Best Guitars With EMG 85 Pickups in 2024

Here you'll find the best guitars with EMG 85 pickups.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

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1. Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG

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Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG

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Playability 77

Sound 81

Build quality 89

Value for money 72

Overall Score 82

What our users think

Neck profile shape: D (5 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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6 Prices - New from $2,499.98 >
From Jackson's 2024 American series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose 1500 Series Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners
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6 Prices - New from $2,499.98 >
From Jackson's 2024 American series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose 1500 Series Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG

Stainless Steel Frets
Locking Tuners
Made in United States
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Luminescent Inlay
Tremolo
Compound Radius Fretboard
Strap Lock
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar

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2. ESP E-II Arrow

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ESP E-II Arrow

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Playability 80

Sound 81

Build quality 79

Value for money 70

Overall Score 80

What our users think

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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3 Prices - New from $2,299 >
From ESP E-II's 2014 Arrow series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
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3 Prices - New from $2,299 >
From ESP E-II's 2014 Arrow series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Arrow

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Tremolo
Retainer Bar
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

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3. ESP Jeff Hanneman

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ESP Jeff Hanneman

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Playability 80

Sound 79

Build quality 74

Value for money 63

Overall Score 78

What our users think

Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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From ESP's 2010 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Kahler 2315 bridge
Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh tuners
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From ESP's 2010 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Kahler 2315 bridge
Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Jeff Hanneman

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Tremolo
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar
No Strap Lock

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4. ESP LTD Arrow-1000

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ESP LTD Arrow-1000

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Playability 80

Sound 78

Build quality 74

Value for money 77

Overall Score 77

What our users think

Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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2 Prices - New from $1,399 >
From ESP LTD's 2021 Arrow series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
13.78" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany body
3pc Maple neck
Macassar Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Grover tuners
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2 Prices - New from $1,399 >
From ESP LTD's 2021 Arrow series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
13.78" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany body
3pc Maple neck
Macassar Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Grover tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD Arrow-1000

Stainless Steel Frets
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Tremolo
Retainer Bar
No Locking Tuners
Made in Indonesia
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

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5. Dean Kerry King V

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Dean Kerry King V

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Playability 82

Sound 81

Build quality 65

Value for money 76

Overall Score 76

What our users think

Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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4 Prices - New from $1,499 >
From Dean's 2020 Artist series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Maple top
Eastern Mahogany body
3 Piece Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Kahler Hybrid bridge
Kerry King Spec. C Shaped Set neck
24 Jumbo frets
Grover tuners
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4 Prices - New from $1,499 >
From Dean's 2020 Artist series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Maple top
Eastern Mahogany body
3 Piece Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Kahler Hybrid bridge
Kerry King Spec. C Shaped Set neck
24 Jumbo frets
Grover tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Kerry King V

Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Boost Pickups
Tremolo
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in Indonesia
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar
No Strap Lock

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6. Schecter Cesar Soto E-1

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Schecter Cesar Soto E-1

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Playability 83

Sound 76

Build quality 64

Value for money 74

Overall Score 74

What our users think

Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)

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4 Prices - New from $1,149 >
From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
24.6"'' scale
14" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany body
Mahogany 3-pc neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
TonePros T3BT Tune-O-Matic w/T1Z Tailpiece bridge
Thin C Set neck
22 Jumbo frets
Schecter Locking tuners
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4 Prices - New from $1,149 >
From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
24.6"'' scale
14" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany body
Mahogany 3-pc neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
TonePros T3BT Tune-O-Matic w/T1Z Tailpiece bridge
Thin C Set neck
22 Jumbo frets
Schecter Locking tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Cesar Soto E-1

Locking Tuners
Expensive Wood
Black Tusq XL Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Luminescent Inlay
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
Made in Indonesia
No Neck-Through Build
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

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7. Ibanez JBBM30

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Ibanez JBBM30

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Playability 75

Sound 75

Build quality 60

Value for money 75

Overall Score 70

What our users think

Neck profile shape: C (1 vote)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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5 Prices - New from $908.02 >
From Ibanez's 2021 JBBM series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Nyatoh body
3pc Maple/Bubinga neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gibraltar Standard II bridge
Nitro Wizard Bolt-On neck
24 Jumbo frets
Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
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5 Prices - New from $908.02 >
From Ibanez's 2021 JBBM series
Made in Indonesia
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Nyatoh body
3pc Maple/Bubinga neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gibraltar Standard II bridge
Nitro Wizard Bolt-On neck
24 Jumbo frets
Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JBBM30

Locking Tuners
Expensive Wood
Top Brand Pickups
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
Made in Indonesia
No High-Quality Nut
No Neck-Through Build
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Tremolo
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

8. Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG HT

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Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG HT

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Playability 78

Sound 76

Build quality 89

Value for money 71

Overall Score 81

What our users think

Neck profile shape: D (5 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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6 Prices - New from $2,248.05 >
From Jackson's 2024 American series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Hipshot 6 Fixed .175 bridge
Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners
See all specs and compare >

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6 Prices - New from $2,248.05 >
From Jackson's 2024 American series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Hipshot 6 Fixed .175 bridge
Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson American Series Soloist SL2MG HT

Stainless Steel Frets
Locking Tuners
Made in United States
Expensive Wood
Ivory Tusq Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Luminescent Inlay
Compound Radius Fretboard
Strap Lock
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

9. ESP E-II Arrow NT

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ESP E-II Arrow NT

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Playability 82

Sound 76

Build quality 77

Value for money 68

Overall Score 78

What our users think

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

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3 Prices - New from $2,099 >
From ESP E-II's 2014 Arrow series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gotoh TOM & String-Thru bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

3 Prices - New from $2,099 >
From ESP E-II's 2014 Arrow series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gotoh TOM & String-Thru bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Arrow NT

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Tremolo
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

10. Jackson USA Select Dinky DK1

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Jackson USA Select Dinky DK1

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Playability 73

Sound 80

Build quality 70

Value for money 59

Overall Score 74

What our users think

Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)

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3 Prices - New from $3,399.99 >
From Jackson's 2020 USA Select series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Quartersawn Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
Speed Bolt-On neck
24 Jumbo frets
Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
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3 Prices - New from $3,399.99 >
From Jackson's 2020 USA Select series
Made in United States
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
Quartersawn Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
Speed Bolt-On neck
24 Jumbo frets
Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Select Dinky DK1

Made in United States
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Tremolo
Compound Radius Fretboard
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Neck-Through Build
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar
No Strap Lock

All Prices