I have a set of blackouts in my main guitar which is an Ibanez S 520EX . I love the way they sound except a little noisy and the tone of the neck pickup is great but the gain is lacking. I just recently bought a S470 to be my backup guitar and I want to swap out the pickups. My goal is to find some pickups that sound like the blackouts but passive and and hopefully have more gain in the neck position. Is this possible? Thought?
Passive equivalent to Blackouts
- Thread starter edgeaxe1
- Start date
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Gain is the domain of amplification and pedals.
Gain is the domain of amplification and pedals.
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Well there are plenty of different possibilities. Check how high the neck pickup is sitting, and try moving it closer to the strings. If a pickup is to far from the strings, the signal will be weak. If that doesn't work, it could be a bad soldering job, or maybe something else.
Well there are plenty of different possibilities. Check how high the neck pickup is sitting, and try moving it closer to the strings. If a pickup is to far from the strings, the signal will be weak. If that doesn't work, it could be a bad soldering job, or maybe something else.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Sounds like you need to raise the height of the neck pup. As for more gain like stated previously that depends on your amp or pedal. The only passive pup that I've heard that comes close to a Blackout is the DimeBucker.
Sounds like you need to raise the height of the neck pup. As for more gain like stated previously that depends on your amp or pedal. The only passive pup that I've heard that comes close to a Blackout is the DimeBucker.
Justin Read
Member
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
The volume difference could also be caused by the solderless cable under the pickup being loose (not pushed in far enough). I've had that happen to me a few times.
The volume difference could also be caused by the solderless cable under the pickup being loose (not pushed in far enough). I've had that happen to me a few times.
Scott Marceau
SD Artist Relations / Sales
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Try a Dimebucker in the bridge and a JB in the neck!
Try a Dimebucker in the bridge and a JB in the neck!
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
My first thought is that the neck pickup is probably too low, and that`s what`s causing the difference in Output (gain, as some have stated, is a measure of amplification. The pickups are the signal source to be amplified, hence output).
I believe Scott is on the right track (and BTW am totally stoked to see someone from SD recommend the JB in the neck, something I`ve been championing since 1996).
HOWEVER: not to second guess him, but IME my beloved JB@Neck sounds absolutely nothing like an EMG 85 or Blackouts neck Model, it`S much darker and smoother, and teh low end can be absolutely overbearing if you`re not a bit careful. I feel that the Duncan Custom is the closest match here. But I agree on the Dimebucker as a bridge alternative, though you may find it too "squishy" on the low end.
My first thought is that the neck pickup is probably too low, and that`s what`s causing the difference in Output (gain, as some have stated, is a measure of amplification. The pickups are the signal source to be amplified, hence output).
I believe Scott is on the right track (and BTW am totally stoked to see someone from SD recommend the JB in the neck, something I`ve been championing since 1996).
HOWEVER: not to second guess him, but IME my beloved JB@Neck sounds absolutely nothing like an EMG 85 or Blackouts neck Model, it`S much darker and smoother, and teh low end can be absolutely overbearing if you`re not a bit careful. I feel that the Duncan Custom is the closest match here. But I agree on the Dimebucker as a bridge alternative, though you may find it too "squishy" on the low end.
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Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Zerb, are you guys talking about a JB bridge model in the neck, or a JB neck model in the neck?
Zerb, are you guys talking about a JB bridge model in the neck, or a JB neck model in the neck?
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Step 1 raise the pickup
Step 2 check ALL the wiring/pots etc....
Step 3 mak sure you did a thorough job on step 2
After that, lt us know.
My belief based on a discussion w/ Frank Falbo is that the Blackout is Jazz based to some degree. I can hear that. And I LOVE the mega-loud on the bridge. I really use the volume to great effect to change sound / tone there.
Step 1 raise the pickup
Step 2 check ALL the wiring/pots etc....
Step 3 mak sure you did a thorough job on step 2
After that, lt us know.
My belief based on a discussion w/ Frank Falbo is that the Blackout is Jazz based to some degree. I can hear that. And I LOVE the mega-loud on the bridge. I really use the volume to great effect to change sound / tone there.
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
The Pickup height is correct and 2 separate techs and myself have checked the wiring( because of the noise) and they are installed correctly,besides the drop in gain or presence which ever you choose to consider has been in nearly every guitar I have played. Even when you record them the wave patterns are significantly smaller.
Thanks zerberus, duanburen , and Scott- very good suggestions.
The Pickup height is correct and 2 separate techs and myself have checked the wiring( because of the noise) and they are installed correctly,besides the drop in gain or presence which ever you choose to consider has been in nearly every guitar I have played. Even when you record them the wave patterns are significantly smaller.
Thanks zerberus, duanburen , and Scott- very good suggestions.
Bfeeney
New member
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
I have two AHB-1 bridge pickups in my LTD M-50 and not only are they dead quiet, the neck has all the 'gain' of the bridge but the sound is warmer due to it's location. I did the same thing with two EMG 81's. I would give that a try. Check your connections though, you have something loose.
I have two AHB-1 bridge pickups in my LTD M-50 and not only are they dead quiet, the neck has all the 'gain' of the bridge but the sound is warmer due to it's location. I did the same thing with two EMG 81's. I would give that a try. Check your connections though, you have something loose.
Justin Read
Member
Re: Passive equivalent to Blackouts
Last thought.... perhaps a faulty toggle or jack connection. I had a similar problem when I installed Blackouts in my EVH Peavey.
After hours of fart assing around I found that one of the jack wires were pushing against the body and causing both an occasional drop in volume and some times no volume.
I fixed this by bending the solder points/ears to a different angle
Last thought.... perhaps a faulty toggle or jack connection. I had a similar problem when I installed Blackouts in my EVH Peavey.
After hours of fart assing around I found that one of the jack wires were pushing against the body and causing both an occasional drop in volume and some times no volume.
I fixed this by bending the solder points/ears to a different angle
