AudioFu

Best EMG Humbucker Pickups 2026

Premium EMG humbucker pickups - legendary tone and craftsmanship

Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Metal For Jazz For Blues For Hard Rock For Heavy Genres
BRANDS: Seymour Duncan DiMarzio EMG Bare Knuckle Gibson Mojotone Fishman Suhr Tesla Fender Lollar TV Jones PRS
EMG JH "HET" Set LS BC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

EMG JH "HET" Set LS BC

by EMG
Heavy Genres Jazz Metal
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG JH "HET" Set LS BC, Pickup Set for Electric GuitarThe James Hetfield signature set captures the clarity...

⭐ 4.6/5 (46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 422072
$252
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG 57/66 Set LS C - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

EMG 57/66 Set LS C

by EMG
Hard Rock Heavy Genres Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG 57/66 Set LS CPickup Set for Electric GuitarConstruction: HumbuckerOutput: MediumThe "57" bridge pickup...

⭐ 4.6/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 422078
$230
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced BC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced BC

by EMG
Hard Rock Rock Metal
Key Feature:
• Thick, powerful tone
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced BC, Pickup Set for Electric GuitarThe James Hetfield Signature set captures the...

⭐ 4.7/5 (20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 422075
$248
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG Marty Friedman F-MF Set BRBC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

EMG Marty Friedman F-MF Set BRBC

by EMG
Blues Hard Rock Metal
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • High output for distortion
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • May overpower small amps
  • • Less vintage character

EMG Marty Friedman F-MF Set BRBCSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarMarty Friedman Signature Set2 HumbuckersFor bridge...

⭐ 4.9/5 (43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 558482
$224
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG Fat 55 Set Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

EMG Fat 55 Set Black

by EMG
Rock Metal Jazz
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Cancels electrical interference
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG Fat 55 Set Black, Active Humbucker Pickup Set, Inspired by the sound and tonal behaviour of the original PAF...

⭐ 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 405052
$197
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced C - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced C

by EMG
Hard Rock Heavy Genres Blues
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • Less vintage character

EMG JH "HET" Set F-Spaced CPickup Set for Electric GuitarJames Hetfield (Metallica) signature...

⭐ 4.6/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 423610
$252
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG 57/66 Set G - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

EMG 57/66 Set G

by EMG
Metal Rock Blues
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Cancels electrical interference
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • May overpower small amps
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

EMG 57/66 Set GSet of Pickups for Electric Guitar2 Active humbuckersMedium outputThe "57" bridge pickup...

⭐ 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 544568
$252
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG 57/66 Set C - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

EMG 57/66 Set C

by EMG
Rock Heavy Genres Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils
  • • Less vintage character

EMG 57/66 Set C, Active Pickup Set, 1x EMG 57 (bridge)- & 1x EMG 66 (neck) humbucker pickups, Surface:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 408964
$240
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JH "HET" Set BRBC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

EMG JH "HET" Set BRBC

by EMG
Hard Rock Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

EMG JH "HET" Set BBC, Active Pickup Set, James Hetfield (Metallica) signature set, 1x EMG JH-B & 1x JH-N...

⭐ 4.6/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 421062
$248
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG 85 Brushed Gold - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

EMG 85 Brushed Gold

by EMG
Blues Jazz Metal
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Less vintage character
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

EMG 85 Brushed GoldPickup for Electric GuitarActive humbuckerFor neck positionPowerful and versatileOften used in the...

⭐ 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 565096
$120
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG Gary Holt GH Set Red - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

EMG Gary Holt GH Set Red

by EMG
Metal Jazz Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Cancels electrical interference
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG Gary Holt GH Set RedActive Pickup Set For Electric GuitarGary Holt signature setPositions: bridge &...

⭐ 4.6/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 532066
$202
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JH "HET" Set LS C - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

EMG JH "HET" Set LS C

by EMG
Blues Hard Rock Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Great sustain characteristics
✓ PROS
  • • High output for distortion
  • • Great sustain characteristics
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG JH "HET" Set LS C, James Hetfield Pickup Set for Electric GuitarThis set captures the clarity and punch...

⭐ 4.9/5 (38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 422073
$241
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JR "Daemonum" Set LS ZEB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

EMG JR "Daemonum" Set LS ZEB

by EMG
Metal Jazz Blues
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • High output for distortion
  • • Cancels electrical interference
✗ CONS
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

EMG JR "Daemonum" Set LS ZEBPickup Set for Electric GuitarJim Root (Slipknot) Signature SetModified pickup...

⭐ 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 493085
$230
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG JR "Daemonum" Set F-Spaced ZEB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

EMG JR "Daemonum" Set F-Spaced ZEB

by EMG
Metal Hard Rock Blues
Key Feature:
• Great sustain characteristics
✓ PROS
  • • High output for distortion
  • • Great sustain characteristics
✗ CONS
  • • Less vintage character
  • • May overpower small amps

EMG JR "Daemonum" Set F-Spaced ZEB, Pickup Set for Electric GuitarJim Root Signature Set - after trying out...

⭐ 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 493083
$230
Buy at Thomann View Details
EMG 81 Gold LS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

EMG 81 Gold LS

by EMG
Metal Hard Rock Jazz
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • Different mounting requirements

EMG 81 Gold LSActive Pickup For Electric GuitarHumbuckerLong shaft versionPerfect for the bridge positionStrong ceramic...

⭐ 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 528914
$120
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Humbucker Pickups

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced humbucker pickups typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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