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 one of the best manufacturers of guitar pickups and are now used as standard on the more expensive models of guitar manufacturers such as ESP Guitars. EMG is famous for the extremely high output levels of their active pickups, as well as their passive pickups, with users including Steve Lukather, Metallica, Slayer, Les Claypool, Zakk Wylde, KMFDM, Dave Kushner, Children of Bodom, Judas Priest, the Deftones, Rammstein and Slipknot amongst many.
Product lineup
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.
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.
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 Afterburner).
- Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) - EMG-H.
- 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.
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.