Description
Back in 2009, James Hetfield walked into EMG with a challenge for president Rob Turner: build a set that looks stealthy but hits with the clarity and snap of a passive pickup while keeping the active tone that’s defined his sound for decades. The result is the JH Set – not a tweak of an existing model, but a genuinely new design worked out directly with Hetfield.
The JH-N (neck) takes cues from the pickups James has run for 30 years but builds on them with individual ceramic pole pieces and a bobbin core that’s larger and taller than EMG’s 60. That extra mass translates to sharper attack, hotter output, and a fuller low end than you’d expect from a neck pickup. The JH-B (bridge) shares that same core design but swaps in steel pole pieces instead of the bar magnets found in the 81, trimming inductance for a tighter, cleaner low end without losing that signature aggressive bite.
This set arrives finished in Brushed Black Chrome, part of EMG’s Metal Works lineup – stainless steel caps made in the USA, also offered in Gold, Chrome, Brushed Gold, and standard Black Chrome for players who want their electronics to match their hardware, not just their tone. EMG basically invented the all-black pickup look decades ago, and Metal Works pushes that legacy forward with a broader range of premium finish options while keeping the same active circuitry players trust.
Installation is handled through EMG’s Solderless Installation System, so getting the JH-N and JH-B wired up doesn’t require a soldering iron or a trip to a tech.
- JH-N neck pickup: ceramic poles, oversized core for higher output and fuller lows
- JH-B bridge pickup: steel pole pieces for tight, focused attack with cleaner low end
- Brushed Black Chrome Metal Works stainless steel caps, made in USA
- EMG Solderless Installation System included
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