To everyone who uses blackouts

TSE

TSE

New member
Are your blackouts as noise free as advertised? Are they quieter than your passives? Mine are not. The noise is about 30% the volume of the signal. I have tried many things including re soldering new pots, switches, jacks, installing new batteries, etc. I have checked my connections and grounds many times and shielded the cavity to no avail. I still get an obnoxious hum when not playing including pauses and start stop riffs. I also run my gain on my 6505 on 2. So what gives? If anyone has any idea I would appreciate it. Maybe I just have a bad blackout?
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

There's probably something wrong with the pickup. There's no way you should be getting that amount of noise.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

Not sure with blackouts, but you usually dont ground the bridge with actives. Try unsoldering the bridge and tuck the wire away incase u ever wanna go back to passives.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

The Blackouts are easily the quietest/most hum canceling pickups I've used, quite noticeably quieter than passive buckers. Something's definitely wrong there.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

I have tried unhooking the bridge from ground, but that just made it noisier. And I'm actually certified in IPC-A-610 class 3 workmanship standard soldering for through hole, smt, and wiring electronic assemblies. I have been doing it for 5 years now and I apply class 3 standards to all of my personal work, so that covers solder issues.

I think the only thing I can do right now is either contact SD about a possible exchange, or just put something else in the guitar. I just wanted to see if anyone else was having similar issues and if anyone can possibly point out something I missed or am doing wrong. My circuit matches the SD diagram for 2 Blackouts, 2 volumes, 1 tone. If Blackouts are supposed to be as quiet as advertised perhaps I just got a bad one, its just so noisy I couldn't imagine big name professionals dealing with this. I will contact SD customer service and see if I can exchange. If not I can try another bridge AHB-1 and see if it is a bad pickup or if that is just the nature of the beast. I'll just use the return policy and get an Invader or DD. Thanks
 
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Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

Blackouts are to all intents and purposes silent. I really think you've got a faulty one.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

Even if I dump the Blackouts I'll end up with either a DD or Invader;) I really do think it's just a faulty pickup. It seems to pick up EVERYTHING! They are very sensitive, and their tone is fantastic, it's just this damned noise.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

BO's are not noisy, but very loud and pick up everything, maybe something you're doing is introducing the noise, maybe loose mounting, or maybe it's your amp.

BTW, per Frank Falbo's direction I have my EMG's grounded, works just fine, just sayin'.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

In the neck I have a Duncan designed HB 105 and it's much quieter.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

I'm actually certified in IPC-A-610 class 3 workmanship standard soldering for through hole, smt, and wiring electronic assemblies. I have been doing it for 5 years now and I apply class 3 standards to all of my personal work, so that covers solder issues.

Did you solder the pickup itself together? I didn't say you were bad at soldering my man, just that you have a bad solder joint. Good luck sir.
 
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Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

Did you try isolating the pickup? Hook up the bridge pickup to the wiring harness that goes to the neck pickup. At least then you can figure whether it's the pickup itself or any of the electronic hookups.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

jacksontrader said:
I'm actually certified in IPC-A-610 class 3 workmanship standard soldering for through hole, smt, and wiring electronic assemblies. I have been doing it for 5 years now and I apply class 3 standards to all of my personal work, so that covers solder issues.

Did you solder the pickup itself together? I didn't say you were bad at soldering my man, just that you have a bad solder joint. Good luck sir.
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Thank you and sorry for the misunderstanding, this is most likely the case.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

SGFanatic said:
Did you try isolating the pickup? Hook up the bridge pickup to the wiring harness that goes to the neck pickup. At least then you can figure whether it's the pickup itself or any of the electronic hookups.
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This I actually didn't try but I did get a new pot for the bridge yet its still noisy.
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

If you have the passive and active going to the same tone pot, that may be a problem. What is the ohmic value of said tone pot?
 
Re: To everyone who uses blackouts

Danglin' Fury said:
If you have the passive and active going to the same tone pot, that may be a problem. What is the ohmic value of said tone pot?
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This could be it. I know it's not recommended to mix passive and active pickups inthe same guitar. Mine are in a RR Basswood V and they are quiet.
 
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