Detail 01
Ceramic/steel magnets
Ceramic pushes a harder, brighter attack than alnico. Low end stays tight instead of blooming under distortion.
Product detailSKU #1273887998253
EMGEMG-81 Humbucking Active Guitar Pickup Black
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Active ceramic humbucker for the bridge, black. For high-gain players who want tight, consistent output and no hum, with the same tone every night.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Metal and hard rock rhythm playing that needs tight palm mutes
- Stages with heavy hum from lighting rigs
- Players who want the same sound regardless of amp
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Blues or classic rock players wanting cleanup from the volume knob
- Anyone who dislikes a battery in the guitar
- Players after warm, woody, dynamic vintage humbucker tone
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
2.00 kHz resonant frequency
Peak sits in the upper mids, which is what makes it cut through a dense mix and stay articulate at high gain.
Detail 03
Active preamp onboard
Requires a 9V battery. Output stays consistent regardless of cable length or amp input impedance.
Detail 04
4.5V strum output
Very hot. It will hit the front of an amp far harder than a passive humbucker, so dial gain back to start.
Detail 05
-91 dBV noise at 60Hz
Effectively silent between notes even with the gain up. No hum from lights or transformers.
Detail 06
10 kOhms output impedance
Buffered output, so long cable runs and pedalboards don't roll off high end.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Needs a 9V battery and cavity space; many guitars require routing for it
- 02Active pots and output jack are required — passive wiring will not work correctly
- 03Unplug the cable after playing or the battery drains continuously
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01How long does the battery last?
About 3,000 hours of connected time. Since the jack switches power on when a cable is inserted, leaving one plugged in overnight drains it.
02Is this a bridge or neck pickup?
It is most commonly fitted in the bridge, where the hot ceramic output and upper-mid peak do the most work for high-gain rhythm and lead.
03Can I clean up the tone with my volume knob?
Not much. The active preamp keeps output consistent, so rolling back the volume lowers level more than it softens distortion.
04Will it fit a standard humbucker route?
Yes, it uses standard humbucker dimensions. The extra consideration is finding room for the 9V battery, which often means routing the control cavity.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsSound
- Resonant Frequency KHZ
- 2.00
1 detailsPlayability
- Output Voltage String
- 2.0
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
4 detailsConnections & power
- Output Impedance
- 10 kOhms
- Output Voltage Strum
- 4.5
- Battery Life
- 3,000 hours
- Output Noise 60hz
- -91 dBV
3 detailsOther
- Current 9v
- 80 microamps
- Magnet Type
- Ceramic/steel
- Maximum Supply
- 27V DC
