DiMarzio X2N vs EMG 81 - Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo

[@johnmaddox1712]

yesssss! The long awaited great classic heavier metal pickup comparison. Thank you so much for this I’ve been hoping for this comparison for a long time now.

[@johnmaddox1712]

I have a guitar with an EMG 81 and although I love it for certain things, I feel it is a bit constricting tone wise and I love to do many different types of metal. I’ve been eyeing up the X2N for a while now especially after becoming a massive Chuck Schuldiner fan (RIP Chuck!). This pretty much confirms my thoughts that the x2n is not super different from EMG but different enough to justify changing to. only thing i’m worried about using a lot of digital stuff (sim cabs and sometimes sim amps) is that the high end will get excessive. As we know the high end from the x2n’s sound very mean and raw on Death recordings but of course those were mic’d amps which benefited from. There is so dampened transients in the midrange of the 81 that gives it that iconic tone, where as the transients across the spectrum on the x2n to my ears are far more balanced. The 81!sounds a bit muffled/muddy because of this. The x2n is also a very compressed sounding passive pickup, but I think that’s part of the charm of it cause it has a very aggressive but tasteful breakup sound while still being pretty tight. Also the top end shimmers on x2n where emg is a bit dull and cold, which i don’t always hate the “coldness” aspect of it but like i said it’s very constricting when you don’t want that. I definitely think I might be sold on it. It’s a really great sounding pickup that’s relatively balanced in all regards for a metal player. My only worry is that it will be too bright in an alder guitar with digital stuff. Only other pickup I’ve had my eyes on that I think can match is the L500xl billy and becky that dimebag used, but I think the x2n is a tad tighter but in my research and now confirmed these have to be some of the best pickups ever made. Thank you again!

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

The X2N is a very balanced pickup. It's not excessively trebley. It's midrangey if anything.

[@dudeguyman27]

I've tried both. I keep coming back to the EMG 81. The X2N is hot and noisy as hell

[@aamado1013]

4:18 makes me want to use the x2n for live performances and the emgs for studio

[@craigharrison5406]

X2N is my favourite pickup. I have 22 guitars all equipped with different Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio pickups and the X2N is just louder, more saturated and heavier sounding than all the others. If you play metal...just trust me and put an X2N in the bridge position. You won't be disapointed.

[@Aspyrus]

Do does it hold up while heavily defined? Like Drop C / Drop B or below?

[@craigharrison5406]

Absolutely. It's a bit on the bright side so it does low tunings really well. I have a Jackson 7 string with an X2N and it sounds great. @@Aspyrus

[@Aspyrus]

@@craigharrison5406 sweet! I was thinking of putting one in a mod project Guitar thank you for the quick response :D

[@craigharrison5406]

@@Aspyrus 👍

[@byMRTNjournals]

I've got an x2n clone by warman and it sounds amazing. I entirely agree that it's the best sounding bridge pickup. I also have a warman p90 voiced humbucker in the neck and the entire fretboard has insane clarity and note separation in the mid position (both pickups activated). Playing cleans with fat reverb has never been this much fun. But as soon as that selector switch goes back to bridge position, you know the x2n is made for distortion.

[@РоманБілецький-ц1х]

Отличное сравнение, оба хороши, играл на обоих очень похожи но иногда кажется что имг это отстерилизованный х2н) рельса есть рельса, жду с 81Х.

[@ericv7720]

The x2n is dirtier with an upper-mid push. The 81 is a bit cleaner and darker-sounding. Interesting, because I thought it would be the opposite!

[@thrashefe3523]

Ofcourse active pickups is cleaner, thats probably the only reason to choose it, I have the Dimarzio, we were playing the Symphony Of Destruction in the studio and it sounds so dirty at the "Just like pied piper" part because of playing multiple strings at once with distortion, In the original recordings I believe Mustaine used EMGs

[@craigharrison5406]

Dave used a Seymour Duncan JB on Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction.@@thrashefe3523

[@TheNocturnalEvil]

I liked the EMG over here. I like high output pickups but the X2N is just over the top in terms of output.

[@Admiral_Bongo]

Eh, better too much than too little when it comes to metal. Can always dial down the gain. And it's not muddy in terms of voicing by any means (unlike its main competitor - the bass-craze that is Invader). Have tried various great pickups and have always been coming back to the X2N.

[@jaxonv2098]

I have EMG 81 60 and 57 66. Gonna drop the x2n into my passive Ibanez

[@spencerfrankel414]

Following up, have you done it? If so how is it comparing?

[@sinisterminister9920]

I have an X2N it’s heavy

[@FrancisMetal]

X2N is an active pick up "ad honorem".

[@archmetal]

Clean channel; X2N clean is more bright and better than EMG 81. Drive channel; Two pickups have their own character at drive. EMG is darker but more understandable. Overall: I prefer EMG 81.

[@jeffreyquinonez8964]

Is there a fishman fluence vs emg one?

[@mikestamper]

A lot! Look on my channel!! :)

[@solo_mania]

EMG cool!

[@JerryWhite-ee5hy]

X2 n kicks the emg's ass.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Emg81 wins for that low-mid bark and tightness.

[@kiillabytez]

EMG is overrated.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

@@kiillabytez maybe but there's a reason why it's the standard...can you elaborate your opinion? what you dislike about it and what do you prefer instead and why?

[@brandonlatham694]

SOLD... and not just because of Father Chuck

[@kilianruvalcaba6904]

x2n :)

[@themodernguitarist]

Gonna be honest the X2N sounded awful here.

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

No 👎🏼

[@themodernguitarist]

@@Donnie_Thornberry but seriously it did

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

@@themodernguitarist that's your opinion. You speak for yourself.

[@themodernguitarist]

@@Donnie_Thornberry Then I guess my opinion is that the X2N sucks here lol. Too mushy, peaking the amp in ugly, harsh ways, lacking clarity. Makes the amp sound like an ugly distortion pedal.

[@darkemun9119]

yeah. it has good stereo wider. whereas 81 dead center

[@Krunchyjclown]

Btw, what voltage were you running on that emg 81?

[@mikestamper]

9V, the standard one.

[@kiillabytez]

​@@mikestamperWhat else would you use with it? A car battery? AAA? LOL.

[@stanleyc.348]

​@kiillabytez most actives can run up to 27-28v, with 24v being practicle with 2x23a batteries.