Let's talk about active pickups...
- Thread starter Mshiple4
- Start date
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Duncan Blackout.
I am not a fan of actives in general. Never really liked EMG's. Was in a band with a guy who played them though.
I think the Blackout is like a "Next Gen" active. I love that I could play almost anything on it. It doesn't feel like an active. It more of a passive tone and feel, but a lot of the consistency of actives.
Duncan Blackout.
I am not a fan of actives in general. Never really liked EMG's. Was in a band with a guy who played them though.
I think the Blackout is like a "Next Gen" active. I love that I could play almost anything on it. It doesn't feel like an active. It more of a passive tone and feel, but a lot of the consistency of actives.
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
See I'm a huge duncan fan. My strat is currently loaded with hot rails, and I absolutely love them. But I currently started looking into active and I either want to either throw some actives in my strat, build a new guitar with actoves, or buy some cheapo and mod it. Blackouts have some pretty awesome tone, but the emgs 85/81 also seem attractive probably just because allot of big names use them.
See I'm a huge duncan fan. My strat is currently loaded with hot rails, and I absolutely love them. But I currently started looking into active and I either want to either throw some actives in my strat, build a new guitar with actoves, or buy some cheapo and mod it. Blackouts have some pretty awesome tone, but the emgs 85/81 also seem attractive probably just because allot of big names use them.
dazedandconfused001
New member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
im considering getting some emg retroactives in red/black zebra..... but i havent heard much (positive or negative) about them
im considering getting some emg retroactives in red/black zebra..... but i havent heard much (positive or negative) about them
mjsmanahan35
New member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1 Active
https://youtu.be/zgIQkYK_yWA
https://youtu.be/jh89I27Nh08
Seymour Duncan JB Bridge Passive
https://youtu.be/1ve4t_PxWrA
https://youtu.be/Oruf42vYWrM
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1 Active
https://youtu.be/zgIQkYK_yWA
https://youtu.be/jh89I27Nh08
Seymour Duncan JB Bridge Passive
https://youtu.be/1ve4t_PxWrA
https://youtu.be/Oruf42vYWrM
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Do it. The 57/66 set replaced the 81-7/707 (essentially an 85-7 but a little bit hotter I've been told) in my Epiphone Les Paul 7. It sounds absolutely massive.
This also leads me to say that the 57/66 set is my favorite active set. The Blackouts in my Schecter 7 are way too scooped sounding (evidence of Dino Cazares' influence on the making of them).
Do it. The 57/66 set replaced the 81-7/707 (essentially an 85-7 but a little bit hotter I've been told) in my Epiphone Les Paul 7. It sounds absolutely massive.
This also leads me to say that the 57/66 set is my favorite active set. The Blackouts in my Schecter 7 are way too scooped sounding (evidence of Dino Cazares' influence on the making of them).
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
In guitars that have a natural thickness and beef I like the 81 and 57, depending on what it's for.
For guitars that are lacking natural oomphiness or thud I'd take the original Blackouts over the EMGs, but would actually just usually go passive in that case.
In guitars that have a natural thickness and beef I like the 81 and 57, depending on what it's for.
For guitars that are lacking natural oomphiness or thud I'd take the original Blackouts over the EMGs, but would actually just usually go passive in that case.
juka
New member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Lots of interesting actives out there at the moment:
Lots of interesting actives out there at the moment:
- The 57/66 were a huge success for EMG and even die hard EMG haters have to admit that they "don't sound that bad for an active" :crazy:
- Fishman Fluence amaze me every time I play them with their exceptional clarity and dynamics and there is good reason that they will be installed into every guitar I own :bigeyes:
- Retroactives and Dualities both seem to follow a very interesting concept and I'm looking forward to give them a try
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
I think the BIG thing about actives to me is not the "activeness" but the fact that there are so few options in them.
How many different actives are there? There is that one sound per brand, or two. In passives, I have 20+ pickups from DMZ, SD, etc....way easier to find the ONE that I want, vs dig that one sound.
I think the BIG thing about actives to me is not the "activeness" but the fact that there are so few options in them.
How many different actives are there? There is that one sound per brand, or two. In passives, I have 20+ pickups from DMZ, SD, etc....way easier to find the ONE that I want, vs dig that one sound.
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Did you find any improvement in the noise cancellation from 81 to 57?
Did you find any improvement in the noise cancellation from 81 to 57?
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
If I could only pick one, the 85 at the bridge. It's a fantastic lead pickup especially.
If I could only pick one, the 85 at the bridge. It's a fantastic lead pickup especially.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Yes. The 57 is a bit cooler than the 81 so I didn't get a ton of gain hum.
