I have a set of EMG-81 and 85 on my Ibanez.
It's a great combo, if you're going for metal that it.
Other than that, it's good for nothing else.
The 85 at the neck is really good for clean sounds. On the contary, the 81 is really terrible at cleans.
It has a really bassy bottom-end, the mid is excellent. What I don't like about the 81 is the high-end output, too trebly and hot.
Plus, EMGs are more expensive then the conventional passive pick-ups. And they need to change batteries every 4 months or so, apply that you always jack in your cable.
If you're going for a more 70's 80's rock tone, you couldn't go wrong with Seymour Duncans or D'Marzios.