Best EMG Single Coil Pickups 2026

Premium EMG single coil pickups - legendary tone and craftsmanship

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 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 Blues For Country For Pop For Clean Tones For Vintage Rock For Surf Music

BRANDS: Seymour Duncan Fender DiMarzio Bare Knuckle EMG Lollar Mojotone Lace Pickups Suhr DeArmond Fishman Kloppmann Lindy Fralin

EMG DG20 BK/BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (8 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

EMG DG20 BK/BK

by EMG

Blues Country Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Great note definition

✗ CONS

• Limited output compared to humbuckers
• Susceptible to electrical interference

EMG DG20 BK/BKComplete Pickup SetIdentical to the DG20 David Gilmour Set (Article Nr: #146139#)but with a 3-ply...

⭐ 4.7/5 (8 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 460317

$329

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG DG20 BK/WH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (30 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

EMG DG20 BK/WH

by EMG

Country Vintage Rock Surf Music

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Responsive to playing dynamics
• Great note definition

✗ CONS

• Limited output compared to humbuckers
• Can be too bright for some styles

EMG DG20 BK/WHPickup Set for Electric Guitar3x EMG SA single coils with white capsFully loaded and pre-wired ST-style...

⭐ 4.6/5 (30 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 443157

$329

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (33 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard BK

by EMG

Vintage Rock Country Blues

Key Feature:

• Bright, clear tone character

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Excellent for clean tones

✗ CONS

• May need noise reduction
• Susceptible to electrical interference

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard BKPre-Wired Pickguard for Electric GuitarPickup design: Active noiseless single coilsOutput:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (33 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 539110

$285

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard WH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard WH

by EMG

Vintage Rock Blues Country

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard WHPre-Wired Pickguard for Electric GuitarPickup design: Active noiseless single coilsOutput:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 539109

$296

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG JMaster System CR TT - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

EMG JMaster System CR TT

by EMG

Vintage Rock Pop Country

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Classic vintage sound

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• May lack power for heavy genres

EMG JMaster System CR TTComplete Pickup SetPre-wired pickguard for electric guitarPickguard: 4-Ply TortoisePickup...

⭐ 4.7/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 572667

$384

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG VG20 Vince Gill - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (25 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

EMG VG20 Vince Gill

by EMG

Country Blues Pop

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Responsive to playing dynamics
• Excellent for clean tones

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG VG20 Vince GillPre-Wired Pickguard for Electric GuitarVince Gill Signature setPickguard with 3 active Noiseless...

⭐ 4.9/5 (25 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 535453

$294

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG Set SA/SA/89 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

EMG Set SA/SA/89 Black

by EMG

Pop Vintage Rock Clean Tones

Key Feature:

• Bright, clear tone character

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Excellent for clean tones

✗ CONS

• Limited output compared to humbuckers
• Can be too bright for some styles

EMG Set SA/SA/89 BlackActive Pickup Set for Electric Guitar2 Model SA single coils in neck and center position1 Model...

⭐ 4.6/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 184823

$281

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG Crossroads Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (51 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

8/10

EMG Crossroads Set BK

by EMG

Clean Tones Country Surf Music

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG Crossroads Set BKSet of Pickups for ST-Style Electric GuitarPositions: BridgeMiddle & NeckHumbuckerOutput:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (51 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 539112

$252

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather

by EMG

Country Vintage Rock Clean Tones

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Can be too bright for some styles

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather, Complete Pickup SetThe SLV models have been specially developed for Steve Lukather and are...

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 152012

$237

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather LH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#10

⭐ 5.0/5 (24 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather LH

by EMG

Vintage Rock Surf Music Country

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Great note definition

✗ CONS

• May need noise reduction
• Susceptible to electrical interference

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather LHComplete Pickup SetFor left handed ST-Style electric guitarActive single coil/sPosition: All...

⭐ 5.0/5 (24 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 417471

$263

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG JMaster System BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#11

⭐ 4.4/5 (27 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

9/10

EMG JMaster System BK

by EMG

Country Clean Tones Pop

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Great note definition
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG JMaster System BKComplete Pickup SetPre-wired pickguard for electric guitarPickguard: 3-ply blackPickup...

⭐ 4.4/5 (27 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 572668

$362

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG S/S/81 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#12

⭐ 4.9/5 (8 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

EMG S/S/81 Black

by EMG

Vintage Rock Clean Tones Country

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Responsive to playing dynamics
• Great note definition

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG S/S/81 BlackActive Pickup Set for Electric GuitarPositions: Bridgemiddle & neckConstruction: Humbucker &...

⭐ 4.9/5 (8 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 552941

$263

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG DG20LH David Gilmour Lefthand - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#13

⭐ 4.7/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

EMG DG20LH David Gilmour Lefthand

by EMG

Surf Music Clean Tones Blues

Key Feature:

• Bright, clear tone character

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Can be too bright for some styles

EMG DG20LH David Gilmour LefthandComplete Pickup SetLeft handed versionFully populated and pre-wired David Gilmour...

⭐ 4.7/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 407140

$347

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG Set SA/SA/81 WH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#14

⭐ 4.7/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

EMG Set SA/SA/81 WH

by EMG

Country Surf Music Blues

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

EMG Set SA/SA/81 WHActive Pickup Set for Electric Guitar2 Model SA single coils in neck and middle position1 Model 81...

⭐ 4.7/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 232362

$274

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG T System Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#15

⭐ 5.0/5 (14 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

EMG T System Black

by EMG

Pop Surf Music Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Classic vintage sound

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Classic vintage sound

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• Susceptible to electrical interference

EMG T System BlackComplete Pickup Set for Electric GuitarFor T-Style modelsWith complete control plateFT-pickup for the...

⭐ 5.0/5 (14 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 464971

$208

Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Single Coil 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 single coil 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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TOP

Best EMG Single Coil Pickups 2026

EMG DG20 BK/BK

EMG DG20 BK/WH

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard BK

EMG RA-2 Pro Pickguard WH

EMG JMaster System CR TT

EMG VG20 Vince Gill

EMG Set SA/SA/89 Black

EMG Crossroads Set BK

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather

EMG SL20 Steve Lukather LH

EMG JMaster System BK

EMG S/S/81 Black

EMG DG20LH David Gilmour Lefthand

EMG Set SA/SA/81 WH

EMG T System Black

How to Choose the Best Single Coil Pickups

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

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