Does the 40HZ require a battery or active circuit?

No—the 40HZ is fully passive with no battery or active electronics. It uses standard passive wiring, eliminating battery maintenance and simplifying installation.

Will this pickup fit my guitar without routing?

Yes, if your guitar has a standard soapbar cavity, the 40HZ drops in without any routing modifications. It's a direct mechanical fit.

What genres and playing styles is the 40HZ best suited for?

The 40HZ excels in rock, blues, hard rock, metal, and progressive music. Its warm midrange and moderate output work for both rhythm and lead playing, though it's not optimized for funk or jazz.

How does the 40HZ compare to active EMG pickups?

The 40HZ produces moderate output and a warmer, more vintage character than active EMG models. It has a lower noise floor and responds naturally to your guitar's tone controls and amp settings, giving you more tonal flexibility without active preamp coloration.

Is the red finish just cosmetic, or does it affect the tone?

The red finish is cosmetic only—it matches the standard 40HZ tonal profile exactly, offering a visually distinctive option without any sonic difference.

Do I pay sales tax on this order?

Sales tax is collected only on orders shipped to California; orders shipped to any other US state are not charged sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces collect sales tax as the facilitator in most states, so the same listed price can cost more there. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

EMG 40HZ Passive Soapbar Pickup in Red

The EMG 40HZ delivers a warm, articulate passive response in a compact soapbar format suited to players seeking vintage character without active circuitry. This red-finished unit maintains the same tonal profile as its standard finish counterpart, offering smooth midrange and controlled output ideal for both rhythm and lead applications across multiple genres.

Tone & Output

The 40HZ produces a balanced, warm signal with moderate output—lower than active EMG designs but responsive to pick dynamics and string vibration. The passive design minimizes noise floor and allows natural guitar electronics interaction, making it responsive to tone control adjustments and compatible with a wide range of amplifier types.

Construction & Compatibility

Built to standard soapbar dimensions, the 40HZ fits directly into existing soapbar cavities without routing modifications. Its passive wiring diagram simplifies installation and eliminates the need for battery systems, making it a straightforward swap in instruments originally equipped with passive or active soapbar pickups.

Key Features

Passive design with no battery requirement
Soapbar form factor for standard cavity mounting
Red finish
Warm, articulate midrange character
Moderate output level responsive to pick dynamics
Compatible with standard tone and volume controls
Low noise floor for clean signal transmission
Direct plug-and-play wiring configuration
Suitable for lead and rhythm applications

The EMG 40HZ in red provides a visually distinctive passive option for gigging musicians who want established EMG quality without active electronics, battery maintenance headaches, or dependence on power systems during live performance.

Best suited for	Rock, Blues, Hard Rock, Metal, Progressive
Tonal character	Warm midrange, articulate, balanced, moderate output, responsive to pick dynamics
Less specialized for	Funk, Jazz (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Professional