software

Is there a way to tell the difference between the two without unscrewing everything?

yes, as i know 81 has a silver logo, 85 and 89 has gold logo...

89's got a red one, but yep, you got it

tom

Thanks


Originally Posted by Istanbulyes, as i know 81 has a silver logo, 85 and 89 has gold logo...yep, 81 silver, 85 gold, 89 red

The color thing is right, but there are exceptions. The Zakk Wylde set, which is a 81/85 combo both have silver logos.

Hmmm... well that may be the case then.

The guitar I was looking at has two silver logos, but the website says one is an 85. The guy in the store told me one they were both 81's (not good), I know they guy is probably wrong, but I'm still confused.Can you not just figure it out by tone? If it sounds like a good pickup, then who cares if it is the EMG 83.6 beta?

I could probably do that if I knew what an 85 sounded like (or an 81 neck for that matter)

the 85 will be a lot thicker and fuller than an 81.

Tonally, I find the 81 and DD to be similar, while the 85 is like a Custom, to my ears at least. Take that for what it's worth.

there's a nice pup trade thing going with EMGs in particular man - if you get an 81 in the neck, chances are someone will swap you an 85 for it - the two are quite commonly swapped..

tom

what do u think a custom custom would sound similar to in EMG terms?

closest to an 85, i'd say.. not by any means identical, but closest of the EMGs

that guitar is awesome looking!

Hehe... indeed.

I'd need to hear both in order to tell which one it is. I just emaild ESP to see if this axe had the 81 set at some stage

Alright, that is an old picture of the guitar. It now comes equipped with an 85 and an 81, so the way to tell with the guitar you're considering purchasing (assuming it's in stock) is to look at the pickups. The 85 ALWAYS has a gold logo, and the 81 ALWAYS has a silver logo, even in the ZW set contrary to what Stringmachine says. I've had a ZW set personally and they were gold and silver logoed.

I have an EMG85 in one of my guitars, and it sounds awesome for ultra-heavy stuff...but it has the most compressed, artificial, digital, silly, pathetic sound i've ever heard when doing clean\crunch stuff.


Originally Posted by SwedeNuckThe 85 ALWAYS has a gold logo, and the 81 ALWAYS has a silver logo, even in the ZW set contrary to what Stringmachine says. I've had a ZW set personally and they were gold and silver logoed.

Maybe you are right.

The one at the bottom might be gold.

Thanks

Looks like I'll be ordering in the 2005 model then.

This is my metal guitar; theres no way I'd use this for blues


Originally Posted by StringmachineThe color thing is right, but there are exceptions. The Zakk Wylde set, which is a 81/85 combo both have silver logos.

I've used a couple ZW sets and mine were the correct colors, silver and gold. I don't think they put a different logo on 1/2 the 85's for the ZW set. And even EMG's promo pic for the ZW set shows silver and gold.

On that note, some of the Ltd models that come with 81/85 or 81/60 previously came with 81/81 so while the current models and catolog might say 81/85, it's very possible the guitar on the wall is NOS from last year and might have the older spec'd 81/81 in it. I'd go by the logo color myself, that's why they are there. This is the most likely scenario.