Richie Faulkner Custom 57/66 Falcons RF Pickup Set in Chrome

The EMG Richie Faulkner Custom 57/66 Falcons RF Pickup Set in Chrome is a limited 2026 release that captures the soaring, articulate metal tones of Judas Priest’s modern guitar hero. Based on the acclaimed EMG 57/66 platform but refined to match Richie’s evolving style, this set delivers expressive, high headroom performance with the punch and clarity needed for everything from classic heavy metal riffing to fluid, singing leads.

Working closely with EMG founder Rob Turner, Richie helped fine-tune the voicing of the 57/66 set to create pickups that feel organic and responsive under the fingers while still offering all the benefits of an active system. The result is the RF Falcons Set: a pair of humbuckers that stay tight and defined at extreme gain levels, yet clean up beautifully and respond to every nuance of your playing. Finished in sleek chrome and supplied with EMG’s solderless wiring system, this is a powerful upgrade for players chasing modern metal authority with a refined, musical edge.

Richie Faulkner’s Signature Voice

Known for reigniting the fire in Judas Priest, Richie Faulkner needed pickups that could handle stadium-level metal while still letting his personality shine through. The RF Falcons Set is the direct result of that demand, offering the same core DNA as the EMG 57/66 but with custom tweaks to suit his attack, phrasing and tonal preferences. If you are chasing tight, authoritative rhythm tones and soaring, vocal-like leads, this set puts you right in that sonic ballpark.

Active Power with a Passive Feel

The RF Falcons feature a clean, high-headroom design that keeps your tone open and expressive at any gain level. You get the low noise, consistency and punch associated with active pickups, but with a touch sensitivity and organic response more commonly found in passive designs. This makes it easier to control dynamics from the guitar, whether you are rolling back the volume for glassy cleans or digging in for aggressive riffs.

High Gain Clarity and Expressive Cleans

From tight, palm-muted chugs to wide, harmonically rich chords, the RF Falcons Set maintains clarity and note separation. Under high gain, the low end stays firm and controlled while the top end remains smooth and articulate, helping leads cut through without harshness. On cleaner settings, the pickups reveal a detailed, balanced character that works equally well for atmospheric passages, arpeggios and melodic interludes.

Simple Solderless Installation

Like all EMG systems, the RF Falcons Set includes a complete solderless wiring kit, making installation straightforward even if you are not an experienced tech. Pre-wired connectors, dedicated pots and all necessary cables are included, so you can drop the set into a compatible guitar with minimal fuss. This lets you focus on playing rather than wiring, and makes future swaps or adjustments far easier.

• Richie Faulkner Custom 57/66 Voicing - Developed in collaboration with Richie Faulkner, this set refines the classic EMG 57/66 formula to match his powerful, expressive style, giving you tight rhythm definition and singing lead sustain tailored for modern heavy metal.
• High Headroom, Expressive Response - The clean, high-headroom design keeps your tone open and dynamic at any gain level, so every pick attack, bend and vibrato translates clearly, from subtle clean passages to full-bore distortion.
• Active Performance with Organic Feel - Enjoy the low noise and consistency of active pickups while retaining a natural, passive-like playing feel, making it easier to control your sound from the guitar’s controls and your picking hand.
• EMG Solderless Wiring System Included - The complete solderless install kit simplifies fitting the set into your guitar, reducing installation time and removing the need for soldering so you can get up and running quickly.

General

• Model: EMG Richie Faulkner Custom 57/66 Falcons RF Pickup Set
• Type: Active humbucker pickup set
• Finish: Chrome
• Configuration: Neck and bridge pickups
• Design Basis: Custom-voiced version of EMG 57/66 Set
• Availability: 2026

Electronics

• Pickup Type: Active
• Voicing: High headroom, expressive response suitable for clean and high gain tones
• Wiring: EMG solderless system

Included Hardware and Wiring

• 2 x 25k volume potentiometers
• 2 x 25k tone potentiometers
• 1 x battery bus
• 1 x stereo output jack
• 1 x two pickup in/out bus
• 2 x pickup cables
• 4 x connect cables
• 1 x output cable
• 1 x battery cable
• 2 x pairs of mounting screws and springs