EMG F-James Hetfield Het Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black Chrome
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- Brand new in original box
- Full EMG manufacturer's warranty
- Free shipping in the continental US
In stock
- SKU
- EMG5477
Description
EMG F-James Hetfield Het Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black Chrome
The EMG JH "HET" James Hetfield Active Humbucker Pickup Set captures the aggressive, articulate tone that defines modern metal recording. This set pairs a focused neck pickup with a brutal bridge unit, engineered to sit through dense mixes with crystalline clarity and explosive sustain. Built for producers and engineers who demand maximum output and sonic precision without compromise.
Output & Tone Character
Each pickup generates 3.00 V string output and 4.50 V strum output, ensuring commanding presence in the mix during recording and playback. The neck pickup's 2.11 kHz resonant frequency balances warmth with definition for versatile voicing across rhythm and lead parts, while the bridge unit's 1.61 kHz resonant frequency produces the grinding low-end response essential to heavy music tracking. Ultra-low noise floor of -100 dB keeps signal integrity pristine even at extreme gain levels, reducing unwanted hum and noise floor artifacts in the mix.
Electronics & Power
This active system runs on a single 9V battery with over 1500 hours playing time, drawing only 160 microamps at 9V for minimal battery drain during long studio sessions. The included 2 × 25K volume pots and 2 × 25K tone pots (split shaft, 0.235" diameter) integrate seamlessly with the solderless connection architecture, eliminating solder joints and reducing signal loss for transparent recording chain performance. Maximum supply rating of 27 volts DC provides headroom for high-voltage studio interfaces and preamps.
Key Features
- JH-N neck and JH-B bridge pickup configuration with ceramic magnets (neck) and ceramic/steel magnets (bridge)
- 10 kΩ DC resistance per pickup
- 3.00 V string output and 4.50 V strum output for commanding mix presence
- Neck resonant frequency: 2.11 kHz; bridge resonant frequency: 1.61 kHz
- -100 dB output noise floor for ultra-quiet operation
- 10 kΩ output impedance
- 160 microamps current draw at 9V with over 1500 hours battery life per 9V cell
- Maximum supply rating: 27 volts DC
- Includes 2 × 25K volume pots and 2 × 25K tone pots (split shaft, 0.235" diameter)
- Battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup in/out bus, mounting hardware, and connection cables included
- Solderless connections for rapid installation
- Made in the USA
The EMG HET set combines American manufacturing precision with the uncompromising specifications that make active pickups the standard for modern metal recording and high-gain studio applications.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
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At a Glance
The EMG F-James Hetfield Het Active Humbucker Set is a high-output active system designed to capture aggressive, articulate tones with crystalline clarity and explosive sustain—essential for tracking heavy music and dense arrangements that demand cutting definition. Each pickup delivers commanding output (3.00 V string, 4.50 V strum) with an ultra-low noise floor (-100 dB), making it ideal for home studios and recording sessions where you need punch and presence without hum or noise artifacts. The included pots, solderless connections, and 1500+ hour battery life make it a low-maintenance choice for producers and engineers tracking metal, hard rock, and high-gain material.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Thrash Metal
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Drop Tunings
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Folk
- – Country
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What skill level and guitar styles is this pickup set designed for?
This is an intermediate to professional-level set optimized for metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and drop tuning applications. It's not recommended for jazz, folk, or country styles, as its voicing and output are engineered specifically for aggressive, high-gain tones.
How long does the 9V battery last, and what's the power draw?
The 9V battery delivers over 1500 hours of playing time with a minimal current draw of only 160 microamps at 9V, meaning battery changes are infrequent for regular use.
What's included in this pickup set, and is installation difficult?
The set includes both the JH-N neck and JH-B bridge pickups, 2 × 25K volume pots, 2 × 25K tone pots, battery bus, stereo output jack, mounting hardware, and connection cables. Solderless connections mean faster, easier installation with no soldering required.
How does the noise performance compare to passive pickups at high gain?
The ultra-low noise floor of -100 dB keeps signal integrity pristine even at extreme gain levels, making it far quieter than passive pickups when pushing heavy distortion or high-gain amp settings.
What are the differences between the neck and bridge pickups in this set?
The neck pickup (JH-N) features a ceramic magnet and a 2.11 kHz resonant frequency for balanced warmth with definition, while the bridge unit (JH-B) uses ceramic and steel magnets with a 1.61 kHz resonant frequency for the grinding low-end response essential to heavy music.
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 $19 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.
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