I've been there - a girl growing up on influence from my sis listening to Metallica and Slayer, whilst my own (complicated and confused) teen years it has been Bullet for my Valentine, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and so many other metalcore bands - these were my heroes, there when I was crying, lonely and there when I was happy - and I always wanted their sound.
When I started playing the guitar, I got the EMG Zakk Wylde 81/85 set and had it installed, and for many years it has been *it* for me.
Now, as my tastes changed a bit (and, inevitably, did the musical scene), I am looking forward into a pickup that's more cleaner, clearer and more versatile, but while I play nowadays modern metal - I still bring back the bands and songs that got me to playing the guitar in the first place. I haven't forgotten the best time of my life. 81X is all of that - clear punchy and open enough for modern rhythm playing, bright enough for cutting through the densest mixes - and still powerful enough to play those songs we all grew up on.
So for me, this is a perfect pickup. Thank you EMG. :)
