EMG, Inc.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of the company started in 1976 manufacturing guitar pickups, which have always been called EMG pickups. "EMG" stands for "Electro-Magnetic Generator". The company was originally called "Dirtywork Studios"; this name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978, and then to the current name in 1983.
EMG has over the years garnered a reputation as the most popular manufacturer of active pickups for electric guitars. Their pickups are standard equipment on some high-end models from guitar manufacturers such as ESP Guitars and Jackson Guitars. EMG active pickups tend to have much higher output than passive pickups of similar design because of the on-board preamp. The high output has made them popular with hard rock and heavy metal guitarists because they overdrive the input stage of guitar amplifiers more dramatically than a lower output pickup could.
The EMG HZ series of passive pickups is common on mid-priced models that are imported to the US by several manufacturers, and does not have as good a reputation as the active line.
Players who use or endorse EMG pickups include Tom Morello, Dave Gilmour, Steve Lukather, Metallica, Slayer, Les Claypool, Zakk Wylde, KMFDM, Kerry King. Dave Kushner, Children of Bodom, Judas Priest, the Deftones, Dir en Grey, Rammstein, Claudio Sanchez, Vince Gill, Evergrey, and Slipknot amongst many.
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[edit] Product lineup
[edit] Guitar pickups
- EMG 60/81/85, well-known combo of lead/rhythm active high-output humbucker pickups.
- EMG HZ series, passive humbuckers that try to sound close to famous active 81/85.
- EMG SA , Single coil active pickups notably for Stratocasters and similar guitars.
- EMG 89 , A split coil version of the EMG 85. It has two preamps inside two EMG SA guitar pickups creating a sound similar to the EMG 85.
[edit] Bass pickups
- EMG P series, active bass pickup, Precision bass-style.
- EMG J series, active bass pickup, Jazz bass-style.
- EMG PJ, a combo of EMG-P and EMG-J.
- EMG HB, an active bass pickup in humbucker housing, Steinberger-style.
- EMG MM series, active bass pickup Music Man Bass.
- EMG HZ series, various passive bass pickups.
[edit] Notable users
There are several "signature" pickups or pickup combos custom-made for these guitarists:
- Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Pride and Glory, Black Label Society) - EMG-ZW signature set (81 Bridge/85 Neck).
- Kerry King (Slayer) - EMG-KFK signature set (81 Bridge/85 Neck with EMG PA2 - Preamp Booster).
- Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) - EMG-HZ.
- Peter Frampton - EMG-SA.
- Steve Lukather (Toto) - EMG-SAV, EMG-SLV, EMG-SL20 package.
- Kirk Hammett (Metallica) - EMG-KH20, EMG-KH21 packages (81's in both Bridge and Neck).
- Vince Gill - EMG-VG20 package.
- David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - EMG-DG20 package.
- Andrew Schueller (Reckless Intent)-EMG-ESP
Several guitar manufacturing companies made custom signature guitars that include EMG pickups:
- Stephen Carpenter (Deftones)[1]
- EMG 81-7 — ESP STEF-B7, LTD SC-607, LTD SC-607B
- James Hetfield (Metallica)[2]
- EMG 60, EMG 81 — ESP Truckster, LTD Truckster.
- Kirk Hammett (Metallica)[3]
- EMG 81 — ESP KH Series.
- EMG-ESP LH-300 — LTD KH Series.
- Richard Kruspe-Bernstein (Rammstein)[4]
- EMG 81 — ESP RZK-1, LTD RZK-600.
- Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)[5]
- EMG-HZ H-4 — ESP ALEXI LAIHO, LTD ALEXI-600.
