For Fans Of Emg's, Whats your favorite pickup in the neck position? Options

[Mudbone]

I've limited this poll to EMG's active line, since that is what they're known for. I've also limited it to the neck position, just to keep this thread a bit more focused. Another post shall soon follow for the bridge position. I didn't include the dual mode ones either, since they're essentially two pickups in one, an SA and either an 85 or 81. There is actually three coils in each pick up. If you're a fan of the X series, just vote for the original model.

I personally had a hard time choosing between the 60 and the 85. I haven't tried the 81 in the neck yet, maybe I'll try it next week. Switching around EMG's is so easy compared to regular pickups. Anyways, the 60 has amazing cleans, chimey and fat at the same time. However, when it comes to playing with tons of gain above the 12 fret, the 85 owns.

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[ZakkWylde]

The 60 is great for cleans but isn't fluid enough for leads imho
The 85 is AWESOME for leads but it's harder to get a good clean tone
The 81 is fluid and tight in the neck with a little less bass than the 85... In a guitar with a deep neck tone (a Les Paul for example) it sounds great for leads, in a guitar with a trebly neck tone (superstrats for example) it is a little to trebly for me (doesn't have that neck pickup tone in a 24 fret guitar)

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[NoSkill]

I have guitars with 60's and 85's in the neck position. An ESP Eclipse II with a 60 and an ESP Horizon II with the 85. Generally, the 60 is a better clean tone pickup. The 85 a better distorted tone. There is abundant crossover between the two at high gain, mid volume playing. It's a tossup for me. The guitars are a bit different as well, so I might just plug in the 60 into the Horizon and see if I get a whim. As you mentioned, an EMG swapout is pretty quick.

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