What genres and playing styles is this pickup set best suited for?

The David Ellefson set excels in metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and djent contexts where aggressive tone, midrange clarity, and punch are priorities. It is not optimized for jazz, folk, or country styles.

What comes included in the box?

The set includes the bridge and neck pickups, two 25k volume potentiometers, two 25k tone potentiometers, battery bus, stereo output jack, mounting screws, pickup cables, connect cables, output cable, and battery cable—everything needed for installation.

Do I need to solder these pickups into my bass?

No. The set features a solderless installation system that simplifies wiring without requiring a soldering iron.

How does the active circuit affect tone and output?

The active 10K DC resistance circuit delivers boosted output and a lower noise floor compared to passive pickups, with natural compression that helps the bass sit well in dense mixes while maintaining note definition and transient attack.

Is this pickup set compatible with my bass?

This is a 4-string set in soapbar format measuring 3.5 inches (89mm); confirm your bass has a soapbar cavity and 4-string configuration before purchasing.

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 $15 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 David Ellefson 4STR Active Soapbar Bass Pickup Set in Black

The EMG David Ellefson 4STR captures the aggressive, articulate low-end response that defined Megadeth's sonic signature. This active humbucker set combines a dual-coil bridge pickup with a ceramic/steel neck pickup in a compact soapbar format, engineered to deliver punchy definition and controlled sustain in the recording chain. Purpose-built for the engineer tracking bass tones that demand clarity and midrange punch in heavy music productions.

Active Electronics & Installation

These pickups operate on an active circuit with a 10K DC resistance, delivering boosted output and reduced noise floor compared to passive designs. The solderless installation system simplifies wiring—no soldering iron required—and the complete electronics package includes matched 25k volume and tone potentiometers, battery bus, stereo output jack, and all necessary cables to integrate into your signal chain immediately.

Recording & Mix Integration

The dual-coil bridge configuration suppresses hum while the ceramic/steel neck pickup balances warmth with articulation across the frequency spectrum. Output is hot and responsive, with natural compression that locks into dense mixes without sacrificing note definition or transient attack during playback and production.

Key Features

Dual-coil bridge pickup with ceramic/steel neck pickup
Active electronics with 10K DC resistance
Soapbar housing format, 3.5 inches (89mm) length
Stainless steel construction
Humbucker configuration for noise rejection
Solderless installation system
2-wire conductor plus battery connection
Includes 2 volume pots (25k), 2 tone pots (25k), battery bus, and stereo output jack
Includes mounting screws, pickup cables, connect cables, output cable, and battery cable
Designed for 4-string bass
Manufacturer part number 6762.00
Made in United States

This signature set captures the focused, aggressive tone Ellefson is known for—ideal for producers and engineers tracking bass that demands cut, clarity, and punch in heavy music productions.