EMG 81 Active Humbucker Pickup in Ivory

EMG 81 Active Humbucker Pickup in Ivory

The EMG 81 is a high-output active humbucker engineered to capture articulate, aggressive tone with minimal noise—essential for tracking rock, metal, and contemporary styles in the studio. Its compact footprint and low-impedance design integrate seamlessly into existing wiring schemes, and the included potentiometers and cables streamline installation for quick session setup.

Recording Tone & Electronics

Built on a ceramic/steel magnet platform with a 1.63 KHz resonant frequency, the 81 delivers punchy mids and defined high-end articulation that cuts through dense mixes. Output measures 3 V under steady-state conditions and 4.5 V on dynamic strums, with exceptionally low noise at -100 dB (60 Hz)—critical for high-gain tracking where background hum must be eliminated during multitrack sessions.

Power & Session Longevity

The 80 mA draw at 9 V yields approximately 3000 hours of battery life, minimizing downtime between long recording days. The pickup accepts supply voltages up to 27 V DC, enabling tonal shaping through power-supply adjustment on compatible systems for production flexibility across different tracked tones.

Key Features

• Magnet Type: Ceramic/Steel (C/S)
• Resonant Frequency: 1.63 KHz
• Output Voltage (String): 3 V
• Output Voltage (Strum): 4.5 V
• Output Noise (60 Hz): -100 dB
• Output Impedance: 10 kΩ
• Current Draw at 9 V: 80 mA
• Battery Life: 3000 Hours
• Maximum Supply: 27 V DC
• Includes 25K Volume Pot, 25K Tone Pot, Battery Bus, Stereo Output Jack, Two Pickup In/Out Bus, Mounting Hardware, Pickup Cable, Connection Cables, Output Cable, and Battery Cable
• Color: Ivory
• Dimensions: 2.63 x 2.38 x 6 inches

The EMG 81 remains one of the most dependable active pickups in production, combining noise rejection with transparent high-end response trusted across decades of professional recording.