I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

I agree! It's got to be Zakk, if it were Kirk Hammett the whole of Metallica would be changing. Steve Lukather uses singles in his rig which would be a problem.

Can't think of anyone else playing humbucker sized pu's that would have the clout. Wow!
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

AFAIK, Zakk is the only "EMG signature" player that uses the 81/85 combination that the Blackouts are based on. Hetfield uses 81/60s, Kirk Hamett uses two 81s, Slayer too. So Seymour Duncan just HAS to grab Zakk!

After all, it is better for us the customers, because then EMG has to answer that. They have to make something even better than the Blackouts and get Zakk back :)

I know that EMG are very talented, just a bit lazy. They stuck to the formula that works and haven't made really new products for years. And they have top notch customer support also! Rick Hunt is a great guy. He sent me a 89R pickup for free when I told him that one of the 89s I had bought was a bit noisier than the other one!
 
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Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Thanks for your kind words, Evan.

Wow, I feel so fortunate to have played a pickup that almost no one has heard! I would be crushed if the 7-string version doesn't come out. I've already been spoiled by it. Evan, please make the 7-string "Blackout" happen!
I'm already in the process of converting all my guitars from the EMG-81/60's over to a pair of Duncan "Blackout" AHB1-B's.

If they dont produce it, it may be possible to order one from the Custom shop??? I am not sure though.
 
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.
The EMG pre-amps should work just fine with them. I have used EMG's preamps with EMG's of course and also passive pickups. There should be no problems at all!
 
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.

Way to go Evan and SD!!!!!!!! I can wait to hear who!
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

what about kerry king...just bc he used 81's doens't mean he wouldn't like these better...

lets seee...a major emg user....well to be honest, when i think of EMG's i think zakk..but since its not him, the 2nd one i go to right away is hammet...then hetfield....hetfield is using diezel now...maybe he's leaving emg too.
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Yeah, it's a pity that it's not Zakk. The first name that crosses my mind when I hear "EMGs" is Zakk Wylde. No other player is equally important as he is for the active pickup world. So if Seymour could grab him that would have been really cool, it would have changed the market situation in favor of the Seymour Duncan company in a very strong way. I'm sure that the EMG guys are not stupid and that they have such an agreement with Zakk that he can't switch to another company so easily. But it's just a guess, I may be wrong.

I think that only Metallica can be considered an artist of the same caliber as Zakk (in terms of their influence on the active pickup market). So I hope it's both of them. Because otherwise the impact would be not so strong.
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Metallica are a band not an artist, strictly speaking, so I doubt. It's got to be an individual.
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Keep in mind that Zakk, Kerry and Kirk all have signature models or sets that provide them income. It wouldn't be in their best interest to leave a good thing.

It's not any of them.
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

hm... when it's not Kerry King it might be Jeff Hannemann, since he doesn't have a sig guutar and his sig guitars come with 81/85.
Jeff Loomis of Nevermore?
 
Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Oh my god ! Alexi Laiho would be so nice... I understand why he'd switch, he uses passive EMGs HZ-H4 (which, IMO, are not as good as actives EMG 81s).
 
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