What tunings and genres are these pickups best for?

The Het set excels in metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and drop tunings, delivering aggressive tone with searing high-end clarity and tight low-end definition. They are not optimized for jazz, folk, or country styles.

How long does a 9V battery last, and how much power do these pickups draw?

Each 9V battery provides over 1500 hours of playing time. The active circuit draws only 160 microamps at 9V, so battery changes are infrequent and power consumption is minimal.

What comes in the package?

The set includes both neck and bridge pickups, two 25K volume potentiometers, two 25K tone potentiometers, a battery bus, a stereo output jack, pickup buses, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables—everything needed for installation.

How do the neck and bridge pickups differ in output and frequency response?

The neck pickup has a 2.11 kHz resonant frequency and delivers 4.50V on strum with 3.00V string definition for articulate note separation. The bridge pickup resonates at 1.61 kHz for a more aggressive, defined character suited to rhythm work and sustain.

What makes these pickups durable for heavy touring and gigging?

Ceramic magnets, vacuum-sealed epoxy construction, and active circuitry are engineered for consistent performance under demanding conditions. Made in the USA with professional-grade components, they deliver reliable high-output tone night after night.

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. On this item that is roughly $19 less out the door than the same listed price at a national retailer or on a marketplace. 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 James Hetfield Het Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Chrome

The EMG JH "HET" James Hetfield Active Humbucker Pickup Set is built for heavy riffing and stadium-size tone. These chrome-finished active humbuckers lock in tight, defined low-end for palm-muted rhythms while delivering searing highs that cut through any mix—exactly what you need on a loud stage or in the studio. Ceramic magnets and vacuum-sealed epoxy construction mean night-after-night reliability. Built in the USA in collaboration with Metallica's James Hetfield, this is a proven pickup set for touring and gigging musicians pushing hard gain.

Tone & Live Performance

The neck pickup's 2.11 kHz resonant frequency and bridge pickup's 1.61 kHz resonant frequency give you a muscular, articulate response across the entire neck. Neck output reaches 4.50V on strum with 3.00V string definition, so single notes speak clearly even at volume, and chords stay tight and defined. That frequency balance works for crushing rhythms and expressive lead work—exactly the dynamic range a touring player demands.

Active Electronics & Road Endurance

Running on a single 9V battery, these active pickups draw only 160 microamps and deliver over 1500 hours of battery life per cell—that means months of touring without swapping batteries. The 10 kΩ DC resistance and 10 kΩ output impedance keep noise low while the circuit handles supply voltages up to 27V DC, giving you signal headroom and flexibility for any live rig or pedalboard configuration.

Key Features

Ceramic magnet construction in both neck and bridge positions
Neck resonant frequency: 2.11 kHz
Bridge resonant frequency: 1.61 kHz
Neck output voltage: 3.00V (string), 4.50V (strum)
10 kΩ DC resistance per pickup
Active circuit draws 160 microamps @ 9V
Battery life over 1500 hours per 9V cell
10 kΩ output impedance
Maximum supply voltage: 27V DC
Vacuum sealed in epoxy for durability
Chrome finish
Includes 2 × 25K volume potentiometers, 2 × 25K tone potentiometers, battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup buses, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables
Made in the USA

A complete, road-tested electronics package: aggressive tone, dependable battery life, USA-made quality, and everything you need to install and play at full volume.