Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $100
Standard/Professional
$99
$200+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "EMG 60". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Immerse yourself in the sonic landscape of hard-rock and metal with the EMG 60 Active Ceramic Humbucker. Designed to thrust your guitar into the limelight, this powerhouse humbucker delivers a sound that's as colossal as it is pristine. Whether you're laying down rhythm tracks that demand to be felt or weaving through solos that need to slice through the mix, the EMG 60 stands up to the task with unmatched clarity and presence. Its active design ensures a high output that, when combined with its sparkling high-end, results in a tone that's both beefy and brilliantly sharp. This is no ordinary pickup; it's a gateway to achieving those dream tones that dance on the edge of aggression and clarity.
Crafted for the musician who refuses to be ignored, the EMG 60 comes with everything you need to revolutionize your sound. Its Quik-Connect cable simplifies installation, allowing you more time to play and less time tinkering. The package also includes a pre-wired split shaft volume/tone control set, ensuring you have all the nuances of your sound at your fingertips. Ready to elevate your guitar's performance with a pickup that commands attention? The EMG 60 Active Ceramic Humbucker is your ticket to sonic supremacy.
Key Features:
- High output for robust sound
- Brilliant high-end for clear, cutting tones
- Quik-Connect cable for easy installation
- Includes pre-wired split shaft volume/tone control set
- Comes with output jack, battery clip set, screws, and springs
Product specs
| Type | Humbucker |
| Position | Neck |
| Active/Passive | Active |
| Magnet Material | Ceramic |
| Number of Conductors | 2 wire plus battery |
| DC Resistance | 10K |
| Connectivity | Solderless |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Covering | Covered |
FAQs
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Is the EMG 60 pickup suitable for the neck position on a guitar?
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Yes, the EMG 60 is specifically designed for the neck position, providing clarity and character to your guitar's sound.
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What type of magnet does the EMG 60 use?
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The EMG 60 uses a ceramic magnet, which contributes to its high output and bright tonal characteristics.
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Is the EMG 60 an active or passive pickup?
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The EMG 60 is an active pickup, featuring an on-board preamplifier for higher output and enhanced tonal response.
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Does the EMG 60 pickup require soldering for installation?
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No, the EMG 60 features a solderless installation system using EMG's exclusive Quik-Connect cable.
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What is included in the EMG 60 package?
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The package includes the pickup, EMG's Quik-Connect cable, prewired split shaft volume/tone control set, output jack, battery clip set, screws, and springs.
Videos
Darrell Braun Guitar
ACTIVE vs PASSIVE Pickups! - Can You Hear The Difference?
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional clean tones, reminiscent of an acoustic guitar
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Quick-connect system for easy, solderless installation
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Versatile sound, suitable for rock, blues, and metal
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Enhanced dynamics with 18v setup, reducing compression
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Excellent complement to EMG 81 for balanced sound
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Warm, creamy, and clear tones ideal for smooth, singing leads
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Tight low-end, great for thick lead work
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High output, suitable for high-gain applications
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Helpful instruction sheets simplify installation process
CONS
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Lower volume compared to EMG 81, may require volume adjustment
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Limited cable length can lead to crammed wiring spaces
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Not dynamic enough for blues or classic rock, compared to EMG 85
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about EMG 60.
Features and functionality
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The EMG 60 TW-R's split coil is positioned closer to the neck, capturing a Strat-like sweet spot for cleaner tones.
Source
Comparisons
User experience
Setup and maintenance
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Battery life for EMG pickups exceeds 1000 hours; changing batteries during string changes can mitigate inconvenience.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Swapping in Seymour Duncan JB/59 pickups can significantly enhance the tonal range of an LTD EC-256, elevating it to a more versatile instrument.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 23 Ratings
2135
Only in the neck
The EMG 60 is a pickup that is a variation on the typical EMG humbuckers. It is commonly paired in the neck position of a dual humbucker loaded guitar with an 81 or an 85 at the bridge position. I have one as stock in my ESP Eclipse II and I can certainly see the appeal in this pickup for active pickup users. Compared to the 81 or even the 85 it's a a fairly bassy sounding pickup, and it has a certain tightness in the low end that is optimum for really thick sounding lead work. Compared to the 85 as a neck position pickup, the EMG 60 definitely has more output going through it which makes it ideal for higher gain applications. The 85 is a bit more vintage in character and has a slightly more classic quality to it to my ears.
I'm particularly a fan of this pickup's clean tones. This is where you really start to hear the output that this pickup has. I find it to be a particularly dynamic pickup. The drive tones on thr other hand, are wonderful and I think the EMG 60 makes for an excellent compliment to the 81 in my ESP. It's very thick and fluid, and the harmonic overtones are simply astounding. I don't think it's a dynamic enough humbucker for blues or classic rock - that's a job for the 85. All in all I think the EMG 60 is a cool pickup for someone looking for a killer high gain pickup to compliment something like the 81.
310
Very good neck pickup but....
When I'm playing in the bridge position (with and EMG 81) and I switch to the 60... the volume of it is lower, comparing it to the 81. If you use the same preset and change to this pickup the volume will be lower.
656
If you have the Gibson Explorer you gotta have this in the neck position
When you buy a $1100 guitar you gotta go the extra mile & put a EMG 81 in the bridge and this one in the neck. Love the tones you can get from this pickup when you rip it up & getcha pull. I know that's a DimeBag reference but gotta remember the greats DLA \m/(-_-)\m/
Artist usage
Add artist
Used in the neck position of all his guitars from like 1987 all the way up to a few years ago when the hetset came out.
"This sig offset has an EMG 81 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck," reads this rig rundown by Premier Guitar.
In this video, Ichika's Iron Label Ibanez was used, which is equipped with the EMG 81/60 set.
Paul Landers uses the EMG 60 Active Ceramic Humbucker in the neck position of his signature Gibson Les Paul, as detailed on Guitar Center's product page.
Kurt Ballou, guitarist of Converge, uses the EMG 60 Active Ceramic Humbucker pickups, as confirmed by EMG Pickups. He prefers the EMG-85/EMG-60 combo because they "give me crunch when I need it."
In the description of this video, it says he using EMG 85 & EMG 60 humbucking pickups.
In this article from premier guitar they state "EMG pickups (81 and 60)—a Ling preference."
According to EMG's official site, Phil uses EMG-81 in the bridge position and the EMG-60 in the neck position.
In this article from premier guitar they state "but his special spiciness shows up in the pickups (EMG 81 and 60)"
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use EMG 60, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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