EMG HZ-H4

Passive, Humbucker - supposedly "hot".

This pickup existed in a Epiphone / Gibson; thick, tuned-down guitar for metal. Other artists are the "usual suspects" of current metal (Metallica, Slayer, Zakk Wylde, Children of Bodom).

The output is supposedly "hot". I don't see what the big thing about this pickup is. Tone wise, you can sound like a current Metallica cd, or Zakk; I mean, this pickup has distinctive characteristics and tone, it is just like what you hear from those guys. That being said, tone wise, I don't think any of those dudes have a "good" sound. First, let me describe the pickup tone, it is muddy with a weak top end, and it DOES NOT do better with pinch harmonics than ANY other pickup! I have four guitars with a JB, an EVOLUTION, an BILL LAWRENCE L500XL, and finally the H4. The bottom line, this pickup will make you sound like dudes previously mentioned (really listen to their sound, and decide if this is the sound for you). Personally, I know for a fact that if you want to play metal, their are a lot of pickups that are "tone full" and not muddy, to me the H4 is extremely limited in "tone", and thats what its all about.

p.s. - This pickup does not remind me of the JB, I think the JB is better; check your dc resistance differences, and output (makes a huge difference).

I would not replace if stolen, I plan to replace. I have been playing for 15 years. I will say a good thing about the pickup, it has a strange characteristic that is very smooth transition from rhythm chunk to solo style of play. If you want to sound like current Zakk, this pickup will give you a similar tone, but I get a better tone full metal tone from my other pickups.

Humbucking-passive

Installed on a samick. I have no idea what model because it had been modified bfore I bought it. Replacing stock bridge pickup.
Changed pickup because this guitar looks sick, but sounded like junk. It was way muddy, no bite and overly bassy. I had it for 5 yrs and almost only used it as a showpeice.

Medium/high
marshal mg 80 watt combo. Dist. reverb on amp $ vox wah (live)
zoom gm 200 amp sim (recording)
This is perfect for metal
perfect in bridge haven't used it anywhere else.

I am planning on buying another one for one of my other guitars...don't know which yet.
The only problem I have had is recording direct. I have had some trouble dialing in the sound with my amp sim, however I have not spent tons of time recording with this guitar. I am sure with more tweaking I will find it. For me though this is the end all pickup, I would say it's active brother (emg 81) would be but I hate dealing with batteries in my effects let alone my guitar. The emg has a killer bite and is dead silent when not playing. I am truly happy with this pickup and recommend it to any metal player who doesn't want active pickups. Worth 80 bucks.

Passive dual bar, ceramic humbucker.

I put this in a Hondo Revival Explorer in the bridge. Took out the rusted stock pickup and wired it to a single gibson volume pot to an EMG stereo jack ran in mono. So no neck pickup or any other electonics just the single EMG H4 to one volume. I got the pickup cause I know that Alexi Llaho of Children of Bodom uses it. Also cause its the stock pickup for some of the lower line signature series guitars for ESP/LTD. I mainly use the EMG 81 in my better guitars and was kinda hoping to get something similar in a passive pickup.

Its a mid to high ouput pickup about the same as a Seymour Duncan JB. I use this straight into a Ampeg Vh140C head with a Marshall vintage 4x12 and a Boss NS-2 Noise suppressor. Its very middy with tight bass and a smooth high. Has a great palmuted sound and pinch harmonics are very easy to get. I play Metal and I does the job really well.

I like this pickup. Its not an active 81, but its a good sounding pickup for what it does. Probably one of the better passives Ive played. Dont expect an active sound without a battery, I think thats why alot of people bag on these pickups. If you want an EMG 81 in a passive, its not goin to happen. As a pickup though, it very usable. Sounds great and is good for a different type of tone than its active brother. The mid range is sick in this pickup, cuts through very well which i why I like it. And again the harmonics pop out easily. Ive had Dimarzios(x2n, super distortion) and Seymour Duncans(JB, Full Shred, Distortion, Invader, Dimebucker) and this passive EMG is just as good.

Pickup features: passive humbucker and single
Impedence or other specs: medium-high

Model of guitar or bass: esp m252bb
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: emgs
Artists using this pickup: kirk hammet
You musical style(s): all
Reason for pickup change: none

Perceived output level: medium-hot
Tone: neck is mud,middle single is clean,bridge is middy for distortion
Sonic evaluation: on a hardwood mahagony esp the emgs are ok.the neck really has no use since its too muddy for clean and too muddy and fat for distortion.I like a nice tight distortion.The bridge emg is pretty damn good,it closely compares to a seymour duncan jb or a seymour full shred.Of course the middles single coil is good, even for distortion which is odd.I think these pickups are way more hyped up to be what they really are not.there really only ok pickups!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: all

Comments: hmm,yes im still searching for that sound!!!ive tried dimarzios and seymour duncans and out of all of them seymour duncans are absolutely
the best pickups out there.They are such quality pickups its unreal.I think emgs would be better on a softwood guitar, maybe basswood or agathis! I really found nothing to impressive about these and they are supposedly the new and improved emgs,if thats the case then the h-1s must really suck!overall,ok, emg single coils are very good though i would recomend them, but the humbuckers,well, they kinda suck ass!!!!unless there in bridge!!