What's included in the box?

The HBCS ships with the pickup itself, a 25K volume potentiometer, 25K tone potentiometer, stereo output jack, battery bus, and all necessary cables: pickup cable, connect cables, output cable, and battery cable. The Quik-Connect system enables solderless installation on four-string basses.

Will this fit my bass, and how hard is installation?

The HBCS measures 3 × 5 × 3 inches with a pickup width of 1.50 inches, designed for four-string basses with string widths under 2 inches. The solderless Quik-Connect system minimizes wiring complexity during retrofit, though you should verify your bass cavity matches the P-Style/humbucking hybrid housing.

What tone should I expect?

Expect articulate, punchy low end with active clarity and zero hum thanks to the reverse-wound, ceramic/steel magnet design. The balanced active response suits funk, rock, and progressive music; it's less suited to jazz and folk applications.

How does the HBCS compare to passive bass pickups?

The HBCS is an active design, meaning it includes onboard electronics and requires a battery for operation. Active pickups deliver higher output, lower impedance, and cleaner noise rejection than passive models, making them preferred for modern gigging and studio recording where hum-free clarity matters.

Do I need to replace my entire preamp to use this?

No—the HBCS is engineered as a retrofit option that works with its own included electronics suite (volume pot, tone pot, battery bus, and jacks), so you can modernize your tone without a full preamp swap.

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 HBCS Active Humbucker Bass Pickup in Black

The EMG HBCS delivers the clarity and punch expected from an active humbucker design, engineered specifically for bass players who need articulate low-end response without hum interference. This reverse-wound configuration in a guitar humbucking housing makes it a solid retrofit option for four-string basses seeking modern active tone without a full preamp swap.

Design & Construction

Built with a ceramic/steel blended magnet and reverse-wound configuration to eliminate hum, the HBCS measures 3 × 5 × 3 inches with a pickup width of 1.50 inches—designed for bass guitars with string widths under 2 inches. The P-Style pickup mounted in a guitar humbucking housing balances traditional bass response with active electronics clarity.

Electronics & Installation

The pickup ships with a complete electronics suite: 25K volume pot, 25K tone pot, battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup cable, connect cables, output cable, and battery cable. The solderless Quik-Connect system streamlines installation on four-string configurations, minimizing wiring complexity during retrofit.

Key Features

Ceramic/steel blended magnet construction
Reverse-wound humbucking design for hum reduction
P-Style pickup in guitar humbucking housing
Dimensions: 3 × 5 × 3 inches (69.8mm × 38.1mm)
25K volume potentiometer included
25K tone potentiometer included
Solderless Quik-Connect system for 4-string bass
Stereo output jack with complete cable set (pickup, connect, output, and battery cables)
Recommended for string widths under 2 inches
Active electronics with battery bus integration

The HBCS offers reliable active tone on stage with hum-free operation—a straightforward upgrade path for bass players who need modern articulation and punch without tearing into the full preamp system.