EMG 81
Encyclopedia
The EMG 81 is a popular active humbucker
guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc.
. It is usually considered a lead
pickup for use in bridge position, paired with EMG 85
as a rhythm
pickup in neck position (Zakk Wylde
is famous for this configuration). It's not uncommon, however, to see a guitar with two EMG 81s in both bridge and neck positions (for instance, Kirk Hammett's
EMG-KH21 pickup sets, which include 2 EMG 81 pickups for both neck and bridge positions). The EMG 81 pickup is preferred as a lead pickup because of its high output and smooth control from having a rail magnet
. Rail magnets tend to sound smoother through guitar bends because they have a constant "rail" that runs through the pickup, while typical ceramic magnets have poles at each string that lose signal strength as the string bends away from the ceramic pole.
The EMG 81 can be recognized by its dark grey humbucker form-factor and a silver embossed EMG logo.
, and was released to the market in 1981. Construction is similar to traditional U-shaped pickups, but there are no separate pole pieces; steel bars (rails) are used instead. Alnico magnets have been replaced with more powerful ceramic ones. While nominal output is the same as EMG 85
, lower noise ratio gives more gain opportunity.
As most other modern EMG pickups, the EMG 81 has 5-wire quik-connect output, that comes as a 5-pin male connector on a pickup body and a 5-wire cable to connect it. This allows for a less complicated pick up swap in the future, only requiring the removal the pickup guard and disconnecting the pickup, as opposed to melting the solder and installing the new pickup.
More recently, a few variants called the EMG-81TW and 81-X have been released. The 81TW version features a coil tap
along with a second preamp for a wider variety of tones. The 81-X provides increased headroom giving the voicing an organic and open tone while still maintaining clarity and response.
There are two main ways to achieve this 18v EMG mod. The first method involves using separate battery harnesses for each battery. There are several different ways to achieve this, and wiring diagrams can be found all over the internet.
The second method is for those who do not want to have to buy a new 9v harness, and have ample room in their cavity for two batteries (about 2.5" by 2"). Tape two 9v batteries together side by side so that the positive/negative terminals would resemble [- +][- +] when looking from the top. Solder a wire from the outside positive to the outside negative (a decent gauge guitar string will suffice) and put tape over the now connected terminals and wire so they are not exposed. Then simply attach your existing battery harness over the pos/neg terminals in the middle.
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
. It is usually considered a lead
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
pickup for use in bridge position, paired with EMG 85
EMG 85
The EMG 85 is a popular active humbucker guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc.. It is usually installed in a guitar's neck position and often paired with the EMG 81 in the bridge position, but can be used in the bridge position for a different result....
as a rhythm
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
pickup in neck position (Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
is famous for this configuration). It's not uncommon, however, to see a guitar with two EMG 81s in both bridge and neck positions (for instance, Kirk Hammett's
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
EMG-KH21 pickup sets, which include 2 EMG 81 pickups for both neck and bridge positions). The EMG 81 pickup is preferred as a lead pickup because of its high output and smooth control from having a rail magnet
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
. Rail magnets tend to sound smoother through guitar bends because they have a constant "rail" that runs through the pickup, while typical ceramic magnets have poles at each string that lose signal strength as the string bends away from the ceramic pole.
The EMG 81 can be recognized by its dark grey humbucker form-factor and a silver embossed EMG logo.
History and design
The EMG-81 was developed in 1979 along with the EMG 85EMG 85
The EMG 85 is a popular active humbucker guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc.. It is usually installed in a guitar's neck position and often paired with the EMG 81 in the bridge position, but can be used in the bridge position for a different result....
, and was released to the market in 1981. Construction is similar to traditional U-shaped pickups, but there are no separate pole pieces; steel bars (rails) are used instead. Alnico magnets have been replaced with more powerful ceramic ones. While nominal output is the same as EMG 85
EMG 85
The EMG 85 is a popular active humbucker guitar pickup manufactured by EMG, Inc.. It is usually installed in a guitar's neck position and often paired with the EMG 81 in the bridge position, but can be used in the bridge position for a different result....
, lower noise ratio gives more gain opportunity.
As most other modern EMG pickups, the EMG 81 has 5-wire quik-connect output, that comes as a 5-pin male connector on a pickup body and a 5-wire cable to connect it. This allows for a less complicated pick up swap in the future, only requiring the removal the pickup guard and disconnecting the pickup, as opposed to melting the solder and installing the new pickup.
More recently, a few variants called the EMG-81TW and 81-X have been released. The 81TW version features a coil tap
Coil tap
A coil tap is a wiring feature found on some electrical transformers, inductors and coil pickups, all of which are sets of wire coils. The coil tap are points in a wire coil where a conductive patch has been exposed .When the coil taps are disconnected, the coil operates as normal...
along with a second preamp for a wider variety of tones. The 81-X provides increased headroom giving the voicing an organic and open tone while still maintaining clarity and response.
18v Mod
The EMG 81 power source can be modified from 9v to 18v by adding a second 9v battery wired up in series. Many players believe this creates more clarity and articulation, as the headroom is increased. The pickup is rated at 27v so the mod is harmless and there are even some guitarists, albeit very few, that perform 27v mods although the improvement is questionable over the 18v mod.There are two main ways to achieve this 18v EMG mod. The first method involves using separate battery harnesses for each battery. There are several different ways to achieve this, and wiring diagrams can be found all over the internet.
