EMG 81 & 85 vs EMG Het Set James Hetfield Signature Pickups

EMG 81 & 85 vs EMG Het Set James Hetfield Signature Pickups
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[@antlyfts]

This is the only video on KZbin that matters as far as a review/comparison for both of these pickups. Playing songs we actually wanna hear

[@boyjimbo4941]

The Het set provides a little more clarity, but they honestly aren’t that different to where someone would notice live

[@JulianDaniels]

I totally agree. Too close in my opinion. No reason to swap the pickups. Just raise your mids a slight bit on your amp if desired.

[@lewis93156]

Disagree. There's a huge difference when you hear it in person

[@Wheresthepepsibismol]

There is a slight difference the hetset sounds more clearer.

[@TheUnknownReject]

Yeah, less compressed

[@ElegantJames]

Thats what he wanted for the clean tones. He wanted the punch of active pickups but the warmth of passive pickups.

[@sander3236]

and a bit more muddier

[@tonesguitars]

Great comparison and great playing Mark! ⚡️🤘🏼🎸

[@langstonwilliams8979]

So I just bought a Les Paul Epiphone Classic and had been trying to decide between the EMG 81-85 or the Het Set. I’m seriously leaning towards the Het Set because of the bright tone, clarity, and range they offer. I don’t really like any of my guitars to sound alike so I think James Hetfield will offer that contrast I’m looking for. Thanks for the video👍 This really helps me make an informed decision 👍🤘🏾🎵

[@ricardomoretti8862]

Thanks for your comparisson, Het set seems to me more clear and have more punch. Greetings from Brazil!

[@roderickvwenner6807]

I have the het set and an emg 81 and personally, with my rig, I think the het set sounds a little more lively in reaction to a lower gain metal tone. And the neck pickup has a certain strat like punctual element to it compared to typical EMGs. I think the hetset gives you the best of both worlds for metal, but cleans are really only for picking not strumming. It Jsut has a little more balls and versatility than full on active emgs. Great vid

[@MyBichSustained]

More headroom with the Het set,my gold set came yesterday....can't wait to put them in!

[@phillyhank8726]

Well I have the 81-85 in my LP So I already love them. The Het set to my ears in my vehicle speakers, sounded very to the 81-85 but the Het’s took it about two notches in both Low end and high. I will definitely be getting the Het’s for my Jackson JS32.

[@champion6534]

I’m also getting a het set for my JS32

[@MKDumas1981]

My LTD EX-400 had 81/85 on it, and I was gifted the Het Set. I was pleased with the difference, especially in the clean tone.

[@johndcoffee632]

Had my heart set on the HET set. Clicked this video and thought 'Damn the 81+85 sounds amazing'... definitely getting the HET set, thanks bro!

[@bdogjr7779]

Awesome🎸《☆》The 81/85 set sounds better on my Cellphone thru every phase of testing. Nice Comparo✌🏼😎☯️

[@skim2958]

The 81/85 sound better by far. But I think it's because you're entire set up is tuned to it. Hetfield has much higher output. When you're playing it thru your set up that you've probably tuned it to your 81s for years, of course, it's gonna sound better. You should make another video where you try to make the best sound from each pickup and compare the two.

[@hamartime17]

I have the Het Set in my les Paul. I’m glad I chose them instead of the 81/85s. Though they sound terrific, they just don’t have the sound I look for, which the Het Set provides...for me anyway! Great content

[@zacharydesjardins3701]

Het Set for me. Btw I love your channel. I wish you could do more basses as I'm a bass player and love your aesthetics.

[@Birkzerk]

That het set has that extra clarity, sure, but to my ears it sounds meatier with bigger punch. The crunch tone used for with the demonstration riffs is very nasal and honky, so the diffrence here is obscured. That extra meat in the het set is easier to distinguish with some of the lead parts. I'm definitely a het set guy. Probably not weird though as I'm more of a passive pup leaner. Really like the consistenst sound in actives, but I love dynamics too. It's just like Jaymz said in that emg video promoting his set. After noodling around with and thinking akot about the original iron cross les paul with passives, he sought out to fuse the punch and warmth from passives into a tight emg sound. Cool stuff.

