What does the long shaft design do, and do I need it?

The long shaft accommodates deeper-routed cavities found in semi-hollow and archtop guitars, making it ideal for neck-position retrofits where standard pickups fall short. If your guitar has a deeper cavity, this design ensures proper fit and tone response.

Is soldering required to install this pickup?

No—the EMG 66 uses a solderless installation system with solder-free connectors, which speeds up swaps and reduces installation risk. The complete accessory kit, including volume and tone pots, battery bus, and mounting hardware, covers virtually every retrofit scenario.

How does the active system affect tone and reliability?

The single 9V battery powers a low-impedance active circuit that produces consistent output, cuts through dense mixes without muddiness, and delivers harmonic complexity via Alnico V magnets and steel pole pieces. Stainless steel housing shields against interference and extends component lifespan for dependable gigging and recording.

What genres and styles is the EMG 66 best suited for?

The EMG 66 excels in studio sessions, home recording, extended-range playing, and gigging, with an articulate, punchy tone profile that works well across modern styles. It is not recommended for traditional jazz or folk applications.

How does this compare to the EMG 81?

Both are active EMG humbuckers with similar output and reliability, but the 66 is designed specifically for deeper-routed cavities and neck-position retrofits, while the 81 serves bridge-position applications. The 66's articulate midrange and tight lows make it responsive for detailed recording and live cut-through.

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 $10 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 66 Long Shaft Active Humbucker Pickup in Brushed Black Chrome

The EMG 66 delivers articulate, punchy midrange and tight lows with the responsiveness of an active pickup system. Its long shaft design accommodates deeper-routed cavities, making it an ideal retrofit for neck positions in semi-hollow and archtop guitars where standard pickups fall short. The brushed black chrome finish pairs professional aesthetics with durable stainless steel construction.

Active Electronics & Tone

Powered by a single 9V battery via the included 2-wire plus battery connector, this active design produces consistent output and low impedance characteristics that cut through dense mixes without muddiness. The Alnico V magnets and steel pole pieces generate harmonic complexity and articulation typical of premium active humbucker designs, while the stainless steel housing shields against interference and extends component lifespan in your recording chain.

Installation & Setup

The solderless installation system speeds up swaps and reduces installation risk, letting you focus on tracking rather than troubleshooting. The complete accessory kit includes a 25k volume pot, 25k tone pot, battery bus, stereo output jack, two pickup in/out bus configurations, mounting hardware, springs, and shielded pickup cable—everything needed to integrate this neck-position retrofit into your session rig.

Key Features

Active humbucker pickup with Alnico V magnets and steel pole pieces
Stainless steel housing for durability and shielding
Long shaft design for deeper-routed guitar cavities
DC Resistance: 10K
Laser-engraved EMG logo on brushed black chrome finish
Powered by single 9V battery
2-wire plus battery connector
Solderless installation system included
Complete accessory kit: 25k volume pot, 25k tone pot, battery bus, stereo output jack, dual pickup bus, mounting screws, springs, and pickup cable
Neck position application
Dimensions: 3.35 x 2.24 x 4.72 inches

The EMG 66 Long Shaft combines the tone shaping control of active electronics with the practical engineering needed for retrofit installations in offset guitar designs, delivering consistent, controllable neck-position tones across multiple tracking sessions.