm already thinking an 81/85 in my Blacktop HH, and a David Gilmore loaded pickguard in my beat up black strat from 1996. The baritone jazzmaster is definitely calling for some EMG J-Masters now that they're out.
No more noise. I'm over it.
Hello Euge, thanks for this video! Have you experienced EMG 57 being more noisy in studio / loud stages? I like their sound, but it seems they can be easily affected by crappy power installations or when a lot of other electronic devices are running near. So need to set noise gate quite high sometimes. My bandmate has 81, and in our practice room which has poor power installation, it is much less noisy. I tested on 3 sets of 57's (one factory installed in Schecter) :)
Thanks! I haven’t used 57/66 in a while but can’t remember ever having any noise issues.
I’d like to know more about that Altoids tin on your board 🤔
😎: th-cam.com/video/3TORBwjRG_8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks!
I liked 81/85 more. I also hear that sound tighter and focused. 57/66 are loosier and hollow for me.
but if u gotta choose one ???what would be ?? btw awesome content 🤘🏼
Probably 81/85. Thanks!
always back to the 81 for me.
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cool! Euge, lets show us how do you programming drums in logic and mix sound, please! Best content!
Thanks!
I use Cubase but here’s a video about the subject 😎: th-cam.com/video/xejppra5U1A/w-d-xo.html
@@EugeValovirta230V wow! Cool! Thank you!
Just ordered the Zakk Wylde Emg set and this is why I found your channel here. Great video buddy! You are a really great guitarist...like your style...I grew up with Gary Moore and Randy Rhoades as my ídols in the 80's and you have a bit of both in your playing. Keep up the great videos. Honestly it is such a minor difference that I honestly have a hard time deciding which I prefer. Almost bought the 57 66 but the Zakk Wylde set was on sale for 179.00 so went with them. They both sound awesome especially with you playing so I stand behind my decision. Do you know if there is a difference between the classic 81 85 set compared to the Zakk wylde set? Keep up the great informative content!!!Regards from Los Angeles. By the way...just listened to your bands album No halos in hell....Love it...you got a new fan🤘🤘🤘
Oh cool man! Thanks! Really glad to hear this 🤟🙏.
The Zakk Wylde set is 81 & 85 so it’s just a marketing thing 😎. Like Celestion’s EVH speaker which is a 20watt Greenback but it just has the EVH graphics.
@@EugeValovirta230V Thanks for the reply....yeah that's what I thought...just marketing and his name on the product...and you get a pic with his name on it😁. Keep on rocking bro🤘🤘🤘
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Great video man! Just curious if you have tried the bluguitar blubox for a speaker simulator?? If so what are your thoughts? It would seem to me that it would be a great match for your iridium. Love your content brother
Thanks!
Yes 😎: th-cam.com/video/b_YDLwVsYvQ/w-d-xo.html
@@EugeValovirta230V awesome thanks man!
As always man, A great video!. and I believe the worse you were looking for with the high end on the 57, is high end hiss?.
Thanks!
I love your guitar tone, and this is what I want for comparison.
Other artists comparisons are too much gain…
Glad to hear man! Thanks!
Both sets sound good, but I feel like the 57/66 doesn’t break up the cleans as easily.
Through the never such an underrated Metallica riff
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hi ,what is difference from 81/85 and 81/60 ? Great Video !
85 & 60 are different pickups. I don’t know about the spec differences but I’m sure EMG has the info on their website.
Extremely close these pickups. In fact, with crunch or overdrive they practically sound identical.
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Блин, мужик, спасибо большое за общор! Живи долго и играй на здоровье! 🍻
Have you tried a EMG85 in the bridge? I once swapped the 81 and 85s position in my guitar and it sounded way better to my ears.
Yeah but it was a bit too nice for me 😊.
I really like how he always sound drunk af
The sets are a lot more similar than I thought they would be - a couple questions I have are 1) Can you do tapping and get different types of voices with the wiring and 2) would it be possible to just have one EGM in the bridge position, and a passive for the neck?
1) I think so but I’d check from EMG’s website.
2) Yes but if I remember correct a tech told me that by doing that the battery will wear out all the time like you’d have a plug connected 24/7 which you don’t really want to have with actives unless you’re willing to change the battery quite more often 😎.
Hi Euge, what pickup height do you tend to use for the 81?
No idea about any measurements but just wherever it feels and sounds right. Differs from guitar to guitar.
Hi Euge, I have a really really dark-sounding ESP EII 7-string guitar. I have tried all sorts of passive pickups, and they do make *some* difference, but the guitar always end up having a HUGE bass response, virtually no low-mids, and, depending on the pickup, some high mids and top end. I would like to add some low mids and mids in general, make the guitar less scooped sounding, control the bass and make it sound more like my other guitars. Which EMGs would you recommend for that in the bridge? I play high-gain stuff (doom, some melodic death metal).
EMG 81 🤟
I think the clean sound of 57/66 is better for me and I cannot tell the difference of mid-gain and high-gain sound between these two sets.
Your videos are great!!! I'm just getting into active pickups now, I'll purchase my first for a Charvel guitar with a Floyd Rose trem... Should I go with regular 81 or 81x? I'd highly appreciate the the help. Thanks brother 🤘
Thanks! I prefer the regular.
Great video as always Euge!🤩
In your opinion, what’s the difference between those pickups and the Het Set?
Thanks!
I think they’re pretty much the same but HetSet is voiced a bit differently, mainly the highs.
