Is this pickup active or passive, and do I need a battery?

The H4A is fully passive—no active electronics, no battery required. It uses Alnico V magnets and a vintage-wound coil design to deliver its tone without external power.

What genres does this pickup work best for?

The H4A excels in blues, rock, hard rock, and jazz applications. Its articulate mids and warm clarity suit players prioritizing classic tonal character over extreme gain or metal voicings.

Do I need to solder this pickup, or can I install it myself?

No soldering required. The pickup uses solderless quick-connect wiring with a standard 5-wire connector that terminates in a simple plug—mounting screws and cable are included, making bridge-position installation straightforward.

Will this pickup fit my guitar, and what position is it designed for?

The H4A is engineered for bridge-position applications in 6-string guitars and includes standard mounting screws. Confirm your guitar's bridge pickup cavity dimensions match standard humbucker spacing before purchase.

How does the shielded construction affect noise and tone?

Full shielding suppresses unwanted noise and hum while the Alnico V magnets and vintage-wound coils preserve natural harmonic response, delivering clarity and warmth without compromising electromagnetic performance.

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 H4A Passive Humbucker Pickup in Brushed Chrome

The EMG H4A is a fully passive humbucker built for players who want genuine tone without the complexity of active electronics. Its vintage-wound construction and Alnico V magnets deliver articulate mids and controlled highs—the kind of clarity and punch that cuts through on stage without breakup. The brushed chrome finish sits cleanly in most instruments, and the solderless quick-connect wiring means you can swap it in fast, without wrestling with a soldering iron during a gig prep or mid-tour repair.

Tone & Electrical Performance

At 13.65 kΩ DC resistance and 8 Henries inductance, this pickup strikes a balance between clarity and warmth that works across clean channels and driven tones alike. The Alnico V bar magnets paired with fully shielded vintage wound coils kill unwanted hum while keeping the natural harmonic response intact—exactly what you need on a noisy stage or in a packed venue.

Installation & Road Reliability

No soldering required: the 5-wire output terminates in a standard quick-connect that eliminates installation guesswork and lets you get back onstage fast. Mounting screws are included, and the covered cap design protects the coils from dust and accidental damage during setup and teardown.

Key Features

Passive humbucker configuration for bridge position
Vintage wound coils with Alnico V bar magnets
Fully shielded construction for minimal noise
DC Resistance: 13.65 kΩ
Inductance: 8 Henries
Dual resonant frequencies: 1600 Hz and 2875 Hz
5-wire quick-connect solderless output
Brushed chrome metal finish
Covered cap design
Includes 5-wire Quik-Connect cable and mounting screws
6-string configuration
4 wire plus shield conductors

The H4A delivers dependable passive performance in a straightforward format—built for players who need a pickup that installs fast, stays quiet on stage, and reproduces tone without the extra layer of active circuitry.