Can I use the H3 in both bridge and neck positions?

Yes—the H3 is designed as a versatile humbucker suitable for either position, giving you consistent articulate character across your instrument whether you're playing lead or rhythm.

What makes the H3 different from active EMG pickups like the 81/85?

The H3 is a passive design, meaning it relies on ceramic magnets and coil impedance rather than active electronics—it offers the responsiveness of a traditional passive pickup while maintaining EMG's precision engineering and noise rejection, without requiring batteries.

How hard is it to install the H3 in my guitar?

Very straightforward—the EMG Solderless Install System uses a 5-wire quick-connect output, eliminating traditional soldering concerns. The fully shielded construction also minimizes electromagnetic interference, making retrofit simple.

Is the H3 suitable for jazz or blues?

The H3's articulate, focused midrange and dual resonant peaks are optimized for rock, metal, and fusion tones. Jazz and blues players typically prefer warmer, smoother voicing, so this pickup is not the ideal match for those genres.

What are the electrical specs, and how do they affect the tone?

The H3 has 13.65 kOhm DC resistance and 7.4 Henries inductance, with resonant peaks at 1.72 kHz and 3.0 kHz. These specs create clarity and definition without excessive treble harshness, making it stable and articulate in high-gain settings.

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 H3 Passive Humbucker Pickup in Gold

The EMG H3 delivers a balanced, articulate passive humbucker voice with minimal noise and excellent clarity across the frequency spectrum. This ceramic-magnet design excels in both bridge and neck positions, offering the responsiveness of a traditional passive pickup without sacrificing EMG's engineering precision. The gold finish marks this as a visually distinctive example of EMG's workhorse humbucker platform.

Tone & Electrical Performance

With 13.65 kOhm DC resistance and 7.4 Henries inductance, the H3 produces a articulate, focused midrange character well-suited to rock, metal, and fusion applications. The dual resonant peaks at 1.72 kHz and 3.0 kHz with 80.2 kOhm impedance at resonance yield clarity and definition without excessive treble harshness—a signature trait of EMG's passive designs that distinguishes them from vintage-voiced alternatives.

Design & Installation

The two stud piece loaded coils configuration with solid cover cap provides effective noise rejection in high-gain settings and on crowded stages. EMG's Solderless Install System with 5-wire quick-connect output eliminates traditional wiring concerns for quick swaps and reliable gig-day reliability, while fully shielded construction minimizes electromagnetic interference—making this a straightforward retrofit into existing guitar electronics.

Key Features

Ceramic magnets with over-wound coils
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
Pole Distance: 9.85 mm
Two stud piece loaded coils with solid cover cap
5-wire quick-connect output, fully shielded
EMG Solderless Install System
Manufactured in the USA
Suitable for neck and bridge positions

The H3 stands as a refined passive solution for working musicians and collectors, balancing articulate voicing with installation simplicity and proven noise rejection across touring, studio, and high-demand live applications.