Evaluating pickups isn't the easiest job in the world, especially when they're not fitted to your own instrument. Unless you know the capabilities of your own guitar and amp set-up it is quite easy to be fooled into thinking that the pickup alone is providing that excellent tone and sustain, when of course the guitar itself is playing a very important role. In IM&RW July '85 I took a close look at some EMG units mounted on foreign guitars; the chance to actually fit some to my own instrument was too good to pass up.

It was also the first time I'd actually fitted EMGs myself, which proved surprisingly easy. The two units on check here are the H and 85 models. The H was the original EMG humbucker, while the 85 is the latest addition to the range — an update of the 58 which I'd previously reviewed. Strangely the 58 is being discontinued, especially as it was EMG's version of the PAF-type. Still, maybe EMG will give it a reprieve and offer both the 85 and 58 units.

I covered the background of the EMG's design in the previous review but to briefly re-cap is relevant as the pickup's design is rather special. Basically the unit features an internal pre-amp which electronically creates the humbucking principle, virtually eliminating hum and outside noise sources. The twin coil design incorporates a solid pole which balances the magnetic field evenly and doesn't necessitate an over-strong magnet, thereby decreasing 'string pull' and 'drop out' caused by string bending.

Other features of the design include the tonal modelling of each coil, resulting in a mixture of two coil responses which can be shifted to provide the specific sound required. We also have the advantages of the shielding which eliminates the use of a string ground and means that the control cavity need not be screened.

The low-impedance output retains the true sound of the pickup anywhere on the volume control as well as retaining high frequencies if cables up to 100' are used. The active unit is of course powered by a 9 volt (preferably alkaline) battery which, due to the low power consumption, will give a life of some 3000 hrs.

Well it's all very interesting discussing the plus points of a pickup, but the only important aspect is really the sound — as I believe Larry DiMarzio once said "the only way to really test a pickup is to take it on stage and use it".

First of all there is the small matter of fitting them. Each unit comes smartly boxed including volume and tone controls — both 25k ohm, audio taper — stereo jack socket, battery clip and length of heat shrink insulation plus comprehensive instructions. The pickup itself is totally encapsulated showing no detail of construction with only two wires protruding — one white screened lead and a red power lead. As I said installation is easy; simply connect the white cable to the hot connection on the volume control, the braided screen to the case of the pot. The battery clip connects to the stereo jack socket so that when the jack plug is inserted the circuit becomes live and vice versa. The red lead from the battery clip connects to the red lead from the pickup(s) (only one battery is required for up to the impossible number of 24 pickups!) and lastly all the ground connections should be completed — from pickup through the controls to the output jack. Where leads are jointed and bare wire is visible either the heat-shrink insulation or insulating tape should be used in the normal manner.

The resulting set-up on my guitar placed the 85 in bridge position, the H in neck position with a master volume and tone control configuration via a three-way pickup selector. Apart from this standard set-up I also fitted the P-12 phase inverter. This is simply a mini-toggle mounted on a small PCB which again arrives with full instructions and in my case was wired after the 85 EMG and before the selector switch. This little unit electronically inverts the phase of the 85 in relation to that of the H. It is important to note that the EMG phase inverter electronically creates the phase reversal as opposed to the usual method of swapping the hot and ground wires of the pickup.

Now down to the best bit; unplug the soldering iron and plug in my 'new' axe. First observations are very favourable as far as the 85 goes. Placed in bridge position it certainly has plenty of bite but without sacrificing the bottom end which remains full and clear. I've said it before and it has to be said again, it's the clarity of the tone from EMG pickups that has to be heard to be believed. At low amp levels the 85 sounds magnificently rich and with a very even response from all strings in all positions. Cranking the amp up the 85 takes on a decidedly schizophrenic personality — full, fat and juicy, raw but not uncontrolled. The sustain at high levels is super, it was quite like playing a totally different guitar. The best thing about it is the absence of squeals and hiss from the pickup at high levels. With a sound so sensitive and full of sustain as this a lot of techniques, false harmonics etc just fall out of the guitar.

I did a comparison with this unit — which is supposed to provide a bottom end reminiscent of a PAF with a brighter and fatter top end and another replacement PAF unit, and the difference was very noticeable. The standard PAF replacement sounded rather ordinary in comparison, especially at low levels, as well as being a bit quieter as far as output was concerned. Frankly the difference in price between the two units, approximately £35, is directly related to the sound — the EMG costs more but sounds better, it's as simple as that.

The EMG H has a rather interesting spec in that it is designed to reproduce a very wide frequency spectrum as well as providing a brilliant tone whilst retaining low and mid responses. It is also intended that the pickup should bring out the 'acoustic' quality of the electric guitar. In practice it's quite difficult to pin this one down; once again we have all the clarity and warmth that one would expect but the sound is almost 'single-coil-ish' and to be honest at low levels sounds like an electro-acoustic.

The wide frequency response is certainly evident in the pickups — extremely even sound without any specific emphasis. This actually gives the impression of a 'soft' sound but it is eminently useful nonetheless. As far as I know there isn't another pickup that sounds like this on the market; it is excellent for use where clarity is important and seems to suit a lower amp level.

However, it's certainly far from useless when playing at high levels, giving out a Bluesy and smooth tone, not unlike a typical Strat neck pickup but without its narrow sound. The H has a somewhat lower output than the 85 which is a bit unfortunate as individually the units seemed well matched to their respective positions. But there again this all depends on how you use your guitar as to what relative pickup levels you require.

An interesting result of the unbalanced outputs was the sound when both pickups are on, giving an added warmth to the 85 but without losing its attack. Switching in the phase inverter was also rather good. There's no apparent overall level drop, rather an increase in top and decrease in mid and low frequencies, plus of course that typical honky nasal tone. Reversing the phase of a pickup can be a nice idea but it often results in a useless tone. With this set-up the phase inverted sound was extremely usable, and benefitted from the choice of pickups.

In the past a major criticism levelled at EMG was the price. Certainly at £75 per single unit they're not cheap but compare this price to the retail on some other American-made humbuckers and you'll find it's not that much higher. EMGs of course are also supplied with pots, jack socket etc so the recent price reduction seems a very sensible move. Furthermore if you buy two units you save £5, and three units you'll save £26! The P-12 is a little pricey at £25 but its quality of operation is very good.

EMGs won't suit everyone; they do have their own character which to my ears sounds sophisticated. As I continued testing these units in different environments and through different amps I found that whatever the style or set-up they sounded good. In the long run I reckon they'll actually save me money in studio and rehearsal time as no longer will I spend time on my sound — just plug in and it's there!

EMG & H Humbuckers - RRP: See Copy

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