FEATURE
Kirk Hammett onstage with a custom
ESP sporting an EMG 85 bridge
humbucker, a model 60 neck pickup,
and graphics from the 1932 horror flick
The Mummy. Photo by Jeff Yeager
to conjure up his “brown sound’ using an
EMG-equipped Steinberger GL.
Lukather, along with Peter Frampton,
another EMG proponent, also played a role
in getting EMGs into David Gilmour’s hands.
Soon after, EMG offered the DG20 David
Gilmour signature prewired pickup-and-pick-guard set containing standard SA pickups
with a volume control, EXG Guitar Expander,
and SPC mid boost.
“Ned Steinberger’s designs
started to become
accepted for reasons
other than just great tone
and playability, although
his instruments do sound
special,” recalls Kuffner.
“And part of that sound is
EMG related, no question.
With the Steinberger bass,
you looked different—and
people wanted that look. It was the begin-
ning of that techno-pop movement with guys
like Devo, who were one of the first bands
we sold Steinbergers to.”
EMG’s rise to prominence also coincided
with the advent of MTV and music videos.
The more Steinberger instruments made their
way into the mainstream, the more EMG
flourished. “Ned Steinberger and Rob Turner
both prospered from their symbiotic relation-
ship,” says Kuffner. Even Eddie Van Halen,
who is notoriously picky about tone, was able
But this notoriety was only a hint of things
to come. EMG would really make its mark
through its association with metal giants
Metallica. Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett was
turned on to EMG pickups after hearing
Anthrax’s Scott Ian use them. Since then,
Hammett has put EMGs in all his guitars. “The
sound of heavy metal relies on the sound
of EMG pickups,” says Hammett. “Without
them, it wouldn’t be heavy and it wouldn’t
be metal.” Shortly after, lead singer James
Hetfield started using EMGs. “I’ve tried my
hardest to find a better pickup. There is
none,” says Hetfield. “Not many people know
EMG stands for Extra Metal Growl.”
Metallica made EMGs the de facto standard
among metal pickups, and now many of the
most popular and influential heavy bands,
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PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2010 139
