Description
The EMG 81 needs no introduction if you’ve spent any time chasing high-gain tones — it’s the active humbucker that practically invented the modern metal sound. Ceramic magnets paired with tightly wound, close-aperture coils give it that signature edge: aggressive top-end cut, tight low-end punch, and a compressed, almost effortless sustain that lets leads cut through a wall of distortion without getting lost.
Drop it in the bridge for searing rhythm tones and screaming solos, or run it in both positions for a relentlessly hot, saturated sound that thrives under heavy gain. If you want more tonal range, pair it with an EMG 85 in the neck for the classic active-pickup combo, or an EMG 60 for a slightly warmer, more versatile voice. This particular version wears a brushed gold cover, giving your build a bit of understated shine to go with the aggression.
Being an EMG, it drops in using their renowned solderless install system — no soldering iron required, just wiring that snaps together. The package includes everything needed to get it running:
- 1x 25k volume pot
- 1x 25k tone pot
- 1x battery bus
- 1x stereo output jack
- 1x two-pickup in/out bus
- 1x pair of mounting screws and springs
- 1x pickup cable
- 2x connect cables
- 1x output cable
- 1x battery cable
If you’re chasing that unmistakable active-pickup snarl with a premium finish to match, the 81 in brushed gold is a proven choice.
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