EMG 81 typically mid scooped and dark?

[Chester Nimitz]

I started with modest gear.

Peaveys will always sound like a PV.

If you're expecting to sound like Zakk Wylde with your current gear its prolly not happening.

EMG pups are solid & sealed from the factory & very consistent, you don't have an EMG problem.

Try playing ur Epi thru a JCM-800 & 4x12 and see if you like that.

 

[Bankrupted A Casino]

Lol, are you sure you don't want to hang out at The Gear Page instead? Nothing worse than a brand snob.

 

[jc986]

I started with modest gear.

Peaveys will always sound like a PV.

If you're expecting to sound like Zakk Wylde with your current gear its prolly not happening.

EMG pups are solid & sealed from the factory & very consistent, you don't have an EMG problem.

Try playing ur Epi thru a JCM-800 & 4x12 and see if you like that.

I agree EMG's are very consistent, but they are still prone to QC issues just like anything else. I've come across two that had grounding issues and one that was dead, and these were new pickups just out of the box. EMG's support was stellar and they replaced them without hesitation, but the issues occurred nonetheless.

Also if OP is happy with the tone with his other guitars with his current setup, I'm not sure what relevance playing the guitar through a JCM-800 & 4x12 will have. Not to mention that would not be an optimal amp for the types of tones he referenced in the first post. The EMG-81 is a bright pickup so one should not have to max the treble to get articulation.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Lol, are you sure you don't want to hang out at The Gear Page instead? Nothing worse than a brand snob.

lol ..... im afraid i have become wise in the ways of tone.

FWIW im a coffee snob too.

Same with SPECIALIZED carbon road bikes.

My EMG-81 is so brite i usually play with the tone knob almost off and still plenty brite but i have brite amps.

 

[some dude]

This one's kind of complicated by the pickup swap, but normally if you start having to increase the treble and master volume to compensate for dull tone and dwindling volume it's usually because your power tubes are shot.

The EMG 81 is typically very bright. Unlike the others in this thread I think the 85 in the bridge sounds like bassy poo and lacks the percussive attack and articulation of the 81.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

agreed ...

 

[Oblivion DC]

I've never heard a EMG 81 that sounded what I would consider dark. They are usually IMO bright, clear and articulate. Not really scooped sounding IMO unless you set the amp up to sound scooped.

Definitely check the battery. With active pickups when you have the guitar cable plugged into the guitar it's using the battery. Never leave the cable plugged in when not playing. It will kill the battery and make the guitar sound poorly. You can also mess with the pickup heights.

IMO you don't need super hot pickups for metal tone if you go another route. What amp are you using?

Peavey Classic 30 combo. Not the best for metal. Considering getting the Friedman BE OD to run thru the clean channel or a BB Pre, SD-1, or Green Rhino to boost the drive side....... until I can afford a dedicated metal amp. I'm fairly new to dialing in metal tones...

Edit - just realised I've had the amp for 7 or 8 years and have never changed the tubes. They're all still glowing but I get a weird volume issue with the FX loop. Should I get the tubes tested or something?

Before you get new tubes try spraying some contact cleaner in the fx loop jacks and running a 1/4" plug in and out of it a few times. It may not help at all but then you're only out a few bucks and can go ahead and pop some new tubes in there.

And just a quick aside - if you ever get a chance to try a JCM 800 with a boost in front through say a MESA 412 cab at volume, you will not be sorry.
Just sayin'

 

[Oblivion DC]

The EMG 81 is typically very bright. Unlike the others in this thread I think the 85 in the bridge sounds like bassy poo and lacks the percussive attack and articulation of the 81.

+1 on this. I liked the 81 in the bridge and always paired it with a 60 in the neck. They were both bright, but that wasn't a problem because I could eq the amp for a darker sound and it would work for both pups. Set and forget.

 

[Bankrupted A Casino]

Thanks gents. I was just ribbing you buddy. The 85 in the neck actually sounds great.

 

[s_swanson]

Lol, are you sure you don't want to hang out at The Gear Page instead? Nothing worse than a brand snob.

lol ..... im afraid i have become wise in the ways of tone.

FWIW im a coffee snob too.

Same with SPECIALIZED carbon road bikes.

My EMG-81 is so brite i usually play with the tone knob almost off and still plenty brite but i have brite amps.

I've had 6 Les Pauls and the 2nd best of all of them was an Epiphone Elitist. There's nothing wrong with Peavey amps, but the Classic series is not designed for they type of music the OP wants to play. 5150's, however, are awesome for the price and some of the most brutal metal amps you can buy. And not that it really matters, but you're spelling 'bright' wrong.

