What instruments do these pickups fit?

The long shaft configuration and 19mm potentiometers are designed for Les Paul-style instruments and mount directly into Les Paul controls without modification. They use EMG's solderless installation system, so no drilling or rewiring is required.

How long does the battery last?

At 160 microamps current draw on a standard 9V battery, you get approximately 1500 hours of playing time per battery. The system also supports up to 27 Volts DC if you want expanded headroom.

Are these pickups good for genres other than metal?

These pickups are optimized for metal, hard rock, and thrash metal with drop tunings. Their aggressive attack, tight low end, and reduced feedback make them less suitable for jazz, blues, or country applications.

What comes in the box?

The set includes the JH-N neck and JH-B bridge pickups, two 25k volume potentiometers, two 25k tone potentiometers, battery bus, pickup busses, mounting hardware, springs, connector cables, and all components needed for solderless installation—no soldering required.

How do the neck and bridge pickups differ?

The JH-N neck pickup uses individually ceramic pole pieces and oversized bobbins for warmth and sustain, while the JH-B bridge pickup employs steel pole pieces for articulate attack and defined string separation. Both operate at 10 kΩ DC resistance.

Do I pay sales tax on this order?

Sales tax is collected only on orders shipped to California; orders shipped to any other US state are not charged sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $19 less at checkout than the same listed price on a marketplace, which collects sales tax as the facilitator in most states. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

EMG James Hetfield Het Long Shaft Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Chrome

Co-designed with Metallica's James Hetfield, the Het pickup set delivers the aggressive, articulate output that powers modern metal stages. The long shaft configuration fits Les Paul-style instruments directly, providing tight low-end definition and direct responsiveness that punches through a crowded mix. Built with vacuum-sealed epoxy construction, these pickups resist microphonic feedback and hold up through the demands of consistent gigging and touring.

Tone & Electronics

The JH-N neck pickup features individually ceramic pole pieces with oversized bobbins that exceed EMG 60 specifications, delivering warmth and sustain without muddiness—ideal for rhythm work and sustained leads. The JH-B bridge pickup employs steel construction pole pieces for articulate attack and defined string separation, operating at 10 kΩ DC resistance with a neck resonant frequency of 2.11 kHz. Current draw is efficient at 160 microamps @ 9V, yielding approximately 1500 hours of battery life on a single 9V cell—practical longevity for touring musicians.

Installation & Control

The long shaft potentiometers (19mm) mount directly into Les Paul controls without modification, paired with 2x 25k volume and 2x 25k tone potentiometers for independent pickup control on stage. EMG's solderless installation system includes battery bus, pickup in/out busses, mounting hardware, springs, and connector cables—no soldering required, meaning fast setup and reliable connections under road conditions. The stereo output socket supports both mono and stereo wiring configurations, while maximum supply voltage reaches 27 Volts DC for expanded headroom if desired.

Key Features

JH-N neck pickup with individual ceramic pole pieces and oversized bobbins
JH-B bridge pickup with steel construction pole pieces
Vacuum-sealed in epoxy to reduce microphonic feedback
Long shaft design (19mm) for Les Paul-style instruments
10 kΩ DC resistance per pickup
Neck resonant frequency: 2.11 kHz
160 microamps current draw @ 9V
1500-hour battery life on standard 9V battery
Maximum supply voltage: 27 Volts DC
2x 25k volume potentiometers, 2x 25k tone potentiometers
Stereo output socket for mono or stereo wiring
Solderless installation system with battery bus, busses, screws, springs, and cables included
Stainless steel caps in Chrome finish
Made in the USA

This set pairs Hetfield's signature aggression with EMG's battle-tested active electronics, delivering the clarity and on-stage reliability that working musicians depend on in a straightforward installation package.

Best suited for	Metal, Hard Rock, Thrash Metal, Drop Tunings
Tonal character	Aggressive attack, tight low end, articulate definition, high output, reduced feedback
Less specialized for	Jazz, Blues, Country (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional