Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

[MetalHolics]

I've been a user of the seymour duncan livewire metal (hmet) since 10 years. To me this pickup really blow anything on the market for metal music. I see picture namm 2008 and its seem that seymour duncan is coming with a new Blackout pickup "metal". I would like to know more information on these :

- Is it the same design that the new blackout pickup (25 pot electronic)?

- Are the tone will be more hmet tone with blackout output or the blackout tone with hmet output?

- Does Duncan will still offer the livewire metal pickup?

- More important : when it will be available?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

- Is it the same design that the new blackout pickup (25 pot electronic)?

Yes.

- Are the tone will be more hmet tone with blackout output or the blackout tone with hmet output?

As for output, both. There are two output levels. And you can choose either. Or you can even put it on a switch and get, in effect, on-board boost. As for tone, it's the same as the LiveWires Metal humbucker.

- Does Duncan will still offer the livewire metal pickup?

The Blackouts Metal will replace the LiveWires Metal humbucker.

- More important : when it will be available?

March or April.

Thanks for asking!

 

[MetalHolics]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Thanks!!!

So, possibility to have a little less output hmet with the same searing tone and the possibility to mix with different active humbuckers (classic or blackouts)...

Men, my dream come true! I think my soloists are going to have surgery this year.

Just can't wait!

 

[Geoffrey]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

So the new metal blackouts are the newer (better) version of the blackouts..?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

No not at all. It's a Bridge pickup that would be the newer, "better" and more compatible version of the Livewire Heavy Metal. The name "metal" is to relate to the aggressive mid-heavy sound people came to know and love from the Livewire Heavy Metal. It doesn't mean it's "better" for metal than the Blackout Bridge pickup for example.

 

[tom axe]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Just an FYI since part of the question was about output. EMG makes a set, just another 81/85 set, but it has what they call a PA-2 which is a tiny circuit board with a switch on the end, you can adjust the gain by the trimpot up to 20db of clean boost. They work with both active and Passive pickups, they will give you plenty of gain, but you may find you dont like them, if not just turn it off. You can order them from places like GC for around 25 bucks and are easy to install. Not to be dissing my fav brand of pups, SD's of course, my next actives will be the active single coils or the new metal blackouts, I love Seymour Duncan pups, EMG puts out a high quality set of pickups, but I think they are about to be dethroned by good ol SD!

 

[Brown Note]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Is the BO metal capable of clean sounds or does it have some sort of distortion built in?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

It's not really usable for clean sounds. It's not just that it distorts the front end of your amp, but depending on how hard you pick, it can also distort it's own preamp. Even in "low gain mode" it still cranks, and will likely produce a sound that you won't consider "good for cleans". But if you're using it combined with a neck pickup or a middle single coil (in lower gain mode) the two will combine for a cleaner sound. But if you want a pickup good for clean and dirty, get the original Blackouts. The Blackout Metal will tear your face off.

 

[mcr23]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Just got my '84 Reissue explorer in with the EMG 81/60 combo and will try them out. I'm also looking into the AHB-1s / AHB-2s for my other gothic explorer.

I wish I could see a vid of these two demonstrated on clean and dirty channels....just a thought...

:usa2:

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

I wish I could see a vid of these two demonstrated on clean and dirty channels....just a thought...

:usa2:

+1!!!

Frank time to take out the camera again
(Oh, and while you're at it maybe even demo the Blackouts Singles too ?)

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

So the Blackouts Metal is basically the LiveWire Metal pup with the modern refinements of the Blackouts series. Well, I didn't need more power than an EMG-81 has but the Blackout originals sounded so much better that I had to switch over. I still need cleans so I don't think the Blackout Metal pup is in my future. The Blackout singles on the other hand, are in my future!

 

[donahue]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Darth Nihilus, Maybe you can help, cause you have Blackouts. I'm also confused cause I thought Blackouts were mainly for metal. So what are the Metal Blackouts, that the originals aren't? I want to get a set soon (for metal) and if I'm missing something here, I'll wait for the BO Metals. ??

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

a side by side comparison of the original LW metal and the new BO metal would be handy, i love my LW metal and wont be shifting to the new PUP if it sounds anything like the current BO's

 

[Venometal]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

The original blackouts have a ceramic magnet and the blackout metals have a Alnico V magnet. What is all the confusion here?? Either you prefer ceramic tones or alnico tones...

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Interesting, does the original LW Metal have an alcino magnet? i always thought it was ceramic. Either way i always considered the LW to be better voiced for a more old school metal tone, while the BO's and EMG's sound very modern.

after reading up on the BO metal, it seems like it might be worth trying out since i love the original LW metal. I'll wait til i compare sound samples to see what fits my style better

 

[donahue]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

The original blackouts have a ceramic magnet and the blackout metals have a Alnico V magnet. What is all the confusion here?? Either you prefer ceramic tones or alnico tones...

I know for a fact thats not the only difference.

 

[Venometal]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Well that is pretty much it, the rest is for your ears to decide. But if one was to tune down to C or B, I would'nt get the BO metals, it would be too bassy with that Alnico in there. But if for some odd reason I went active, it would be with the metals.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

there's much more than a magnet change at work, though. the BO metal is based on the tone of the LW metal, which is characterized by a huge spike in the mids. so basically it will sound NOTHING like the current BO's which focus on lows and highs. once again, more than just a magnet swap to consider

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

Darth Nihilus, Maybe you can help, cause you have Blackouts. I'm also confused cause I thought Blackouts were mainly for metal. So what are the Metal Blackouts, that the originals aren't? I want to get a set soon (for metal) and if I'm missing something here, I'll wait for the BO Metals. ??

Ok, here's how I understand it: The New Blackout "Metal" is basically a LiveWire Metal using the new technology created for the Blackouts. So if you like the original LiveWire Metal pup, you'll like the new Blackout Metal as well since it's the same pup as the LiveWire Metal, it just has all the advancements of the Blackout series like the balanced input preamp and runs on 9v rather than 18v.

The LiveWire Metal pup was always too much for me because it doesn't have any usable clean tones and that's why I won't be trying out the new Blackout Metal since it's still the same pup in that regard.
The original Blackouts have all the power anyone would need and it has good clean tones.

 

[xrunner6]

Re: Please answer me : New Blackout Metal???

The original blackouts have a ceramic magnet and the blackout metals have a Alnico V magnet. What is all the confusion here?? Either you prefer ceramic tones or alnico tones...

In my product source book it shows the N being a Alnico V and the B being the ceramic w metal rails. The bridge having the hotter output.