I've experienced a "Blackout"!

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Evan, I understand the Blackouts are coming out in neck & bridge versions. What I want to know is if the two pups are essentially the same pup but calibrated for their given positions or are they both different in tone similar to how a EMG 81 and 85 are different from each other? Can either Blackout pup be used in any position?

This thread should be made into a sticky so as to keep people aware of the new Duncan pickup coming out!

[adzer]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

"The “other” USA-made active humbuckers use unbalanced inputs in a differential preamp. The problem is, an unbalanced differential preamp is not very effective at cancelling hum. Our engineers figured out how to capture the tone that players want in an active design, but using balanced inputs. The result is 12dB to 14dB less noise, plus more lows, more highs, and more output. Simply put, Blackouts have more tone than other active pickups."

How want less mid? Thats a big disappointment.

[Evan Skopp]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

The neck and bridge Blackouts are very different pickups with different magnets.

[KeeperOS]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Damn, I've actually been avoiding buying a couple of EMG (81/85) equipped guitars that I liked simply because they could do Metallica very well but not much more.

Every EMG equipped guitar I ever tried with the Exception of a Vigier (that simply sounded too heavy, if you can imagine that) sounded... well, yes, the tried word is sterile, the distorted sound was dull and the cleans were ever worse...

This may very well turn the tables!

Evan, one or two questions if you will, could you tell us how it sounds clean?

Thanks, can't wait to listen to it!

EDIT: Never mind the specs, found them (duh )

[KeeperOS]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

It wasn't a matter of tone per say, they were dull, too stiff, only producing one tone, I am not certain but the "less compressed" attribute sounds good to me, anyway, I'll listen to them and decide I guess!

[pstarove]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Evan, what do you mean by saying they have different magnets? Doesn't the tone comparison chart say they both have Alnico 5 bars?

In fact, I was a bit surprised when I saw that besause I knew that 81 used ceramic and 85 used alnico (I dunno if it is a 5 or a 2).

[Evan Skopp]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

The tone chart is wrong. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. It should say that the bridge uses ceramic and the neck uses alnico (I hope I didn't get that backwards).

I'll fix it.

[_Guitarzan_]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Any word on the 7 string versions?

[tc]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

wow those suckers must be good...i don't really like EMGs though...

[_Guitarzan_]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

wow those suckers must be good...i don't really like EMGs though...

The EMG's 707's in my new Schecter Loomis are wearing thin on me. Not even as full as my other guitars equipped w/ C5's. I need Blackouts soon!

[lex666]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Are the blackouts available yet?

I'm dying to try these out in my explorer.

I've already got an ESP and a Les Paul with EMG's... The blackouts sound like a nice alternative to EMG's. Hopefully they will have more "feel" to them...

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Dude, I'm pissed. I was first told we would get the Blackout this April, then May and now I heard they won't be out 'til ........AUGUST!!!

What the hell. Is Japan having trouble getting these things out?

[Philcguitars]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Now, when do we get the 'expander modules' to go with these babies? Or will the EMG ones work with them? That's what makes EMG work for me, because as you must know by now, I don't have the love for standard tone controls.

As for EMG being sterile. I guess it is down to which Pu you use, what you play, and how you process it. Whether that's just straight into an amp or through FX or a board. Anyway I like both the EMG sound and SD's I've heard too.

That said, the tone I get from my SA's stands out above my current stock pick-ups, however I plug and play, and I am looking forward to getting my SD's in other guitars.

[Evan Skopp]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Dude, I'm pissed. I was first told we would get the Blackout this April, then May and now I heard they won't be out 'til ........AUGUST!!!

What the hell. Is Japan having trouble getting these things out?

Japan? Blackouts are made in Santa Barbara (PCB made in China).

Anyway, the first sets will start shipping before the end of May.

BTW, besides Dino Cazares, we're about to announce a MAJOR new artist who ditched his old active pickups for Blackouts, after 30 minutes of playing them. Watch this space.

[pstarove]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

BTW, besides Dino Cazares, we're about to announce a MAJOR new artist who ditched his old active pickups for Blackouts, after 30 minutes of playing them. Watch this space.

Is it ZAKK WYLDE? I know that you won't answer, but only this player can produce a major impact if he goes away from EMGs to you. Then EMG really has to be afraid of you guys! During all his career it was evident that ZAKK's tone=EMG. So a lot of players started playing EMGs because of him, and most of them would likely follow him to Seymour Duncan.