Robert originally made his living as a drummer, not a guitarist. However, after the band's equipment was stolen and he was at a loss, Robert switched to repairing guitar amplifiers.

Originally studying acoustics at university, and with family members including Bill who were knowledgeable about electronics, learning about repairs came easily to him.

However, I grew tired of repairing amplifiers and set my sights on pickups, which are particularly easy to modify among guitar components.

(Excerpt from EMG Instagram)

And then the first turning point arrived for EMG.

It was my encounter with Steinberger.

Steinberger developed groundbreaking technologies such as graphite necks and the trunnion system.

For Stein, who aimed to create an instrument that could be used in a wide range of situations, EMG pickups were the perfect fit.

Back then, with the advancement of synthesizers and the spread of CDs, the sound had a clear outline and came forward.Bass・The Steinberger, which produced the sound, gained popularity, and the EMG pickups it was equipped with also became more well-known.

Additionally, the fact that artists like Steve Lukather, who were active as studio musicians, used them also contributed to their popularity.

Furthermore, Metallica's adoption of EMG pickups sparked a surge in popularity among metal artists, cementing the image of "EMG = metal." They also became standard equipment on guitars from ESP, B.C. Rich, Dean, and others.

I believe the reasons mentioned above were major factors in EMG's rising popularity, but another key factor that established its appeal was the ease of installation—anyone could swap them out without needing major body modifications.

In recent years, various innovations have been implemented, such as adopting socketed wiring that allows for replacement without soldering. I look forward to the further evolution of EMG in the future!

(Excerpt from EMG Instagram)