Are these passive pickups—do I need batteries or active electronics?

Yes, these are fully passive humbuckers with no onboard preamp, batteries, or active circuitry. They route directly to your amp using traditional wiring, making installation straightforward in any guitar with compatible deep-cavity routing.

What does 'long shaft' mean, and will these fit my guitar?

Long shaft construction accommodates guitars with deeper routed body cavities and deeper magnet assemblies. These are not suited for standard shallow-cavity instruments—check that your guitar has deep-cavity routing before purchasing.

How do these compare to EMG's active pickups?

These passives deliver a warmer, less aggressive character than EMG's active line while maintaining superior shielding and low noise. The brushed gold covers contribute to refined voicing, and there's no need for batteries or active circuitry.

What genres and playing styles are these designed for?

These pickups excel in metal, progressive, fusion, hard rock, and shred applications where high-gain clarity and controlled feedback are essential. They maintain note definition under heavy distortion and are not optimized for blues or jazz.

What's the tonal character—will they be harsh or muddy?

The tone profile is warm midrange with articulate highs and focused response—designed to avoid harshness while staying clear in high-output applications. The brushed gold covers slightly warm the top end for refined articulation.

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. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $17 less at checkout than the same listed price on a marketplace, which collects sales tax as the facilitator in most states. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

EMG F-Marty Friedman Long Shaft Passive Humbucker Pickup Set in Brushed Gold

The EMG F-Marty Friedman pickups deliver a focused, articulate response with warm midrange and controlled highs—a combination that translates exceptionally well to multitrack recording and sits naturally in dense mixes. The long shaft design accommodates guitars with deeper body cavities, while the passive output integrates seamlessly into traditional wiring schemes without requiring active electronics or battery compartments. These pickups excel when tracking high-gain material, maintaining clarity and note definition even under heavy distortion—critical for layered sessions where each take must remain tonally distinct.

Tone & Electronics

Built on EMG's proven humbucker platform, these passive pickups produce a warmer, less aggressive character than EMG's active line while retaining superior shielding and low noise floor—essential for clean direct output and minimal hum during overdubs. The brushed gold covers not only define the aesthetic but also contribute to the refined voicing by slightly warming the top end—ideal for tracking sessions where articulation without harshness becomes crucial in high-output applications and balanced mic blends.

Specifications & Compatibility

Long shaft construction ensures proper depth seating in routed cavities designed for deeper magnet assemblies, making these suited for specific guitar designs rather than standard shallow-cavity instruments. The passive design means no onboard preamp, batteries, or active circuitry—just pure magnetic tone routed directly to your interface and DAW, offering straightforward gain staging and predictable recording levels across session files.

Key Features

Passive humbucker design with traditional wiring compatibility
Long shaft configuration for deep-cavity guitar bodies
Brushed gold covers with refined tonal character
Designed and signature-approved by Marty Friedman
Low noise output with superior magnetic shielding
Warm midrange response with articulate high-end definition
High-gain performance with controlled feedback and sustain
Smooth integration into existing passive wiring harnesses
Dual-coil humbucker construction for full-bodied tone
No batteries or active electronics required

This set delivers the foundation for capturing Marty Friedman's fusion and shred tones directly into your recording chain—a reliable choice for producers and engineers with compatible guitar cavities seeking transparent passive performance and consistent take-to-take stability.

Best suited for	Metal, Progressive, Fusion, Hard Rock, Shred
Tonal character	Warm midrange, articulate highs, focused response, controlled feedback, low noise
Less specialized for	Blues, Jazz (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional