EMG PICKUP COMPARISON | 81/85 vs 57/66 vs JH "Het" Set

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  • Опубликовано: 25 янв 2025

Комментарии • 164

  • @Dan_Ranger
    @Dan_Ranger 2 года назад +13

    85 in the bridge for nearly 3 decades now. Just works for me.

  • @metalplaylist
    @metalplaylist 2 года назад +39

    The Tokai with 57/66 is for me the best sounding

    • @Nasty_Riffs
      @Nasty_Riffs Год назад +3

      Nah man in person the 81/60 eats the 57/66. My e-2 horizon has them and my mh-1000 or the BB in my kh602 sound way better. They are more of a rock pickup.

  • @jamesgoodman7096
    @jamesgoodman7096 2 года назад +16

    The Hetset is the perfect active / passive mix. I'm a big 81 fan, especially through Marshalls, but the Hetset is probably my modern day fav with EMG.

  • @bootstrap4545
    @bootstrap4545 2 года назад +8

    maaaan your playing and the gear you use sounds incredible! very glad ive come across your channel! 🤘🤘

  • @AudioBoi1
    @AudioBoi1 Год назад +6

    81 slaps for metal.
    But other than that - 57/66 is the most versatile and nice-sounding alround

  • @thomassaunderson2746
    @thomassaunderson2746 11 месяцев назад +1

    Great video; thanks. I have two ESP Horizons, both with 57/66 pickups. Love them! I’d like to try the Het Set on something though.

  • @tgarder
    @tgarder 11 месяцев назад +2

    Glad I watched this, was wondering wether to get the Het set or 57/66, went with 57/66 after watching this and couldn't be happier. Thanks!

  • @EYE7SS
    @EYE7SS Год назад +5

    "To minimize the whatever" I'm using that from now on. Cheers.

  • @chingersfreind
    @chingersfreind 2 года назад +4

    Great video! I just acquired the Zakk Wylde 81 85 pickups and the 81 was a bit too thin for my taste.....switched the 85 in the bridge and the 81 in the neck and it was almost perfect....the 81 really sung in the neck being such a bright pickup it just sounds great in the neck....the 85 was also perfect in the bridge, sweet but also knarly especially when I reduced the space between the pickup and the strings to 1mm distance. Now the 85 was just a tad bit muddy but when I converted to 18 volts it was like a Eureka moment for tone....the 18 volts tightened the bottom end on the 85 and it sounds amazing!!!!!! Much happier with this combo now compared to the original configuration. 🤘 Also I remember reading that the 85 was originally developed for a alnico magnet bridge pickup. Great videos! Keep them coming.

    • @ivanzivanovic4013
      @ivanzivanovic4013 2 года назад +1

      you should really try the 24v mod...its killer...I had 18v before and it was a bit of a difference. 24v is...wow

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Thanks!

  • @ryant3600
    @ryant3600 Год назад +3

    Thanks to Ritchie Faulkner I tried the 57/66's and now all but one of my single cut guitars (LP style) have that set in them, I have one that has the Retro active fat 55s in it which I love as well. I just haven't felt the need to spend 200 bucks or more on a set that I might not like as much as the 57/66's. They do everything for me.

  • @davessparetime83
    @davessparetime83 Год назад +2

    What about EMG 60 on Neck? Kirk Hammett uses that sometimes.

  • @peevee605
    @peevee605 2 года назад +1

    No niin…!
    I changed a 85 for a 57 in my Kramer Pacer but the 57 lacked bottom in the sound so I put the 85 back in. Have the HetSet in a guitar with D standard tuning and I love them.
    Kiitos, Euge. Superb playing.

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +1

      No niin! 😎. If it sounds good it’s good 👌.

  • @peterfredlund1903
    @peterfredlund1903 Год назад +2

    My favorite is def the Het Set. :) Love your channel.

  • @BradRocker
    @BradRocker 2 года назад +9

    the 81 seemed to really crush, but the Het set had a unique sophistication to the tone.

  • @tubeaddicted485
    @tubeaddicted485 2 года назад +4

    For my Alder guitars I replaced the 81 with 85 in the bridge position. Same punch, but the overall sound is way more balanced. Always remember befor you change your pickup, change your bridge. If you have a shitty low quality bridge, your new pickup can't do the wonder most people expect from this swap.

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +1

      Whatever doest the job the best for each of us 😎👌.

    • @brutalieri
      @brutalieri Год назад

      Out of curiosity, what pickup do you have in the neck position in your alder body guitar? 🤔

  • @gabrielstevens41
    @gabrielstevens41 2 года назад +4

    I need to go back and re listen but my first impression was the Het set bridge was the most percussive of the three. Not really an active user but the Het set impressed me.

