What skill level do I need to install these pickups?

These pickups are designed for intermediate to advanced players. The solderless connections eliminate the need for a soldering iron, and EMG includes a complete wiring harness with pots, output jack, and all necessary cables, making the installation process much more straightforward than traditional pickups.

What genres and playing styles are these pickups best suited for?

The Bone Breaker set is engineered specifically for metal, hard rock, thrash metal, and djent—styles that benefit from high output, aggressive voicing, and piercing articulation. They are not recommended for jazz, blues, or folk applications.

How long does the battery last and what's the power consumption?

The active system runs on a single 9V battery with a rated lifespan of 3000 hours at 80 microamps draw, roughly translating to several months of regular playing. The system supports input up to 27V DC for extended headroom.

How do the bridge and neck pickups differ tonally?

The bridge pickup uses a ceramic magnet with a 1.63 kHz resonant frequency to emphasize mids and upper frequencies for maximum cut and articulation in dense mixes. The neck pickup features an Alnico 5 magnet with a 1.80 kHz resonance that preserves warmth, harmonic complexity, and sustain—ideal for lead work and sustained notes even at high gain.

What's included in the package?

The complete set includes both bridge and neck pickups, two 25K volume potentiometers, two 25K tone potentiometers, a stereo output jack, pickup bus, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables. Everything needed for installation is included.

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 Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker Active Humbucker Pickup Set in Black

The Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker set captures aggressive, high-output character with surgical clarity—a signature pairing engineered for extreme metal and hard rock recordings. The ceramic bridge pickup cuts through dense mixes with piercing articulation, while the Alnico 5 neck pickup maintains definition and sustain even under heavy saturation. Solderless connections streamline your session workflow, allowing fast electronics replacement without requiring soldering skills.

Tone & Output Character

Both pickups deliver 3.00V single-string output and 4.50V strum output, ensuring consistent, trackable response across dynamic playing styles. The bridge unit's 1.63 kHz resonant frequency and ceramic/steel magnet structure emphasize mid and upper frequencies for maximum separation in the mix, while the neck's 1.80 kHz resonance with Alnico magnets preserves warmth and harmonic complexity—ideal for layered lead parts and sustained tones that retain definition in your final mix.

Studio Integration & System Design

This active system operates on a single 9V battery with 3000-hour battery life at 80 microamps draw, and supports input up to 27V DC for extended headroom in the signal chain. The complete wiring harness includes two 25K volume pots, two 25K tone pots, stereo output jack, pickup bus, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables—eliminating setup delays and compatibility questions during installation.

Key Features

Bridge pickup: Ceramic magnet; Neck pickup: Alnico 5 magnet
Neck and bridge pickup logo color: Green
Output voltage (single string): 3.00V
Output voltage (strum): 4.50V
Bridge resonant frequency: 1.63 kHz
Neck resonant frequency: 1.80 kHz
Output impedance: 10 kOhm
Battery life: 3000 hours at 9V
Maximum supply voltage: 27V DC
Solderless connections for simplified installation
Complete electronics package: pots, output jack, pickup bus, mounting hardware, and all cables included
Made in USA

The Bone Breaker set combines aggressive output with articulate voicing and user-friendly installation—a complete active solution for producers and engineers tracking professional-grade extreme music without compromise.