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

Long shaft refers to an extended pole-piece design that accommodates deeper pickguard routes commonly found in certain guitar body styles. Verify your guitar's route depth before purchasing; if you have a standard shallow route, a standard-shaft pickup may be required instead.

Do I need a battery or special electronics to use the H3?

No. The H3 is fully passive and requires no battery, active preamp, or external power. It connects directly to your volume and tone controls via the EMG 5-wire quick-connect output, simplifying installation and maintenance.

How does the H3 compare to active pickups like the EMG 81/85?

The H3 is passive, so it delivers a more organic response with less noise gating and compression than active designs; the 81/85 offer higher output and darker tone. The H3 sits in the moderate output range (13.65 kOhm) and is better suited to players who want clarity and definition without active circuitry requirements.

Is the H3 suitable for jazz or blues?

The H3 is optimized for rock, metal, and hard rock genres where its articulate highs, punchy mids, and controlled lows excel. It is not recommended for jazz or folk playing styles that typically benefit from warmer, more rolled-off tonal profiles.

What does fully shielded construction do?

Fully shielded design minimizes electromagnetic noise and hum in typical environments, ensuring cleaner signal transmission to your amp or audio interface with minimal unwanted interference.

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 H3 Long Shaft Passive Humbucker Pickup in Chrome

The EMG H3 is a straightforward passive humbucker that delivers articulate clarity and definition without active circuitry—a no-fuss drop-in replacement for players who want responsive tone. Its ceramic magnet design and over-wound coils produce punchy highs and controlled lows that cut through live mix. Chrome finish provides professional aesthetics with durable corrosion resistance for gigging reliability.

Electrical Performance

Measuring 13.65 kOhm DC resistance with 7.4 Henries inductance, this pickup sits in the moderate output range, delivering punch without muddiness. The dual resonant peaks at 1.72 kHz and 3.0 kHz shape a mid-forward response that works equally well for lead articulation and solid rhythm tones on stage.

Build & Specifications

Fully shielded construction minimizes noise and hum in typical venue environments. Long shaft configuration fits deeper pickguard routes, and the EMG 5-wire quick-connect output means fast installation and quick swaps down the road—no soldering required.

Key Features

DC Resistance: 13.65 kOhm
Inductance: 7.4 Henries
Primary Resonant Frequency: 1.72 kHz
Secondary Resonant Frequency: 3.0 kHz
Impedance at Resonance: 80.2 kOhm
Magnet Type: Ceramic
Coil Configuration: Two stud piece loaded coils, over-wound
Fully shielded design
EMG 5-wire quick-connect output
Long shaft configuration
Chrome finish
Passive operation (no battery required)

The H3 combines proven passive humbucker architecture with EMG's precision manufacturing for dependable tone across any style—solid on the bench and road-tested for live demands.

Best suited for	Rock, Metal, Hard Rock, Studio Sessions, Gigging
Tonal character	Articulate highs, controlled lows, mid-forward, balanced, punchy
Less specialized for	Jazz, Folk (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional