I've experienced a "Blackout"!

[Evan Skopp]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Sorry to hear you're not digging your 6-string Blackouts. What's weird to me is that the 7-string version you tired out wasn't distorting your clean channel and the 6-string version is. They have the exact same internal pre-amp with the exact same gain.

Dino Cazares reported that Blackouts had more gain than his previous pickups. But the 6- and 7-string versions should be the same.

I wonder if you have a defective pickup. If you want to exchange it for another AHB-1 set, please contact our customer service and we'll take care of it.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Yeah, I suspect something is out of normal. I just tested the Blackouts here next to a "median output" set of passive pickups through a Twin Tube straight into a Mackie with headphones. The output is more present and perhaps a little louder, but when I had the gain set to just the slightest hint of break up, the passives and the Blackouts both generated similar amounts of break up on hard picked notes. When I had it set just under that threshold for a clean but pushed sound, neither the passives nor the Blackouts pushed the preamp to overdrive. There are other things that can impart distortion characteristics when using actives, so maybe some Q & A offline will get us going in the right direction. All of the high level artists are telling us the output is absolutely perfect.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Attention EMG users looking to replace them with Blackouts and currently run EMG's at 18-volts........Don't run them that way or you'll have no clean tones!

I had this problem until I spoke with Frank Falbo and he was certain that was the problem and dammit if it wasn't. I have both cleans (backing down the pup eliminates slight distortion to the cleans) and the most satisfying distortion that will crush the most jaded of Metal guitarists.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Frank, Evan, Patrick and all at Seymour Duncan for all their help and guidance with me and my new Blackouts. You guys are the greatest!!!

 

[ex-250]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

if you put the neck model in the bridge, will it be similar to an 85 in the bridge? or is it configured solely for the neck position?

 

[peace_destroy_many]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Thanks for the update Darth Nihilus

wish I had the friends that you have...been dying to get a set of blackouts ever since Winter Namm

I'm wondering how the blackouts would sound in conjunction with the EMG afterburner or pa2 boost.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

If you put the neck position Blackout in the bridge, it IS like using the 85 in the bridge. I don't like the 85 in the neck and since Duncan doesn't make a Blackout similar to the 60, I use two bridge position Blackouts on my guitars. It's similar to using two 81's but obviously a ton better!

BTW, I don't see what the Afterburner or pa2 booster could possibly do for the blackouts. The Blackouts already have the power of EMG's with a Afterburner and a pa2 combined!

 

[peace_destroy_many]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

I use two bridge position Blackouts on my guitars. It's similar to using two 81's but obviously a ton better!

sweet - thats exactly how I was thinking of setting up the blackouts - like 2 81s

 

[Zerberus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Attention EMG users looking to replace them with Blackouts and currently run EMG's at 18-volts........Don't run them that way or you'll have no clean tones!

I had this problem until I spoke with Frank Falbo and he was certain that was the problem and dammit if it wasn't. I have both cleans (backing down the pup eliminates slight distortion to the cleans) and the most satisfying distortion that will crush the most jaded of Metal guitarists.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Frank, Evan, Patrick and all at Seymour Duncan for all their help and guidance with me and my new Blackouts. You guys are the greatest!!!

VERY good to know, as I even went so far as to start running my EMGs on 27 for the increased headroom amnd dynamics. :beerchug:

I think I can see a set in my future for my rhoads. Neck and bridge swapped around, though, because I prefer 81n /85b when using EMGs

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

It made the front page ! Great work guys ! Can't wait for the next COB album.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

I already did. It's the very first post on this thread. I'd honestly just be repeating myself.

 

[Ang3lus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Darth, think you could post better sound samples ?
I don't dig the ones on the duncan site and they sound horrible to me, and according to these reviews they are much better and i really wanna get a set, but i can't shell out 200$ just like that for a set
if you could help i will be much obliged

 

[f22]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

I don't know whether this has been answered before but will there be a neck and bridge model for 7 string too? Like an 81-7 and a 707? Or just the one model?
Thanks.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Sorry but I'm not set up for clips. I have a friend who is, and I might go down to his house in a few days to do just that.

BTW, another awesome thing I've discovered about the Blackouts is that they seem to bring out wood tone much better than EMG's. With the other actives, guitars seem less dissimilar tonewise and the Blackouts are making my guitars sound more individual, like they did when I had passive Duncans in them. This is awesome. My les Paul sounds thick, dark and heavy, just like a great Les Paul should with the Blackouts. Before I replaced the 81/60 combo I had in it, I recorded on my 4-track to a/b them with the Blackouts and the 81/60 combo sounded rather anemic by comparison. I still like the tone of the 60 more than the Blackouts when played clean, but the distortion tones are leaps and bounds beyond the EMG's.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

He are some clips using two bridge position Blackouts in my Gibson Les Paul Custom. The clean tones are produced with the toggle switch in the middle position and the distorted clips are done with the bridge pick-up.

Enjoy!

http://www.geocities.com/ezkdrm2000/music/Dirty_1.mp3
http://www.geocities.com/ezkdrm2000/music/dirty_chunk_1.mp3

 

[Mephis]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Clip doesn't work.


Woah, wow, ok they work now. I don't think I'm going to be changing pickups any time soon...

 

[OrkestrA]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

turn your gain down, **** me!

 

[slayer678]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

thanx for the clips. Whats your EQ at right now?

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Yeah , nice metal tone Darth Nihilus !
But are they always cold like that or can they be warm and singing as well ?
Could you post some leads ?
Thanks anyway .

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

really thick Distortion!Thanx for the clips dude!I know now what you mean with "crushing"

 

[Peter Antal]

Re: I've experienced a "Blackout"!

Thanks for the clips! The surgical tightness and compression are impressive but the sound's rather dry and dull in my opinion. I'd turn the gain down and the mids up a little bit and see if that adds more character to the sound.