AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

juka

juka

New member
Ok, since the blackouts are available for some time and some people seem to like the AHB-1N as a bridge PU (some forum bro in another thread even suggested a name change because of this):

How does it compare to an EMG 85 as bridge PUs?

And another question:

Can you combine an AHB-1N as a bridge PU with an EMG89 as neck PU? Because for me the 89 is the ideal neck PU, at least until SD comes out with some kind of a "P-Rail Blackout".
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

juka said:
Ok, since the blackouts are available for some time and some people seem to like the AHB-1N as a bridge PU (some forum bro in another thread even suggested a name change because of this):

How does it compare to an EMG 85 as bridge PUs?

And another question:

Can you combine an AHB-1N as a bridge PU with an EMG89 as neck PU? Because for me the 89 is the ideal neck PU, at least until SD comes out with some kind of a "P-Rail Blackout".
Click to expand...

I have an AHB1 bridge and an EMG 89, which should sound like an 85 when in humbucker mode. I can't see any similarities :)

You can smoothly combine these only if a 4-pot guitar, or by skipping controls for one pickup or another. The EMGs uses 25 Kohm pots which would kill a passive pickup.
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

uOpt said:
I have an AHB1 bridge and an EMG 89, which should sound like an 85 when in humbucker mode. I can't see any similarities :)

...
Click to expand...

No, you got me wrong!

I need a comparison between an AHB-1N Blackout Neck PU used in bridge position compared to an EMG85 in bridge position.

This may be a little bit confusing because most people use them as neck PUs, but some like them in the bridge position also. Well, at least the 85 and that's the reason for my question.
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

I guess it would be confusing to some with the addition that I always use an EMG 85 in the neck with an EMG 81 in the bridge. Better yet an 81/81 setup. Haven't compared the Blackouts yet, but I have one I will swap in in the next month or so.
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Anyone try this yet? I just threw an 85 in the bridge of a Strat, and I have an AHB-1N here for the next one.
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Yep...AHB-1n in the bridge kills. Thick...grindie...organic. Tho I like the EMG85...I love the AHB-1n in the bridge. My fav active PuP by a long shot...
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Any Blackout in any position (neck, bridge, doorstop, paperweight)>any emg.
just an opinon, flame away. although 85 is my fav if i was stuck on a deserted island, and had to choose between 85,81,60,89.
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

I completely forgot about this threat I started more than 2 years ago.
It's incredible how time goes on.

In the mean time I had the chance to test drive both AHB-1N and EMG85X in bridge position and I still prefer the 85 (without the X!!!)
because I feel that in the developement of the two mentioned above they tried to make a better NECK-PU out of the 85!
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

You know what would make a killer bridge pickup IMO? The Mick Thomson EMTY neck pickup. That's one good thing about a 2-year old thread revived, we didn't have the EMTY back then! :)
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

What would sound better (warmer) in alder/maple as a bridge pup?
The ceramic bridge or the alnico neck pup?


*sorry kinda off topic
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

frankfalbo said:
You know what would make a killer bridge pickup IMO? The Mick Thomson EMTY neck pickup. That's one good thing about a 2-year old thread revived, we didn't have the EMTY back then! :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, exactly my thoughts :beerchug:

...but I always keep coming back to my trusty old 85,
so maybe this time somebody else can try this out... :wink:
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

I was one of the first people outside Seymour Duncan to demo the Blackouts when they first appeared and I swapped out all my EMG's for them.

Now, I'm switching over to the EMTY Blackouts on most of my guitars. The EMTY sounds more like what I've been looking for but I use my beloved Blackout originals for my brighter guitars. Good thing I have a good paying job because I'm going to spend a small fortune buying EMTY pickups for my guitars this month!
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Darth Nihilus said:
I was one of the first people outside Seymour Duncan to demo the Blackouts when they first appeared and I swapped out all my EMG's for them.

Now, I'm switching over to the EMTY Blackouts on most of my guitars. The EMTY sounds more like what I've been looking for but I use my beloved Blackout originals for my brighter guitars. Good thing I have a good paying job because I'm going to spend a small fortune buying EMTY pickups for my guitars this month!
Click to expand...

Can you describe what you hear as the differences between the AHB-1 and the EMTY?
 
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Sure.

For starters, I always felt the distortion characteristic of EMG pickups was fuzzy. The Blackouts have more of a "Crunch" characteristic.

The EMTY's are still as dynamic and full bodied as the original Blackouts but it seems that with the EMTY, the low frequencies start tapering off a slight bit earlier than the OG Blackouts. Because of this, the lows become tighter and more focused with less chance for the lows to fall apart. NOT that the original Blackouts suffer from a loose low end because I don't think they do. I just think that the tighter lows of the EMTY produces a punchier low end that's more solid. The high end on the EMTY are boosted but not excessively. They add more cut to the tone but it's very similar to the original Blackouts there.

The big difference I feel is in the midrange. The OG Blackouts seem to have a boost in the upper mids, similar to what one might find in the JB. The EMTY sounds a bit smoother in the upper mids but it DOESN"T sound scooped and it sounds clearer overall than the OG Blackouts. I guess because the mids on the EMTY are smoother, the pickup doesn't hit the front end of the amp as hard as the OG Blackouts so it produces slightly less gain but this is pretty meaningless considering the amount of power all the Blackouts produce, although it does mean that it produces a better clean tone.

I hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
Re: AHB-1 N vs. EMG 85?

Darth Nihilus said:
Sure.

For starters, I always felt the distortion characteristic of EMG pickups was fuzzy. The Blackouts have more of a "Crunch" characteristic.

The EMTY's are still as dynamic and full bodied, like the original Blackouts but it seems that with the EMTY, the low frequencies seem to start tapering off a slight bit earlier than the OG Blackouts. That way, the lows become tighter and more focused with less chance for the lows to fall apart. NOT that the original Blackouts suffer from a loose low end because I don't think it does. I just think that the tighter lows of the EMTY produces a punchier low end that's more solid. The high end on the EMTY are boosted but not excessively. They add more cut to the tone but it's very similar to the original Blackouts there.

The big difference I feel is in the midrange. The OG Blackouts seem to have a boost in the upper mids, similar to what one might find in a JB. The EMTY sounds a bit smoother in the upper mids but it DOESN"T sound scooped and it sounds clearer overall than the OG Blackouts. I guess because the mids on the EMTY are smoother, the pickup doesn't hit the front end of the amp as hard as the OG Blackouts so it produces slightly less gain but this is pretty meaningless considering the amount of power all the Blackouts produce although it does mean that it produces a better clean tone.

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...

i could not have said this anywhere near as articulated as you have. very well.
 
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