What genres and playing styles are these pickups best suited for?

These pickups excel in blues, rock, country, and jazz where transparent single-coil character and articulation matter most. They are not voiced for metal or djent styles.

How long will the battery last, and what are the power requirements?

A single 9V battery delivers over 830 hours of playable life at the system's 630-microamp current draw. The pickups support up to 27V DC maximum, offering flexible power configurations.

What comes in the box, and how difficult is installation?

The set includes three pickups (neck, middle, bridge), a 25k volume pot, two 25k tone controls, a 5-way selector switch, stereo output jack, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables. EMG's solderless quick-connect system and included wiring harness eliminate guesswork during installation.

How much noise rejection do these active pickups provide compared to passive single coils?

The active circuit achieves a -103 dB output noise floor at 60 Hz, virtually eliminating electromagnetic interference and hum that passive single-coil designs typically suffer from.

How are the three pickups voiced differently for each position?

Each pickup is tuned to a distinct resonant frequency—neck at 4.50 kHz for articulate highs in lead work, middle at 3.30 kHz for balance, and bridge at 2.90 kHz for warm, controlled lows during chord work.

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. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $19 less at checkout than the same listed price on a marketplace, which collects sales tax as the facilitator in most states. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

EMG Crossroads Retro Active Single Coil Pickup Set in Black

The EMG Crossroads Retro Active Single Coil Pickup Set gives you vintage single-coil snap and articulation with modern active circuitry built in—no hum, no noise floor issues that plague passive pickups on a live stage. Built around Alnico 2 magnets paired with active electronics, these deliver clarity across the entire frequency spectrum while staying dead quiet under hot stage lights and crowded RF environments. The solderless quick-connect installation system means you can drop these into an existing instrument fast, and the included wiring harness takes the guesswork out of the swap.

Tone & Electronics

Each pickup is voiced to its position—4.50 kHz at the neck for sparkling lead tone, 3.30 kHz in the middle for balance, and 2.90 kHz at the bridge for controlled, articulate chord definition. The active circuit pushes the noise floor down to -103 dB at 60 Hz, virtually erasing electromagnetic interference while keeping the transparent, responsive character that single-coil players depend on night after night.

Installation & Power

The complete wiring kit includes a 25k volume potentiometer, two 25k tone controls, a 5-way selector switch, stereo output jack, three sets of mounting hardware, and all necessary interconnect and battery cables. System current draw is minimal at 630 microamps at 9V, stretching to over 830 hours of battery life per charge, with maximum supply rated to 27V DC for flexible power configurations on the road or in the studio.

Key Features

Active single-coil design with solderless EMG quick-connect installation
Alnico 2 magnets with 600 Gauss pole strength
Three-pickup set (bridge, middle, neck positions)
Neck resonant frequency: 4.50 kHz; Mid: 3.30 kHz; Bridge: 2.90 kHz
Output voltage: 1.00V single string, 3.00V full strum
Output noise: -103 dB at 60 Hz
Output impedance: 3 kΩ
System current: 630 microamps at 9V; battery life 830 hours
Maximum supply voltage: 27V DC
Includes volume pot, tone pots, selector switch, jacks, cables, and mounting hardware
Black finish; manufactured in the United States
Package dimensions: 7 x 2 x 5 inches

Single-coil character with active refinement and a complete wiring package—ready to install and gig.

Best suited for	Blues, Rock, Country, Jazz, Studio Sessions
Tonal character	Articulate highs, warm lows, transparent response, noise-free, vintage character
Less specialized for	Metal, Djent (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional