Anyone here use an EMG-85 in the bridge?

[ruckus328]

And if so, why would you want to over an 81? Sound-wise, what's the difference. I'm not a guitarist, so anyone care to enlighten me? I'm asking because right before we started recording my guitarist insisted on switching his 81 to an 85 without even hearing what the difference would sound like. His reason: Cuz adam d does.

In any case, the guitars seem to sound dull and muddy and lacking brightness and clarity, although it could just be that I'm not getting a decent tone out of the amp sim, but no matter how much I mess with it, still can't get a clear tone so I'm starting to wonder. I'd really like to have some recordings of the same riffs with an 81 so I can do a comparison but unfortunetly don't have em. I'm getting the tracks re-amped, so can't say what it's gonna sound like afterwards, maybe it'll be fine, maybe it'll be shit. Anyone care to chime in?

 

[JeffTD]

LOL a ton of people do.

Basic differences: 85 is thicker, more organic, higher output, has a smoother top end, and a fatter low end. 81 is tighter, more 'sterile/clinical,' and has a sharper top end/pick attack.

Your experience with the 85 being muddy and lacking brightness is the same as mine, especially in darker guitars. There are plenty of albums that are proof-positive that you can still get a killer tone out of them, but that can be said about a lot of pickups.

 

[Executioner213]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't James Murphy use 85 in the bridge pretty exclusively?

 

[TheDriller]

I have an 85 in the bridge of an Alder body guitar.
It balances out the brightness of the Alder perfectly, giving a big, broad roaring crunch.

When i had an 81 in the same guitar it was way too thin and shrill, sounded pretty wimpy really.

So it really depends on what the guitar is made of, if its a bright wood the 85 will tame it and broaden it out nicely.
if its a dark wood you may be better off with the 81.

 

[ruckus328]

He's got a hagstrom with a basswood body. That's what the 85 is currently in.

I have an ESP with Mahogandy body (ok, so I play a little guitar lol, it's not my primary instrument though). It's actually my 85 he has in there so I've got an 81/81 config at the moment. We're going to start using my guitar for all recordings from here on so I have it at hand if I need to tweak anything, but of course he wants to put the 85 back in mine for the recordings.

 

[006]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't James Murphy use 85 in the bridge pretty exclusively?

Yup.

I am a fairly recent 85 convert myself after being a die-hard 81-in-bridge-position-only fan. The 85 is everything I wanted from the 81 after a really long time of using it (the 81). It's meatier, smoother, more "organic", etc. as Jeff explained above. You do need to realize that the 85 will need a different approach when dialing an amp over an 81. With the 85, a TS in front of my 6505 is a MUST, IMO, whereas with the 81 I could get away with going straight into the amp more often.

 

[Brandon E.]

I use an 85 in the bridge...it rules.

 

[motomoto]

Same here.

I use it on a solid mahogany and a maple neck through with mahogany wings.
But thats only for until D or drop C tunnings.
For lower i go with the 81

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Funny, I went to Sam Ash once to see if they had an 85 in stock...I was going to put it in the bridge. Spoke with salesman who looked like he never got over the breakup of his band in the 80's:

"Hi, do you have an EMG 85 on stock?"

"What you gonna put it in BRO"

"Oh, the bridge of my Ibanez."

"No can do BRO...the 85 is STRICTLY neck only."

"Nah, I know plenty of guys who have it in the bridge. Anyway, do you have any in stock?"

"NOPE."

Boo-urns.

Joe

 

[Machinated]

I have one in my alder ESP, sometimes it rules and sometimes it can be too dark. been tracking all week with an epi les paul with an 81, and im finding it way more album worthy.

definitely worth trying, but don't rule out the 81 either.

 

[Wolfeman]

All of my guitars have an 85 in the bridge. Just suits my playing style better.

 

[ruckus328]

Ahh but when someone else is reamping your stuff, how do you know what to go with? Live the 85 sounds great but I know what works live isn't necessarily what works in the studio.

 

[Mikaël-ange]

I use 85 myself (on my warrior pro 85/SA with poplar body=) but sometimes 81 work better with my recto. Depend of amp I think... Sometimes good, sometimes too beasty

 

[Rupturemetal]

Really fuck with him and try the 89. Best of both worlds

 

[Kazrog]

I also use 85s in the bridge exclusively (or 707s on my 7 string.) If you like the sound of James' guitars, or Soilwork, or Killswitch, then you like 85s in the bridge.

PS - I don't like the EMG 81 at all, for anything.

 

[JeffTD]

If you like the sound of James' guitars, or Soilwork, or Killswitch, then you like 85s in the bridge.

It's worth mentioning that as soon as Wichers' Angelus Custom comes into play, there's an 81 in the bridge.

 

[Metal Overload]

Does anyone thing is a good idea to swap the 85 in my Hellraiser to the bridge position??

 

[JeffTD]

Does anyone thing is a good idea to swap the 85 in my Hellraiser to the bridge position??

People will tell you it's a good idea, but what is your problem with the 81 in the bridge right now? What you don't like about it will give us a better bearing on whether or not you'll like the 85 in there.

 

[Trevoire520]

Hmmm, I really haven't been getting on with the sound of my LTD Viper lately which has 81 in the bridge and 85 in the neck, felt it sounded pretty thin next to my other guitars. Looks like it's time for swapsies!

 

[James-Doolan]

Im running an 85 in the bridge and 81 in the neck of my ibanez. Loving the tone for fat tight metal riffs ala killswitch