What makes this different from active EMG pickups?

The H3A is a fully passive design that requires no battery or external power—it operates on pure magnetic induction. This makes it simpler to install and maintain while still delivering the articulate, balanced tone EMG is known for, bridging vintage warmth and modern clarity without active-circuit complexity.

Will this pickup fit my guitar?

The H3A is a standard humbucker with a solid cover cap and 5-wire quick-connect output, making it a drop-in retrofit for most guitars with humbucker routing. Confirm your guitar's humbucker cavity dimensions match standard spacing before purchasing.

Is soldering required for installation?

No. The 5-wire quick-connect output enables fast wiring without soldering, and the fully shielded construction eliminates hum and RF interference, so installation is straightforward for most players.

What's the tonal character like?

The H3A delivers warm, articulate tone with controlled midrange and extended high-end clarity. Its dual resonant peaks at 1.72 kHz and 2.92 kHz yield responsive pick attack and dynamics, sitting well in both vintage-voiced and modern rigs.

How does this compare to Seymour Duncan 59 or DiMarzio Super Distortion?

The H3A balances the warmth of a 59 with the articulate midrange control and noise-free shielding of a higher-output design, making it versatile for studio sessions and live performance without the battery dependency of some alternatives.

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 H3A Passive Humbucker Pickup in Gold

The EMG H3A is a passive humbucker built for players who want traditional tone without the hassle of batteries. Over-wound coils and an Alnico 5 magnet deliver a warm, articulate voice that sits equally at home in a studio session or on a live stage. The solid HZ design cover cap and fully shielded construction make this pickup a reliable drop-in retrofit for working guitars that need to stay quiet and dependable.

Tonal Profile & Technical Performance

The 13.65 kOhm DC resistance and 7.67 Henries inductance establish a balanced output with dual resonant peaks at 1.72 kHz and 2.92 kHz, yielding articulate highs and controlled midrange. Impedance at resonance reaches 83.3 kOhm, ensuring extended frequency response and sensitivity to pick attack and dynamics—critical traits for live performance where your dynamics need to cut through.

Installation & Connectivity

The 5-wire quick-connect output enables fast, standardized wiring without soldering, while full shielding eliminates hum and RF interference. As a fully passive design, this pickup requires no battery or external power—simply wire and play, with no power drain concerns on long gigs or tours.

Key Features

Alnico 5 magnet core
Over-wound coils with two stud piece loaded construction
13.65 kOhm DC resistance
7.67 Henries inductance
Dual resonant frequencies: 1.72 kHz and 2.92 kHz
83.3 kOhm impedance at resonance
Solid HZ design cover cap
5-wire quick-connect output with full shielding
Passive design—no battery required

The H3A combines passive simplicity with refined electronics to deliver articulate, noise-free performance in any professional setting—studio or stage.