I just want to say that I'm really enjoying your content, it's like every time you manage to find the most interesting idea and do it in the best way possible
I went full circle with EMGs and landed back on the 81/85 set when required. The 85 is actually pretty good in the bridge too. Great explanation. Het Set comparison next time?
Great comparison, And more importantly you are such a consistent guitarist, incredible , I can see why you are a sought after studio player, I am very impressed. I do like the 57 slightly better over the 81 some stuff I can't tell a difference but other instances the 57 seems to shine through a little better, so I would side with a 57 for my personal preference. Thank you for your time and effort for that comparison I enjoyed it
@@martinemesguitar ye the RetroActives are closer to passives, but then again they are build closer to a regular hb with a preamp on top ...they even work with no battery
Great comparison! I’m a big fan of the 57 these days. I started with the 81 in 1985 but then started using the 85 in the bridge. It’s such an underrated bridge pickup. It’s very similar to the 57 with the Alnico magnet although the 57 is a bit tighter. Top work as always 🤘👍👍
Really appreciate this, bro. I've actually never had a guitar with EMGs so this was very enlightening. For my vibe and aesthetic, the 57/66 seems like they'd be a great fit!
You can also try them at 18 or 24 volts for more dynamic headroom without hard clipping the preamps. This is something the X series addresses while needing only 9 volts, but the original preamp in 57/58/60/60A/66/81/85/89/89R/H/HA all support up to 27 volts and benefit from it if you want to reduce the perceived active compression. I've also found that Klon and clones of it work really well with these. Great demo and thanks
Sir Euge, I have to say Top Notch man Top Notch!!! Thank You for explaining and showing All of your content in detail once again Thank You Brother!!!🤘🍻
Outstanding demo/comparison!! I can always count on the best content from this channel. Thank you for taking the time and putting in all the hard work for this channel. Congrats on 15K 🤘🤘
I was really hesitant, then I found this video and it finally convinced me of the sound I wanted. great video, great comparison between both combinations very well developed everything. Thank you very much for sharing this comparison, you gained a new subscriber.💪🏽💪🏽 greetings from Argentina!
The best comparison video of 81/85 vs 57/66 and I've seen a few others before I did my purchase. I installed 57/66 in my ESP Horizon and two days ago a set BB in another guitar. I agree with you it's just a matter of taste which one prefer. All of them are good enough. I probably will try swap the two sets and see if I like them better in the other and the best is no soldering.
Hey Euge I just ordered 81/60 set for a LP copy I just bought. I love EMG pickups. I have a hard time dialing in a good tone with passive pu. Maybe it because I've been using EMGs so long. 81 is my favorite.l also use some 81X series in some of my guitars. Thanks for sharing the love my brother 🙏 EMG pickups are such a great bargain you get everything you need but a 9 volt battery! Thanks again Euge!!🤘🤘
For clean and low gain for sure the 57/66 sounds more pleasing and natural. For heavy stuff, nothing has ever beaten the 81. It just does the thing. Something about the high mids and the slight roll-off of the low end just makes for super tight and in-your-face aggression.
Hey Father EV, Thanks for putting this up. * oops hit send by mistake. I always believe, to my ears and my hands, 81/85 sounds is a bit more aggressive, great for hard rock metal. 57/66 go well with straight rock and blues. You can reverse this obviously and create some great tonal qualities as well as coloring and and textures in in sound.. This is only theoretically speaking, since there are no rules after all and true tone comes from one's hands.
Like you I’ve got both sets in several different guitars. My favorite however are the 57/66 set. They’re a little more organic sounding. Still like the 81/85 though. Great comparison vid.
Hello Euge, thanks for this video! Have you experienced EMG 57 being more noisy in studio / loud stages? I like their sound, but it seems they can be easily affected by crappy power installations or when a lot of other electronic devices are running near. So need to set noise gate quite high sometimes. My bandmate has 81, and in our practice room which has poor power installation, it is much less noisy. I tested on 3 sets of 57's (one factory installed in Schecter) :)
I have an axe with each of these sets. Originally I intended to pick one and sell the other, but actually they both earned their place. The alnico set is more articulate and suits lead playing better, but the 81 is the king of high gain rhythm pickups.
