Blackout 9v vs EMG81 18v and the winner is...

[Franknfilms]

I was very excited to get my blackout in the mail. It is just the normal blackout bridge (not metal). In 10 minutes I was able to pop it right on with the emg quick connect and start playing. I put it in my LTD Viper 300. The blackout is a little more sensitive to height adjustments than the emg I noticed right off. Also, the 18volt mod didn't sound all that great so I removed one of the batteries and the blackout cleared up nicely, the gain was a little overboard and fuzzy with the 18volts.

Blackout:
I played for hours with the blackout and noticed it is a lot warmer than the emg81, powerchords have much more character if you let them ring out, very ideal for slower/doom/stoner type metal. I suspect it adds some much needed beef if you are currently using standard or drop d tuning with an 81. I tune my Viper to Drop C and that is the only tuning I use with this guitar...I don't think the blackout is ideal for this tuning. The lows dominate and the highs are lacking imo.

With EMG89
The Blackout is much louder than the 89 in the neck, which is perfectly fine for me except that when I remove the 18v my 89 doesn't sound as good. Neither pickup sounds good clean imo, even with the guitar volume down. With my EMGs and 18v this guitar sounds wonderful clean. There don't seem to be any issues using the 89 and blackout combined, it ups the volume compared to the 89 alone and sounds like you would expect it to.

81 vs Blackout
I recorded what must be the worst a/b in history complete with pops and crackles, a terrible condenser mic, sloppy playing..I just can't bring myself to post it, maybe I'll keep working on this until there is something worth posting. When recording, however, i was able to hear clear as day that the EMG81 18v is the one for me...I suspected this would happen, it it ain't broke don't fix it. the 81 is great for down tuning and I still sound razor sharp when I'm pummeling the metal rhythm. The blackout sounds fantastic, don't get me wrong, the added benefits of full rich power chords, extra mids, punchy lows, and absolutely the best pinch harmonics you will ever get will certainly win over most people. That is really the only thing that gets me, I wish I could get those blackout harmonics with my 81.

I'm pretty sure I'll be selling the blackout, but I'm going to keep testing and see if I can make it work. Ok, I'll shut up now and go back to work.

[frankfalbo]

If you get the chance, try an EMTY. It's got that razor sharp top end. If you're within 21 days you can swap the original Blackout for one as well.

[Franknfilms]

If you get the chance, try an EMTY. It's got that razor sharp top end. If you're within 21 days you can swap the original Blackout for one as well.

Good call I realize the point of the emty now, that would probably make a better comparison. One of these days...

[rashayritto]

I changed the emg's in my SG to a blackouts set a long time ago and while I love the earthy tones, I do remember the 81 working better for low tuned stoner riffing through my big muff. I was having trouble getting a good tone with my Laney AOR 100watt head until I swapped the pickup positions, you'll find that putting the BO neck in the bridge is really good for getting definition in the lower tunings. I also like the BO bridge better in the neck.

[marvelous_seven]

... until I swapped the pickup positions, you'll find that putting the BO neck in the bridge is really good for getting definition in the lower tunings. I also like the BO bridge better in the neck.

Rashayritto,what tuning do you use?
I've been curious to hear about BO neck in the bridge,and there's only a few soundclips of it in action.
What I know from BOn in bridge is it has good cleans and thick tone,but I'm afraid it isn't tight or articulate in low tuning setup as OP said that BOb isn't well suited to low tuning.
I'm interesting with EMTY too,but it can't handle cleans (which is a major deal breaker to me) so I guess I'm passed on it.

[Franknfilms]

as OP said that BOb isn't well suited to low tuning.

I should point out that blackouts are definitely capable of low tuning, it just isn't as sharp as I like it. Look at Dino from Fear Factory, he's rocking the AHB-1 blackout bridge for his 8 string on the Mechanize album and it sounds great. Compare that to some of the older albums like Demanufacture and that's a really good comparison to use imo.

I'm interesting with EMTY too,but it can't handle cleans (which is a major deal breaker to me) so I guess I'm passed on it.

That's my issue with the emty too, at the end of the day I have to stick with emgs for the cleans.

[rashayritto]

Rashayritto,what tuning do you use?
I've been curious to hear about BO neck in the bridge,and there's only a few soundclips of it in action.
What I know from BOn in bridge is it has good cleans and thick tone,but I'm afraid it isn't tight or articulate in low tuning setup as OP said that BOb isn't well suited to low tuning.
I'm interesting with EMTY too,but it can't handle cleans (which is a major deal breaker to me) so I guess I'm passed on it.

I've actually found that the BOn is tighter under low tuning and gain. Maybe it has a bit of a mid scoop to it that accounts for this. Thats not to say its lacking mids, of course. I tune to C standard mostly and play through a 1980's Laney AOR 100 watt head with a 4x12. I prefer the BO bridge in the neck because i like thickness it adds there, but I'm not sure which i prefer in the bridge.

[Vincent Vespa]

Good to see you liked it. Did you mess with the settings on the amp to try to get the Blackouts to sparkle the right way? It took me at least three or four days of playing with my Blackouts Metal before it truly started to shine to my ears. I'm weird like that, though. I tweak and tweak until it sounds just right.

I'm using my Blackouts Metal in C Standard as well and it sounds just great.

