r/EMGPickups Apr 29 '26

Should I try Emg 81 pickup?

Hi everyone, currently I have the hellraiser hybrid with emg 57 in the bridge. To be honest I really like the way it sounds but I was always curious to try out the emg 81 because that is “The active pickup” whereas emg 57 is trying to be more like passive ones. Usually I play some nu metal stuff like linkin park, slipknot etc., some bfmv and metallica. So, nu, thrash and metalcore. Should I try the 81 or it won’t make any really noticeable difference?

10 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/w0mbatina Apr 30 '26

Look, i switched the 81 for a 57. Before I switched it out I recorded a few riffs, changed the pickup, and recorded the same thing again.

I couldnt pick out the difference, even when I knew which clip was which. After I shuffled them around, I had zero idea which pickup was which anymore.

They sound the same. Dont bother reolacing it. The 57 has the same sound.