57/66 sound more natural clean, and seem like a hifi version of the 81/85 set. However with high gain, the 81 just does the thing. What Kristian Kohle describes as "ghonk-ghonk-ghonk" Whether it's because we're so used to hearing it, or because there's some magic sauce in it that cannot be improved upon, there really is no substitute for an EMG 81. I say that, but I decided on an a Steve Lukather set for my first actives as I'm a strat guy through and through, and I'm a big fan of Steve Lukather. However if I really like them, which I think I will, then I've got two other strats and a jazzmaster that may end up with EMGs as well. I'm already thinking an 81/85 in my Blacktop HH, and a David Gilmore loaded pickguard in my beat up black strat from 1996. The baritone jazzmaster is definitely calling for some EMG J-Masters now that they're out. No more noise. I'm over it.
Ya man!......that thru the never riff is awesome to play!....love emg pickups. I own both sets and recently got an 81x....it sounds like James hetset 81. Love your channel Euge. The 57 66 has alnico magnets and the 81 85 has ceramic magnets
Great informative video. Thanks for doing it! edit: very happy with the tightness and versatility of my EMG 81/85 sets. I have four guitars with 81/85, two guitars have Roland GK pickups. I find the EMG 81/85 work great with the GK. I can get the right blend of both outputs without losing either. The EMGs don't get lost nor do they overpower the GK, unless it's what I want. IME
I definitely prefer the 57/66 for clean tones. When you get to the high gain stuff, it gets a lot closer to me. The 57/66 set definitely seems a little warmer, a little more bass response, maybe a touch more versatile while the 81/5 set are pretty much very high-gain focused pickups, maybe a little tighter with not as much bass, a little more aggressive highs/treble, pretty much what you'd expect from an 81. I've played with the 81/85 set a lot over the years. In LP style guitars like the Eclipse with a mahogany body, I liked the 81 in the bridge but I had a couple super strats with alder bodies that were naturally a little brighter sounding, and I ran the 85 in the bridge with those guitars and thought they sounded KILLER for high-gain rhythm playing. 85 is traditionally thought of as a neck pickup but it makes a killer metal bridge pickup too in the right guitar. Might be worth trying out if you haven't yet! I've since moved away from active pickups in pretty much all of my guitars, my tastes sort of changed to like more medium to slightly hot output passive pickups. I just like the dynamics you get with them, but I still think EMGs can sound killer in the right guitar for sure. Great comparison.
I had a pair of 81/85 until I almost stopped playing guitar 20 years ago. Recently I played again and replaced my current guitar stock PU with 57/66. And I thought, well, why not trying something new? But only two weeks later I changed them again with 81/85. Have to say that 81/85 is THE iconic tone I always wanted, despite of PU advancement nowadays.
I agree. I mean I like the 57/66 combo a lot and have those on many of my guitars but if I had to choose between those and 81/85 I’d go with the good ol’ 81/85 combo 👌.
@@pavelm9078 I used to own a Duncan Blackouts set. Fairly good. But in comparison I think EMG is still a bit better. Blackouts is quite scooped while 81/85 sounds more solid in my opinion. I also tried Fishman Modern. Disappointed and disliked. It has too much trembles for me. But that's just my opinion.
Nice comparison demo. Been curious about the 57/66 combo, since that's what Richie Faulkner swears by. But.....the crunch of that 81 is unbeatable. Too much mid/mud for my taste with the 57/66.
Did you ever try the Hetfield set? If yes, what‘s your opinion on it? If not, a comparison video of the Het Set with 81/85 and 57/66 of you would be nice!
Just ordered the Zakk Wylde Emg set and this is why I found your channel here. Great video buddy! You are a really great guitarist...like your style...I grew up with Gary Moore and Randy Rhoades as my ídols in the 80's and you have a bit of both in your playing. Keep up the great videos. Honestly it is such a minor difference that I honestly have a hard time deciding which I prefer. Almost bought the 57 66 but the Zakk Wylde set was on sale for 179.00 so went with them. They both sound awesome especially with you playing so I stand behind my decision. Do you know if there is a difference between the classic 81 85 set compared to the Zakk wylde set? Keep up the great informative content!!!Regards from Los Angeles. By the way...just listened to your bands album No halos in hell....Love it...you got a new fan🤘🤘🤘
Oh cool man! Thanks! Really glad to hear this 🤟🙏. The Zakk Wylde set is 81 & 85 so it’s just a marketing thing 😎. Like Celestion’s EVH speaker which is a 20watt Greenback but it just has the EVH graphics.
