Detail 01
Active with onboard preamp
Needs a 9V battery in the guitar. Output stays consistent regardless of cable length or amp input impedance.
Product detailSKU #1273887998292
EMGEMG-60 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup Black
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Active ceramic humbucker with a tight, aggressive voice. Built for the neck position in a two-pickup EMG set, or bridge if you want maximum cut.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Metal and hard rock players who want a clear, articulate neck tone
- Pairing with an EMG-81 or 85 in a two-pickup set
- High-gain rigs where passive pickups get muddy or noisy
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Players who want a warm, rounded vintage neck sound
- Guitars with no battery cavity and no room to route one
- Anyone who dislikes swapping a 9V battery periodically
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Ceramic magnet
Brighter and more aggressive than alnico. Sharper attack, more upper-midrange bite, less warmth.
Detail 03
2.95kHz resonant peak
The peak sits high, which is why this reads as cutting and present rather than thick.
Detail 04
10k output impedance
Low impedance out of the preamp. Drives long cables and pedal chains without losing treble.
Detail 05
-89dBV noise at 60Hz
Very low hum. Practical benefit is quiet high-gain playing near computer screens and stage lighting.
Detail 06
3,000 hour battery life
Roughly a year of regular playing. Unplug the cable when not playing or the battery drains.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Requires a 9V battery and space in the guitar for it
- 02Active pickups need a stereo output jack to switch the preamp on
- 03Mixing this with passive pickups in one guitar causes volume and wiring problems
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01What is the difference between the EMG-60 and the EMG-85?
The 60 uses a ceramic magnet and has a higher resonant peak, so it is brighter and tighter. The 85 uses alnico with more output and a warmer, thicker voice.
02Do I need to route my guitar for this?
It fits a standard humbucker cavity, but you need somewhere to put the 9V battery. Many guitars need a battery cavity routed if they were built for passive pickups.
03Can I use it in the bridge position?
Yes. It gives a tight, cutting bridge tone. Many players run it in the neck alongside an 81 or 85 in the bridge.
04Does the battery drain when I am not playing?
Only if a cable is plugged in. The output jack switches the preamp on, so unplug the guitar when you are done.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsSound
- Resonant Frequency
- 2.95kHz
1 detailsPlayability
- Output Voltage String
- 1.25
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
4 detailsConnections & power
- Output Impedance
- 10kOhms
- Output Voltage Strum
- 3.5
- Battery Life
- 3,000 hours
- Output Noise 60hz
- -89dBV
3 detailsOther
- Current 9v
- 80 microamps
- Magnet Type
- Ceramic
- Maximum Supply
- 27V DC
