Pickup

    EMG 81/85 Active Humbucker Set (Black)

    EMG's best known active set, an aggressive ceramic 81 in the bridge paired with a fuller-sounding 85 in the neck.

    9 guitars checked: 2 likely drop-in, 7 requires modification.

    For your Schecter C-1 Hellraiser

    Likely drop-in

    Since this guitar already has active EMG pickups and a battery box built in, swapping to this set reuses what is already there.

    See the full notes below
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Where to buy

    Part specs

    Pickup type

    Not published

    Needs verification

    Dimensions (L × W × D)

    Not published

    Needs verification

    Installation notes

    Active pickups requiring a 9-volt battery and EMG's own solderless quick-connect wiring system. Fits a standard humbucker route.

    Guitars we've checked

    9 guitars checked: 2 likely drop-in, 7 requires modification.

    ESP LTD H-1001

    ESP

    LTD H-1001 2022

    Likely drop-in
    Soldering

    The exact pickups this guitar ships with from the factory. A genuine replacement part, not a generic substitute.

    Why we say this

    This is the exact pickup set the H-1001 ships with from the factory, confirmed across multiple retailer listings (Musician's Friend, Reverb, zZounds). A genuine like-for-like replacement, not a generic substitute.

    Schecter

    C-1 Hellraiser 2022

    Likely drop-in
    Soldering

    Since this guitar already has active EMG pickups and a battery box built in, swapping to this set reuses what is already there.

    Why we say this

    This guitar already ships with active EMG pickups, a 9V battery cavity and active wiring, so swapping to another EMG active set reuses the existing wiring and cavity.

    ESP

    E-II Eclipse EMG 57TW and 66TW

    Requires modification

    The stock pickups are EMG's coil-splitting versions, which wire differently from a standard EMG set. This set comes with its own harness and the controls would need rewiring, and you would lose the coil-split option.

    Why we say this

    This guitar's stock EMG 57TW and 66TW pickups are the dual-mode versions, which use a 7-pin connector and a push-pull pot for each pickup. Standard EMG sets use a 3-pin connector and come with their own harness, so the control cavity would need to be rewired to suit, and the push-pull pots would no longer do anything. Standard EMG humbuckers are also thinner than the TW versions (0.9 inch against 1.1 inch), so they will sit differently in the route.

    Help confirm this fit

    ESP

    E-II Eclipse Fluence Modern

    Requires modification

    The stock pickups use Fishman's own wiring, so an EMG set means rewiring the controls with its harness. The stock pickups are also mounted straight into the body, which needs sorting out. A bigger job than a straight swap.

    Why we say this

    This guitar's stock Fishman Fluence Modern pickups use Fishman's own harness and controls. EMG sets come with their own solderless harness, so the control cavity would need to be rewired to suit. The stock pickups are also direct-mounted into the body, while EMG sets are supplied with mounting screws and springs for ring-mounted pickups, so the mounting method would need sorting out too. Not confirmed for this guitar.

    Help confirm this fit

    ESP

    E-II Eclipse FR

    Requires modification

    The stock pickups use Fishman's own wiring, so an EMG set means rewiring the controls with its harness. The stock pickups are also mounted straight into the body, which needs sorting out. A bigger job than a straight swap.

    Why we say this

    This guitar's stock Fishman Fluence Modern pickups use Fishman's own harness and controls. EMG sets come with their own solderless harness, so the control cavity would need to be rewired to suit. The stock pickups are also direct-mounted into the body, while EMG sets are supplied with mounting screws and springs for ring-mounted pickups, so the mounting method would need sorting out too. Not confirmed for this guitar.

    Help confirm this fit

    ESP

    E-II Eclipse Full Thickness Fluence

    Requires modification

    The stock pickups use Fishman's own wiring, so an EMG set means rewiring the controls with its harness. A bigger job than a straight swap.

    Why we say this

    This guitar's stock Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic pickups use Fishman's own harness and controls. EMG sets come with their own solderless harness, so the control cavity would need to be rewired to suit. Not confirmed for this guitar.

    Help confirm this fit

    Gibson SG Standard 61

    Gibson

    SG Standard 61 2023

    Requires modification
    SolderingRouting

    This is an active pickup set that needs a 9V battery inside the guitar and different wiring, a bigger job than a passive pickup swap.

    Why we say this

    Active pickup set requiring a 9V battery mounted in the guitar and a different wiring scheme than passive pickups. Not just a pickup swap.

    Help confirm this fit

    Jackson

    Dinky DK2 2021

    Requires modification
    SolderingRouting

    This is an active pickup set that needs a 9V battery inside the guitar and different wiring, a bigger job than a passive pickup swap.

    Why we say this

    Active pickup set requiring a 9V battery mounted in the guitar and a different wiring scheme than passive pickups.

    Help confirm this fit

    Jackson

    Soloist SL2 2022

    Requires modification
    SolderingRouting

    This is an active pickup set that needs a 9V battery inside the guitar and different wiring, a bigger job than a passive pickup swap.

    Why we say this

    Active pickup set requiring a 9V battery mounted in the guitar and a different wiring scheme than passive pickups.

    Help confirm this fit

    This page has 7 open questions

    If you have fitted any of these to this EMG 81/85 Active Humbucker Set (Black), tell us what you found and we'll update the data.