@@EugeValovirta230V Thanks for the reply....yeah that's what I thought...just marketing and his name on the product...and you get a pic with his name on it😁. Keep on rocking bro🤘🤘🤘
As a PAF guy I have an EQ in the loop cutting back the top end and it gets rid of the "kchhhh". It was driving me mad, my DSL does this especially byt Creamback and EQ in the loop plus a green box up front and it sounds beautiful with any pickups and you get that colourful rich PAF sound without the top end fizz, though my amp does it will all pups mever noticed PAFs to have it that much more but good ones are very bright. I often have treble at 3 or 4 max, mids 7,8, bass 5, EQ in loop cuts 6.4k and boosts 100 hz, green box to taste. I'm surprised how close 85/81 and 66/57 are. Building a Richie Faulkner V (58, in blue with Floyd) and so that's why I'm here. He sounds great but I wasn't floored by them... I have a set of FAT 55 which are absolutely wonderful, I love them. Probably gonna stick with those and not do the double pickguard and then it's a Faulkner-esque guitar not a clone... I have 81/85 in an RG and before getting these, I can just use the ones I have... but Fat 55 are beautiful, give them a try! Bright as a Telecaster :) And in the neck warm like a Telecaster.
this video is exactly what i was looking for i was about to pick a schecter with the 66/57 but i actually heard that it has more low end once again thanks for solving the problem
I’ve always been a treble, mix-cutting tone fan. I loved the L500XL and 81. But there’s something about the 57 tone - like a Gibson 50s standard on steroids. That fat tone sounds so good. I’ve been using it in my main guitar and may never swap it out
Your videos are great!!! I'm just getting into active pickups now, I'll purchase my first for a Charvel guitar with a Floyd Rose trem... Should I go with regular 81 or 81x? I'd highly appreciate the the help. Thanks brother 🤘
About two years ago I got my first guitar that came with EMG's, I kinda always stayed away from the active thing. I got into guitar when Dimarzio's were really the big thing, I stuck w/ Dimarzio's for about 20 years then I decided to try Seymours, which I really liked. But two years ago, like I said I got a guitar w/ EMG Fat 55's and I fell in love with them. And now that my eyes aren't what they used to be, I can't solder anymore, so EMG's became my go to pups. I love the Fat55's, but I also really got into the 57/66's, which has a more punch than the 55's. I have yet to try the 84/85's. I know Reb Beach uses 85's in the bridge so I've been interested in trying that, but haven't yet pulled the trigger on it. might have to.
Great video man! Just curious if you have tried the bluguitar blubox for a speaker simulator?? If so what are your thoughts? It would seem to me that it would be a great match for your iridium. Love your content brother
I wonder how similar the 66 is to the 60A. I’m guessing the Het Set is a modded 81/60, while the 57 is a modded 85 and the 66 is a modded 60A. Rather, that’s where EMG started and ended up.
Yeah 57/66 and the HetSet are pretty similar. Just a bit different on highs IMO. Might do a comparison video about those too since I have HetSet on one of my gtrs.
Both sounded good and very similar. But for leads, I far preferred the one with the gold pickup covers, as it had more of a singing, connected quality to the notes, and I preferred that tone. Thanks
81 vs 57 : we can prefer one or the other, but the question is: does this difference worth the money in buying the pickup you like but still don’t have?
hello thank you for your videos and your creativity, I have been following you for many years, on the Web you remain my guitarist, favorite musicians and by far!! little parenthesis your video on Thin Lizzy was Fabulous you knew how to appropriate the style of this period and its guitarist so good and flamboyant !! as you know you are too, yes I love your presence, you are big cat, big hard rocker, thank you for all the pleasures and great moments, your pedagogy is crystal clear and your bad boy, wow, a legend!!! I like your LP guitars is it possible that you are a range of LPs to recommend the models with Floyd are my sin ahaaa ahaa in short I am a fan of your beautiful career, a Doc on your background would be great, you have class Sir! !!! thank you take care of yourself cordially Salva.
