Emg 89

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EMG 89

Manufacturer	EMG, Inc.
Period	1979–present
Type	Active humbucker
Magnet type	Ceramic magnet
Output specifications
Voltage (RMS), V	1.0
Voltage (peak), V	3.0
Noise, dBV	-99
Impedance, kΩ	10
Current, µA	80
Power requirements
Power source	9 V battery
Battery life, hours	3290
Sonic qualities
Resonant frequency, Hz	2.95

EMG 89 is an active humbucker guitar pickup manufactured by EMG. It is usually considered as a "rhythm" pickup for use in neck position, paired with EMG 81 as a "lead" pickup in bridge position.

EMG 89 can be recognized by a humbucker form-factor and copper embossed EMG logo.

[edit] History and design

The EMG-89 Dual Mode Pickup has been through two generations. Our original Dual-mode (EMG-DM) design was incredibly sophisticated for its time (1979). The DM was an 18-Volt model with a single output available only in an Alnico magnet version. The EMG-DM was abandoned in late 1985, but the concept was revived early in 1989 when we came upon a more innovative design featuring "two pickups in one", the current EMG-89. Inside the EMG-89 pickup are both single and dual-coil pickups, each with its own output. The single-coil mode is an Alnico loaded stacked EMG-SA. The dual-coil mode consists of two Alnico loaded coils opposite one another creating a pickup similar to the EMG-85. A push/pull volume (or tone) pot allows you to change from the clarity of a single-coil to the fatness of a humbucking. The EMG-89's separate outputs give you option to utilize EMG tone enhancing accessory circuits on either pickup output.

You can add the SPC Presence Control, the EXG expander, or the PA2 preamp booster onto either single or dual coil outputs or both. Like all EMG's, the 89 is virtually noiseless in both modes.

The EMG 89 is used primarily by rhythm guitarists who play heavy metal. Because you can change the pickup from a humbucker to a single coil it can also create some great blues sounds as well. The EMG 89 has lots of output and clarity giving it its distinctive crunch when used with lots of mid-range. For lead guitar, it has its own distinctive tone as a clear but fat sound. It is also often used for its clean tone. It also is compared to the sound of the emg 85, but it has the option to switch to the sound of a single coil pickup.