What does 'long shaft' mean, and will it fit my guitar?

The long shaft is a 19mm design that fits Les Paul–style guitars and other instruments with recessed pickup cavities. If your guitar has a standard Fender-style pickup route, you'll need a short-shaft version instead.

How long does the 9V battery last?

The battery runs approximately 3000 hours at typical operating draw, which translates to roughly 4 months of daily use. The included battery bus makes swapping simple.

Is this pickup good for blues or jazz?

The EMG 81 is engineered for metal, hard rock, progressive, and high-gain modern rock—its aggressive character and tight, focused tone aren't ideal for blues or jazz styles, where smoother, more dynamic response is preferred.

What comes in the box?

The package includes the pickup, 25K volume and tone potentiometers, mounting screws and springs, pickup cables, output and battery cables, and a battery bus for seamless integration into active systems.

How does the EMG 81 compare to the EMG 85?

The 81 is tighter and more articulate with a higher resonant frequency (1630 Hz), favoring modern rock and metal; the 85 is warmer and more rounded. Both are high-output actives, but the 81 excels in aggressive, clarity-focused applications.

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 81 Long Shaft Active Humbucker Pickup in Red

The EMG 81 is a high-output active humbucker engineered for aggressive, articulate tones with minimal noise floor. Its long shaft design fits Les Paul–style guitars and other instruments with recessed pickup cavities, delivering tight low-end punch and crystal-clear treble response. This is a workhorse pickup for players who demand clarity and consistency in high-gain applications.

Tone & Output Performance

The 81 produces a 3.00V RMS output (4.50V peak) with a 1630 Hz resonant frequency, yielding tight, focused articulation ideal for modern rock, metal, and progressive styles. The ceramic magnet construction and –100 dBV noise floor ensure clean signal transmission without hum or unwanted artifacts, even when pushed through heavy distortion or high-gain amplification.

Design & Integration

Built with epoxy encasing for full electromagnetic shielding, the 81 integrates seamlessly into existing active systems via the included battery bus, stereo output jack, and two-pickup in/out bus. Battery life runs approximately 3000 hours at 80 µA draw from a 9V source, and the complete accessory set—including volume and tone potentiometers, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables—supports straightforward installation or retrofit.

Key Features

Active humbucker with ceramic magnet
Long shaft design (19mm, Les Paul style)
3.00V RMS output / 4.50V peak output
–100 dBV output noise floor
1630 Hz resonant frequency
10 kΩ output impedance
9V battery operation with 3000-hour battery life
Epoxy-encased housing for shielding
Includes 25K volume and tone potentiometers
Battery bus, stereo output jack, and two-pickup in/out bus included
Mounting screws, springs, pickup cables, and output/battery cables included

The EMG 81 delivers professional-grade signal integrity and noise rejection in a proven, compact form factor trusted across countless professional and studio rigs.

Best suited for	Metal, Hard Rock, Progressive, Modern Rock, High-Gain Applications
Tonal character	Tight low end, high output, articulate treble, minimal noise floor, focused midrange
Less specialized for	Jazz, Blues, Folk (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional