Will the 909 fit my 9-string guitar?

Yes, the 909 is a standard soapbar form factor that fits conventional 9-string mounting routes. The maximum recommended string width is 3.50 inches, and it comes with all necessary mounting screws for direct installation.

How long does the battery last?

The single 9V battery delivers approximately 1,250 hours of playing time while drawing only 400 microamps, making it efficient and reliable for regular gigging and recording sessions.

Is this pickup suitable for genres other than metal?

The 909 is optimized for metal, djent, and high-gain applications where tight lows and articulate mids are essential; it is not designed for jazz, blues, or acoustic folk contexts.

What comes in the box?

The pickup ships complete with volume and tone controls (25K each), battery bus, stereo output jack, two-pickup switching bus, mounting screws, solderless installation components, and three cables: 15 inches for pickup signal, 6 inches for output, and 7 inches for battery connection.

How does the 909 compare to other active pickups?

The 909 shares the active soapbar design philosophy of the EMG 81-X and competes with high-output options like the Fishman Fluence Modern and Seymour Duncan Blackouts, but is specifically voiced and sized for extended-range 9-string instruments with emphasis on noise rejection at extreme gain levels.

Do I pay sales tax on this order?

We collect sales tax only on orders shipped to California. Orders shipped to any other US state are charged $0 sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces such as eBay, Reverb and Amazon collect sales tax in nearly every state as marketplace facilitators no matter who the seller is, so the same item at the same price costs less bought direct. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included. Some states ask buyers to self-report use tax on out-of-state purchases.

EMG 909 9-String Active Soapbar Pickup in Black

The EMG 909 delivers tight, articulate response across all nine strings with the clarity and precision expected from EMG's active soapbar design. Built for extended-range instruments, this pickup combines aggressive output with controlled noise floor, making it ideal for modern metal and high-gain applications where definition matters.

Tone & Electronics

Powered by an Alnico V magnet and tuned to a 1.90 kHz resonant frequency, the 909 produces a punchy midrange character that cuts through dense, layered tones. The pickup generates 2.00V per string and 4.50V on full strums, with an exceptionally low -104 dBV output noise floor that keeps unwanted hum out of your signal chain even at high gain settings—critical for tight, articulate tracking in a live or studio mix.

Power & Integration

This active pickup runs efficiently on a single 9V battery with an estimated 1,250-hour lifespan and draws only 400 microamps at 9V. The system tolerates supply voltages up to 27V DC, allowing flexibility in custom wiring schemes. All necessary components ship with the pickup: volume and tone controls (25K each), battery bus, stereo output jack, two-pickup in/out bus, mounting screws, and solderless installation components.

Key Features

Alnico V magnet for aggressive, defined tone
1.90 kHz resonant frequency tailored for extended-range instruments
2.00V output per string; 4.50V on full strums
-104 dBV output noise for clean, quiet operation
3.00 kΩ output impedance
400 microamp current draw at 9V; 1,250-hour battery life
Maximum supply voltage: 27V DC
3.50" maximum recommended string width
15" pickup cable, 6" output cable, 7" battery cable included
25K volume and tone controls with solderless installation system
Two-pickup switching bus for multi-pickup configurations
Black soapbar form factor fits standard 9-string mounting routes

The EMG 909 combines low-noise active circuitry with the output and clarity required for modern extended-range playing—a reliable choice for gigging musicians and studio sessions demanding fast transient response and zero ground noise.