EMG GZR PJ Geezer Butler PJ Pickup Set (Black)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bassist Geezer Butler has partnered with EMG to create signature pickup sets that capture the legendary bass tones from Black Sabbath's groundbreaking early albums. The collaboration began in 2011 when Butler approached EMG founder Rob Turner with a specific goal: to recreate the classic bass sounds that defined tracks like "Iron Man," "War Pigs," and "Paranoid."

The GZR-P and GZR-PJ pickup sets represent a return to vintage passive design with modern engineering improvements. Both models feature Alnico V pole pieces and custom wound coils that provide the punch and grit characteristic of Butler's early 1970s tone. The all-solderless P set focuses on delivering that unmistakable deep, tight low end, while the PJ configuration includes a specially designed J pickup with split-coils that eliminate the noise and hum typically associated with vintage single coil designs.

What sets these pickups apart is their ability to produce more power and volume than standard single coil J pickups, creating a remarkable balance between the P and J components. As Butler himself notes: "I never felt comfortable giving my name to any other pickups, but this time these have blown me away." The final design was perfected during Black Sabbath's transition from studio work to touring in 2013, ensuring these pickups could handle both recording and live performance demands.