EMG81 vs JB what you consider...

[xicodelico]

I'm think to make a change of PUP and I got a JB in BOTH guitar
one is Fender custom fat strat

but in this one Ibanez( Mahogany) I'm thinking to make a change to the bridge PUP, actually got a JB TB-4 ( and the 2 guitar sounr almost the same)

please give me your opinion about this EMG 81 for the bridge...
(I know both're alnico 5) is there any difference with it?

[TattooedCarrot]

The EMG 81 is ceramic, not alnico 5. It's going to be hotter, more percussive (stronger palm mutes), more compressed, and slightly scooped. And of course it will have that typical EMG processed tone coloring going on. But IMO the 81 is a killer metal pickup, if you already have a JB, why not give the 81 a try.

[D-EJ915]

I will say, 81s sound a lot different than JBs. The 81 works well in mahogany imo and sounds freaking awesome and tight as hell in my V-250.

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

ok, take a look at my analogy , so you will understand it better...
let´s suppose you have two womens...both are tall(moderated/high output). one has an almost white blond hair(emg 81) and the other has a blond hair(Jb)
one has big tits(EMG 81, big bass ), and medium size butt, and skinny legs.
the other one(JB, lots of mids and highs, not big bass) has small tits, big butt and not skinny legs.
then, you will have a perfect vision of the women of yoru dreams, in your mind.. so, you now will chose the Perfect women, based upon whats your prefferences(i mean, what guitar and amp you have, and what sound(women) you preffer. COmbine both, and you will choose the perfect one for you)
Hails
J.P

[Toejam]

I think the JB is overrated and sucks... too much treble and high mids. The 81 is pretty good, still a little bright. Personally, I think the 85 (alnico magnet) works better in the bridge than the 81.

[Jackson Distortion]

JB.

The 81 sounds inorganic and compressed, though it can work very well for heavy metal, I don't feel it like an SD.

But you should try one- who knows, it may be your pickup of choice.

(certainly not mine)

[theodie]

Neither!!!! YUCK! Thats my opinion of the JB in MOST cases. It really needs the right guitar to sound good and I have ONLY played the JB in one guitar that has sounded good. It sounded like ass in about 10 others! As far as the 81, it has yuck written all over it IMO!

[Zerberus]

I honestly prefer both much more as a neck pickup than anything else....

[Marcel]

Why not a EMG 85...
I'm thinking of going from the JB to a 85

[AmirH]

ok, take a look at my analogy , so you will understand it better...
let´s suppose you have two womens...both are tall(moderated/high output). one has an almost white blond hair(emg 81) and the other has a blond hair(Jb)
one has big tits(EMG 81, big bass ), and medium size butt, and skinny legs.
the other one(JB, lots of mids and highs, not big bass) has small tits, big butt and not skinny legs.
then, you will have a perfect vision of the women of yoru dreams, in your mind.. so, you now will chose the Perfect women, based upon whats your prefferences(i mean, what guitar and amp you have, and what sound(women) you preffer. COmbine both, and you will choose the perfect one for you)
Hails
J.P

That was such an awesome description...

I have both currently. The jb has a really good cutting lead tone and I love how it sounds split (shimmering and stratty) but the bottom end simply doesn't cut it for metal. I'd use it again in a heart beat for a versatile rock pickup but there's a reason I'm replacing it. It's not even so much that the bottom end is too small- you can get a nice chunk if you dial in right. It's just so damn loose! The 81, like wfd said, is like the complete opposite. Tightest palm mutes evar- and totally inspiring for thrash and metal but the lead tone has nasty harsh highs that don't exactly sing like the jb. I've currently got the 85 in the bridge and it's almost like a compromise of the two. The bass isn't as tight or awesome sounding but it's a LOT tighter than the jb and with good technique is usuable. The lead tone is amazing- clear and liquidy with an almost transparent quality is how I'd describe it and its basically the reason the pup hasn't been switched back to the neck yet but still not as compressed and cutting as the jb(at least to my ears). My advice is to use what you think best suites your needs.