[rashayritto]

Good to see you liked it. Did you mess with the settings on the amp to try to get the Blackouts to sparkle the right way? It took me at least three or four days of playing with my Blackouts Metal before it truly started to shine to my ears. I'm weird like that, though. I tweak and tweak until it sounds just right.

I'm using my Blackouts Metal in C Standard as well and it sounds just great.

I already had been using the Blackouts for a number of months by the time i got the laney, so all my tones were dialed in just for them

[marvelous_seven]

I've actually found that the BOn is tighter under low tuning and gain. Maybe it has a bit of a mid scoop to it that accounts for this. Thats not to say its lacking mids, of course. I tune to C standard mostly and play through a 1980's Laney AOR 100 watt head with a 4x12. I prefer the BO bridge in the neck because i like thickness it adds there, but I'm not sure which i prefer in the bridge.

Hey for clarifying that, rashayritto.
I tune to D standard and drop C all the time,so I guess I'm gonna try it for sure.

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Yeah, I gotta say, I agree on the pinch harmonics.
Even though I don't do them that frequently, almost for the pinch harmonics alone, I'm willing to sacrifice the tightness I could get with EMG 81-7s to use the AHB-1 7 string set (I only play 7 strings as of now).

[Franknfilms]

Yeah, I gotta say, I agree on the pinch harmonics.
Even though I don't do them that frequently, almost for the pinch harmonics alone, I'm willing to sacrifice the tightness I could get with EMG 81-7s to use the AHB-1 7 string set (I only play 7 strings as of now).

I'm almost with you there, I'll be dreaming about the pinch harmonics but I guess that isn't as important to me as having a sharper attack on the low note strumming. I think the amp makes a big difference. My xxx is a big gainy fuzz box and it sounds best with a really compressed bright pickup.

[drew_half_empty]

See here's the thing that always confused me, i don't get why people that dig EMG's take bright brittle pickups and then droptune 2 whole steps to get decent low end. In theory isn't the BO just showing you how low you had to drop to compensate for the 81's lack of bass? Even when i hear guitars with 81's tuned to C they don't even sound that heavy, i mean you can hear the note is technically that low but you could get more bass out of a '59 in drop D.

I love tunin low, but it's for sludge and stuff, you shouldn't be able to shred real fast in drop C that defeats the purpose

[Franknfilms]

See here's the thing that always confused me, i don't get why people that dig EMG's take bright brittle pickups and then droptune 2 whole steps to get decent low end. In theory isn't the BO just showing you how low you had to drop to compensate for the 81's lack of bass? Even when i hear guitars with 81's tuned to C they don't even sound that heavy, i mean you can hear the note is technically that low but you could get more bass out of a '59 in drop D.

I love tunin low, but it's for sludge and stuff, you shouldn't be able to shred real fast in drop C that defeats the purpose

I can only speak for myself, but I don't drop tune to get low end eq frequencies, I drop tune because I drop tune. I've always played with a variety of tunings and tuning down C is pretty common from Led Zepplin to Dethklok. Drop C can be great for fast metal rhythm playing, I don't think it sounds like sludge, when people drop tune and use EMG85 and/or Blackouts though in comparison to the EMG81 I think it is on it's way to sludge though.

[Warheart]

See here's the thing that always confused me, i don't get why people that dig EMG's take bright brittle pickups and then droptune 2 whole steps to get decent low end. In theory isn't the BO just showing you how low you had to drop to compensate for the 81's lack of bass? Even when i hear guitars with 81's tuned to C they don't even sound that heavy, i mean you can hear the note is technically that low but you could get more bass out of a '59 in drop D.

I love tunin low, but it's for sludge and stuff, you shouldn't be able to shred real fast in drop C that defeats the purpose

I wouldn't say its for sludge, I play in C standard all the time, playing Technical Death Metal. I play some fast **** dude.
Sludge is a style of playing, not a tone.

The lower you tune, the thinner your tone should be, appreciably, to maintain that level of clarity and cut. Sometimes LACK of bass is what you would want. Let the Bass guitar do the work.
Look at later In Flames, Meshuggah, hell, even more pop artists like Thornley.

[Franknfilms]

Look at later In Flames, Meshuggah, hell, even more pop artists like Thornley.

I'll add fear factory to that list since I'm going to see them in a few hours

[surface54]

I'll add fear factory to that list since I'm going to see them in a few hours

lol im listening to fear factory's soul of a new machine for the 1st time right now.
has better riffs on this album than there newer stuff imo.

and i down tune cause metal has progressed into that and it doesnt sound sludgey to me, useless the amp is sludgey. very tight full of metal gain with heavier palm mutes and i can shred very well in C# standard tuning. E just sounds hyper and 80s.

[surface54]

I'll add fear factory to that list since I'm going to see them in a few hours

have fun at the metro, seen alot of good shows there.
at least its not (the rave) where your ears get blasted with the nasty mid range echo

[Franknfilms]

have fun at the metro, seen alot of good shows there.
at least its not (the rave) where your ears get blasted with the nasty mid range echo

FF is not what they used to be I guess, Metro is emailing free tickets just to try and get people to fill it up, also doesn't help that it is Tuesday

[Franknfilms]

I put the Blackout for sale on the Trading Post