[@MrIgor13]

solid riffing mate

[@robertwhite9824]

The EMG Hetset is a perfect example of why everyone should probably have an EQ pedal on their board

[@newbeginning1510]

What does an eq pedal do ? What other pedals should I get for a better tone ? Should I get a compresser or tube screamer ? I use an ehx metal muff with top boost

[@johnjohnsonf739]

@@newbeginning1510 an eq pedal shapes the sound in the same way your pickups do by pushing and reducing certain frequencies. With an eq pedal you could revoice the 81/85 set to sound just like the het set without having to buy a whole new set of pickups. Imo if you have emgs you dont really need a compressor however I would recommend getting a chorus for both clean tones as well as nice transparent gain tones like Zakk Wylde or Randy Rhoads.

[@newbeginning1510]

@@johnjohnsonf739 I have an emg 81/85 do you have any recommendations for a good eq pedal? Thanks so much for the knowledge btw

[@johnjohnsonf739]

@@newbeginning1510 no problem man! Always happy to help. Generally I find the boss 7 band and mxr 10 band eq both do the trick super well. To get the het set sound I’d say all you’d need is a bit of a boost to the low mids and maybe a low end boost for more chunk.

[@phillyhank8726]

Thank you Tons for this vid.

[@Zombie_13x33]

I've been trying to learn battery because the galloping and man is it hard but you make it look easy

[@Lordbaccus]

I'm pretty sure it's because the compressor on the camera microphone but honestly I couldn't tell the difference they both sounds good to me from what I could tell

[@patriknessboLemoran]

The differnce is huge in person. I find the hetset to be smoother and less chunky. While the 81 sound more flabby and loose. I love thwm both

[@shreddyeddy7391]

I just bought that Epiphone 84 EX for 699$ and it came with brand new Het Set chrome black finish!! Bought a new Marshall DSL40CR to go with it!

[@byronmitchell2067]

I have the same amp. I have 81/85’s and love it. Keen to try a jet set tho

[@shreddyeddy7391]

@@byronmitchell2067 man! 81/85s sound great but that Het Set does something different you should really buy some and try it out for yourself!! Especially with the DSL40 that thing screams!!

[@Ramo_Baramia]

to me it sounds really close, with the Het set I can hear a bit of difference but not sure what to call it, it jumps out a bit more.

[@UncleSasquatch]

Awesome comparison. Yeah from what I understand and heard, the het set is a hotter version of the 81 and 60?

[@robertwhite9824]

Use an EQ pedal with your original 81-85 humbuckers, raise the treble sliders upwards, and the volume slider one more notch upward, and presto!! You now have created the Het-Set.

[@Metal_89]

het set seemed to be brighter with more clarity to my ears.

[@deebeee9218]

great comparison video my man. I have 81 & 85 on my Eclipse and thought about upgrading to the HetSet but I don't think it is different enough from the Het Set to spend $$ on it or at least not a $250 different (IMHP). You just save some of us 250 bones. Thanks

[@shield400]

If you want a bit more clarity then go with the HetSet. If you want that classic Metallica sound then keep the 81/85 but I would in no way say that one is an upgrade over the other.

[@sonnyevans5686]

Love early Metallica it sounds so raw and thrash

[@hrshorty6676]

Hetset are more dynamic. Thank you for the video.

[@axemen77]

so whats the dif in the 81/85 and zacks or are they the same? and het is brighter if you like that type of thing.

[@collectingtengu4905]

Het Set sounds crispier especially in the mids and highs. Would be great to hear a comparison when tuned down.

[@avalon1734]

Crispy is a perfect description. I have the Korea Snakebyte with the JH in it. I swapped them for a spare set of 81/85 I had lying around. Way better as an all around guitar. EQing the 81/85 set is where the magic happens . It is easier to add crispy than subtract it.

[@Maciekovic]

Both pickups sound great! But honestly, just like all the other comments, I prefer the Het Set! It just has something to it that speaks more to me, its... less muddy?

[@vonicrimson3619]

When ever I listen to a demo I always hope it’s in Drop D for some reason, would the hetset sound good for drop tuned stuff and pinch harmonics (because lowout shitass pickups can’t do pinch harmonics lol) in like drop C because I constantly change tunings. For some reason some pickups only sound good in higher tunings and not lower tunings

[@michaelcarver6868]

Love the videos just bought a mh 300 they don't make anymore

[@MBvolcom92]

I think I prefer the 81 & 85 set, but both of them sound really good.

