EMG H4A Black

Pickups are a matter of taste, everybody knows that.
If you can, listen to them. Youtube, a friend who has them installed...
I'm giving this product a 10/10.
I don't like active pickups. There's nothing wrong with them, but I prefer the passive ones.
I bought this PUP together with her sis on the bridge, the H4, just to try something new. I also was attracted by the 100% solder-less system so I bought the switch as well.
They aren't excessively expensive, so I bought them.
As I said, I was absolutely impressed by the quality, and above all, the sound... clear, defined no matter how much distortion you throw at them. Very nice articulation and dynamic. Very responsive.
It's not like many say, the passive 85... I personally like them more!!!
If you ask me, I'm delighted with them, and I strongly recommend them, but I also strongly recommend to listen to them first... you may not like them...
It's matter of taste, in the end...

Did buy this pickup together with EMG H3 for the neck position on my Squier FSR affinity telecaster HH. on its own this is a already a super guitar for the price a lot better than the standard affinity guitars.
But I wasn,t completly happy with the sound. I did listen to a number of pickups eg dimarzio superdistortion set bare knuckels and some seymour duncan pickups. But nothing sounded as tight and well balansed as the EMG H4A. mounting was also very easy with the solderless EMG system. I also did use the EMG 3 position switch because on a tele you only have 1 volume an one tone. Up until now I am very happy with the combination H4a/H3 . On a final note I would recoment this set up for everybody who is playing hardcore or metal

Fitted to a cheap LP copy to make it sound a bit more pleasant and bring the guitar back into use. I opted for this and the H4 due to the solderless fitting. It gave it the edge over the competitors for me who at the time was unfamiliar with swapping pickups. It was extremely easy to install and includes 2 pots and all the cables needed making it a good little package!

The sound is good. On a clean channel the tone is soft and warm and when driven it can be used for a decent lead sound. Is it a copy of the active equivalent like the EMG 85? No. It has aspects of that well known active sound but is certainly not quite as hot. I have no regrets for buying it though would probably not go for it again. Very decent and well made, but there's a large market out there and I wouldn't say these are the best. One thing EMG do have in their favour is the look - the matt black box shape that I have seen many complain about. Personally I'm a fan of the design.