Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

[JB_From_Hell]

Found a cheap set of Blackouts, thinking about getting them for my PRS SE Custom 24. Mahogany body, set maple neck, floating trem.

I don’t dislike the stock import HFS/Vintage Bass, but I love trying new stuff. The guitar is pretty versatile as-is, and the split tones are really good. Kinda feel stupid for wanting to get away from passives in it, but like I said, new stuff.

Are the Blackouts gonna kill the versatility?

 

[Explorer84]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

If the pickups are cheap and its not going to put a big dent in your wallet I'd say buy them and try them. And if they're cheap you'll most likely recoup all of your money if in fact you don't care for them and decide to flip them. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the Blackouts. I have a PRS SE Anniversary Custom 24. I didn't care for the stock pickups myself. I ended up installing a Screamin Demon in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. To my ears, it sounds a lot better.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

ive tried the blackout buckers but not the others, the metal or mick or the rest, and while they are hot pups they were more versatile than i expected. lots of output though so they need a high headroom amp to not overload the input

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

The AHB-1B is super hot, but if you've got an amp that can handle it, it is as versatile as your average hot ceramic bridge pickup. At least moreso than the super focused EMG 81.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

My setup is a POD XT Live into a Super Reverb. Sounds stupid, I know, but I'm really happy with the range of tones.

Think I can get the pair w/ all the wiring & pots for under $100.

From the descriptions (thanks, Rex!), I'm expecting the bridge pickup not to be tight enough, but it seems stupid not to at least try them.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

Hottest pickups I've ever owned and played. Just crazy. That said, not out of control at all. Fully harnessed and disciplined. Less compression than EMGs. But still too hot for my tastes. Great pickups though. (I preferred EMGs)

If the pickups are that cheap, make sure you verify that they are real SD's because the Blackouts have been counterfeited a lot by China and they've since entered the North American market.

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

I found it difficult to get clean/edge of breakup tones when I was using Blackouts. That was mostly due to their output, but the overall tone of the pickups wasn't the easiest to work with for my personal tastes, either. I would say it really is going to depend on how much headroom your rig has. FWIW, while I went back to passives, I liked the Mick Thomson Blackouts much better when I got to try them and thought they handled cleaner tones surprisingly well.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Blackouts in PRS SE Custom

Total shift of gears, I think I'm going with a D Sonic/ Air Norton. I've had really great luck with split tones from DiMarzio, with the D Activator, Ionizer (bridge & neck), Imperium, and PAF7. I'm betting, coupled with the PRS split that leaves the second coil partially in the circuit, this thing is a beast after the swap.