These high-output active 4- and 5-string soapbar bass pickups (ASB-BO-4, ASB-BO-5) bring more tone, more power, and more impact, with high headroom and quiet operation.
DCR – Short for DC Resistance, is measured in Ohms and is the total resistance of the copper wire wound around a coil form. The length of the coil form, the number of turns and the gauge of wire all affect the DCR reading. DCR is often used as a gauge of output because as the turns increase, so does the output, though magnet type and the coil geometry also influence output. Magnet – We use several different magnet formulations: Alnico 2, Alnico 3, Alnico 4, Alnico 5, Alnico 6, Alnico 8 and Ceramic 5/8. In the case of pickups, the most significant characteristic is the gauss strength, which is a measure of the density of the magnetic field. Of the magnets we use, Alnico 3 has the lowest gauss strength. From there in order of ascending strength you have A2, A4, A5, A6, Ceramic and A8. As the gauss strength goes up, so does the output. The magnets at the lower end of the scale tend to produce a softer attack and a degree of “bloom” to the envelope of the note.
Ceramic magnets should be considered as an individual case because they do not contain any nickel or iron. This has the effect of decreasing the inductance of the pickup and significantly raising the resonant frequency. It is for this reason that many consider ceramic magnets to have a brittle sound, not their gauss strength. Looking at this from another point of view, ceramic magnets can be said to produce increased clarity, better note definition and faster response to picking. Output – The overall output of a passive pickup is influenced by several design factors: number of turns of wire on the coil(s), strength of the magnet, coil geometry and magnetic circuit geometry.The output of an active pickup is influenced by the same factors but is predominantly determined by the design of the onboard preamp.
Blackouts Bass Soapbar high-output active bass pickups were designed to make getting an aggressive bass tone simple. Instead of having to EQ a lesser pickup into submission, we voiced the Blackouts with big bass tone in mind. We went all-in on this one, with a huge dynamic range, thunderous lows, and crisp highs that deliver forceful raw energy, all focused into a super-responsive soapbar. The 5-string version extends those qualities to handle even more boom.
Fingers, thumbs, and plectrums are all at home with these pickups, handling the heaviest hands and lightest playing styles with equal precision. String-to-string balance is assured with the Blackouts’ dual-blade design. The 4-string model is a direct replacement for EMG 35-sized pickups and the 5-string version is a direct replacement for the EMG 40.
Many players combine the Blackouts Bass Soapbar with a Blackouts 2-band tone circuit (STC-2C-BO or STC-2S-BO) to add precision EQ sculpting. These EQs can extend tonal possibilities from traditional to modern tones, and we include all necessary mounting and wiring hardware.
Hand Built in California. Period Correct. Every Time.
Our team of master builders have been with us for an average of 21 years—they take pride in crafting our products to create the most amazing sound possible.
Take Your Tone For A Test Drive
If you’re not 100% pleased with the sound of your Seymour Duncan pickups, you can exchange them for up to 21 days after purchase. This offer applies to any pickups bought from an authorized Seymour Duncan dealer in the USA.