  • @musicalcompanion5890
    @musicalcompanion5890 Год назад +4

    I run 81 and 66 in a Epiphone les paul and esp/ltd Ouija. EMG realy needs to think about making a pre matched set with these . It's magic off the secret menu.

  • @Antjohns89
    @Antjohns89 2 года назад +2

    All sounded great man awesome tone

  • @Zombie_13x33
    @Zombie_13x33 Год назад +2

    great easy to jump back and fourth comparison!!

  • @ivanzivanovic4013
    @ivanzivanovic4013 2 года назад +5

    omg, hearing your low 6th buzz is a mental life saver...i go nuts when i cannot get this to be relatively perfect especially changing tunings on the guitar

  • @camai75
    @camai75 2 года назад +4

    I love EMGs.. I have guitars with 81/60 and 57/66..but never got along with the het set..over saturated and compressed.

    • @pepocap
      @pepocap 10 месяцев назад +1

      hi what is the difference between 81/60 and 57/66 ? im a beginner guitarist and want play more types of music

    • @joshdraken1
      @joshdraken1 13 дней назад

      ​@pepocapTed Aguilar (Death Angel) uses the 81/60 combo in his signature Telecaster

  • @guidefreitas
    @guidefreitas 2 года назад +2

    Love your videos man. Greetings from Brazil!

  • @AAAA-lt9hq
    @AAAA-lt9hq 7 месяцев назад +1

    Hi Euge. Have you tried the 24 Volt Mod?
    I have tried the Mod with some of my old 90s EMGs and they sound like totally new pickups. Much fuller, more dynamic, and responsive to touch. And the Mod is something like $30 USD. Much cheaper than a new or used pickup.
    12 volt batteries are just a little harder to find in stores than 9 volt. Also, most EMG accessories use 18 volts max, so if you have one of EMG's tone controls you should probably not use the Mod to be safe. I like the EMG EXG midrange scooper and so for that guitar I use 18 volts only.
    I am not a big fan of the trend of pickup makers trying to combine bright active pickups with PAF voicings. To me these are opposite sounds.
    I would recommend that EMG players try their old 81/85 active pickups in 24 volts before trying new pickups. You can always just unplug the mod to go back to 9 volts, and the Mod takes up much less space in the guitar than 2 9 volt batteries in series.
    The Mod works with any EMG model. And the advantage of any modern active pickup over most passives is you can just plug them in instead of spending an hour soldering complicated passive wiring mods.
    For that reason, for metal I tend to prefer actives live but passive with mods in studio if I need a lot of different sounds.
    If players like the basic EMG sound but want more wiring options, the EMG HZ passive line is very underrated. They have 4 conductor plus ground like normal passives so you can do wiring mods. Active EMGs usually require special models or accessories to do phase/parallel/series/split. The HZs are a little quiet but the amp can make up for it.
    Thanks as always for your videos. You teach us so much. 🤘🤘🤘🙏🙏🙏

  • @telefoon1978
    @telefoon1978 Год назад +2

    I was interested in buying a hetset but I'll stick to my 81/85, difference is minimal. Thx Uege!

  • @Marcelo_B_159
    @Marcelo_B_159 2 года назад +2

    great video! I always believed that EMG just named the 57/66 as Het Set to sell more, same as they did calling the 81/85 Zakk set. I suppose the Bonebreakers are 81/81😅. hearing in the phone the 57/66 and het set sounds the same.

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +2

      It’s case with ZW set. Not with the others. At least in my experience and like this video shows regarding 57/66 & Het Set 🤟.

  • @Anjer
    @Anjer 2 года назад +2

    Hello Euge, I would like to switch my EMG HET SET with EMG 81 on my Eclipse Custom, but there are 2 choices of "POTENTIOMETER SHAFT LENGTH" on EMG 81 on EMG site, short (10 mm) and long (19 mm), are you able to tell me which one is used on Eclipses? It will be very helpfull. By the way, thanks for your videos, always very helpfull.

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Oh man I can’t remember that. I guess Google knows 😎.
      Glad to hear thanks!

    • @EstebanMcC
      @EstebanMcC Год назад +1

      Full thickness will be 19mm. Did you get a set?

    • @Anjer
      @Anjer Год назад

      @@EstebanMcC I just bought a standard EMG 81 on Thomann and switched only the pickup, so I don't even know what the size was about. By the way, the Eclipse Custom Andromeda II is not full thickness.

