Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

[Hehasthejazzhands]

So, I got a new 7-string. I'm debating on these two pickups. I'm a huge fan of the Distortion in the bridge, but I like experimenting. I was considering the EMTY because the description sounds a lot like the Distortion, but I'd like more opinions. How do these two compare?

 

[Arwin]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Sounds like in general you are a big fan of the distortion, but just want a different flavor. I think the EMTY is a great pickup but doesn't have quite the low end heft of the distortion by design. I would definitely recommend checking out our Black Winter, which is a killer high output passive pickup like the distortion but with a different, and equally brutal, voicing. I would say if you are considering blackouts, check out the AHB-1. Compared to the EMTY the AHB-1 blackouts are voiced with a much bigger and fatter low end.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Sounds like in general you are a big fan of the distortion, but just want a different flavor. I think the EMTY is a great pickup but doesn't have quite the low end heft of the distortion by design. I would definitely recommend checking out our Black Winter, which is a killer high output passive pickup like the distortion but with a different, and equally brutal, voicing. I would say if you are considering blackouts, check out the AHB-1. Compared to the EMTY the AHB-1 blackouts are voiced with a much bigger and fatter low end.

I was actually checking out the AHB3 over the AHB1 because of the supposedly lower bass. Since it's for lower tunings on a 7-string, I was thinking the reduced bassiness of the EMTY would be better, since this will be going as low as G# Standard.

I did consider the Black Winter, but my experience was less than stellar. It didn't have much bite and a less clear low end than the Distortions I owned, and currently own. Kinda why I'm skipping it and going for the regular distortion.

IF I was considering another passive, it's probably the Nazgul, but I'm afraid it isn't as tight as the Distortion. So, it's either the Distortion or the AHB3 EMTY.

Would you say the EMTY is tighter, midrangier, and brighter than the Distortion? Or would the Distortion have more brightness and midrange growl?

 

[dave74]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Nazgul is actually billed as being tighter(in the lows) and more spectrum-compressed(EQ), but less dynamically-compressed(pick-attack) than the Distortion.
In other words; Tighter/cleaner lows, broader midrange boost, and less in the ultra-highs(aka fizz).

I was considering a Nazgul for one my low-tuned 6-strings but ultimately I usually end-up I liking the hotter more all-out models when it comes to ceramics. (like over 16dcr).

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Would you say the EMTY is tighter, midrangier, and brighter than the Distortion?

The EMTY is tighter/stiffer than the Distortion. Fairly similar brightness and bite, but the EMTY's top end is a little better defined in my experience.

The EMTY has more of a high-mid focus compared to the regular AHB-1. As a result, it has less low-end oomph, but it is still plenty punchy on the bottom and very present and clear in the mids, like a good active should be.

It wouldn't be outrageous to think of the EMTY as kind of a cross between an EMG 81 and a Distortion

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

The EMTY is tighter/stiffer than the Distortion. Fairly similar brightness and bite, but the EMTY's top end is a little better defined in my experience.

The EMTY has more of a high-mid focus compared to the regular AHB-1. As a result, it has less low-end oomph, but it is still plenty punchy on the bottom and very present and clear in the mids, like a good active should be.

It wouldn't be outrageous to think of the EMTY as kind of a cross between an EMG 81 and a Distortion

You might have just sold me on the EMTY.

I'm a huge fan of both the EMG 81 and Distortion, both being my favorite active and passive bridge pickups.

Nazgul is actually billed as being tighter(in the lows) and more spectrum-compressed(EQ), but less dynamically-compressed(pick-attack) than the Distortion.
In other words; Tighter/cleaner lows, broader midrange boost, and less in the ultra-highs(aka fizz).

I was considering a Nazgul for one my low-tuned 6-strings but ultimately I usually end-up I liking the hotter more all-out models when it comes to ceramics. (like over 16dcr).

I may consider the Nazgul as well. If it can handle drop F#/standard G# then that would be solid.

