EMG

Overview

EMG, Inc. manufactures active and passive pickups for electric guitars, bass guitars, and acoustic guitars, along with EQ accessories and wiring harnesses. The company holds a position in the guitar accessories market known for its active humbucker designs, particularly models like the EMG 81 and 85, which gained prominence in the 1980s through association with metal and rock musicians.¹²

History

EMG was founded in 1976 by Rob Turner in Long Beach, California, initially developing active pickups. In 1979, development began on the EMG 81 and 85 pickups, released in 1981, which became signature products. The company adopted the name EMG, Inc. in 1983, with EMG standing for Electromagnetic Generators, and relocated headquarters to Santa Rosa, California.¹⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

EMG designs and manufactures its pickups in the United States, with headquarters and operations based in Santa Rosa, California. Products include both in-house active and passive designs.¹²

Notable Products

• EMG 81 - High-output active humbucker bridge pickup known for tight, aggressive tone.
• EMG 85 - Active humbucker neck pickup with warmer, cleaner sound.
• EMG 57/66 TW Set - Selectable single and dual coil humbuckers using three-coil design.
• EMG 60 - Active humbucker for versatile rhythm and lead tones.
• EMG 89 - Active humbucker delivering vintage PAF-style tones with clarity.

Reputation

EMG pickups are favored by metal and hard rock players for their high gain, low noise, and tight response, with the 81/85 set iconic in the genre. Professionals value the active electronics for consistent output without hum. Critics note the signature sound can feel sterile or compressed compared to passive pickups, limiting versatility for cleaner tones.¹