« More passive EMG sound with a new type of case »

This is James Hetfields current pickup setup. For decades now Hetfield has stuck with EMG pickups and a particular set. He calls his new signature set the Het Set. Along with the Zakk Wylde 81/85 EMG pickup set there is another setup with the 81/60 which Hetfield used for many years. This is a popular setup albiet not as popular as the Zakk Wylde set. The Hetfield combination of the 81 and the 60 is pretty straight forward. The 81 being a bridge only metal pickup and the 60 being a neck only clean tone pickup. These pickups did everything Hetfield wanted to do with them. He could riff away on the bridge position and use the neck position for the Metallica clean passages. Since he does not play many leads he does not use the neck position for high gain leads. If he did do this he would probably use the 85 like Zakk Wylde. Hetfield has modified his pickup set slightly for this new James Hetfield Signature Kit. The idea came around when Hetfield was doing more different types of pickups in his guitars. He had some reliced guitars he was playing and he had EMG make him EMG pickups that looked like reliced passive pickups. The most noticable change is finish of the pickups. They are in polished nickle cases with pole pieces that make them look more like passive pickups. When you get the Het Set it comes with all you need to install it in your guitar. It comes with a few pots and switches along with a jack. You also get a James Hetfield pick. Installing EMG pickups is pretty simple. Once you hook up the battery you are ready to go. Since these pickups have a more passive sound there is really no need to do the 18 volt mod on them. The 60 already had a good clean tone and now that it has even more of a passive feel the neck pickup is great for all types of clean and bluesy stuff. All this helps accomplish Hetfields goal of having a more passive sound from the pickups. The pickups have a more passive sound but they also have more bite. They have a little less low end than the original 81 and 60s. If you are looking for a set of EMG's with a bit more bite and more of a passive sound but also come in a cool looking finish the James Hetfield set may be for you.