EMG 85X Black

I won't repeat my long review of the EMG 85, refer to that for more details. All I'll say here is that this is an 85 with more steroids, the output level is insane, I tested it against the standard 85 with my audio interface, all good, but then I installed the 85X in the same guitar, and the 85X immediately made my interface peak so I had to set the trim the interface gain lower. So the 85x DEFINITELY has higher output than the 85 (though the latter is still a high output pickup, make no mistake, but the 85X gets into insane territory) it reminds me of the sound and feel of my DiMarzio Super Distortion. I think EMG is pretty much spot on when it refers to the 85X as 'bridging the gap between actives and passives'. I used the best passives for 30 years, so I think I know how these feels. Now I am a total EMG convert, if you record with computers you need actives.

If you play metal and you want the ultimate 'pickup on steroids', get this one. And the price is a bargain, these are top notch American made pickups, super quality.

The Emg 85-X is a quite warm sounding Pickup that still lets very high frequencies get through. I first used it in the bridge position, now I am using it as a neck pickup, where it sounds warm, yet still retains high overtones if mounted close enough to the strings. It does not compress or clip like previous active pickups, but the output is so high it can cause some clean channels to clip. Also the high output can cause too much compression when you play hig-gain solos with it, so it is best used with a less compressing amplifier. If so, the sound is still very articulate and not muddy.
Compared to the 81-X in the bridge postition it sounds warmer/less aggressive, more boomy and like it had some mid frequencies missing. I rather like the 81X used with a thick pick.

Warm, thicc, fuzzy - all you need in the neck position.
Easy to install system and all wiring you need is included with every pickup package!
Note: Be mindful of the schematics and how your guitar is wired to get it working!
I installed this (and the 81X) to my oldie-goldie Schecter Omen 6 that used to have passives. There's 2 wires that must not be clipped for this to work! And the input jack cavity was too shallow, so needed to drill it deeper and would need to re-drill a connection hole to the other electronics, but it seems more like a design issue of the original schematic.

Good project and it works like a charm!