I'll say it, 81. These sound great and all but the 81 will cut through a mix better. People must have forgotten that a bunch of masterpieces were done with the 81.
@megahurtz30 I use EMGs 81/85. Came here for the Het Set, but ended loving the EMG 57 and SD Blackouts. Thanks for taking the time and effort on this comp video!
That was a really well-done comparison! 57 takes the cake for me, with the JH being a close second. The Blackouts felt way too bass-heavy, but they still sounded immense. The 81 felt too thin in my ear with the higher gain setups, but the crunch sound was really nice.
Love my 57/66. JH has a "cut" that the other emg picks don't at least in this review. Blackouts sound really good depending on the amp/settings. That Blackstar HT thing didn't do any of these pickups any favors.
Blackout has a much larger signal than the EMG, so putting it at the same test interval is pointless. It is characterized by the fact that it sounds better removed from the strings, it is less compressed with clear articulation.
Hello. I much prefer JH and Blackout even in clean and even in dirt sound. Blackout really got somethings...more heavy. I dislike the 57 because there is too much treble or middle on it. Thanks for this video, it's awesome, you did a great job. Season greetings bro.
I love how emg markets the Het Set as a better version of the 81/85 hetfield used to use but in theory its the exact same setup minus those fancy metal covers. NOTHING IS DIFFERENT AT ALL.
Well.. differences between pickups are not too easy to spot, but, for one, the Het Set has more output than 81/85, i can assure you. Also, Hetfield used/uses the emg 60 on the neck rather than 85. But regarding the Het Set, to me, they sound more agressive, a bit more pronounced highs and maybe lows as well, they sound to me a bit more piercing overall
I've noticed the low end is a bit more boomy on the het set, and more of a fat/tight low end, rather than super tight like the 81. More dynamic, more passive vibe, and a touch more output. They both work for different things, but for lead, normal 81/60 all day. Het set for rhythm
The only EMGs I’ve owned and didn’t like were the JH’s. They were muddy and just terrible. Put them in a few different guitars to make sure it wasn’t a wiring issue. They sucked every time. Immediately went back to the 81/60. But the 57/66 sounds really good here. Well, the 57. But I’m interested in getting a set of the 57/66. They sound wicked. 🤘🏻
Same experience I had with them. Everyone online praises the jh but to me it was just mud. Sounded like the battery was dying. Different guitars, batteries, amps always sounded the same.
@@zac88anderson yeah, I thought for sure I must’ve gotten a bad set or they were wired wrong. But they just sucked. I’ve since gotten a set of 57/66 for my lp custom. They sound pretty wicked. But not as tight as the 80/81. But the Het Set was just pure mush. I guess they can be dialed in to sound decent on a kemper or something. But they just weren’t what I expected. I’ll stick with the 80/81 set. Or I’ll just play through my different passives. I think the idea behind the Het Set was to blend an active with a passive sound. Well, they didn’t do either very well in my opinion.
If Seymour Duncan had the same install method as emg they would sell many more. I have installed emgs no problem.I tried duncans and gave up and ordered emgs. The blackouts are a pain in the but to do yourself
Well, these Blackouts had the EMG type connector too, so it was easy to swap them. I think Seymour Duncan also have some solderless solutions out there
Hey man, glad you liked it. Yeah, i guess i agree, depends on the songs, maybe. I finally got some Blackouts to compare, they're good, but a bit over the top, it's a bit hard getting cleans out of them..
I like how people's preferences differ. I am an SD guy. I love the boomy bass tail end.
Passives, Seymour Duncan all the way. Their actives are nice. Just prefer the EMG’s. But SD makes good stuff all the way around.
I'll say it, 81. These sound great and all but the 81 will cut through a mix better. People must have forgotten that a bunch of masterpieces were done with the 81.
@megahurtz30 I use EMGs 81/85. Came here for the Het Set, but ended loving the EMG 57 and SD Blackouts. Thanks for taking the time and effort on this comp video!
57/66 is the best EMG combo can’t go wrong. Imo If you’re looking into blackouts look at the Jeff loomis or. The Alt metal.
That was a really well-done comparison! 57 takes the cake for me, with the JH being a close second. The Blackouts felt way too bass-heavy, but they still sounded immense. The 81 felt too thin in my ear with the higher gain setups, but the crunch sound was really nice.
0:55 EMG 81
1:17 EMG 57
1:38 EMG jh
1:59 sd blackout
5:43 EMG 81
6:06 EMG 57
6:28 EMG jh
6:50 sd blackout
Love my 57/66. JH has a "cut" that the other emg picks don't at least in this review. Blackouts sound really good depending on the amp/settings. That Blackstar HT thing didn't do any of these pickups any favors.
yeah, to be honest i ended up trading the Blackstar pedal, it has gain and a fairly adjustable eq and all, but it just sounded a bit muddy to me..
Blackout has a much larger signal than the EMG, so putting it at the same test interval is pointless. It is characterized by the fact that it sounds better removed from the strings, it is less compressed with clear articulation.
