Anyone here use an EMG-85 in the bridge?

I don't have any 6 strings anymore, but I use 707s and 808s which are similar to the 85, although both are a bit brighter than the 85.

Check out Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor to hear the 707s in action and sounding awesome.

Check out the 8 string songs on Fear Factory's new album to hear how tight and aggressive the 808s can get (7 string songs are SD Blackouts, but the 8 string songs are EMG 808s)... or check out the The Empire Shall Fall's Awaken album to hear the 808s in a bit more warm/natural/loose context. Ihsahn's new solo album After is also an 8 string with 808s, I believe...
 
I recently switched my 707 to an 81-7. Would really say that it depends on technique and other gear being used.
If I had a Mesa cab to clean up the low end I could see myself giving the 707 another go, but as I don't have a Mesa cab I prefer the clarity of the 81-7.
 
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.

+1

I use a 707, which is more or less the same deal as the 85. Tried an 81-7, didn't suit my playing style, so now Nebulous owns it. It's great when these things work out. It more or less cemented that I'm very much a 'muddy guitar tone, gotta work at getting the clarity with technique' kinda guy. I totally love the End of Heartache tone, and other fuller, thicker type sounds. There is nothing quite like having to make sure every single nuance of your playing is spot on, otherwise your tone just turns into a complete, inaudible mess.
 
Lol, not sure what that says about my technique. Though I never claimed to have awsome skills so no harm done :p

To help the OP with my experience: the 707/ 85 to my ears does sound a bit dull through my gear also, I was never able to get a nice balance between clarity and harshness.

When I put the 81-7 in my C7 I actually felt I got closer to the "Godless endeavour" tone than when i had the 707 in there, even though a 707 was used on that album.
Take what others use with a grain of salt and use what sounds best for the individual.
 
Currently using the 60/81 combination in my EMG-equipped guitars.

Never been thoroughly happy with any EMG pickup. I'd like to stick with the 85 in the bridge, but with mahogany guitars in B standard it's just a bit too muffled for me.

I wish they would one day come out with an 81 that has an AlNiCo magnet instead of a ceramic one.
 
There is nothing quite like having to make sure every single nuance of your playing is spot on, otherwise your tone just turns into a complete, inaudible mess.

While I do completely agree, there's a point reached where with your insane technique, you want gear that compliments it and takes it over the top.

I absolutely love the 89 in my Stinnett - that is definitely 'my' tone. That said, the 81 in my ESP just sounds so ridiculously clean and tight that I can't help but love it for more clinical sounds.

It's like the difference between End of Heartache and the Sylosis record; both have undeniably insane rhythm guitarists playing, but one album certainly sounds tighter, guitar wise, than the other.
 
Just incase anyone's on the fence about giving this a go, do it! I was on the verge of selling my Viper as I wasn't getting the sound I wanted out of it, sure it was tight but it was just wayyy too thin. Quick swap of the 81 and 85 and it's thicker and growlier, but still plenty tight for me.

Thanks to Ruckus for starting this thread, if you hadn't I might have stupidly sold a very good guitar.
 
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.

Is not that i don´t like, i guess i could try and swap them just to check the differences in person, just wanted to know of someone here have tried, considering hellraisers are a bit dark sounding for some people, i guess i feel it a bit dark sometimes. i personally like the tightness of the 81, but clips and records i`ve heard with the 85 make curious.
 
^^Yo estoy usando una EMG 85 en mi Ibanez... de hecho, tengo el set de Zakk Wylde, pero al revés (85 en el bridge, 81 en el neck), y mi Ibanez es bastante parecida a una Hellraiser (es una SZ320). A mí me gusta mucho más la 85 en el bridge que la 81. La 81 suena bastante bien para mí cuando afino más grave y cuando uso cuerdas de más calibre, pero en Drop C, que es en lo que esa guitarra siempre está, la 85 me gusta muchísimo más.



Many people may seem to think the 85's muddy and whatnot in mahogany guitars, but it's just how you tweak your stuff. I don't have clarity issues at all with the 85. I've always been tweaking starting from fatter pickups, and I while I do value 'tightness' in tone and whatnot, I still love fat, thick, punchy tones.

That being said, tho... I wouldn't mind trying out the 89 the way Jeff describes it. I must admit that I do find it would be nice to have the 85 take just a little step towards the 81's tone in the high-end and lows, but overall, I do find the 85 just overall fits me much more than the 81.

I wish they would one day come out with an 81 that has an AlNiCo magnet instead of a ceramic one.
Or an 85 with a ceramic one, lol. That'd be nice too.
 
While I do completely agree, there's a point reached where with your insane technique, you want gear that compliments it and takes it over the top.

I absolutely love the 89 in my Stinnett - that is definitely 'my' tone. That said, the 81 in my ESP just sounds so ridiculously clean and tight that I can't help but love it for more clinical sounds.

It's like the difference between End of Heartache and the Sylosis record; both have undeniably insane rhythm guitarists playing, but one album certainly sounds tighter, guitar wise, than the other.

I totally agree with you, but 'absolute tightness' with tone isn't the highest thing on my priority list. I don't mind if the tone 'gives' a little, and blurs the edges so to speak. My quest for the last 6 months has been how to let my work in general 'give' just enough to sound more glued and larger, yet at the same time retain sufficient clarity. It's a tight rope walk, as with all things.

The 81 is just a bit over the top for me personally. I don't like the way the tone sounds coming out of the amp. It's very grating and dry, and I understand that for some people that's ideal. For me it just felt like it made my Hellraiser play like any interchangeable guitar. It no longer sounded like it was all mahogany. In that case I'd rather just play a Jackson (which has better feel to me) and call it a day.

I completely dig why people like 81s though. I certainly use them from time to time on other bands' material, when it suits. There are no hard and fast rules here, and an 81 will definitely feature on one of my 'bigger' mixes of the year.
 
Gracias Hugo, supongo que si la probare en el puente, me preocupa un poco que sea grave no tanto que no sea tan "tight" , pero como dices se puede ajustar en el amplificador etc.