 

[Chris O]

Same with SPECIALIZED carbon road bikes.

You DO like overpaying for the name!

 

[jlb32]

Thanks gents. I was just ribbing you buddy. The 85 in the neck actually sounds great.

Glad to hear you say that. IMO the 81 in the bridge is better. Leave the 85 in the neck or go with a EMG 60 in the neck. The EMG 85 in the bridge is to bassy and muddy sounding overall for the bridge IMO. I've tried it many times and always switched back. The EMG 81 in the bridge is way more articulate, punchy and clear IMO. Some will disagree but that is just my personal opinion.

 

[Bankrupted A Casino]

This one's kind of complicated by the pickup swap, but normally if you start having to increase the treble and master volume to compensate for dull tone and dwindling volume it's usually because your power tubes are shot.

The EMG 81 is typically very bright. Unlike the others in this thread I think the 85 in the bridge sounds like bassy poo and lacks the percussive attack and articulation of the 81.

I think Bassy Poo will be my next band's name. Thanks!

 

[sinnersmoon]

The EMG 85 in the bridge is to bassy and muddy sounding overall for the bridge IMO. I've tried it many times and always switched back. The EMG 81 in the bridge is way more articulate, punchy and clear IMO. Some will disagree but that is just my personal opinion.

I don't understand this. If EMG 85 sounded too bassy and muddy in the bridge how come you could be happy with it in the neck when neck position is generally darker? It must be super muddy then. No?

I like EMG 81 for riffing but I find it a bit brittle for leads (I have bolt-on ESP M-II). Generally speaking it's anything but dark.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Same with SPECIALIZED carbon road bikes.

You DO like overpaying for the name!

Unfortunately im a sucker for their marketing ... Killer bikes tho.

The TARMAC is pure speed.

 

[Chris O]

Same with SPECIALIZED carbon road bikes.

You DO like overpaying for the name!

Unfortunately im a sucker for their marketing ... Killer bikes tho.

The TARMAC is pure speed.

Sweet ride!

I'm on a Trek Domane 4.5 (Ultegra gruppo) right now. I was looking at gravel bikes, and tried REALLY HARD to justify the price of the Spec Roubaix, but since it was a #2 bike, I went with a Fuji Gran Fondo 2.5 - cost about $900 less than the Roubaix with pretty much the same specs. That said, I did pick up a Fuse Comp semi-fat this year...loving it so far!!

 

[Bankrupted A Casino]

The EMG 85 in the bridge is to bassy and muddy sounding overall for the bridge IMO. I've tried it many times and always switched back. The EMG 81 in the bridge is way more articulate, punchy and clear IMO. Some will disagree but that is just my personal opinion.

I don't understand this. If EMG 85 sounded too bassy and muddy in the bridge how come you could be happy with it in the neck when neck position is generally darker? It must be super muddy then. No?

I like EMG 81 for riffing but I find it a bit brittle for leads (I have bolt-on ESP M-II). Generally speaking it's anything but dark.

I don't think you can really generalise because it will sound different depending on the individual guitar.

Hey Chester, here's my guitar in action:

You should tell Bjorn he needs a better guitar...

 

[vultures]

The EMG 85 in the bridge is to bassy and muddy sounding overall for the bridge IMO. I've tried it many times and always switched back. The EMG 81 in the bridge is way more articulate, punchy and clear IMO. Some will disagree but that is just my personal opinion.

I don't understand this. If EMG 85 sounded too bassy and muddy in the bridge how come you could be happy with it in the neck when neck position is generally darker? It must be super muddy then. No?

I like EMG 81 for riffing but I find it a bit brittle for leads (I have bolt-on ESP M-II). Generally speaking it's anything but dark.

I don't think you can really generalise because it will sound different depending on the individual guitar.

Hey Chester, here's my guitar in action:

You should tell Bjorn he needs a better guitar...

Man.. I love me some In Flames. Reason I had multiple 5150's, reason I used EMGs, reason I had LPs in the past, reason why I progressed as a player. I would spend hours playing along to every song on Jester Race, Whoracle, Clayman, Colony front to back. Thought about sending in vids when Jesper left to try to get in, but psych'd myself out and never did. I just.. I can't get behind the latest couple albums. Wish I could, but they're not even close to the old stuff. Still haven't had a black LPC like Bjorns, which I still realllly want, will prob be my next guitar.

 

[Chris O]

I dumped my 81's in favor of 85's, and am far happier. 85's make EMGs tolerable enough to not change them out for passives. I pair those with 60's in the neck.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Sounds good to me mang ...

BTW TREK Domane's rawk.

I got an S-WORKS fetish i must admit.