EMG 81 vs 85 in bridge

[hksb_alex]

Any thoughts? A number of guitars have 81 installed in bridge position. Anyone trying to swap a 81 with 85?

[CharvelRocker]

A lot of people here like the 85 in the bridge. I havent tried it, but I've toyed around with idea. I think its toejam whos a fan of 81 neck/85 bridge

[toejam]

Yep, 85 in the bridge is my favorite, along with either an 81 or 60 in the neck. The 85 is warmer, has actually a tiny bit more output than an 81. I feel the 81 can be a little too bright in the bridge sometimes. I prefer warmer sounding bridge pups with brighter neck pups, so it works great for me.
Jon Donais from Shadows Fall, as well as one (maybe both) guitar players from Killswitch Engage also use the 85 as their bridge pup.

It's real easy to swap them around since they've got the quick-connect cables, so change them around and see what sounds best to you.

[Bengal65]

Toejam will be here any minute! He swears by the 85 in the bridge position. I'm going to try that in one of my RR1's.

[Bengal65]

Damn, we must have been reading each other minds! 2 minutes difference in posting

Good idea Toejam. I'm going to try that switching around procedure!

[toejam]

Damn, we must have been reading each other minds! 2 minutes difference in posting

Good idea Toejam. I'm going to try that switching around procedure!

Do it! If you don't like it as much, it's easy to switch them back around.

[Sunbane]

85 is superior in all respects. 81 sound like poo-poo.

[OnlineStageGear]

I have an 81 in my bridge and with a 15 band EQ it is warm enough to burn your tushy.

Matt

[RobRR]

81 in the bridge hands down... Ive had both and switched back and fourth many times... to my ears, the 81 is alot clearer, not as chunky. I love em, especially with maple boards!

[Dreamland_Rebel]

as a bridge pup the"
85 sounds more Rock N' Roll
81 sounds more Heavy Metal

as a neck pup:
i only like the 81 in the neck. 85 is just too hairy for me.

[sl2lover]

I love the brightness of the 81!! I love my sound real bright anyway!!

[rjohnstone]

I prefer the 85 bridge / 81 neck running on 18v.
I think the 81 in the bridge sounds to harsh and sterile.

[LastInLine]

It's real easy to swap them around since they've got the quick-connect cables, so change them around and see what sounds best to you.

After installing an 81 (bridge) 85 (neck) set in one of my guitars, I did the swap a few months later. I have to say there didn't seem to be much of a difference in the bridge position, but the 81 sounds GREAT in the neck position.

[soc_monki]

i like the 81 in the bridge. the 85 seemed too muddy and too scooped. although people will say "the 85 has more mids!!!" but it doesnt have them in the right places to be a bridge pickup IMO. the 81 has that tight bass, and lots of upper mids and highs that i like. really crunchy, and you can always add bass to make it thump more!

[paulbag]

An 81 came in my Death Angel, which is a single hum axe. Sounds better than any guitar I've ever owned. Then I decided to put EMG's into my KV2. A lot of guys here like the 85 in the bridge so I tried that. Personally, I didn't really care for the 85 in the bridge of THAT guitar...not to say it wouldn't work in one of my other axe's. So I swapped those around...a little better. Now I'm thinking maybe 81/81 in the KV2...and try an 85 in the bridge of one of my other guitars....