EMG advice...

[NinjaRaf]

So, Im getting EMGs probably this week, and I cannot fucking decide what the hell to get. Im still leaning toward the hetfield set, but it depends on how much I can get that shit for. Apparently, I can get the regular sets and shit for 100 bucks. If I do not get the hetfield set, Ill be looking at the following options:

Bridge:
81 or 85.
Ive played the 81 through the mako, and it sounds damned good. Pretty close to my hellbaby, but a little tighter. Just as clear and aggressive.
I have no experience with the 85 as a bridge pup, but Ive heard many good things. Either way, Im leaning toward the 81, but havent made up my mind.

Neck:
Im looking at the HA or the 58. Also considered the 60A, but I dunno...
As you can see, Im looking at alnico magnet pups...the regular 60 overdrives the clean channel on the mako. No good. I need that bitch to be CLEAN. The 58 sounds really interesting to me, seeing as its jazz designed. The HA sounds cool cuz its a single coil in a HB housing, basically. That kinda appeals to me, as I like the idea of having a single coil clean sound...The 60A is only on the list because its alnico. I dont want ceramic magnets in my neck pup. Kinda leaning toward the HA in this case, but not so much that Ive ruled out the 58....I have no experience with either, so I cant really say...

Since EMG now has this fucking GENIUS solderless system, I guess I can easily swap shit out later (which is always the case with EMGs, isnt it lol). Either way, I want this to happen this week.

Other things...Im lazy, and I hate extra shit, so I do not want to run 18V...thats too much crap in my control cavity, too many batteries to change and keep track of...fuck that. If I feel like I need to do that later, then Ill think about it, but as of right now, its not happening. Also...Im lazy (did I already say that?) so I want the fucking solderless system...if you have EMGs you wanna sell me, sorry, I wont buy them because I want shit to be solderless...

Uhh, I think that covers everything. So...help me out here guys...what advice do you have on this stuff...I guess mainly on the neck option. Also, weigh in on the 81 v the het set stuff too...I havent decided yet on which way I wanna go.

 

[hellaboogie]

I have 81 & 85 combo in two of my guitars it works for me

and for the record EMGs ruined all other pickups for me in high gain applications
love EMGs

 

[Neeklaus]

85 in the bridge made me pretty happy, but now that I've gotten rid of the EMGs in my guitars I'm much happier with my sound. Just my personal experience.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Thanks guys!! Ive typically hated EMGs up until trying them with the Mako. There are a few reasons for the switch, that I dont really wanna get into. After some more research, I think Im leaning toward an 81 for the bridge and an HA for the neck. I dont think I wanna go the 85 route...the mako and my speakers have tons of low end and thickness, so Id like something that tames that a bit and tightens up the sound slightly.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

81 bridge 89 neck is my fav. The cool thing about 89 is pull the vol knob out and you have a single coil. Pretty neato. Also, even though you want new solderless shit (which I do own) In some brighter guitars I preffer older 81's from the 80's. They are smoother and rounder sounding and a tad darker.. Really helps tame an overly bright guitar.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Gotcha. My shit is far from bright, so Im not too worried about that. I dont anything with a push/pull...I wouldnt use it lol.

 

[Joeytpg]

81 bridge 89 neck is my fav. The cool thing about 89 is pull the vol knob out and you have a single coil. Pretty neato. Also, even though you want new solderless shit (which I do own) In some brighter guitars I preffer older 81's from the 80's. They are smoother and rounder sounding and a tad darker.. Really helps tame an overly bright guitar.

I have this exact setup in my Explorer.....for some reason I don't like the EMG 89 that much.........

the 81 is a metal monster

 

[NinjaRaf]

Based on the responses here and at HCAF, and my experience, the 81 is what Ill be getting for the bridge position.

As far as neck, Im still not 100% sure, but Im 70% leaning toward the HA, 30% toward the 58...

 

[Gsxrbusa]

81 bridge 89 neck is my fav. The cool thing about 89 is pull the vol knob out and you have a single coil. Pretty neato. Also, even though you want new solderless shit (which I do own) In some brighter guitars I preffer older 81's from the 80's. They are smoother and rounder sounding and a tad darker.. Really helps tame an overly bright guitar.

I have this exact setup in my Explorer.....for some reason I don't like the EMG 89 that much.........

the 81 is a metal monster

They say the 89 is nothing more than an 85 with the coil tap option.

Gotcha. My shit is far from bright, so Im not too worried about that. I dont anything with a push/pull...I wouldnt use it lol.

It's cool brotha, just throwing it out there for information sake.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Cool man. Def appreciated!!

 

[Rich7620]

I like the 81/60 combo myself

 

[Joeytpg]

81 bridge 89 neck is my fav. The cool thing about 89 is pull the vol knob out and you have a single coil. Pretty neato. Also, even though you want new solderless shit (which I do own) In some brighter guitars I preffer older 81's from the 80's. They are smoother and rounder sounding and a tad darker.. Really helps tame an overly bright guitar.

I have this exact setup in my Explorer.....for some reason I don't like the EMG 89 that much.........

the 81 is a metal monster

They say the 89 is nothing more than an 85 with the coil tap option.

Gotcha. My shit is far from bright, so Im not too worried about that. I dont anything with a push/pull...I wouldnt use it lol.

It's cool brotha, just throwing it out there for information sake.

that's exactly what it is..........I don't like the coil tap sound and the 85 in the neck I don't like.

 

[some dude]

The 85 in the bridge is a bit fatter and a little more "passive" sounding... and IMO, if that's the kind of sound you're going for you'd be better off with a passive pickup.

EMG 81 for me.

I like the 60 in the neck, but all of my EMG loaded guitars have had dual volumes so neck output was never an issue. The 85 in the neck was always too bass heavy for me. Probably good for leads, but I could never achieve a balanced clean sound.