When a press release dropped into our inbox announcing a new EMG pickup, we weren’t expecting the brand’s first foray into the world of the offset Fender Jazzmaster. Known for its modern active pickup designs – which the company has been making since 1976 – EMG almost seems a mismatch for the funky Jazzmaster, doesn’t it? On the other hand, with the offset enjoying a huge revival, you might well ask, what took ’em so long?
There are actually two new releases. First, there’s the EMG JMaster pickup set, which as usual includes a solderless wiring kit with a master volume and master tone, and costs £199 in black and £219 in ivory or white. Then there’s the JMaster Pickguard System, including those pickups and also a full replacement for the Jazzmaster’s scratchplate to which the new electronics are mounted. It
