Kirk Hammett first visited EMG back in the early '80s when Metallica was a local group on the rise. The KH20 system joined the EMG-81 with a pair of EMG-S single-coil pickups. These guitar pickups are all built around ceramic magnets for the tightest, most controlled sound. They're mated with a five-position switch and master volume and tone controls. The KH20 comes pre-assembled on a custom pearl white pickguard with contrasting black knobs.

EMG-S
These pickups feature the same construction as the EMG-SA but replaces the Alnico magnets with ceramic. They have the equivalent output of the EMG-SA but feature a brighter tone quality accentuated in the upper middle to high frequency response (similar to later model Strat pickups). By using the EMG tone modeling technique, these pickups have "sparkle" with added definition for depth and increased sensitivity. With accent on high frequency, these guitar pickups have that classic single-coil sound without the disadvantages of high impedance single-coil design.

EMG EMG-KH20 Kirk Hammett Pre-Wired Pickguard/Pickup Set Features:

• Complete and ready to mount to your guitar

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EMG EMG-KH20 Kirk Hammett Pre-Wired Pickguard/Pickup Set Specifications:

• EMG-S
• Resonant Frequency: 4.35 kHz
• RMS Output Voltage: 0.6
• Peak Output Voltage: 0.85
• Output Noise: -90 dBV
• Output Impedance: 10 kOhms
• Current @ 9V: 240 microamps
• Battery Life: 1,000 hours

EMG EMG-KH20 Kirk Hammett Pre-Wired Pickguard/Pickup Set

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Average of 3 User Ratings

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This is it!!!!!

Posted by GuitCo from Chesapeake, Va on Mar 26, 2010

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Practicing Guitar player

Reviewer's Play Style: Classic Rock, Rock, Metal

If you have a MIM with that "not so" Strat sounding pickup tone and want to beef up your tone, this is it (As in the title). I am constantly ripping apart guitars trying to install the perfect tone. I got this from Musician's Friend, opened the package and was playing within the next 1/2 hour. The MIM is pre-routed for a humbucker in the bridge position, it dropped right in, all 11 pickguard screw holes lined up perfectly. Read the directions and follow them and you will have no problems (If you have an incling of technical ability). After some Ferraglide saddles and locking spertzel tuners, this may become my main guitar, over my Gibson LP Double cut, It sounds that good! Can't say enough about the tone!!!!

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Awesome Pickups

Posted by Voden from Florida on Dec 27, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: Heavy Metal, Rock

I have recently picked up the guitar about 1-2 years ago but have dabbled with it all my life and I have been playing a blue Fender Strat that was made back in the late 80's when my dad got it. I recently wanted to get a more metal guitar to play some heavier songs and was going to go with an Ibanez but then I picked up an Ibanez with EMG pickups at a local store and when I played the sounds was amazing. So I looked into EMG pickups and found this and got it for Christmas and I must say I am not disappointed. They are so sharp and clear, the sound is just amazing and since it includes the single coils you can get the shred on leads all you want. It is like having the best of both worlds. If you are looking to get a more heavier and sharper sound with your guitar, I would recommend just buying these and installing it in your guitar. They come prewired and are easy to installed. Only hassle was that I had to rout out where the double humbucker goes for it to fit but I read that was just for Strats made before the 90's. This is definitely worth getting if you want to increase to value of your guitar.

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This is a great pickguard for the money

Posted by Beetlemaster07 from Stuarts Draft, VA on Dec 16, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Blues, Metal

I just purchased one of these pickguards and I was impressed with how easy it was to install in my 2004 MIM stratocaster, I did not have to do any soldering at all. I just plugged in all the wires to the connectors on the back of the pickguard and added a 9-volt and it was ready to play. I also was impressed with how many sounds you can get out of this setup, you can go from Metallica type sounds to Stevie Ray Vaughan type sounds with ease. All of my guitars have only three way pickup switches and its nice to have five different tones to choose from instead of the basic three. If you have a maple neck it might be a bit more twangy than a rosewood style neck because the maple neck on my guitar produces a very bluesy sound from this pickguard. It's also nice to lose that hum that comes from those old standard Fender pickups.

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EMG EMG-KH20 Kirk Hammett Pre-Wired Pickguard/Pickup Set

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