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EMG

collapse expand iconDescription

The EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup, brought to you by EMG Pickups. This high-output pickup is designed to deliver blistering tone and incredible sustain, enabling guitarists to unlock their instrument's maximum tonal capabilities. Loaded with muscular ceramic magnets and close-aperture coils, the EMG-81 produces a fat, thunderous growl along with a searing metallic scream. Install this pickup in your guitar's bridge position and your solos will cut through even the densest mix. For a sound that pummels everything in its path, install the EMG-81 in both the neck and bridge positions.

Powerful Active Electronics Provide Endless Sonic Possibilities

The EMG-81 features EMG's renowned active electronics, which require a 9V battery to operate. These active electronics give the pickup a hot output and a noise-free performance, enabling you to achieve high amounts of overdrive and distortion without unwanted noise. The EMG-81's active circuitry also provides you with a wide range of tonal options to explore. Dial in a muscular growl with thunderous lows or a searing scream with sizzling highs and fluid sustain—the possibilities are endless with the EMG-81.

Ceramic Magnets and Close-Aperture Coils for Bone-Crushing Tone

The EMG-81 owes its bone-crushing tone to its dual ceramic bar magnets and close-aperture coils. The ceramic magnets give this pickup a quick attack and response with massive low-end punch, while the close-aperture coils enable the EMG-81 to pick up string vibrations with pinpoint accuracy. The end result is a pickup with tight, articulate bass, blistering highs, and sustain for days. Once you experience the tone of the EMG-81, you'll never want to go back.

Solderless Installation for Effortless Pickup Swapping

EMG pickups are renowned for their solderless installation, and the EMG-81 is no exception. The EMG-81 comes with all the parts you need to install the pickup without soldering, including quick-connect cables and output jacks. Swapping your pickups has never been easier thanks to EMG's solderless system. In just a few minutes you can install the EMG-81 and start unleashing its bone-crushing tone.

EMG EMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup Black

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Package includes:
  • EMG's exclusive Quik-Connect cable
  • Prewired split shaft volume/tone control set
  • Output jack
  • Battery clip set
  • Screws and springs

collapse expand iconSpecs

  • Resonant Frequency (kHz): 2.00
  • Magnet Type: Ceramic/steel
  • Output Voltage (String): 2.0
  • Output Voltage (Strum): 4.5
  • Output Noise @ 60Hz: -91 dBV
  • Output Impedance: 10 kOhms
  • Current @ 9V: 80 microamps
  • Battery Life: 3,000 hours
  • Maximum Supply: 27V DC

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.7

27 Reviews

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Great sound, easy installation

Most Liked Positive Review

5

KILLER PICKUPS!

I have an dozens of guitars and every last one them include EMG pickups and Floyd Rose tremolo. The EMG 81 makes a killer bridge pickup and a very nice neck pickup. If you're more metal than it would be good to get one in the neck and one in the bridge but if you prefer to be more versitale then get and 81 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck. (EMG 60s are better than the 85s because the get clear cleans and heavier distortion when needed)

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

1

Not So Good

I hated these pickups. i bought these because of all the good reviews. do not buy these. the r horrible. the pickups need so much more gain i hate them. BUY SEYMOUR DUNCAN BLACKOUTS MUCH BETTER!!!

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  3. Back-Up3
  4. Studio Recording1
  5. Ripping1
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  1. Experienced5
  2. Novice1
Pros
  1. Easy To Use6
  2. Good Quality5
  3. Improves Sound4
  4. Functional3

Reviewed by 27 customers

  • Great sound, easy installation

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted8 months ago

    bySean

    fromHonolulu, HI

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Installed this into my project guitar and it was a pretty simple process. The sound is great, that perfect level of volume, tone, gain etc. I was expecting it to only come with the pickup and the basic wires but this came with new dials for volume and tone which was a huge plus. 10/10 would recommend for a high gain metal build/upgrade

  • Great pickups for metal and rock.

    5

    submitted9 months ago

    byRiver

    fromMilwaukie, OR

    This is a great pickup to use in the bridge position on your guitar, it's surprising how much better it is than the stock pickups one of my Epiphones had. The EMG-81 is one of the best pickups out there for high gain playing, but it also has other uses, this is literally the pickup that James Hetfield of Metallica used for a while until he got his own signature set by EMG. The pickups are EXTREMELY easy to install, even with no pickup installation experience. 5 out of 5, would recommend. #sweepstakes

  • I want another one

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted2 years ago

    byBlake

    fromRockford, IL

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I'd get them in all of my guitars if I can! They sounds very clean and don't have a lot of bass (which I prefer). But I can make up for that loss on my amp.

  • Just what I expected

    4

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted2 years ago

    byJames

    fromWichita

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Love use this product before so I knew what to expect, and they delivered prompt, fast and, exactly as described

  • Amazing

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byMatt

    fromLongmont Colorado

    Have a couple of the sets now. (81/85) and they kill. Just put them into my Gibson Les Paul and made it sound even better. If you're looking for rock and metal tones here you go, look no further. It's cleans are amazing and bright. Hell even does blues well too!!

  • Awesome sound

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted4 years ago

    byNick T

    fromBaltimore, MD

    Made my old guitar sound new.

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted7 months ago

    asked byJacob

    fromRichmond TX

    Will it be able to fit for my BC rich avenge son of beast?

    Will it be able to fit for my BC rich avenge son of beast?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, it will.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byNik

    fromWisconsin

    Will this fit for the bridge pickup in Jackson soloist?

    Will this fit for the bridge pickup in Jackson soloist?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    I’m sorry, I don’t know. In a case like this we recommend having a qualified guitar tech look at the guitar.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byChristopher

    fromPortland, Oregon

    If I buy a Emg 81 can I coil split it? 🤔✌️

    If I buy a Emg 81 can I coil split it? 🤔✌️

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    No, the EMG EMG-81 can't be split.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked bySpaceTruckers

    fromLaredo, Texas

    I have an old Rogue Rocketeer, not sure what type but curious if will replace the bridge pickup?

    I have an old Rogue Rocketeer, not sure what type but curious if will replace the bridge pickup?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    It hasn’t been tested but it probably will..In a case like this we recommend having a qualified guitar tech look at the guitar..

  • submitted3 years ago

    asked byjavier

    fromMadera, CA

    can this pickup work in neck as well as bridge?

    can this pickup work in neck as well as bridge?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Yes

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byMoises

    fromSan Bernardino

    If I buy this can I walk in guitar center and ask them to put this on my Mitchell guitar for a price?

    If I buy this can I walk in guitar center and ask them to put this on my Mitchell guitar for a price?

    Open Reply - Beau
    Yes, our technicians do offer this type of service.