[D-EJ915]

I have a bunch of clips on my site if you want to listen to what the 81 generally sounds like without being processed or bass/drums.

Just some distorted stuff: http://media.putfile.com/awesome_trax
Tone down a bit then fully open: http://media.putfile.com/EMG81test
Umm this track I dunno why it doesn't have bass and sounds different but gives you an idea too: http://media.putfile.com/EMG81test

[ex-250]

ok, take a look at my analogy , so you will understand it better...
let´s suppose you have two womens...both are tall(moderated/high output). one has an almost white blond hair(emg 81) and the other has a blond hair(Jb)
one has big tits(EMG 81, big bass ), and medium size butt, and skinny legs.
the other one(JB, lots of mids and highs, not big bass) has small tits, big butt and not skinny legs.
then, you will have a perfect vision of the women of yoru dreams, in your mind.. so, you now will chose the Perfect women, based upon whats your prefferences(i mean, what guitar and amp you have, and what sound(women) you preffer. COmbine both, and you will choose the perfect one for you)
Hails
J.P

by that criteria.....would the invader be a woman with huge tits, huge butt, and no legs?

[Young Angus]

ok, take a look at my analogy , so you will understand it better...
let´s suppose you have two womens...both are tall(moderated/high output). one has an almost white blond hair(emg 81) and the other has a blond hair(Jb)
one has big tits(EMG 81, big bass ), and medium size butt, and skinny legs.
the other one(JB, lots of mids and highs, not big bass) has small tits, big butt and not skinny legs.
then, you will have a perfect vision of the women of yoru dreams, in your mind.. so, you now will chose the Perfect women, based upon whats your prefferences(i mean, what guitar and amp you have, and what sound(women) you preffer. COmbine both, and you will choose the perfect one for you)
Hails
J.P

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA THATS THE MOST CONFUSING BIT OF ANYTHING IVE EVER READ

HAILS YOU DUDE YOU ROCK!!!

[Marcel]

The 81 got more bass then the JB?

[MikeS]

Neither pickup has a huge bottom end... but then again, huge bottom ends and palm muted generally equals a muddy mess. What the JB might lack in comparison (clarity, articulation), IMO, it makes up for in character. That said, I'm running both pickups, but the comparison isn't fair because they are two completely different axes.

Putting the JB in a mahogany body will produce low-mids a plenty. The 81 in mahogany provides a flatter EQ response, and as a result doesn't cut through the mix as well as the JB.

[TattooedCarrot]

Putting the JB in a mahogany body will produce low-mids a plenty. The 81 in mahogany provides a flatter EQ response, and as a result doesn't cut through the mix as well as the JB.

I haven't tried a JB yet in my Les Paul (considering it very seriously), but I did in fact find this to be very much the case when I had an 81 in my R7.

[revolution]

Kinds sounds like you want the new Dave Mustaine Live Wires...I'd go wit dems!

[stangme01]

i have both i would hate only having an 81 and i would have only having a JB. Guess what i have done that before. I've owned 1 and not the other and it got old. now i own both in different guitars and because i change up i love both of them alot. Totally different sounds. I could not live without either

[stangme01]

Neither pickup has a huge bottom end... but then again, huge bottom ends and palm muted generally equals a muddy mess. What the JB might lack in comparison (clarity, articulation), IMO, it makes up for in character. That said, I'm running both pickups, but the comparison isn't fair because they are two completely different axes.

Putting the JB in a mahogany body will produce low-mids a plenty. The 81 in mahogany provides a flatter EQ response, and as a result doesn't cut through the mix as well as the JB.

This guy's got it except for the fact that my 81 in my mahogany EC-400 RIPS and definitely doesn't have a problem cutting through

[Marcel]

It's weird. I've just compared the 85 and JB (not in them same guitar yet though) and find the 85 more trebly and with less bass... and the 81 should even have less bass and more treble than the 81 (refering the EMG FAQ)...