  • @joejohnson8966
    @joejohnson8966 2 года назад +2

    Hetset is like a combination of the other 2
    I would use both the 81 and 57 in the bridge and 66 in the neck

  • @flowpointFR
    @flowpointFR Год назад +1

    Thanks for the comparison. Curious about your iron cross. Did you modify it to enable to top switch and replace the bottom one by a knob?
    Thanks.

  • @wce74wce15
    @wce74wce15 Год назад +2

    81 sounds most different. great video

  • @wangosmith
    @wangosmith 2 года назад +1

    Really enjoy your videos, did you change the pickup selector switch and add a tone knob, thanks

  • @michaelmitchell5909
    @michaelmitchell5909 2 года назад +2

    Euge I loved the video, and emg pickups as well. I didn't think there was another pickup that I'd like better until I got a used Gibson studio with the Gibson 498/490 combo in it. Wow are those things amazing sounding pickups. You gotta try a set in one of your tokai guitars man....
    Hey man you should also see if you can demo the new Friedman pink taco mk2 20 watt head....it's a bad little amp man and I'd love to see you jam your style on it

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +1

      Thanks!
      If I get my hands on those Tacos some day then for sure 👌.

  • @ruddmedia
    @ruddmedia 2 года назад +3

    you sound just like dracula i love it! your a amazing guitar player love your work bro! i went from 81 to fishman modern in two guitars and i have one with 81's but the fishman are better in my opinion and i use to rock the 81's for decades!

  • @t_george_p
    @t_george_p 2 месяца назад

    Hey man, is know this video is about 2 years old, but still interesting. I don't know what EMG PU is really in the Iron Cross guitar, but i bought the JH EMG set and put it in a les Paul style guitar.
    Man, as to many other testers on RUclips, the JH bridge PU has a lot more output, than the 81.
    There must be a different version in the iron cross.
    May you can make an actual test again!?

  • @VinniRizza
    @VinniRizza 4 месяца назад

    How you doing my man? I just purchased a 2014 ESP custom shop James Hetfield Iron Cross. I'm not familiar with emg active pickups but do love your tone. If you don't mind me asking what height measurements is your emg James Hetfield set for both neck and bridge?

  • @denmut
    @denmut 2 года назад +1

    Euge, have a weird question for you about the Hetfield signature .🙂 Do you think if I can remove the iron cross bolted on the body? I mean I know they are attached with bolts but I do not know if it is also glued in on the body. Thank you very much in advance

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +2

      I’m pretty sure. If it doesn’t come out with good it comes out with violence 😎.

  • @jasonworden5867
    @jasonworden5867 2 года назад +2

    Hey man, love your videos. Lots of great info.
    Im sure you get alot of this but i would love to see you review the marshall origin series of heads. I thought if anyone could make it sound great you could. And we have very similar styles and tone. Thanks man! Keep rockin

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Thanks! Yeah those are on my list so as soon as I get my hands on those 👌.

  • @davidmatthai8473
    @davidmatthai8473 2 года назад +1

    Hey Euge, great video about great pickups, the EMG 81/85 combination is probably the most popular, but what do you think of the EMG 81/60 combination, isn't that a blues-oriented pickup the EMG 60?

    • @prestonbowden1008
      @prestonbowden1008 2 года назад

      Pretty sure that’s what Hetfield used before he got his signature set

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Thanks! 60 has ceramic magnets and 85 alnico so the tone is a bit different.

  • @maxcady5287
    @maxcady5287 2 года назад +1

    Very nice video and comparasion. By the way, have you tried the fishman fluence modern? if you did so, what are your thoughts? thanks :)

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +1

      Thanks! I guess I did a video back in the day about a guitar (can’t remember what) that had those but I can’t remember anything special about them. They probably did the job fine but I guess I wasn’t that impressed since I don’t remember 😎.

    • @maxcady5287
      @maxcady5287 2 года назад +1

      @@EugeValovirta230V Thanks for your feedback dude :)

  • @telefoon1978
    @telefoon1978 11 месяцев назад

    I am doubting wether to buy a dirty fingers set from 2012 or a hetset..... any thoughts, Euge?

  • @DravenGabriel59
    @DravenGabriel59 Год назад

    Hey man! I love your channel, it made me open my eyes for active pickups so much I'm going to get my first EMG set. Do you think I should start with the classics 81/85 or go more for the PAF vibe of 57/66? I'll put them in a 90s Burny Les Paul Custom pretty similar to your Tokais. I'm used to high output Duncans such as the JB, RTM, Frankestein, Distortion e etc. I play mostly 80s glam metal and hard rock stuff. And another stupid question if you don't mind LOL... Is your 57/66 set in plain gold or brushed gold? I don't really know which finish option would match the gold hardware on my Burny. Thanks in advance brother... Keep up!

