Founded in 1976 by Rob Turner, EMG pickups revolutionized the industry’s approach to guitar and bass electronics. It all started when Rob, prompted by the noisy single-coils in his brother’s guitar, began to tinker with the idea of a single-coil pickup that could perform with minimal noise. Rob was successful, and EMG’s first active guitar pickup was born in a small garage in Long Beach, California.
The news of Rob’s noiseless pickup design quickly spread, landing EMG a role as Steinberger’s primary pickup supplier in the early 1980s. Since then, EMG pickups have made their way onto countless hit tracks and albums from legacy musicians, rising stars, and everyone in between. Considering the brand’s résumé includes the likes of James Hetfield, Steve Lukather, Jim Root, and Geezer Butler, it’s undeniable that EMG has been instrumental in shaping the sound of music history.
Since the development of Rob’s early pickups, EMG has greatly expanded its lineup to encompass myriad instrument styles and types. From Telecasters and Les Pauls to bajo quintos, banjos, bouzoukis, and bass guitars, EMG does it all. And no matter the model or design, EMG pickups supply top-class tone, low-noise performance, and inspiring sound.
Never content to rest on its laurels, EMG’s development of solderless pickup technology further cemented the brand’s status as a trailblazing trendsetter. To this day, EMG’s solderless offerings allow hobbyists to install everything from pickups to pots to entire harnesses with solder-free simplicity.
Rob Turner’s innovation goes far beyond pickups. It emcompasses a wide range of high-quality instrument electronics, including onboard EQ controls, boosts, and more. Many of these designs have become classics in their own right, such as the SPC and EXG EQ boost circuits popularized by David Gilmour and Vince Gill. Furthermore, EMG’s powerful onboard bass equalizers have also become must-haves for scores of bassists for their clear, transparent sound and flexible control.
EMG’s prewired pickguards and systems are the ultimate evolution of the brand’s solder-free installation kits, allowing DIY musicians to transform their tones with little more than a screwdriver. These prewired installation kits breathe fresh life into your instrument, packing a serious sonic punch and industry-revered EMG performance. From the Strat-style DG20 (complete with SPC and EXG wiring) to the brand’s JMaster pickguard for Jazzmasters, EMG’s prewired kits offer inspiring new sounds for guitarists and bassists of all varieties.