What genres and playing styles are these pickups designed for?

These pickups excel in metal, hard rock, progressive, and djent music. They are not voiced for jazz, blues, or country. The aggressive, high-output character with cutting presence and thick mids is engineered for dense mixes and articulate attack.

What skill level do I need to install these?

The solderless connector system and included complete wiring kit simplify installation for intermediate to advanced players. The kit includes 500k potentiometers, stereo output jack, and both short (10mm Strat) and standard (49mm Tune-O-Matic) potentiometer shaft options to fit your guitar's configuration.

How do the neck and bridge pickups differ tonally?

The neck pickup (7.55 kOhm) has a lower output and 3.00 kHz resonance, yielding thick lows and mids ideal for leads and sustain. The bridge pickup (16.2 kOhm) has a 2.25 kHz resonance and higher output, pushing presence and bite for palm-muted attacks and high-register clarity without sacrificing definition.

What's included in this set?

The complete set includes both neck and bridge humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets, two 500k volume potentiometers, two 500k tone potentiometers, a stereo output jack, two pickup cables, mounting screws, springs, and solderless connectors. Potentiometer shafts come in both short and standard spacing.

How does passive technology compare to active pickups?

These passive pickups offer responsive, dynamic tone without requiring batteries or active electronics. They balance high-output aggression with the natural responsiveness of true passive construction, delivering the articulate character and cutting presence that active EMG designs are known for without the active circuit overhead.

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 $17 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 Marty Friedman Passive Humbucker Pickup Set in Gold

EMG's Marty Friedman signature passive humbuckers deliver the articulate, aggressive tone that cuts through live mixes with exceptional clarity and definition. Developed with the legendary guitarist's input, these pickups balance high-output punch with the responsiveness of true passive technology—no batteries, no buffering, just raw signal from your fingers to the amp. The gold finish and brushed black chrome covers command attention on stage while the sonic character stays locked in for every gig.

Tonal Character & Frequency Response

The neck pickup's 3.00 kHz resonant frequency and 7.55 kOhm resistance deliver thick, articulate lows and mids that sing on leads and hold sustain under stage lights. The bridge pickup's 2.25 kHz resonance and 16.2 kOhm output pushes presence and bite without losing definition—palm-muted rhythms stay tight, high-register work cuts through dense live arrangements, and feedback stays controllable. Both pickups use Alnico 5 magnets at 275 Gauss for consistent response whether you're digging in hard or playing clean.

Installation & Electronics

The complete wiring kit includes 2×500k volume and 2×500k tone potentiometers, a stereo output jack, and two pickup cables for straightforward installation into any standard humbucker-routed guitar. 4-conductor wiring and solderless connector installation mean faster setups and easier troubleshooting in the field, while potentiometer shafts come in both short (Strat) 10mm and standard (Tune-O-Matic) 49mm spacing to match your guitar's control layout.

Key Features

Alnico 5 magnet construction, 275 Gauss (both neck and bridge)
Neck pickup: 7.55 kOhm DC resistance, 4.3 Henries inductance, 3.00 kHz resonant frequency
Bridge pickup: 16.2 kOhm DC resistance, 8.58 Henries inductance, 2.25 kHz resonant frequency
Bridge and neck humbuckers with 4-conductor wiring
Gold cap finish with brushed black chrome covers
2×500k volume potentiometers and 2×500k tone potentiometers included
Stereo output jack and two pickup in/out bus
Solderless connector system for fast installation
Mounting screws, springs, and 2 pickup cables included
Potentiometer shaft options: short (Strat) 10mm or standard (Tune-O-Matic) 49mm spacing
Standard humbucker mounting and routing compatible

This complete passive humbucker set delivers the aggression and clarity that power chords and solos demand, with a build-friendly design and stage-ready appearance that stays visible and reliable night after night.

Best suited for	Metal, Hard Rock, Progressive, Djent
Tonal character	Articulate, aggressive, high-output, thick mids, cutting presence
Less specialized for	Jazz, Blues, Country (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional