Do I need to solder these pickups, or will they work in a stock guitar?

The Fat 55 uses EMG's solderless installation system, so no soldering is required. The complete kit includes all wiring components, potentiometers, output jack, cables, and hardware needed for a clean retrofit into any guitar with standard humbucker routing and no modifications.

What tone should I expect—are these too bright, too dark, or truly balanced?

These pickups deliver warm vintage character with articulate midrange clarity, thanks to the Alnico 2 neck (smooth and clear) and Alnico 5 bridge (punchy and defined). The 3.0 kHz and 2.8 kHz resonant frequencies keep them musical and well-suited to blues and rock, not extreme high-end or scooped lows.

How long will a battery last, and what's the power draw?

A single 9V battery lasts approximately 715 hours (roughly 30 days of normal playing) at 350 microamps current draw. The pickups support up to 27V DC maximum, giving you headroom for flexible power configurations if you prefer external supplies or multi-battery wiring.

Are the Fat 55s good for metal or djent?

No—these pickups are voiced for blues, rock, and hard rock with warm vintage character and articulate tone. They lack the extreme output and tight, aggressive voicing metal and djent players typically demand; consider the EMG 81/85 or similar high-output alternatives for those genres.

How noisy are these pickups compared to passive humbuckers?

The Fat 55 maintains exceptionally low noise floors at -106 dB (neck) and -102 dB (bridge), thanks to active electronics and 3.1 kΩ impedance on each unit. This delivers the noise immunity of active pickups while preserving the warm, musical tone of vintage alnico magnets.

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. On this item that is roughly $15 less out the door than the same listed price at a national retailer or on a marketplace. 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 Fat 55 Retro Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black

The EMG Fat 55 bridges vintage alnico warmth with modern active reliability—a genuine solution for gigging players who demand classic tone without compromise. This set pairs a neck pickup with Alnico 2 for smooth, articulate response and a bridge pickup with Alnico 5 for punchy definition that cuts live. Built on EMG's proven solderless installation system, these open-coil humbuckers drop into standard routing with no modifications or soldering required—critical when you're counting on your gear to work night after night.

Tone & Electronics

The neck pickup operates at a 3.0 kHz resonant frequency with 4.50V output, yielding articulate midrange clarity that stays locked in during chord work and stays responsive on leads. The bridge pickup sits at 2.8 kHz resonant frequency with 4.0V output, maintaining tonal coherence across the set while delivering focused attack on stage. Both pickups maintain exceptionally low noise floors at -106 dB (neck) and -102 dB (bridge), with 3.1 kΩ impedance on each unit ensuring stable, consistent performance through any PA or monitor rig you'll encounter.

Installation & Wiring

This complete kit ships with everything required for a straightforward retrofit: 2×25K volume pots and 2×25K tone pots (both split shaft, 0.235" diameter), battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup cables, connect cables, output cable, battery cable, and mounting hardware. The 9V battery requirement draws only 350 microamps, yielding approximately 715 hours of playing time per cell—easily lasting a full tour without a swap—while the 27V DC maximum supply specification allows headroom for flexible power configurations.

Key Features

Neck pickup: Alnico 2 magnet, 3.0 kHz resonant frequency, 4.50V output, -106 dB noise floor
Bridge pickup: Alnico 5 magnet, 2.8 kHz resonant frequency, 4.0V output, -102 dB noise floor
Both pickups: 3.1 kΩ impedance, 8.0V maximum output on strum
Open coil humbucker configuration in black finish
9V battery operation with 350 microamp current draw and ~715-hour battery life
Solderless installation system—no soldering required
Complete wiring kit: 2×25K volume pots, 2×25K tone pots, battery bus, output jack, all cables and hardware
Standard humbucker routing compatible
27V DC maximum supply specification for flexible power options
Stainless steel construction with 1/4" (6.35mm) audio connectors

The Fat 55 set delivers articulate, musical tones rooted in vintage character while maintaining the noise immunity and road-ready reliability that active electronics provide.