The EMG 81/85 set pairs the 81 bridge pickup with the 85 neck pickup, both active humbuckers running on a 9V battery. The 81 is the tight, aggressive one for rhythm and lead; the 85 is warmer and fuller, which is why many players put it in the neck. The kit includes two Quick-Connect cables, four 25k pots (two long-shaft, two split-shaft), screws and springs, so it drops into most guitars without extra parts. Compared with passive humbuckers it is quieter and more compressed, with far longer sustain but less of the pick attack and dynamics some players want.
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Players widely rate the 81/85 set as a metal standard: tight, quiet and consistent. Many praise the 85 in the neck for leads and cleans. Some find the pair too compressed and battery-dependent for blues and vintage tones.
The EMG 81/85 Set includes one active EMG 81 humbucking pickup and one active EMG 85 humbucking pickup for electric guitar.
The set also comes with the cables, controls and hardware listed below.