Awesome video, thanks! I have the 81/85 combination in my Jackson USA Custom Shop and like them a lot in that. Bought a new ESP Eii Eclipse with the 60/81 set and they seem too harsh/bright no matter how meticulously I redial the amplifiers. EMG suggested the 57/66 set so might as well give those a try before selling the guitar.
Thanks! Yeah pickups are quite a bit easier and cheaper to change than guitars 😊. Especially EMGs since they are solderless so it takes about a minute to swap them 👌.
@@EugeValovirta230V yeah I have noticed something. I found the Het Set more gainy and the high-frequency is not as “bright” as the 57/66, I mean, still present but more rounded. Are you with me? Or am I deaf as fuck? 🤣
@@EugeValovirta230V this could be a great idea for a new video 🤪 Anyway, love your channel, it’s by far my fav, very informative, nerdy, cool and the right place to hear some tasty riffage 🤩
Hi Euge, I have a really really dark-sounding ESP EII 7-string guitar. I have tried all sorts of passive pickups, and they do make *some* difference, but the guitar always end up having a HUGE bass response, virtually no low-mids, and, depending on the pickup, some high mids and top end. I would like to add some low mids and mids in general, make the guitar less scooped sounding, control the bass and make it sound more like my other guitars. Which EMGs would you recommend for that in the bridge? I play high-gain stuff (doom, some melodic death metal).
The sets are a lot more similar than I thought they would be - a couple questions I have are 1) Can you do tapping and get different types of voices with the wiring and 2) would it be possible to just have one EGM in the bridge position, and a passive for the neck?
1) I think so but I’d check from EMG’s website. 2) Yes but if I remember correct a tech told me that by doing that the battery will wear out all the time like you’d have a plug connected 24/7 which you don’t really want to have with actives unless you’re willing to change the battery quite more often 😎.
hey man, any recommendation on EMG 81/85 PUs height ? the EMG active set is quite different to get to the sweet spot tone compared to Seymour passive. Should they be as closest to the strings as possible ?
No idea about any measurements. I just find the sweetspots; on some of my guitars I have them pretty close and on some not so close 😎. Whatever sounds the best on a particular guitar 👌.
Despite all internet hate to 81, I can't find anything wrong with them. It is easy to dial a good hi gain tone with it. It may a bit ear piercing in the treble, especially in E standard tuning, but it can be tweaked easily. 57 has different prominence frequency. I believe is lower than 81. Your demo of 57 sound really good so I have to try it someday.
Dude, don't you know that EMGs sound sTeRiLe and sOuLlEsS? dIGiTaL even! What's even worse, they make every guitar sOuNd tHe SaME! I''m so happy that I read that on the internet, otherwise I wouldn't know.
I have to say i like more 57 than 81! That sounds more wintage to me and Evert riff you play clean sound and distortion that sounds more like home! Have to change my own😁
Yep! There is no big difference but i can hear that little thing ☺️ What i know you, you like more 81. But when do you use 57 sound and why? In what situation
Hi Euge, very good comparison, thanks! I have both 81 and 57 and like them both but I noticed that 57 is a little noisier that 81 (at least in my setup). Did you noticed that too? In the video I also heard a lot of noise in the SD-1 part when you changed to 57 (around 11:23).
For me, emg 57 doesn't have the best noise performance. Far from. Emg 81 better -- like many others, including fishman modern bridge PU. That said, I do tend to like how EMG 57 sounds. I believe they could bring down the noise levels by using ceramic magnets, but that would radically change the feel of the pickup -- it's a game of compromises imo.
@@Dimiguitar Thank you! Clearly in high gain some of my pickups are a little noisier than other, but I always thought that it has to do with the fact that in some humbuckers the two coils are not exactly the same (i think i read that somewhere), never thought that the magnets matter in this aspect. But its true! I didn't make the connection but now that i think about it, the ceramic humbuckers are indeed the silent ones.
