Detail 01
Active (battery-powered) preamp
Onboard preamp sets output and voicing, so cable length and pot values barely change the tone.
Product detailSKU #1273887998214
EMGEMG-81-7 7-String Guitar Active Pickup Black
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Active humbucker sized for 7-string bridge position. For extended-range players running high gain who want a tight, noise-free low B.
Strong match
Who this is for
- 7-string metal rigs where the low B turns to mush
- Players who need silence under high-gain amps and pedals
- Bridge position in a guitar already routed for humbuckers
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- 6-string guitars — the bobbin is wider and won't drop in
- Players chasing passive dynamics and cleanup off the volume knob
- Anyone unwilling to route a battery cavity or lose one tone pot
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
81 voicing
This is the tight, aggressive one in the EMG line — bridge pickup treble and attack, not warmth.
Detail 03
7-string spacing
Wider bobbin and pole spacing to cover the extra string; won't line up under a 6-string bridge.
Detail 04
Low noise design
Hum stays down under heavy gain and near lighting rigs, where passives usually buzz.
Detail 05
Black plastic cover
No exposed pole pieces to adjust — height at the ring is your only tone-shaping move.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Needs a 9V battery and somewhere in the guitar to put it
- 02Solderless connectors mean nothing, if the guitar lacks a battery cavity
- 03Mixing with passive pickups in the same guitar generally does not work
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Will this fit my 6-string?
No. The 7-string version is wider. Buy the 6-string 81 for a standard guitar.
02How long does the battery last?
Unplug the guitar cable when you're done — the cable jack is the on/off switch. Leaving it plugged in drains the battery.
03Do I need to change my pots?
Yes. Active pickups use 25K pots, not the 250K/500K in a passive guitar. Wrong pots make it dark and unresponsive.
04Is this the bridge or neck pickup?
The 81 is normally used at the bridge. Pair it with an EMG 60 or 85 in the neck if you want a full set.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