The EMTYs are still at high consideration, though. Although the Nazgul will probably be nice as well due to the lower output.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

The Nazgul is a hot beast of a pickup, on par with the others for output. If you're looking for "lower output" with bite and clarity for down-tuning, the Pegasus would be a better way to go if you stay passive.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

The Nazgul is a hot beast of a pickup, on par with the others for output. If you're looking for "lower output" with bite and clarity for down-tuning, the Pegasus would be a better way to go if you stay passive.

Yeah I mean compared to the AHB3 though. Those AHBs seem to even surpass EMG pickups in output in my experience.

Still pretty set on the EMTY, though. If it's got the tightness and clarity of EMGs and the grind, growl, and cut of Distortions, then it's exactly what I need.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

All of the Blackouts models hit the amp pretty hard, but there's something to be said for the voicing of the pickup, as well.

The Nazgul isn't as bright/cutting and it sounds dirtier/grittier. With actives, you usually have a lower pickup wind going through a specially voiced preamp, so the response is different.

Now, the Nazgul does a fine job cutting through, it does have some upper-mid presence, but it's thunderous down low and, overall, sounds more like a very heavily overwound JB style pickup than a Distortion.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

I'll probably check out the EMTY then. Checking out the Nazgul, it sounds... interesting. But the EMTY sounds closer to my needs.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Yeah, after thinking about everything that was told to me, I'm definitely gonna get the EMTY set.

Thank you guys for the help, really appreciate it

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Don't be a stranger...let us know what you think when you try them!

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Don't be a stranger...let us know what you think when you try them!

Given how I gotta save due to other payments, and how hard these are to find on the 2nd hand market, it'll be a couple of weeks or so before I actually check them out. But I'll be sure to.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

$149 shipped...can't beat that for new! LINK

And, no, I'm not the seller

 

[dave74]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Now, the Nazgul does a fine job cutting through, it does have some upper-mid presence, but it's thunderous down low and, overall, sounds more like a very heavily overwound JB style pickup than a Distortion.

I'd love to hear your take on the Black Winter vs Nazgul,,,,,,,and vs Distortion also.
Which one out of the three (bridges) has the least in the ultra-highs?
Which has the fullest/broadest mids?
Which has the deepest most expansive lows?



I've only played the Distortion so it's my only reference of the three.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Deepest lows = Nazgul > Distortion > Black Winter
Fullest/Broadest mids = Nazgul > Distortion > Black Winter
Least ultra-high end = Nazgul > Distortion/Black Winter

The Distortion has a big bottom, lots of low-mid punch and sometimes spikey highs.
The Black Winter is a refined Distortion in many ways...tighter bottom, flatter (more balanced) in the midrange, with a little more brightness in some guitars than the Distortion, although the high notes don't tend to be as sharp on the ears
The Nazgul has a big, heavy-hitting bottom, strong midrange and warmer sounding highs than the other two. It's the most different of the 3

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Given how I gotta save due to other payments, and how hard these are to find on the 2nd hand market, it'll be a couple of weeks or so before I actually check them out. But I'll be sure to.

I have an AHB-3 bridge FS. PM me if interested.

 

[dave74]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Deepest lows = Nazgul > Distortion > Black Winter
Fullest/Broadest mids = Nazgul > Distortion > Black Winter
Least ultra-high end = Nazgul > Distortion/Black Winter

The Distortion has a big bottom, lots of low-mid punch and sometimes spikey highs.
The Black Winter is a refined Distortion in many ways...tighter bottom, flatter (more balanced) in the midrange, with a little more brightness in some guitars than the Distortion, although the high notes don't tend to be as sharp on the ears
The Nazgul has a big, heavy-hitting bottom, strong midrange and warmer sounding highs than the other two. It's the most different of the 3

Thank you Masta, those descriptions are very helpful.

Nazgul sounds like the right choice of that bunch for warming-up a brighter guitar(maple/ash/ebony/OFR) while still having the attack and the crisper ceramic clarity.

I know the Invader is good for that as well but I want to stay with a conventional look, plus I want tb-spacing even though they say it doesn't matter with the Invader.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distortion vs EMTY Mick Thomson Blackouts

Nazgul sounds like the right choice of that bunch for warming-up a brighter guitar(maple/ash/ebony/OFR) while still having the attack and the crisper ceramic clarity.

Exactly