EMG

collapse expand iconDescription

EMG Pickups, along with legendary artist Geezer Butler, have collaborated to develop the GZR-P and GZR-PJ signature bass sets. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bass player started working with EMG founder Rob Turner in 2011, looking to find the classic bass tone he had in Black Sabbath's early days. As Geezer and Black Sabbath moved from studio to touring in 2013, the final component of getting the classic Geezer tone was in play, the rigors of a world tour.

To recapture Geezer's early Black Sabbath tone, it meant a new EMG vintage-style passive P & PJ design with a few modern touches. The all solderless P set uses Alnico 5 pole pieces and custom-wound coils for just the right amount of punch and grit. The J (PJ set) also uses Alnico 5 poles and features two custom-wound split-coils that both eliminate the noise and hum usually associated with early '70s bass pickups and allow for more power and volume than any other standard single-coil J, giving this set remarkable balance between the P & J. The result is unmistakable early Geezer Butler bass tone with deep, tight low end that you can hear on "Iron Man," "War Pigs" and "Paranoid." Said Geezer, "I never felt comfortable giving my name to any other pickups, but this time these have blown me away."
EMG Geezer Butler Signature P Bass Pickup Set Black

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • EMG vintage-style passive P design
  • Uses Alnico 5 pole pieces and custom-wound coils
  • Provides punch and grit

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.58

12 Reviews

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Positive Review

5

just buy them!!!!

These are great sounding pups! I got the p/j set 1st for a squire and was blown away by how easy they were to install, any one could do it. But the sound(sounds) you can get, anything from Motown to Sabbeth to Pink! You can do it all and get any sound you want. I got a p bass set next for my fender and ya! same thing.....what ever sound you want. They cut through the mix great! The pots that come with them are smooth and I feel like I get better tone control also. I've used SD quarter pounders and the Steve Harris pickups, also the fender 62's. the EMGs sound sooo much better plus you get new pots!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

1

Stock American fender P bass is better

I wanted to love this pickup so much but my first one sucked. Since I didn't like the first one but believed in the EMG name, I ordered another thinking I just got a bad pup. Nope, I really don't like them. The low end is nowhere near that of a good fender P bass pickup, Its very quiet as in very low output. The pots that come with it feel extremely cheap and loose. This is on an American Fender standard precision going thru an AMPEG amp. Extremely disappointed in this pickup.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing5
  2. Back-Up3
  3. Concerts3
Cons
  1. Poor Quality1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced4
  2. Novice2
  3. Professional Musician2
Pros
  1. Easy To Use6
  2. Functional6
  3. Improves Sound6
  4. Good Quality5
  • Great upgrade for my Ibanez GIO Soundgear bass!

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byRoswell

    fromDuluth, Georgia

    I replace my GIO Soundgear's stock pickups with this set. It was a relatively easy install (I needed to solder on the output jack (the included jack was not suited to the Ibanez) and the bridge ground (the solderless connection failed on me). The only other thing I had to fiddle with was placement of the pickups, but that was due to issues with the Ibanez, not the pickups. The sound is amazing. I have a P Bass with Fender replica '62 pickups with Emerson pots and cap and wanted my Ibanez to give me a very different sound and feel as an alternate for the P Bass in my studio instruments and it now fits that need beautifully.

  • Stock American fender P bass is better

    1

    submitted6 years ago

    byChuck

    fromAnchorage, Ak

    I wanted to love this pickup so much but my first one sucked. Since I didn't like the first one but believed in the EMG name, I ordered another thinking I just got a bad pup. Nope, I really don't like them. The low end is nowhere near that of a good fender P bass pickup, Its very quiet as in very low output. The pots that come with it feel extremely cheap and loose. This is on an American Fender standard precision going thru an AMPEG amp. Extremely disappointed in this pickup.

  • Life Changing Pickups

    5

    submitted6 years ago

    byJ Wells

    fromFayetteville, Arkansas

    These pick ups changed my life. The tone is super accessible and can easily shape any tone you're looking for. I'm swapping all my P bass pickups with these hands down.

  • Yes

    5

    submitted7 years ago

    byDan the Man

    fromokc ok

    Havent bought it yet but i know it is going to blow the ground below my feet away!

  • Great Tone and Super Easy to Install!

    5

    submitted7 years ago

    byJeffrey

    fromUndisclosed

    I love the sound of these pickups. Actually not a Sabbath or Geezer fan, just love the tone of these. I also have the PJ set in another bass. I put this P pickup set in a new Fender Player. Also, the install is super easy. You don't need to know how to solder at all, just plug and play. Only thing that slowed it down was that Fender had two ground wires, the bridge wire and a wire that grounds the control cavity paint. So in that case I used a different crimp splice to connect both grounds to the control's ground wire. Other than that, piece of cake.

  • Both Classic & Modern Pbass Sounds!

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted7 years ago

    byJohn

    fromundisclosed

    I bought these pickups for a build I was doing. It was an early 60's Pbass I was sparing no expense on! I wanted the best of everything.I was looking for a set of pickups that sounded great all around and could do both classic vintage Pbass and modern Pbass sounds. These were them hands down! I went through 6 different sets of pickups. You won't be disappointed these pickups have it all and come with quality volume and tone controls, input jack and wires. EMG you are truly genius with this set!

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collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • asked byRick G

    fromCincinnati, OH

    I just purchased a Squier 40th anniversary Precision bass. Will this pickup fit my bass and does it come with new pots and input jack?

    I just purchased a Squier 40th anniversary Precision bass. Will this pickup fit my bass and does it come with new pots and input jack?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    1) Yes, the EMG Geezer Butler Signature will fit your Precision. 2) Yes, all included.
  • asked byRaven

    fromPHX AZ

    Will these fit a Jackson J's dinky bass

    Will these fit a Jackson J's dinky bass

    Open Reply - Thomas
    In a case like this we recommend having a qualified guitar tech look at the guitar.
  • asked byHalf87

    fromWOFFORD HEIGHTS, ca

    what are the dimensions of these pickups ?

    what are the dimensions of these pickups ?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Please see "file:///C:/Users/thomas.meehan/Downloads/gzr_phz_instructions_0230-0282rg.pdf"
  • asked bygordon

    frommississippi

    I'm 100 years old and love Geezer, but the descriptions of these pick ups include "grit", "any tone you want", and other subjective terms that mean nothing. The early Sabbath albums had no low end like everything else in the late 60's so that's not a useful descriptor either. I just want to know if this set will deliver a clean un-distorted signal or not. Thanks!

    I'm 100 years old and love Geezer, but the descriptions of these pick ups include "grit", "any tone you want", and other subjective terms that mean nothing. The early Sabbath albums had no low end like everything else in the late 60's so that's not a useful descriptor either. I just want to know if this set will deliver a clean un-distorted signal or not. Thanks!

    Open Reply - Gear-Head
    Yes they can
  • asked byRighteous Dude

    fromWisconsin

    Shaft diameter of pots.

    Shaft diameter of pots.

    Open Reply - Thomas
    No pots are included
  • asked byDave

    fromOxford, Michigan

    Would the EMG GZR pickups work on a 5 string bass?

    Would the EMG GZR pickups work on a 5 string bass?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    No, these will not fit a 5 string
  • asked byDirtBag

    fromCA

    Do the pick ups come wired to new pots?

    Do the pick ups come wired to new pots?

    Open Reply - Beau
    These pickups do come wired to new pots.
  • asked byDirtbag

    fromCA

    Are the pumps spring mounted or solid mount?

    Are the pumps spring mounted or solid mount?

    Open Reply - Charles
    Solid mount.