The second method is for those who do not want to have to buy a new 9v harness, and have ample room in their cavity for two batteries (about 2.5" by 2"). Tape two 9v batteries together side by side so that the positive/negative terminals would resemble [- +][- +] when looking from the top. Solder a wire from the outside positive to the outside negative (a decent gauge guitar string will suffice) and put tape over the now connected terminals and wire so they are not exposed. Then simply attach your existing battery harness over the pos/neg terminals in the middle.
- Be careful - If using the second method - after linking the two 9v batteries be cautious when you attach it to the harness. Do not ever let the positive terminal on the 18v battery touch the positive terminal on the harness. The strength of the 18v battery will blow the preamp in the pickups, and take your pickups to a fraction of their original gain response.
Guitars that are sold with the EMG 81 as stock
- Dean Guitars Razorback 255
- Dean Guitars Razorback V 255
- Dean MAB 1 Armorflame
- Dean ML Knight
- B.C. Rich Mockingbird Pro X (EMG 60 in neck)
- B.C. Rich Kerry King Signature Wartribe (EMG 85 in neck)
- B.C. Rich NJ Deluxe Warbeast (EMG 85 in neck)
- B.C. Rich NJ Deluxe Warlock (EMG 85 in neck)
- Epiphone 1984 Explorer EX (EMG 85 in neck)
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom Midnight
- Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy EX
- Epiphone SG Prophecy EX
- Epiphone Limited Edition G-400
- ESP M-II's
- ESP Eclipse II
- ESP Eclipse II Standard Series
- ESP Eclipse Limited
- ESP EX
- ESP FX (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (EMG-85 in neck)
- ESP JH-1 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP JH-2 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP JH-3
- ESP KH-1
- ESP KH-2
- ESP KH-2 Relic
- ESP KH-3
- ESP KH-4
- ESP Truckster (EMG-60 in neck)ESP TrucksterESP James Hetfield "Truckster" is a guitar model distributed by ESP.The "Truckster" is also produced in a 'Ltd' version.The ESP James Hetfield Truckster Electric Guitar is the fifth Hetfield Signature Series guitar to carry his name since James and ESP joined forces in 1991...
- ESP LTD AX-400FM
- ESP LTD Deluxe M-1000
- ESP LTD Deluxe EC-1000
- ESP LTD Deluxe MH-1000
- ESP LTD Deluxe H-1001
- ESP LTD EC-2005/EC-500
- ESP LTD EC-400 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD EC-500 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD EX-400 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD EX-400BD (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD F-2005/F-500
- ESP LTD FX-400 (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD "The Grynch" (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP LTD KH-602 (since 2009 with EMG-60 in the neck)
- ESP LTD KH-603
- ESP LTD M-400
- ESP LTD MH-350FR (EMG-85 in neck)
- ESP LTD MH-400 and MH-401 (EMG-85 in neck)
- ESP LTD M-1000
- ESP LTD M-300FM
- ESP LTD MP-600
- ESP LTD Viper 2005 Limited (EMG-85 in neck)
- ESP LTD Viper Deluxe 1000
- ESP LTD V 401DX
- ESP LTD Viper-400
- ESP LTD VP-2005/VP-500
- ESP M-II Custom (EMG-60 in neck)
- ESP MX Custom Shop
- ESP RZK-1
- ESP SVESP SVThe ESP SV is a series of electric guitars produced by ESP.The ESP SV is a series that is only produced for the Japanese and European market. Notable users of models in the SV Series include Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom, Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray, Mike Spreitzer of DevilDriver, and...
- ESP Viper Standard Series
- Fender Jim Root Telecaster (EMG-60 in neck)
- Fender Jim Root Stratocaster (EMG-60 in neck)
- Fernandes Revolver Pro-81
- Gibson Les Paul Studio II EMG
- Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde
- Gibson SG Special II EMG
- Godin Freeway EMG
- Godin LG EMG
- Godin Redline 1
- Godin Redline 2 (EMG-85 in neck)
- Godin Redline 3 (EMG-85 in neck)
- Ibanez MBM1 (EMG85 in neck)
- Ibanez RGT6EX (EMG85 in neck)
- Ibanez RG3520ze (EMG 81/85)
- Jackson DKMG Dinky
- Jackson DKMGT Dinky
- Jackson RR24
- Jackson SLSMG (After July 2006)
- Jackson WRMG Warrior
- Jackson Stealth
- Schecter Guitar Research Hellraiser guitars
- Schecter Guitar Research Damien Eilte Avenger (EMG 81/85)
- Schecter Guitar Research Devil Spine
- Schecter Guitar Research Devil Custom
- Schecter Guitar Research Stiletto Classic
- Washburn X50Pro FE
- UVA Instruments - Baphomet
- Cort X-TH (85 in neck)
- Cort X6-SA (85 in neck)
- Paul Reed SmithPaul Reed SmithPaul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
SE Torero (81 bridge, 85 neck)
External links
- EMG data sheet (an Adobe PDF file)