Yes. The 57 is a bit cooler than the 81 so I didn't get a ton of gain hum.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
I like the 85 in the bridge position. I really dig the 81TW too. I sometimes dig the 81 as well, but the fatter 85 is more my thing.
I love the 81 for fluid high-gain leads in the neck position, and I like the 60 for cleans.
I hate the standard Duncan Blackout Bridge because I find it way too over the top in terms of output and EQ. I'm also not particularly fond of the EMG Hets for the same reason, but I prefer the Hets over the Blackout because they don't have the exaggerated lows and highs of the Blackout.
Would really love to try out the EMG 57 and the Fishman Fluences.
I like the 85 in the bridge position. I really dig the 81TW too. I sometimes dig the 81 as well, but the fatter 85 is more my thing.
I love the 81 for fluid high-gain leads in the neck position, and I like the 60 for cleans.
I hate the standard Duncan Blackout Bridge because I find it way too over the top in terms of output and EQ. I'm also not particularly fond of the EMG Hets for the same reason, but I prefer the Hets over the Blackout because they don't have the exaggerated lows and highs of the Blackout.
Would really love to try out the EMG 57 and the Fishman Fluences.
Diego
New member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
Tried a EMG 81 bridge through a Roland MicroCube in a shop once... doesn't really count, does it?
With that said, yesterday I tried a set of Blackouts in a Schecter through a Fender Mustang stack (can't remember the number) and well, they sounded incredible to my ears.
The neck Blackout has a lovely vocal quality that makes notes stand out perfectly. It has a very composed, predictable attack to notes that works beautifully.
Not a mushfest as I thought it could be, given it's mad output, and it cleaned up very decently rolling the volume back.
The bridge Blackout is just colossal.
Huge output, good high-end definition, tons of punch in the bass and I'm not sure about the mids but it didn't sound scooped to me.
I don't know if I'd dig them in the long run but they're damn good pickups.
Tried a EMG 81 bridge through a Roland MicroCube in a shop once... doesn't really count, does it?
With that said, yesterday I tried a set of Blackouts in a Schecter through a Fender Mustang stack (can't remember the number) and well, they sounded incredible to my ears.
The neck Blackout has a lovely vocal quality that makes notes stand out perfectly. It has a very composed, predictable attack to notes that works beautifully.
Not a mushfest as I thought it could be, given it's mad output, and it cleaned up very decently rolling the volume back.
The bridge Blackout is just colossal.
Huge output, good high-end definition, tons of punch in the bass and I'm not sure about the mids but it didn't sound scooped to me.
I don't know if I'd dig them in the long run but they're damn good pickups.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Let's talk about active pickups...
I absolutely love the sound and feel of the regular Blackouts...there's virtually nothing they can't do....but the output was just too much for me.
I liked the voicing and clarity of the EMTY Blackouts, also, but they were a bit stiff sounding/feeling and sometimes the upper-mids would sound honky in a way I didn't like. Surprisingly cool for '80s rock tones (ha ha!), but still a bit over-the-top like the originals in the output category.
The EMG 57/66 is a great active set. Kind of a "safe" choice that definitely improves on the older designs without sacrificing what makes those classic EMGs so darn good.
The EMG JH set is incredible and unique in the EMG camp, but also very high output and, just like the original Blackouts, they'd be utterly perfect if the output was pulled back just a little.
The SD Dave Mustaine LiveWires are amazing if you want a very passive-like experience from your actives. A very usable and all-too-often overlooked set of pickups, in my opinion, probably due to the artist association and limited finish options for so many years (seriously SD...no "black" option EVER?!?!).
I absolutely love the sound and feel of the regular Blackouts...there's virtually nothing they can't do....but the output was just too much for me.
I liked the voicing and clarity of the EMTY Blackouts, also, but they were a bit stiff sounding/feeling and sometimes the upper-mids would sound honky in a way I didn't like. Surprisingly cool for '80s rock tones (ha ha!), but still a bit over-the-top like the originals in the output category.
The EMG 57/66 is a great active set. Kind of a "safe" choice that definitely improves on the older designs without sacrificing what makes those classic EMGs so darn good.
The EMG JH set is incredible and unique in the EMG camp, but also very high output and, just like the original Blackouts, they'd be utterly perfect if the output was pulled back just a little.
The SD Dave Mustaine LiveWires are amazing if you want a very passive-like experience from your actives. A very usable and all-too-often overlooked set of pickups, in my opinion, probably due to the artist association and limited finish options for so many years (seriously SD...no "black" option EVER?!?!).
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