Good passive alternative to blackouts
- Thread starter elflord1973
- Start date
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Ohhh, good point. The routes on Ibanez are so shallow.
I wouldn't be worried about the X2N being too bright, though. I found the X2N to be darker than the Winter, and the Winter isn't as sizzly as some of the other ceramic Duncans.
I haven't tried an Invader in ages, but is it darker even than the X2N?
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Masta' C
Well-known member
You know, a D-Activator / D-Activator "X" hybrid would be just about perfect for recreating the Blackouts tone in a passive format (like a D-Sonic with a bit more girth or a more modern sounding Megadrive!).
The midrange on the regular D-Activator is actually quite similar to the regular Blackouts...moreso than the actual "EMG" pickups the D-Activators were designed to compete with. However, the D-Activators don't have the low-end body that the Blackouts have, so most wouldn't identify them as being "similar" sounding, even though they aren't far off otherwise.
The "X" versions, on the other hand, have an extra dose of mids and a bigger low end, but the high end is pulled back some as a result.
A pickup half-way between the 2 would be amazing!
Honestly, that might be a holy grail type of pickup right there...time to reach out to DiMarzio! LOL!
The midrange on the regular D-Activator is actually quite similar to the regular Blackouts...moreso than the actual "EMG" pickups the D-Activators were designed to compete with. However, the D-Activators don't have the low-end body that the Blackouts have, so most wouldn't identify them as being "similar" sounding, even though they aren't far off otherwise.
The "X" versions, on the other hand, have an extra dose of mids and a bigger low end, but the high end is pulled back some as a result.
A pickup half-way between the 2 would be amazing!
Honestly, that might be a holy grail type of pickup right there...time to reach out to DiMarzio! LOL!
Yeah the X2N has some mid/treble clarity but definitely doesn't open-up on top as much as most of the Duncans. I really like it for taming the slight metallic nature of the OFR bridge, same with the Invader too.
elflord1973
New member
DiMarzio's website describes X2N EQ as "BASS 7.5 LOW MID 8.0 HIGH MID 7.5 TREBLE 2.5", probably a little simplistic but consistent with what you say there. Blaze is shown as having a big bass push (which is how it sounds to me, BASS 9.5 LOW MID 4.5 HIGH MID 4.0 TREBLE 4.5). But thikning an overdrive might tighten this up. The D Activator is described as "BASS 5.0 LOW MID 5.5 HIGH MID 6.0 TREBLE 4.0" which would make it the most balanced of them. D Activator X isn't available for 7 string.
Leaning towards D Activator now (mostly because of concerns about routing the X2N). In this clip (Mike Stamper) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev9GOrbXky0 it sounds pretty tight (e.g. no woofing on the 3:30 riff). Sounds a bit fizzy next to the blackout but thats tameable, the mids on this would come through nicely if the treble were rolled off on the amp. The blackouts have quite a lot of color, to me they felt a lot like having a boost pedal inside the pickup (that, for better or worse, you cannot turn off. At least with the FF modern you can "turn it off" by using the less aggressive second voice)
I think first I'm going to get an overdrive, then maybe get D Activators. Thanks.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Glad you settled on something.
I liked my XXX boosted. It wasn't bad unboosted, but I really liked the Ultra channel (the fatter of the two gain channesl) boosted with a good Tube Screamer. Plenty of bang for buck options out there as well. I liked my TC Mocambo slightly better than my actual TS808 most of the time. But in reality, they still do the same thing, essentially. The only downside is you'll need to keep the gain level on the XXX at check. Boosted, I rarely went over 9:30 on the gain, even with EMG 81's, which are not as hot as Blackouts (or the X2N either, for that matter).
I still think it's a good idea to try the blackouts plus the boost. I know (and I agree with you) that some of the active pickups sound like they've already got a subtle boost going. But an actual TS808 is a lot more radical of an effect than just swaping pickups, even if you're changing from something mega scooped like a Custom to something mega middy like an EMG 81.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Closest Passive I've tried to Blackouts are Lace Alumitone Deathbuckers. They're like a bigger, thicker, crunchier & more bassy/darker (with rounder/sweeter treble) slightly looser/more passive sounding EMG 81. I love them in every guitar I've tried them in.
elflord1973
New member
The d activators have arrived. Much tighter than the dimarzio blaze, though less "middy" than the fishman fluence modern. Definitely something I can work with. I don't love it quite as much as the blackouts though I do like not having to unplug the guitar Thanks all for input.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I've always wanted to try the D Activators. But my experience with DiMarzio has always been kinda like "it's almost there, but not quite", so I'm kinda wary of DiMarzio these days.
The regular ones, not the X's, that is. I don't think I'd like the X's considering I thought the X2N was already too dark for me.
The regular ones, not the X's, that is. I don't think I'd like the X's considering I thought the X2N was already too dark for me.