[@jeffreymiers8793]

Ya....play other pickups and go back to EMG and its like home again!

[@AHGrayLensman]

I had the Het Set for a while in a Les Paul, and while I liked the Het bridge well enough, I did not get along with the Het neck at all, especially for cleans. I much prefer the EMG 60 or 60-X over the Het Set neck.

[@jaseblanchard5929]

Is there a difference in the just buying the emg 81 and 85 And the Zakk Wylde set

[@lesspainlesss]

Was the the hetset plug and play or did you have to replace all the wiring??

[@tommytee3185]

the emgs seemed tighter and more forgiving, but i don't want that!~ het set seemed a bit more dynamic and open - thumbs up!

[@guerreroseternidad]

Awesome playing, for me both sound the same

[@jerryjaystone9444]

Prefer the Het Set just from what I hear here. Wider range of sound, more articulate. Great format for a comp video also. Great job

[@fredericadda]

I preferred the fullness of the HetSet but really, we mostly heard the bridge pickup.

[@arealbigchungus]

The het set sounds just a tad brighter, but other than that, they sound relatively the same🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dommo2803]

Hello, there! URGENT question: Are your JH EMG set pickups "floating" on your guitar? Mine are not steady as I'm pressing them down. How can I fix this? Thanks in advance

[@ryanespinoza7297]

No they don’t float. The mounting bracket or the adjustment screw is damaged. Unless by “float” you mean that it can rock back and forth toward the neck and bridge. That’s normal. Up and down bad, side to side ok

[@czt1dave]

Het set supposed to be more like passive pickups. I can't tell though.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

They sound so close I say whatever set you get a better deal on is a win. I have a Het Set in my 1984 Explorer and my second guitar is a 1985 V with an 81/85 set and I use them within sets and sessions and they are like playing the same guitar except for the V's a PITA when sitting. Negligable at best.

[@mikedegarmo3203]

I'm looking to upgrade my Jackson Kelly from 81/85's to the Het Set, but I guess what I'm confused about is the Het Set comes with 4 volume and tone pots. This guy only has 2 built into his guitar. How does that work????

[@Zombie_13x33]

If your still interested in an answer... emgs can be run with just one volume with no mods. They can also be ran with just 1 volume and 1 tone like in a jackson. They have the wiring diagrams. You can find them on google easily. If it was in a kes Paul, they may have modified the length of some of the wires so you might have to work around something like that but that's really easy to do. Soldering is easy and the soldier kits are super cheap. I have 3 modded out jacksons all with emgs and Seymourduncan so I know the layout of the guitar pretty well.

[@ryanespinoza7297]

Also EMGs are quick disconnect swappable. You can unclip the 81/85 and click in the hetset without touching the wiring. I believe the pots are the same value across the board with EMG.

[@dylanvogel7124]

The het set sounds good but honestly I like the classic black EMG I wish they had a normal cover instead of the chrome with the poles showing I don’t really like that aspect of them

[@travissandersasbuttshitjac1458]

I guess I'll go het set...everybody on the other video I watched preferred the 8185

[@nohero88]

I preferred the 81 & 85 personally

[@danyarger]

I’ve been playing guitar and working on guitars since 1983 and I hardly notice any difference at all.

[@3badthebad]

81 85: RTL and MOP tone Het Set: AJFA and BA tone

[@jsr-uz3oj]

Het Set for sure.

[@Pupinski711]

I used to prefer active pickups but now I only play passive ones they just sound so much more real to me.

[@damiankacprzak6211]

Het set just a little hotter making them a little clearer ?

[@paullalremruat14603]

The Het Set is leaning towards what a passive pickup on Gibson would sound

[@michaelcarver6868]

U need to make more videos

[@timbuk1126]

I prefer the 81 in the bridge position for hard rock/metal.

[@DeeTee79]

Agree, not much difference. The 81/85 just sound like the het set with the tone cut in half.

[@JacksonCharvelRULE]

James and Kirk used EMG 81 60 sets in their EMG guitars

[@paulkielt9301]

To me the Het Set sounds a little bit more brighter as well as more aggressive.

[@Berlt]

just a slight difference but I think the 81/85 are just fine

[@johnnycash4850]

Im more into the 81/85 set. Im not a big fan of the really punchy mids of the het set

[@edrei34]

Where both set play with fresh strings? Sound to me that the Het set was play with more bright or fresh strings, or else it won’t be accurate, if you did ya the Het set sounds more alive but also soulless comparing to the other crazy, where the other passive ?

