The EMG 85 is one of EMG's first pickups and is the slightly more sophisticated and well-rounded counterpart to its famous twin, the 81. Featuring close aperture coils loaded with Alnico V magnets, the 85 is a powerful pickup with exceptional organic tone and versatility. Most often used in the rhythm position, the alnico magnets of this model provide a muscular growl and smooth lead tones to enable you to play the muddiest of blues to the most extreme metal. Try it in the bridge position for exceptional smoothness and soul. This pickup pairs well with just about every other humbucker in their line.

The remarkable EMG 85 has a smooth and full-bodied attack with a rich background of high-mid harmonics for outstanding lead voicing. Its wide-spread alnico magnets give it a full midrange with a bottom end that's clear and powerful. Through string bends, double note bends, vibrato, or long harmonic sustain the output remains solidly true. At high output, the distortion quality is powerfully live for expressive lead phrasing.

Andy James runs through the riff-laden "Angel of Darkness" using his EMG 85 and EMG 60 pickups:


Designed and produced in the USA.

Package Includes EMG's exclusive Solderless Install System:

- 1 25k volume pot
- 1 25k tone pot
- 1 battery bus
- 1 stereo output jack
- 1 two pickup in/out bus
- 1 pair mounting screws and springs
- 1 pickup cable
- 2 connect cables
- 1 output cable
- 1 battery cable

A Brief FAQ

What's an active pickup, and why would I use… read more one?
An active pickup is one that uses electronics to improve the sound and enhance its operation. There are a variety of ways to "Activate" a pickup. A simple "buffer" pre-amp will do the trick, but it will also amplify the hum and buzz the pickup produces. Just because a pickup is "active" doesn't guarantee you'll get great results. EMG pickups utilize an internal pre-amp (inside the pickup), which not only makes the pickup louder, it also reduces the noise!

What are the advantages of an EMG pickup?
The greatest is reduction in noise. No longer will the dimming of the house lighting system cause your guitar to buzz incessantly. You can use an extra long cable, or a wireless, and you'll get the same great tone every time.

Why an internal pre-amp?
It's the most efficient way to create an active pickup. All the coil connections are shielded, the pre-amp is shielded, and the output of the pickup cable is low-impedance, which makes it less susceptible to noise. Also, it avoids a spider web of wires and possible loose connections in your guitar and the installation is simple. All the benefits with none of the hassle.

read less