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EMG

EMG 85 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup, Black

  • Based on 114 reviews
Condition: New
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Availability: Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by GearTree
Arrives Jun 19 – Jun 22
Order within 18 hours and 4 minutes
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Color: Black


Features

  • The slightly more sophisticated and well-rounded half of its famous brother, the EMG 81
  • Features close aperture coils loaded with Alnico V magnets for exceptional tone and versatility
  • The Alnico magnets provide a muscular growl and smooth leads for everything from the blues to the most extreme metal
  • Although often used in the neck position, it sounds great as a bridge humbucker with its exceptional smoothness and soul
  • Pairs well with just about every other humbucker in our line.EMG's solderless installation makes swapping your guitar pickups easy to do at home

Description

Although the EMG-85 has more measurable output than the 81, its frequency response and string interface are different. The 85 uses two Alnico magnet loaded coils with a wide aperture to maintain a beefy lowend and a fatter top end. Because of a more natural tone, it works great as a rhythm and blues pickup because it has loads of output but isn't muddy. Itís a perfect choice as a rhythm pickup in combination with an 81 in the bridge, which is the same pickup combination used by Zakk Wylde.

Brand: EMG


Color: Black


Top Material Type: Metal


Body Material: Metal


Back Material Type: Metal


Neck Material Type: Maple


Guitar Pickup Configuration: H


String Material Type: Metal


Hand Orientation: Right


Guitar Bridge System: Hard Tail


Top Material Type: Metal


Body Material Type: Metal


Back Material Type: Metal


Neck Material Type: Maple


String Material Type: Metal


Material Type: Stainless Steel


Guitar Pickup Configuration: H


Hand Orientation: Right


Guitar Bridge System: Hard Tail


Number of Strings: 6


Item Dimensions L x W x H: 2.63"L x 2.38"W x 6"H


Item Weight: 7.52 ounces


Item Dimensions: 2.63 x 2.38 x 6 inches


Instrument Size: 2.38 x 2.63 x 6 inches


Color: Black


Connector Type: 1/4" (6.35mm) stereo jack


Brand Name: EMG


UPC: 700987275988 700987275995 654330100161 759681012986


Manufacturer: EMG Inc.


Global Trade Identification Number: 61


Manufacturer Part Number: EMG85


Warranty Description: Two years from date of purchase, parts and labor. Does not cover failure due to improper installation, abuse or damage. This warrenty is not transferable.


Item Type Name: EMG 85 Active Guitar Humbucker Pickup, Black


Unit Count: 1.0 Count


Model Name: EMG 85


Model Number: 85


Instrument: guitar


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Jun 19 – Jun 22

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • Simple yet awesome once installed
Color: Black
The 81/85 combination is absolutely awesome! I replaced this set in my Ibanez S521 with only minor alterations to the guitar. The only thing to remember is the jack wiring is slightly different from the directions. The battery black is on the right side tip, and the pot white is on the left side tip as you face the jack. Other than that, these pickups scream. Highly recommend if you want a metal sound. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2023 by Jeannine Harbert
    • Best investment, period
Color: Black
Best investment, period. I grabbed an 81/85 combo, and it turned my stock knock-off guitar into a straight neck monster. Wiring was so simplistic. I used my stock bridge toggle, and that was as easy as stripping two ends and screwing it into the bus adapter. Just get a screwdriver and a 9v and you should be set. It says SOME situations require some soldering, but it's light work on metal and few and far between. The sound I got is fantastic. I can't really properly describe it, but you can check out videos, lots of em out there. I coupled these with a set of Slinky Cobalts and I feel like I have a real guitar now. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2015 by Chris
    • EMG 85... what else really needs to be said?
Color: Black
It's my favorite bridge pickup. I prefer the voicing better. 18v mod is also good. It opens up some headroom and some more complex tones can be produced. It's also great at 9v, scooped, clipped metal tone. Most people use it for the neck. If you've never installed pickups before, their self-installation guide makes it easy, even if you're adding extra controls. The diagrams are great, you don't really even need to read much. Just make sure you're looking at the proper diagram, there are a number of them for different layouts. You either love them or hate them. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2012 by M. Bartelt
    • Great sounding pickup
Color: Black
I used to wrongly think that EMG's were only for heavy metal, until I got a guitar that had an 81 in the bridge. I liked that one so much for the wide variety of great tones it provides, I got the 85 as well. This is a really great-sounding neck pickup - very thick and warm tone but not muddy in the least. I like it as much, if not more, than the SD Jazz. It's a very versatile, great-sounding pickup and I highly recommend it for blues/rock. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2008 by enb123
    • Good pickup
Color: Black
Originally used this in the neck of my jackson js32 king V. Later on got a new guitar and stole the Vs 81 and swapped the 85 into the bridge. Its not as crunchy as the 81 for the bridge but is still a good pickup. Gonna buy more 81s for all my guitars and possibly some 85s and mayne even a 60 or two. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2022 by Brad
    • pedal to the metal
Color: Black
great distortion
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2025 by pal
    • Came broken and clearly out of box
Color: Black
Review Image by Sebastian Moreno
Review Image by Sebastian Moreno
No screws in sight and one of the screw holes was snapped clear off. It had obviously been opened before.
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2022 by Sebastian Moreno
    • sounds excellent
Color: Black
I love the sound of the EMG, and this sound incredible in my Jackson. I can't speak to the ease of installation, as I had them installed, I didn't do it myself.
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2023 by NJ

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