NEW EMG 81X and 85X

[RU36]

Has anyone used the X series humbuckers from EMG? How do they sound?
The emg site says they have a new preamp that gives you more headroom and a more open and organic feel.

Just wondering if anyone has used them yet.

 

[blue313]

I haven't, but I was wondering the same thing!

Same here.  All the decent reviews I've seen say that they're better than normal EMG's but are still pretty similar.  Not a bad thing, but it depends on what you were after.

I'd love to hear some completely clean clips of those as well as the SD blackouts.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

How many 81s and 85s do they make now anyway?  LOL

I saw they are making an "X" set for J-Bass as well.  I was intersted, but I'll stick with what I know.

 

[Steve_Karl]

I haven't, but I was wondering the same thing!

Same here.  All the decent reviews I've seen say that they're better than normal EMG's but are still pretty similar.  Not a bad thing, but it depends on what you were after.

I'd love to hear some completely clean clips of those as well as the SD blackouts.

Yes. Completely clean with no amp ...  direct into a sound card or mic pre.
It's the only way to get a good listen to what sound is really there.

 

[RU36]

I have not been able to locate any A/B clips that are legit.
I am thinking of just going with what I know.

If they were that much better you would think that EMG would be posting A/B clips on the web by now.

I have used the Duncan black outs and in my opinion they sound like muddy EMGs
They just didnt cut very well. the closets match would be the emg 60.

 

[Steve_Karl]

I have not been able to locate any A/B clips that are legit.
I am thinking of just going with what I know.

If they were that much better you would think that EMG would be posting A/B clips on the web by now.

I have used the Duncan black outs and in my opinion they sound like muddy EMGs
They just didnt cut very well. the closets match would be the emg 60.

I've never been able to find and useful audio demos of pickups mainly because they're always through an amp.
I don't get the logic of that at all.
An amp will be changing the sound of the pickup way too much to get a good read on what sound the pickup is really producing.

I think we need a thread dedicated to raw pickup recordings ... direct into sound card or mic pre ( and keep those tube knobs turned off ! )

 

[chrisg]

I would prefer to hear them through an amp (a tube amp in my case)  as that's what it is really going to sound like.  No effects units / pedals though. Just the amp.