EMG 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
- EMG3707
Description
EMG James Hetfield Het Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black Chrome
The EMG James Hetfield Het set captures aggressive, high-output character essential for heavy music production. These active humbuckers combine ceramic magnets with individual pole-piece design to produce tight, articulate transients and controlled sustain across the neck and bridge positions. Engineered to James Hetfield's exacting specifications, this set delivers precision and reliability for tracking and mixing extreme guitar tones in the studio.
Tone & Recording Character
The neck pickup (JH-N) operates at 3.00V output (single string) and 4.50V (strum) with a resonant peak at 2.11 kHz, capturing clarity and definition without harshness in dense mixes. The bridge pickup (JH-B) sits lower at 1.61 kHz, tightening the high-end response and locking in aggressive, punchy character on heavy material. Both pickups maintain 10 kΩ DC resistance and are vacuum-sealed in epoxy to eliminate microphonic feedback—essential for clean high-gain recording without hum or noise floor contamination.
Power & Studio Workflow
Active electronics run on a 9V battery with exceptional efficiency: 160 microamps current draw yields over 1500 hours of battery life between sessions. The system accepts up to 27V DC maximum supply, allowing headroom for alternative power solutions in multi-instrument studio setups. All necessary potentiometers, wiring, and connection hardware are included for straightforward installation and reconfiguration.
Key Features
- Neck pickup (JH-N) with individual ceramic pole pieces
- Bridge pickup (JH-B) with steel pole pieces
- 10 kΩ DC resistance per pickup
- Neck resonant frequency: 2.11 kHz
- Bridge resonant frequency: 1.61 kHz
- Neck output: 3.00V (string) / 4.50V (strum)
- Noise floor at 60 Hz: -100
- Active 9V design with 160 microamps current draw
- Battery life: over 1500 hours
- Maximum supply: 27V DC
- Black chrome finish with epoxy vacuum seal against microphonic feedback
- Includes 2× 25k volume potentiometers, 2× 25k tone potentiometers, battery bus, stereo output socket, pickup buses, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables
- Made in the USA
This signature set combines active precision with proven durability, delivering the controlled power and feedback rejection that modern heavy music production demands.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The EMG James Hetfield Het set brings studio-grade precision to metal and heavy music recording, with active electronics that deliver controlled aggression and tight low-end response across overdubs and takes. Ceramic magnets and individual pole pieces produce articulate transients and predictable sustain in the mix, while vacuum-sealed epoxy construction and noise rejection ensure clean, feedback-free tracking in any session. The included wiring kit and potentiometers make installation straightforward for home setup.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Thrash Metal
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Drop Tunings
- ✓ High-Gain
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Blues
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What output level and tone character should I expect from these pickups?
The neck pickup outputs 3.00V (single string) and 4.50V (strum) with a resonant peak at 2.11 kHz for clarity, while the bridge sits lower at 1.61 kHz to tighten the high-end and lock in aggression. Both deliver high output designed for metal, thrash, and hard rock with tight, controlled sustain.
How long does the 9V battery last?
The active electronics draw only 160 microamps, yielding over 1500 hours of battery life per charge. The system also accepts up to 27V DC maximum supply if you want to explore alternative power solutions.
What's included in this set?
You get both neck (JH-N) and bridge (JH-B) pickups, two 25k volume potentiometers, two 25k tone potentiometers, battery bus, stereo output socket, pickup buses, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables for a complete installation.
How well do these reject feedback in high-gain situations?
Both pickups are vacuum-sealed in epoxy specifically to eliminate microphonic feedback, and the noise floor is -100 at 60 Hz. This design is built for the extreme demands of high-gain, drop-tuned playing and studio recording.
Are these pickups suitable for jazz or blues?
These are engineered specifically for metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and drop-tuning applications. Their aggressive, high-output character and tight low-end response are not voiced for jazz, blues, or folk playing styles.
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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