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EMG 81 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup, Black

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately.
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Black

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About this item

  • Utilizes powerful ceramic magnets and close aperture coils
  • The tone was designed with detailed intensity, incredible amounts of high end cut, and fluid sustain
  • In the bridge position of your guitar, it will make your leads slice right through even the densest mix
  • When used in both neck and bridge positions the sound can only be described as blistering
  • Other recommended pairings include the classic 81/85 setup and the versatile 81/60 combo

Frequently bought together

$99.00
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
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$99.00
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
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EMG 81 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup, Black
EMG 81 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup, Black
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Price$99.00$99.00$14.99$259.00$109.00$199.00
Delivery
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Customer Ratings
Versatility
4.9
5.0
4.2
4.2
4.5
4.5
Value for money
4.9
4.8
4.3
4.5
4.4
4.4
Easy to install
4.7
4.4
4.1
3.7
4.3
4.4
Sold By
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
GuykerMusic
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
hand orientation
Right
Right
Ambidextrous
Right
Right
number of strings
6
6
6
6
6
6
body material
Agathis
Metal
Metal
Metal
guitar bridge system
Adjustable
Tune-O-Matic
Tune-O-Matic
Adjustable
pickup configuration
H
H
H
Combination
H
H

Product information

Warranty & Support

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EMG

EMG 81 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup, Black


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Product guides and documents

Product Description

One of the most popular EMG's the 81 is the one that started a revolution. Utilizing powerful ceramic magnets and close aperture coils, the tone was designed with detailed intensity, incredible amounts of high end cut and fluid sustain. Traditionally used in the bridge position, this pickup will make your leads slice right through even the densest mix. When used in both neck and bridge positions the sound can only be described as blistering. Other recommended pairings include the classic 81/85 setup and the versatile 81/60 combo.


From the manufacturer

EMG

EMG 81

81

81

One of the most popular EMG’s, the 81 is the one that started a revolution. Utilizing powerful ceramic magnets and close aperture coils, the tone was designed with detailed intensity, incredible amounts of high end cut, and fluid sustain. Traditionally used in the bridge position of your guitar, this humbucking pickup will make your leads slice right through even the densest mix. When used in both neck and bridge positions the sound can only be described as blistering. Other recommended pairings include the classic 81/85 setup and the versatile 81/60 combo.

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 Cables
2 Connect Cables
1 Output Cable
1 Battery Cable

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
194 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the sound quality, ease of installation, quality and clarity of the guitar pickup. For example, they mention it sounds great, has great tones for high gain stuff and that the instructions are simple to follow. That said, they say the solderless installation is easy and the diagrams are well laid out.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

22 customers mention22 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the guitar pickup. They mention that it sounds great, has a very bass like thump, and has incredible tone. The pickup has great tones for high gain stuff, has awesome harmonics, and a rich warm jazzy tone. It also has incredibly long sustain. Customers also say that it is easy to get great metal tones out of this pickup and that it's easy to record.

"Love the EMG 81 in the bridge of my guitars, it's a good sounding pick up and it's easy to install." Read more

"...EMG's have high gain and sustain - even at medium volume - with almost no noise. On clean, they have a rich warm jazzy tone...." Read more

"Once again, a screaming pickup with incredible tone. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...it was the easiest install ever , clean sound is perfect . i got this for low C tuning , and it is epic ! the low end on this is monster !!..." Read more

19 customers mention19 positive0 negative

Customers find the installation of the guitar pickup easy. They mention that the instructions are simple to follow, no soldering was involved, and the wiring is simplistic. Some mention that it's easy to record the sounds from the pickup.

"...the bridge of my guitars, it's a good sounding pick up and it's easy to install." Read more

"...because they're the standard in metal, but because they seemed easiest to install and came with the solderless install system - which includes tone..." Read more

"...Instructions were clear and easy to follow. No complaints at all." Read more

"...this is the best pickup i have ever owned ! it was the easiest install ever , clean sound is perfect . i got this for low C tuning , and it is epic !..." Read more

12 customers mention12 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the guitar. They mention that it is a high quality active pickup, with a very easy solderless system. The EMG's have high gain and sustain, even at medium volume. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.

"...With distortion, the EMG's have high gain and sustain - even at medium volume - with almost no noise. On clean, they have a rich warm jazzy tone...." Read more

"...Instructions were clear and easy to follow. No complaints at all." Read more

"Classic, and still relevant.Easiest to install, requires no solder joints...." Read more

"Amazing guitar pickup with a very easy solderless system !..." Read more

5 customers mention5 positive0 negative

Customers find the solderless installation system of the guitar to be easy and convenient. They mention that it requires no solder joints and sounds great.

"...metal, but because they seemed easiest to install and came with the solderless install system - which includes tone and volume pots, an output jack,..." Read more

"...Emg comes with Solderless installation. Makes it easy but just go to YouTube and take your time if you’ve never done it before...." Read more

"Classic, and still relevant.Easiest to install, requires no solder joints...." Read more

"Easiest install i ever did. No solder needed. Sounds better than anything. Makes any guitar sound great. Really good with a brass nut." Read more

3 customers mention3 positive0 negative

Customers find the clarity of the guitar to be excellent. They mention that it has warm tones, clarity, and punch. They also appreciate the well-laid out diagrams and find it simple yet awesome once installed.

"...These pick ups are quiet at idle - full of warm tones, clarity and punch. Sound great with any amp...." Read more

"...kit is easy as long as you're able to look at simple and very well laid out diagrams...." Read more

"Simple yet awesome once installed..." Read more

3 customers mention3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the punch of the guitar. They say it has a lot of punch and is designed to be a brutal beast.

"...These pick ups are quiet at idle - full of warm tones, clarity and punch. Sound great with any amp...." Read more

"...This one is designed to be a brutal beast, killer distortion. awesome harmonics, but it also has a very good sounding clean side...." Read more

"Amazing guitar pickup with a very easy solderless system ! Packs a lot of punch thru the peavey vypyr VIP 2 I have and probably has a lot more..." Read more

Sounds less.....metal??
5 Stars
Sounds less.....metal??
I got a second one of these for a different Jackson and it just sounds funny to me. Like it's just less. Even on 24v it sounds different. I'm hoping it's just the differences in the guitars really making that much of a difference. There's nothing wrong. It's just breaks up less is all. Not terrible but I notice it. Like i said tho. Maybe it's the guitars..update..its been some time and to me i thing it was just the fact that one guitar had the single bridge pickup and the hew one had both neck and bridge and the string pull must affect the sound some but it does sound ok to me now. sorry it took so long to update.
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