EMG 60 Active Humbucker Pickup

EMG 60 Active Humbucker Pickup, Black, Back

EMG 60 Active Humbucker Pickup, Black, Connector

EMG 60 Active Humbucker Pickup, Black, Controls

With close aperture coils and ceramic magnets, this metalhead-approved pickup offers clear, bright vintage tone. It features a high-output internal preamp.

Overview

The EMG60 is your stock ready-to-rock humbucker for full and solid distortion -- a top choice for your rhythm position. This sensitive pickup captures the dynamic scope of your playing and adds a nice touch of high end to your sound. Housed in a secure epoxy casing, this monster-of-tone holds a ceramic magnet with narrow aperture and a shielded preamp to fuel your high-output signal without any external electrical interference. Slap one of these babies onto your axe and see why EMGs continue to hold up as first-choice pickups in the worlds of rock and metal.

Not Just for Rhythm

Axes with EMG pickups will often feature the EMG81 in the lead position and the EMG60 for the rhythm slot. The great thing about both of these humbuckers is their sensitivity in either position, so you don't have to always "play it safe." This baby sounds clear and crisp when used through a clean channel, and it projects a thick and creamy distortion when you pump it through a dirty channel. Use your tone knob to give your EMG60 the right amount of "bite" if you chose to use this pickup for lead parts. You'll be surprised how well it can cut through when you push it.

The EMG Promise of an Uninterrupted Signal

Your EMG60 humbucker is housed in an epoxy casing. Aside from keeping outside elements -- like dust and sweat from your hands -- at bay, there are nice advantages to giving your pickup's ceramic magnet and preamp extra shielding. Having an inner preamp means your signal is getting a lot… read more of boost, and keeping out electrical interference from wires or lights nearby requires some serious protection. Your EMG60's signal will remain consistently clear and free of hum or buzz, so you can stay focused on your playing, not your signal.

Long Battery Life

Your EMG60 humbucker will require a battery to fuel its inner preamp, but one 9 volt battery will power your pickup for 3,000 hours -- a little over four months of continual use. Realistically, you'll need to change your battery every 8 to 12 months if you are using it regularly, which is a nice span of time to see how much a hotter output signal adds to your game.

Features:

- Great for -- but not restricted to -- rhythm playing
- Resonant frequency of 2.95 kHz
- Output noise of -89 dBV
- Ceramic magnet with narrow aperture
- Peak output voltage of 3 volts
- Battery life of 3000 hours
- Gray logo color
- Epoxy casing to keep out dirt and dust
- Shielded preamp and magnet protects against electrical interference

Specs

Logo Color: Gray

Resonant Frequency (kHz): 2.95

RMS Output Voltage: 1.0

Peak Output Voltage: 3.0

Output Noise (dBV): -89

Output Impedance (Kohm): 10

Current @ 9V (Microamps): 80

Battery Life (Hours): 3000

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Black: Shipping Weight: 0.5 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 3 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 60B

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 707-525-9941

Product Data Sheet

EMG's Description

EMG 60 Active Humbucker Pickup

By combining ceramic magnets with a narrow aperture, the EMG-60 has increased sensitivity and high-frequency response. The 60 features the attack of a single-coil with the power and the punch of a humbucking pickup. In the mid-to-high frequency range, EMG gave the harmonics a boost. There's more high end in the EMG-60 than you would expect from any humbucking pickup. With a distinctive tone for soloing, the 60 works equally well for singing leads or for melody chording.

And now for something completely different. The EMG-60 was originally designed for Fender in 1979 and was to be featured on the Tele-Elite Model as a mini-humbucking pickup. Fender changed their plans so EMG released the EMG-60 in a full-size humbucking housing. The EMG-60 still features the close aperture coils loaded with ceramic magnets for the brightest attack of any of their many humbucking models. Yet the EMG-60 packs plenty of output with both clarity and cut through high end.

The EMG-60 is incredible for rhythm guitar as metal and extreme players have discovered. After many years the EMG-60 has found its rightful home on James Hetfield's signature ESP models JH-2 and JH-3. Its distinctive crunch sets any rhythm player apart in the mix of a band that pumps a lot of mid-range from the stage. With a distinctive tone for soloing, the 60 works perfectly as a clear but fat lead pickup.

The resonance slope is steeper but the peak is higher than other EMG Models. The 60 is the result of a lot of input from different people. It is probably the most versatile humbucking pickup they make, but doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

About EMG
EMG Humbuckers unite a number of crucial EMG innovations in the search for a voice that delivers both classic tones and the benefits of modern technology. Each of these pickups includes an integral preamp (an EMG first) which virtually eliminates hum and noise while simultaneously reducing shock hazard to the player. Low impedance design maintains your tone as you change the volume settings at the guitar and preserves your high frequencies even with a long cord.

EMG's proprietary Impedance Modeling and Dual Resonant technologies allow for precise tailoring of frequency response and resonance yielding a variety of highly tuned and tweaked tones. Another EMG exclusive, the Lo-Flux magnetic design enhances harmonics and sustain. They tailor the materials and geometry of the magnets to spread the magnetic field evenly across the strings for a balanced sound.

What's an Active Pickup, and Why Would I Use One
An active pickup is one that uses electronics to improve the sound and enhance its operation. There are a variety of ways to "Activate" a pickup. A simple "buffer" pre-amp will do the trick, but it will also amplify the hum and buzz the pickup produces. Just because a pickup is "active" doesn't guarantee you'll get great results. EMG pickups utilize an internal preamp (inside the pickup), which not only makes the pickup louder, it also reduces the noise!

What are the Advantages of an EMG Pickup
The greatest is reduction in noise. No longer will the dimming of the house lighting system cause your guitar to buzz incessantly. You can use an extra long cable, or a wireless, and you'll get the same great tone every time.

Why an Internal Preamp
It's the most efficient way to create an active pickup. All the coil connections are shielded, the pre-amp is shielded, and the output of the pickup cable is low-impedance, which makes it less susceptible to noise. Also, it avoids a spider web of wires and possible loose connections in your guitar and the installation is simple. All the benefits with none of the hassle.

Tele-Elite is a registered trademark with Fender Musical Instruments an has no affiliation with EMG Pickups.

Note: This pickup is the short shaft version.