EMG GTV's? Who's tried them?

[Rex Rocker]

Big fan of the EMG 81 here, but I'm always looking for the elusive "slightly fatter but still tight 81 type".

I've tried a couple that come close (JH-B, 81TW, 81X), but always end up coming back to my trusty old 81.

Is the GTV something I should be looking at? Who's tried them? How do they compare to the plain-jane 81?

 

[Detroit1973]

Have you Tried an EMG 85? It feels like a fatter 81 with more lows but the lows are still tight.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Have you Tried an EMG 85? It feels like a fatter 81 with more lows but the lows are still tight.

I have. I like it, but I like the 81 better.

I think the 85 has LOTS of low mids and a very laid back attack which sound nice and fat in the room, but change the character of the pickup too radically.

I guess what I want is something that sits between the 81 and the 85, but leans more towards the 81.

 

[stratjacket]

I’d be curious as well. I wish EMG gave EQ curve and other specs like SD, DiMarzio and BKP do. It’s like a crapshoot buying based off their descriptions.

 

[skullfxr]

I am an 81 lover. Not perfect but damn good for a lot of stuff. But I also have a ton of passive guitars though. But when I want the 81 sound, I just grab a guitar with an 81.

It's the only thing that does what it does for me.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

Have you tried the EMG-Xs? I’ve found them to be a bit fatter

 

[Rex Rocker]

I’d be curious as well. I wish EMG gave EQ curve and other specs like SD, DiMarzio and BKP do. It’s like a crapshoot buying based off their descriptions.

Agreed.

I am an 81 lover. Not perfect but damn good for a lot of stuff. But I also have a ton of passive guitars though. But when I want the 81 sound, I just grab a guitar with an 81.

It's the only thing that does what it does for me.

I've also got some passives. I particularly like Duncan Distortions, and I'm keeping at least one guitar with an 81 in there, but I'm curious about trying some other EMG stuff in other guitars.

Have you tried the EMG-Xs? I’ve found them to be a bit fatter

Yes and yes. Slightly fatter. But also slightly tamer and not as powerful. Didn't like them. To me, they just felt like 18V-modded standard set with the volume knob dialed back just a touch. I'm a 9V kinda guy anyway.