Do I need an active preamp or battery for the PHZ to work?

No. The PHZ is fully passive, meaning it requires no battery, preamp, or active circuitry. It works directly with your bass's standard tone and volume controls and outputs a clean, low-impedance signal.

Will the PHZ fit my bass, and how hard is installation?

The PHZ uses standard single-coil pole-piece spacing and is compatible with most bass bodies and control layouts. Installation is a straightforward drop-in retrofit into existing pickup cavities—no modification required.

What genres and playing styles is the PHZ best suited for?

The PHZ excels in funk, jazz, studio sessions, and home recording thanks to its articulate midrange and punchy output. It's less suited for extreme metal or drop-tuning styles where heavier, more aggressive tone is typical.

How does the red finish affect the tone?

The red finish is purely cosmetic. Electrical performance and tone are identical to standard PHZ specifications regardless of color.

How responsive is the PHZ to my playing dynamics?

Because it's passive, the PHZ is highly sensitive to your playing technique and attack. Harder plucking yields louder, more aggressive response; softer touch gives you more control and subtlety—you have direct command over dynamics without active circuitry getting in the way.

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. Marketplaces collect sales tax as the facilitator in most states, so the same listed price can cost more there. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

EMG PHZ Passive Bass Pickup in Red

The EMG PHZ is a passive single-coil bass pickup engineered to deliver articulate, punchy output without requiring active circuitry or batteries. This red-finished unit sits cleanly in the pickup cavity and responds directly to string vibration with minimal coloration, making it a reliable retrofit for bassists seeking honest, responsive tone with straightforward installation and zero maintenance headaches.

Tone & Live Performance

The PHZ produces a tight, focused midrange with clear note definition across the frequency spectrum. Passive design means output remains sensitive to playing dynamics and technique, giving you direct control over how hard or soft the pickup responds to your attack—critical for gig situations where your touch needs to translate consistently through the PA and your amp.

Design & Installation

This is a standard single-coil configuration with conventional pole pieces and winding, compatible with most bass bodies and control layouts. The red finish is cosmetic; electrical performance matches EMG's PHZ specifications regardless of color.

Key Features

Passive single-coil design—no battery or active preamp required
Articulate, punchy midrange response ideal for defined bass lines
Standard pole-piece spacing for universal bass compatibility
Red finish cosmetic option
Direct, uncolored output faithful to string vibration
Responsive to playing dynamics and touch
Low impedance output for clean signal transmission
Straightforward drop-in retrofit into existing bass cavities
Works with standard bass tone and volume controls
Durable construction built to EMG specifications

The EMG PHZ delivers straightforward passive bass tone for touring and session players who need clarity, responsiveness, and zero-worry reliability night after night.

Best suited for	funk, jazz, studio sessions, home recording
Tonal character	Tight low end, articulate midrange, punchy output, dynamic response, minimal coloration
Less specialized for	extreme metal, drop tunings (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Professional