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  Год назад +1

      Thanks! My go to set is the classic 81/85 but I have the 57/66 on a few fiddles so…🤷😎. I have brushed gold on one guitar and plain gold on one.

  • @AtTheSourceStudios
    @AtTheSourceStudios 2 года назад +1

    Het Set cleans up shop as per usual. Best active pickup set there is IMO

  • @kirko1203
    @kirko1203 Год назад +1

    All Euge Pickups.!

  • @mcoon1987
    @mcoon1987 2 года назад +2

    As far as the bridge position is concerned I’ve never liked 81s. To me they are way too thin. It does depend on the guitar and wood a bit, but overall it’s just not good to me. I’ve always preferred an 85 wired 18v in the bridge spot. I have had a 57 in a mahogany strat before, and I have the Het Set in two of my guitars. I think the 57 sounds a lot fuller than an 81, but not quite as aggressive. To me the JH bridge pickup is pretty much a blend of a 57 and an 81. I always thought I preferred the JH out of the two but hearing you play them back to back I kinda like the 57 better.

  • @fifthsonrecords1228
    @fifthsonrecords1228 2 года назад +1

    F#$K Ya! Every video this guy does is good... Relevant and informative. Thanks Euge!

  • @ricardadn
    @ricardadn 8 месяцев назад

    Ets un crack, Euge. M'agrada molt la Tokay!

  • @captain6198
    @captain6198 10 месяцев назад

    Is it just me or do clean tones tend to clip due to the high power of the pickups?

  • @bobilly
    @bobilly 7 месяцев назад

    CHUG
    81 1:53
    Het 4:48
    57 3:29

  • @deanrichards2584
    @deanrichards2584 2 года назад

    Euge, hello
    Question about your Suhr load box, when you use cabs you prefer an 8 ohm load? I own the Ox, would you recommend running amps with a single cab set to 8 ohms instead of 16.
    I see the Suhr is 8 ohms only.
    Thank you for your videos, information and of course the music.
    Dean Richards

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      The speakers in my Marshall cab are 16 ohm so I use 16 ohm from my amps. If the speakers would be 8 ohm I’d use 8 ohms out from my amps 😎. You can use 8 ohm out from the amps into a 16 ohm cab / speakers (sounds a bit quieter etc.) but never the other way around ’cos you’d probably end up blowing the speakers or the amp or in the worst case both.

  • @cristguit
    @cristguit 10 месяцев назад

    Excelente video, me ajudou muito na minha pesquisa do meu próximo captador EMG, excelente captação do som, obrigado e sucesso!

  • @marci84
    @marci84 Год назад +1

    Hi! Which height had you set emg 57/66?

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  Год назад

      No idea. I don’t use any measurement tools. Just wherever it feels good on any particular guitar 👌.

  • @johnsguitarmusicanddemos
    @johnsguitarmusicanddemos 2 года назад +1

    Maybe it’s because I grew up in the 1990s mostly that I prefer the EMG 81/85 combination better.

  • @MrTelenator
    @MrTelenator 2 года назад +1

    EMG Zakk Wylde Set Black ☝🏻💪🏻

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +1

      It’s 81 & 85 😎. Just a marketing thing.

    • @MrTelenator
      @MrTelenator 2 года назад +1

      @@EugeValovirta230V yep.. näihä se on 😁

  • @pimpatteera
    @pimpatteera Год назад

    Nice Video! Thanks mate 👍

  • @joshdraken1
    @joshdraken1 13 дней назад

    Dude: Het-set all day!
    Cleanest, tightest punch and really, all you have to do to get the 57/66 tone is leave your boost pedal on with a low-gain setting...whereas you can't polish the 57/66's to have any more clarity.

  • @Arwndr
    @Arwndr Год назад +1

    Thanks! 👍🏻🤝🏻✨🌿🍀🌍☀️

  • @shredward666
    @shredward666 2 года назад +5

    I’ve been replacing all of my 81 bridge with a 60 in the bridge. Takes away the high end fizz, has a sweet mid cut and works better for lower tuning imo🤘

    • @jotunbjorn
      @jotunbjorn 2 года назад

      Is the output much lower than the 81?

    • @shredward666
      @shredward666 2 года назад

      @@jotunbjorn i don’t notice any difference in the output

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад +8

      If it sounds good it’s good 🤟.

    • @JoelCaseyJonesMusic
      @JoelCaseyJonesMusic 2 года назад +2

      I do love the tone of the 60 in the bridge, but I noticed slightly lower output (which wasn’t terrible), but the deal breaker was the feel. I had to work harder to get the same mojo I find effortless with other pickups, and in particular, pinch harmonics were less consistent. Still a great choice none the less... I’m now using 57 and het in the bridge depending on guitar these days. Does what I need them to do. 🤘🏽🤘🏽

  • @samfurnos5852
    @samfurnos5852 2 года назад +1

    Cool wid dude!!! Thanx!!

  • @Erocka369
    @Erocka369 2 года назад +1

    Het set is less hairy a bit more smooth

  • @warlikesoad
    @warlikesoad 2 года назад +1

    I love my 81, MASSIVE sound

  • @quittingyoutube45753
    @quittingyoutube45753 Год назад

    57/66 where my favourite

  • @arturwolak856
    @arturwolak856 2 года назад

    Are you using 9v batteries or more?

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Just basic 9V. I’ve never actually tried anything else ’cos if works no need to change 😎.

    • @arturwolak856
      @arturwolak856 2 года назад +1

      @@EugeValovirta230V Absolutley. Thank you 🙂

  • @patriknessboLemoran
    @patriknessboLemoran 2 года назад +3

    Dont let Glenn fricker see this

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Why? 😎

    • @patriknessboLemoran
      @patriknessboLemoran 2 года назад +2

      @@EugeValovirta230V haha he thinks all pickups sounds the same

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      Ok 😁

    • @NoahParker98
      @NoahParker98 2 года назад +1

      @@patriknessboLemoran that’s silly .. I love glen but to say they all sound the same is so insanely incorrect . It’s not up for debate like tonewood and shit. It’s a FACT they all produce vastly different sounds

    • @patriknessboLemoran
      @patriknessboLemoran 2 года назад +1

      @@NoahParker98 exactly! My duncan JB sounds NOTHING like my hetset.

  • @LukeCannotSkate
    @LukeCannotSkate Год назад

    81 still king imo. Get a more original sound with different speakers, unusual amps, 81 always delivers 🙌

  • @ma77hias95
    @ma77hias95 2 года назад +6

    Het Set all the way. 👌

  • @boogsy-b
    @boogsy-b 2 года назад +1

    57's for me

  • @tonymarinelli7304
    @tonymarinelli7304 Год назад

    Sweet Melissa

  • @silverstone3228
    @silverstone3228 8 месяцев назад

    81/85 sounds best to me

  • @feuersturmomega5000
    @feuersturmomega5000 2 года назад +1

    🔥🤘🔥

  • @Moirchester
    @Moirchester 2 года назад +1

    And Pepit? I know he is dancing, but I can't see him!

    • @EugeValovirta230V
      @EugeValovirta230V  2 года назад

      He is here watching me. And you 😎.

    • @Moirchester
      @Moirchester 2 года назад +1

      @@EugeValovirta230V He feels the exam day is arriving and he needs to study a lot ;)

  • @Sillysnake1977
    @Sillysnake1977 2 года назад +1

    🤘😁🍻

  • @standingvertical3048
    @standingvertical3048 2 года назад +1

    depends what the ear likes Hippie. Nice video!!

  • @kirko1203
    @kirko1203 Год назад

    I will get the 81/60 by KH 602 guitar. Haha.
    I don't like 50's and JH set. It's slightly funny..not fun.

  • @portuguesebeer5069
    @portuguesebeer5069 Год назад

    All sound fuckin' great! I prefer the 81. Id wish you had a Seymour Duncan JB or a Sh6 to compare too.
    Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

  • @Frontbuner
    @Frontbuner 2 года назад +1

    The Het Set blows the 81's away.

  • @istvancserep7422
    @istvancserep7422 Год назад

    Is anybody realize that with the metal distortion and metal style playing nobody can hear the guitar sound? So video like this present how not to figure out how the pickup sounds. earpiece, or without. Is hard to find any video where I can hear how the guitar sound.

  • @honigdachs.
    @honigdachs. 2 года назад +1

    Ah yes, my favorite vice. Dorking around with pickups! Man, I can't even tell which one of these sets I like the most. I have all of them ... more than one each 😂The Het Set bridge has that incredible shred, the 81 has the famous growl. The 57 is a bit on the bright side, so that one will usually go in a darker guitar. For rhythm on the neck pickup, I like the 60 the most. The 66 is very nice for leads, while the Het is somewhere in the middle. That reminds me that I don't have a guitar with an 85 at the moment. I'm modifying one right now, that one will get it - haven't decided on the position yet because it's great in both.

  • @syrexplay8020
    @syrexplay8020 2 года назад +2

    I Love 81✌