[@kaydensides7053]

Unless you have the random extra money the 81/85 sound amazing. There’s no point in spending extra money for almost the same pickups

[@zachryanband5241]

het set

[@richszmal1653]

81/85 set sound better dirty than the het set, but the het set sounds better clean with a little more definition.

[@mikemcnally8514]

Het set

[@GeorgeRasoulisMusic]

I think EMG 81 60 (what James had in the past) is great to play old school metal and Metallica. Definitely EMG 81 60 sounds more like Metallica than the new EMG Het set.

[@michaelc6638]

81/85 Have the KEA tone

[@birminghamspidey3352]

Zakk has 81/85 so i gotta go with them

[@HalfApology]

I have a ZW set love it

[@59sixstringer]

Prefer 81/85. More clarity

[@Danny.B82]

81/85

[@RZX_Razor]

The Het Set is just way better, I get a monster tone out of them, and the Het Set is miles better for clean tones too

[@thebassshopbsas]

I dont like the sound of the pups whit the cover. I prefer 85 81 set. Its more clasical and sound darker so aggressive

[@codyhopp7490]

81/60 for me..

[@jimmysavage258]

Het set all the way

[@smith8281]

Pretty close. I’d pick the emgs myself

[@74Matty]

which ones

[@andrewward7318]

Welp......I just ordered a Het Set haha

[@bustercampfiresongs]

The muddyness or whatever is mentioned here is also because he is not muting the strings enough and picking hard enough. It's not a criticism. I have that guitar too and know it well. I'd go for HS just for the feel.

[@TarnTarn-zv6cp]

Het set sounded better on my phone

[@kitten-whisperer]

Lol

[@kitten-whisperer]

The het sounds a smidge muddy. Smuddy

[@xenochrist13]

Ironically the Het Set sounds less scooped.

[@greg24hoareau]

Right, I had both and still have the hetset and they have more mids (to cut in the mix it's perfect) so they are less scooped but honestly I loved the scooped sound of the 81. But the clean is 1000x better with the hetset imo...

[@Chikalita2]

Bros gotta use da palm

[@JoeChadburn702]

81 85 is My Dream Set up.. its Oldschool AF, but we Have to Tale into concideration Papa Het can Predict the Future 🤣🤣 Je Had to have Signatires Made so that 72 Seasons can Sound as SICK (So far) as it Does. I will be bangin' a Pair of Papa Het's EMG's in to My Pacifica when I finally grow a set of Balls n turn it from Gash (Its worse than Trash 🤣) to THRASH! I'm wantin to get rid of the 1 way Whammy n go FULL ON FIXED 🤘🏻🤘🏻 I'm wantin a HEAVILY WEATHERED Good Guy Doll Paint Job aswell 🤣🤣🤣 It WILL be My ChuckyCaster 🤣🤣🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@zac88anderson]

Owned both and much preferred the 81. The het set sounded pretty meh to me.

[@cielisemotionaltravels]

Sorry the 81 and the 85!8

[@R-RIFF]

I have both. Real difference is that Hetset is hotter. Less gain needed compared to 81 on same amount etc. People acting like there is a noticeable difference is foolery.

[@gautiergogo9185]

More gain with jh set

[@robertwhite9824]

They're the same in tone, the Hets are obviously a tad more open on the high end. They have a little more treble. You can probably take the original 81-85 humbuckers and just use an EQ pedal and get the same type of "difference".

[@ryannieman9065]

The het set has more punch and more in your face and has more Clarity

[@marceliptero]

They are very very similar, but not in the price, signatures stuffs are overpriced 81:85 for me by far

[@batmandeltaforce]

EMG SERIOUSLY lacks tonal variation in their pups:)

[@Heavy_Metal.Nerd-2005]

The HetSet is better than the 81/85 Set

[@SirAreve]

Still think my hot slag pickups are better. Half the price too.

[@HIMcules2112]

Stick with 81-85s

[@Fartinhalerr]

I just think the 81 has never been beaten. It's perfecy

[@goodgodpluckme1]

I like 57/66...Just sayin'

[@joerotorhead]

You sure you swapped them ? 🤣