active pickup

EMG 81 / 85 / 57-7

The active humbuckers that defined metal tone, with the 81 and 85 pair the combination Hetfield and Hammett made standard.

Why it matters

EMG has been building active pickups since 1976, and the 81 and 85 became the pairing metal players associate with the brand. Hetfield and Hammett are the players usually cited for it.

Note

THE active pickups of metal (Hetfield/Hammett defined the 81+85 combo).