EMG 81/85 is the norm... what will a 81/89 sound like?

[Robert Burns]

Anyone have any experience with the EMG 89?

[Burn]

It's an 85, with a single coil tap. IMO, the single coil sound is great, as well.

[charvel750]

Correct, and the EMG-89 really opens up the tonal possibilities. If you need nice strat like clean tones it's there. And if you need balls to the walls distorted output, you got that too. It is a little bit more difficult to wire in, but shouldn't be a problem if you're patient.

[KBRR]

Yea they are right the 89 is a very versitile and nice sounding pickup, its not for everyone but still a great pup

[vultures]

Sounds great, previous statements are true. It's just an 85 witha coil split, I have a set for sale on Ebay, I PMed you about it.

[S.O.A.F]

85 and 89 are same thing except 89 has a coil splt

[Rich#6]

I think you have to have separate volume knobs if you run with a 89. I could be wrong.

[Jack Napalm]

The 89 is a very versatile pickup. If you like EMG's this will open up some tonal possibilities for you. I have dual 89's in one guitar and am very pleased with the tones I get out of it.

[El Chiguete]

Nice to know... but for now I won´t be putting any EMGs on my guitars.

[Mr Metal]

It is actually not a coil tap. According to EMG: Inside the EMG-89 pickup are both single and dual-coil pickups, each with it's own output. The single-coil mode is an Alnico loaded stacked EMG-SA. The dual-coil mode consists of two Alnico loaded coils opposite one another creating a pickup similar to the EMG-85.

[Cygnus X1]

I have a piece of junk EMG "Select", have another EMG on the Model 88...

How do I ID it? It has gold lettering and is active.

[Rich#6]

I think the gold color means it is an 85

[Bengal]

I think you have to have separate volume knobs if you run with a 89. I could be wrong.

Rich,
You don't need seperate volume konbs. My Soloist has an 81/89 combo. Both use the same volume pot...

And yes, Gold means an 85...

An 89 has both a single and a humbucker inside it? Wha? All in a normal sized EMG? I don't think so. I believe its a coil tapped humbucker...

[charvel750]

There is a technical term for "coil tap" and a common layman's term for it. The EMG-89 is truly TWO pickups in one. A dedicated single coil and a separate humbucker, and through special wiring you have all that in the size of a normal humbucker.

[Bengal]

It's splitting hairs. It's a tapped humbucker. But I see what EMG is saying. Although I think it's playing Lawyer Ball a bit...