EMG 81X Active Humbucker Pickup User Reviews

I recently bought this pickup after owning an EMG 89 years ago. I put this one in my Jackson Dinky and glad i did. The one review i read claims it hums really bad. I haven't had this issue i would say they didn't follow the directions correctly. Wired correctly it is a well pronounced pickup that has a sweet sound for metal blues rock and even country. I play all styles and it has yet to dissapoint. I do alot of solo guitar songs similar to Vai and Satriani and it has performed well for them. Used in the studio i dial back the treble a bit at around 700-800hz and it seems to be just right for me. All in all EMG has done well in this pup as far as i can tell so far.

Sound

It is bright with full midrange with a flat low end. If you are looking for more chunk as found in death metal you may prefer the 89 or 60

Features

The quick connect made install a breeze but not one to use in a 2 humbucker setup that you only want to replace one of your pickups. I had to leave my neck pup unhooked up amd useless

Ease of Use

Simple. Dial back the treble with a high pass filter and prepare to be amazed

Quality

Build quality is what you expect from EMG no cheap materials here

Value

Absolutely

Manufacturer Support

Never had to contact EMG

The Wow Factor

No other than its an EMG. I know when i am done installing i dont have to take it back out and try again with another pup

Musical Background:

30 years blues rock metal. Studio musician by trade

Musical Style:

Blues rock

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Submitted March 19, 2013 by Ryan Jones in blairsville , PA

"puts the heavy in heavy metal"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

Great pup. Sounds really sick in my esp Ltd m100. This pick up makes me buckle at my knees when I hit a pinch harmonic it screams metal and the solder less kit makes for easy installation. Long live emg! Great pickups for the heavy metalhead

Musical Background:

10+ w/road experience

Musical Style:

Heavy Metal Nu metal death metal

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Submitted June 27, 2011 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Worst pickup on the marked."

Overall:

(see rating details)

very bad product.

Sound

they are completely different from 81 we all know.

Ease of Use

i don't like the quick connection system as they made it kind of difficult ,for me anyways. i much prefer soldering.

Quality

worst pickup i have ever owned. it feedbacks like crazy in the band situation. it is the most humming and microphonic pickup on the market. it amplifies hum depending on which angle your guitar is. you can find the "sweet spot" in which you get least hum,but as soon as you move ,guitar will start to hum like crazy. i had two of these pickups in and tried them in 3 different guitars. same results every time. i have guitars with an older emg pickups and guitars with duncan blackout pickups. all of them like 10x time quiter in the hum/feedback department than this new X series pickups. the blackout being is the most quite one. i never write any reviews but this thing realy pissed me off. and yes i have tried 4 different amps,home and studio,cables etc... it's definitely the pickup and not my setup. btw passive high gain dimarzios are much quiter than any active emgs that are on the market. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CRAP.

Value

read above

Manufacturer Support

did't try to contact the support. my local store have returned my money back.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Metal

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