EMG S4 BK

Firstly my pickup has the classic white EMG logo (looks like an S or SA) and doesn't say HZ which will please some as it removes a bit of the 'budget' perception of the passive range.

This is a nice pickup with quite a unique tone which I'm using in neck position - think single coil bite/shimmer with thicker smoother bass and low mids with not much upper mid. Gives that typical 'hi fi' sound EMGs are known for. It is also mega quiet! Much quieter than the conventional humbucker I have in the bridge position.

After an initial trial, I considered changing it for a lace sensor but it's staying in at the moment as it is pleasing whenever I play it. It also fits in tight spaces (mine is in a top mounted carvin where very few singles will fit) but is quite tall so unlikely to be able to mount it very low - eg I couldn't use in middle position as it would interfere with picking too much.

The magnetic pickups fitted to most electro acoustic mandolin are very poor. They have a lot of hum, noise and they sound awful. I fitted this EMG S4 BK to my new Ortega mandolin (with a small amount of work). No soldering is needed as it has push fit connectors on the pickup, controls and jack socket. The instructions that come with it are very clear and straight forward.
The sound from this pickup is brilliant. A nice rich bottom end, full mid range and a crisp high end with no harshness. Also there is zero hum and noise.
If you have a mandolin with a magnetic pickup, I recommend fitting an EMG S4 BK pickup. You won't regret it.