EMG 81 Every time
The 57 is great for power chording, as it is for leads!! Great all around active pickup!!
Not a bad video. The blackout sounds the heaviest to me, the James hetfield pickup is heavy too. Love the clarity of the 57
Great stuff. Actives are awesome, double tracked actives are even better! The SDs sounded meaty as.
The 81 for me just sounds fuller and more balanced.
**Uses Megadeth to Demo James Hetfield Signature Set**
*BASED*
57 has more mids than 81 which makes it way better for heavy stuff!
For my band, I have a Het Set in my Schecter Hellraiser Deluxe. I love them. The 57 is peaking my interest though…
Buy it dude! I’ve been using 81‘s for years and I’ve recently bought a 57 just to try.
It’s an incredible pickup!
Hello. I much prefer JH and Blackout even in clean and even in dirt sound. Blackout really got somethings...more heavy. I dislike the 57 because there is too much treble or middle on it.
Thanks for this video, it's awesome, you did a great job. Season greetings bro.
Thank you !! Season greetings to you too ! :)
@@megahurtz30 THX bro. BTW you should make a video on the KH-BB Set, they rock!
It’s a classic for a reason
81 for the win🤘🏻🤘🏻
Engraçado, a partir do 5:38 prefiro o som do 81, soa mais aberto, boa review, parabens.
Obrigado Mario !!! Abraço :)
Not even sure if I'm saying this correctly, but that JH set seems too "muddy" to me.
I love how emg markets the Het Set as a better version of the 81/85 hetfield used to use but in theory its the exact same setup minus those fancy metal covers. NOTHING IS DIFFERENT AT ALL.
Well.. differences between pickups are not too easy to spot, but, for one, the Het Set has more output than 81/85, i can assure you. Also, Hetfield used/uses the emg 60 on the neck rather than 85. But regarding the Het Set, to me, they sound more agressive, a bit more pronounced highs and maybe lows as well, they sound to me a bit more piercing overall
I've noticed the low end is a bit more boomy on the het set, and more of a fat/tight low end, rather than super tight like the 81. More dynamic, more passive vibe, and a touch more output. They both work for different things, but for lead, normal 81/60 all day. Het set for rhythm
Hetfield never used the 81/85 set he used 81/60s lol
You must be deaf, they clearly sound different.
The only EMGs I’ve owned and didn’t like were the JH’s. They were muddy and just terrible. Put them in a few different guitars to make sure it wasn’t a wiring issue. They sucked every time. Immediately went back to the 81/60. But the 57/66 sounds really good here. Well, the 57. But I’m interested in getting a set of the 57/66. They sound wicked. 🤘🏻
Same experience I had with them. Everyone online praises the jh but to me it was just mud. Sounded like the battery was dying. Different guitars, batteries, amps always sounded the same.
@@zac88anderson yeah, I thought for sure I must’ve gotten a bad set or they were wired wrong. But they just sucked. I’ve since gotten a set of 57/66 for my lp custom. They sound pretty wicked. But not as tight as the 80/81. But the Het Set was just pure mush. I guess they can be dialed in to sound decent on a kemper or something. But they just weren’t what I expected. I’ll stick with the 80/81 set. Or I’ll just play through my different passives. I think the idea behind the Het Set was to blend an active with a passive sound. Well, they didn’t do either very well in my opinion.
Definitely The Blackouts. Love them in my LTD Gus 600 EC... \,,/
If Seymour Duncan had the same install method as emg they would sell many more. I have installed emgs no problem.I tried duncans and gave up and ordered emgs. The blackouts are a pain in the but to do yourself
Well, these Blackouts had the EMG type connector too, so it was easy to swap them. I think Seymour Duncan also have some solderless solutions out there
The JH sound muffled.
Alright man. Thanks for this. Well for me it's still the JH 1st with the 57 a close 2nd. 💪
Hey man, glad you liked it. Yeah, i guess i agree, depends on the songs, maybe. I finally got some Blackouts to compare, they're good, but a bit over the top, it's a bit hard getting cleans out of them..
World painted blood
Damm now I’m thinking about the blackouts or 57/66 to replace my 81/85
Try flipping the 85 to the bridge and the 81 to neck before you spend that dough.
@@toddwilliamson8557 will give that a try
Great comparison man!
Thanks!! :)
Blackouts SD wins
57 more clarity and meaner/ jh set next
I think the names should be blind until the end. Everybody knows what they like and are pretty loyal
I left as soon as you kicked it off with grunge..
57 and SD are the best. JH is just high output but not pleasant.
I like the blackouts then the 57. Never liked the 81 or the jh 81
JH Rules..... 2nd: 57, 3rd: 81......
BJour Riff Raff tu le joues très très mal mon ami mais merci il me faut remplacer un micro et j opté l EMG 81
Lol yeah, barely learnt it, just a basic idea to get the possible differences between the pickups...