@@EugeValovirta230V yeah I have noticed something. I found the Het Set more gainy and the high-frequency is not as “bright” as the 57/66, I mean, still present but more rounded.
Are you with me? Or am I deaf as fuck? 🤣
It’s been a while since I’ve played with my Iron Cross but maybe I should ’cos I don’t remember anymore 😁.
@@EugeValovirta230V this could be a great idea for a new video 🤪
Anyway, love your channel, it’s by far my fav, very informative, nerdy, cool and the right place to hear some tasty riffage 🤩
It is indeed. On my to do - list now 👌😎.
Thanks man!
seemed to me the 81's had a better harmonic response for leads and parts with pinch harmonics. The 57's had a pretty good rhythm sound though.
I like ’em both a lot. A bit different but in the same ballpark so to say 😎.
Hey euge, have you tried the jh "het" set and if yes how do you like them? Greetings
Yeah I have those on my Iron Cross and they do the job really well too 😎🤟.
I have to say i like more 57 than 81! That sounds more wintage to me and Evert riff you play clean sound and distortion that sounds more like home! Have to change my own😁
Every*
Yeah the 57 / 66 is kinda 81 / 85 with added vintage PAF mojo / high frequency ”sand” and a bit more low mid oomph 🤟😎.
👌😊
Yep! There is no big difference but i can hear that little thing ☺️ What i know you, you like more 81. But when do you use 57 sound and why? In what situation
I like both and use them just based on a feeling. No deeper reasons. They’re really similar but the others have just a bit more vintage vibe 😎.
Is the 81X/85X worth the extra cost?
I had those on one of my guitars and to me they were just a bit ”lame(r)” version of the standard ones. So not my cup of tea.
Have you yet tried 81/85 with 18V? It's a simple "mod", worth trying if you have room for two batteries.
I used it on 81/85 set and it made a BIG difference.
@@peevee605 18V is a must have for me with the 8X series but didn't do much for 57/66.
@@christianutter5383 I think it's because of the preamp in the 57/66.
Naah. I’ve been using them with one since early 90s and haven’t found a need to mess with it 😎. ”No need to fix if it ain’t broken” 😊.
I definitely prefer the 57/66 for clean tones. When you get to the high gain stuff, it gets a lot closer to me. The 57/66 set definitely seems a little warmer, a little more bass response, maybe a touch more versatile while the 81/5 set are pretty much very high-gain focused pickups, maybe a little tighter with not as much bass, a little more aggressive highs/treble, pretty much what you'd expect from an 81. I've played with the 81/85 set a lot over the years. In LP style guitars like the Eclipse with a mahogany body, I liked the 81 in the bridge but I had a couple super strats with alder bodies that were naturally a little brighter sounding, and I ran the 85 in the bridge with those guitars and thought they sounded KILLER for high-gain rhythm playing. 85 is traditionally thought of as a neck pickup but it makes a killer metal bridge pickup too in the right guitar. Might be worth trying out if you haven't yet!
I've since moved away from active pickups in pretty much all of my guitars, my tastes sort of changed to like more medium to slightly hot output passive pickups. I just like the dynamics you get with them, but I still think EMGs can sound killer in the right guitar for sure. Great comparison.
Thanks man!
How's the volume pot response for 81 and 57?
hey man, any recommendation on EMG 81/85 PUs height ? the EMG active set is quite different to get to the sweet spot tone compared to Seymour passive. Should they be as closest to the strings as possible ?
No idea about any measurements. I just find the sweetspots; on some of my guitars I have them pretty close and on some not so close 😎. Whatever sounds the best on a particular guitar 👌.
Hey Euge.Did you try an 18v mod? :)
Haven’t found the need.
@@EugeValovirta230V 2 min of work and think to new video :)
Don’t have time & interest 😎. But maybe someday if I don’t have anything better to do 😁.
Despite all internet hate to 81, I can't find anything wrong with them. It is easy to dial a good hi gain tone with it. It may a bit ear piercing in the treble, especially in E standard tuning, but it can be tweaked easily. 57 has different prominence frequency. I believe is lower than 81. Your demo of 57 sound really good so I have to try it someday.
💪👌
Dude, don't you know that EMGs sound sTeRiLe and sOuLlEsS? dIGiTaL even! What's even worse, they make every guitar sOuNd tHe SaME! I''m so happy that I read that on the internet, otherwise I wouldn't know.
Thanks for contrast review. i'll stay on 81/85 !
You’re welcome 🤟🙏.
Nice
Thanks!
Hi Euge, very good comparison, thanks!
I have both 81 and 57 and like them both but I noticed that 57 is a little noisier that 81 (at least in my setup).
Did you noticed that too?
In the video I also heard a lot of noise in the SD-1 part when you changed to 57 (around 11:23).
Thanks!
Haven’t paid any attention but could be 😎.
For me, emg 57 doesn't have the best noise performance. Far from. Emg 81 better -- like many others, including fishman modern bridge PU. That said, I do tend to like how EMG 57 sounds. I believe they could bring down the noise levels by using ceramic magnets, but that would radically change the feel of the pickup -- it's a game of compromises imo.
@@Dimiguitar Thank you! Clearly in high gain some of my pickups are a little noisier than other, but I always thought that it has to do with the fact that in some humbuckers the two coils are not exactly the same (i think i read that somewhere), never thought that the magnets matter in this aspect. But its true! I didn't make the connection but now that i think about it, the ceramic humbuckers are indeed the silent ones.
Still not something I'd buy, but choosing between the two, 57 all the way.