How much will an EMG 81 change the tone of a Model 6?

[AussieTerry84]

well geez, I can't do that. But I can hold your hand while you wait for someone to do it for you

aww gee thanks

[Cygnus X1]

The 81 is bright and scooped sounding. I'd go with an 85 instead.

+1.
I don't know of any way to mix an active with passives, though.
If you go with EMG's, you'll have to go active all the way. The midboost would have to come out, and I like 85 in the bridge, 81 in the neck. The 81 is too bright in the bridge, and lacks the thump I want.
Works for some, but not for others, though..

And, no, the actives don't always sound the same in every guitar, in my opinion. But they are much less sensitive to their surroundings. I've put the 85 in four different guitars, and it sounds different in each.

If it were mine, I would get a model 1 ,1A, or 2 and experiment with the 85 or 81. I would go with the passives with midboost on the M6.

[Partial @ Marshall]

I liked the EMG 60 in the bridge...fatter than the 81 and 85 IMO.

[toejam]

EMG 60 fatter? That's the brightest sounding humbucker they make. I love it in the neck. I've never tried it in the bridge, but I would think it would be a little too shrill, even over the 81. I think the 85 in the bridge with either an 81 or 60 in the neck rules.

[Partial @ Marshall]

EMG 60 fatter? That's the brightest sounding humbucker they make. I love it in the neck. I've never tried it in the bridge, but I would think it would be a little too shrill, even over the 81. I think the 85 in the bridge with either an 81 or 60 in the neck rules.

I don't know about that...try it out. That is the one thing I liked about EMGs, they can be swapped out within minutes. My buddy brought the 81, 85, and the 60 over and we tried them all in the bridge, kind of fun. The 60 had more girth to my ears. Course now I use Custom 5s, done with actives all together now (or for now ...ahh tone, that fickel bitch controls my life).

[FastJunkie]

Here's my take on the Jackson Mid-boost circuit:
Roll the third knob all the way off.
Now, dial in your amp's tone.
Then, add in just enough mid-boost to thicken/chunk up the tone to where you like it.
Should be ballsy, but still crisp.

For years, I just cranked this mid boost all the way up, and was missing out on how good the circuit can really sound, clean or dirty.

How could you crank the mid boost man , that would be so bright it would kill your eardrums. I always leave mine on 10-20%