What skill level do these pickups suit?

The Fat 55-7 set is designed for intermediate, advanced, and professional players. The active electronics and balanced output handle both clean and high-gain applications, making them accessible for developing players while offering the consistency and headroom that experienced musicians demand.

What genres and playing styles are these pickups best for?

These pickups excel in hard rock, metal, progressive, studio sessions, and gigging scenarios. They are not recommended for traditional jazz or folk applications, where their active character and high-gain voicing would be outside the typical tonal palette.

What is the battery life and how do I power these pickups?

The set runs on a single 9V battery with 715-hour runtime, drawing only 350 microamps total current. A single battery charge will last several months in typical playing use, and the straightforward wiring supports flexible configurations via the stereo output jack and two-pickup bus.

How do the neck and bridge pickups differ tonally?

The neck pickup uses an Alnico 2 magnet with 3.0 kHz resonance and outputs 4.50V, delivering warmth and harmonic richness. The bridge uses Alnico 5 with 2.8 kHz resonance and outputs 4.0V, providing clarity and controlled sustain—together they create balanced string-to-string response across the full range.

What is the noise floor and maximum output of this set?

The neck pickup has a noise floor of -106 dB and the bridge is -102 dB at 60 Hz, keeping hum well below audible levels. Maximum strum output reaches 8.0V, providing ample headroom before compression or breakup occurs in high-gain 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. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $16 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 Fat 55-7 Retro Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black

The EMG Fat 55 Retro Active set delivers the warmth and harmonic richness of classic passive designs with the consistency and headroom of active electronics. These pickups respond dynamically across the frequency spectrum, offering articulate mids and controlled sustain that suits both clean and high-gain applications on stage. The retro-inspired character translates reliably in live settings, whether you're running a vintage-styled rig or a modern setup demanding tonal versatility and dependable performance night after night.

Tone & Frequency Response

Neck and bridge pickups employ different magnet configurations—Alnico 2 in the neck (3.0 KHz resonance) and Alnico 5 in the bridge (2.8 KHz resonance)—to balance warmth with clarity across the range. Output levels of 4.50V (neck) and 4.0V (bridge) provide balanced string-to-string response that cuts through a mix, while the 8.0V maximum strum output ensures headroom before compression or breakup occurs, giving you dynamic control from subtle playing to full attack.

Electronics & Power

This active design runs on a single 9V battery with 715-hour runtime, drawing minimal current at 350 microamps for the set—meaning you can count on stable, consistent performance through extended gigs without worrying about battery drain. Low noise floor—–106 dB (neck) and –102 dB (bridge)—keeps hum and artifact well below audible levels in any venue. The included two 25K volume pots and two 25K tone pots (split shaft, 0.235" diameter) integrate seamlessly into standard control layouts, while the stereo output jack and two-pickup bus support flexible wiring configurations for quick troubleshooting or modifications on the road.

Key Features

Neck pickup: Alnico 2 magnet with 3.0 KHz resonant frequency
Bridge pickup: Alnico 5 magnet with 2.8 KHz resonant frequency
Neck output: 4.50V per string; Bridge output: 4.0V per string
Maximum output voltage: 8.0V (strum)
Output noise: –106 dB (neck), –102 dB (bridge) at 60 Hz
Output impedance: 3.1 Kohm
Active electronics powered by single 9V battery (715-hour battery life)
Current draw: 350 microamps (set)
2× 25K volume pots and 2× 25K tone pots included (split shaft, 0.235" diameter)
Traditional open coil bobbin construction with stainless steel body
1/4" (6.35mm) audio connector; supports up to 27V DC maximum supply
Black finish

This set combines the dynamic feel of vintage passive designs with the reliability and noise rejection of modern active circuitry, making it a straightforward drop-in upgrade for players seeking dimensional tone and road-ready dependability without sacrifice.

Best suited for	Hard Rock, Metal, Progressive, Studio Sessions, Gigging
Tonal character	Warm and harmonic, articulate mids, controlled sustain, balanced clarity, high headroom
Less specialized for	Traditional Jazz, Folk (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional