SD Original Blackout (AHB-1) bridge humbucker & neck single coil (AS-1)

[Charvel1975]

Anyone here have any experience with the Seymour Duncan original Blackout active bridge humbucker (AHB-1) & active neck single coil (AS-1)? Just came across these, wonder if I should try Them in my Charvel Model 5FX before going passive? Do them come with all wiring, pots, jack and toggle switch?

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Anyone here have any experience with the Seymour Duncan original Blackout active bridge humbucker (AHB-1) & active neck single coil (AS-1)? Just came across these, wonder if I should try Them in my Charvel Model 5FX before going passive? Do them come with all wiring, pots, jack and toggle switch?

I have no experience with the single coil version, but the humbuckers are some of the worst actives I've ever used, tbh. I don't usually like to put down any gear, but I can't recommend them for really any tuning. I bought a couple sets because they were like half off and thought maybe they're just not well known, but after wasting time installing I understood why they were priced that way. They did come with all the wiring and I feel both short and long shaft pots, iirc. I would send them to you to try if I still had them.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I hated them

 

[Rex Rocker]

Same. Not a fan. Too fat.

 

[Charvel1975]

Ok that says enough for me LOL! The only other active pickups I might try before going passive are the following EMG bridge humbucker's as the neck EMG-SA single coil seems ok:

- EMG-89

- EMG-89X (Don't know is I would also have to get an EMG-SAX for the neck?)

- EMG-57 F-spaced

- EMG-57TW

- EMG-JH (James Hetfield) F-spaced

 

[GreatRedDragon]

Have you considered EMG's Retroactive stuff?

 

[Charvel1975]

Have you considered EMG's Retroactive stuff?

I don't know that much about the EMG Retroactive pickups? What's the deal with those?

 

[mcstinger]

I tried the Duncan AHB-2B. I sold it right away. Annoying midrange, clucking like a flock of hens.

Regarding to EMGs, I have a 57/66 set in my Charvel SoCal, running it at 18V and I am completely happy with them.

EMG Retro Active Hot 70 I have in a bridge position of Schecter Sun Valley and it's really a great pickup.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

I don't know that much about the EMG Retroactive pickups? What's the deal with those?

They're actives designed to look, sound and feel like passives.

 

[Charvel1975]

They're actives designed to look, sound and feel like passives.

Ok, cool

 

[mnemonic]

I’ve got a 7 string set of the humbuckers I got cheap on eBay, their problem is extremely over-the-top output. It’s like using EMG’s with an always-on clean boost. I added a voltage divider in the guitar dropping 50% of the signal and they are much more usable like that.

That being said, I thought EMGs did sound better. Unless you get them very cheap I would pass. There’s a reason nobody uses them these days and it’s not because they flew under the radar.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

I've got Blackouts in an Epiphone Les Paul. Regular Blackout in the neck, Metal Blackout in the bridge. The neck is beautiful, the bridge is fucking gnarly. Rolling volume down to 7 gets it to EMG 81ish output, and that's without engaging the jumper.

 

[Charvel1975]

I tried the Duncan AHB-2B. I sold it right away. Annoying midrange, clucking like a flock of hens.

Regarding to EMGs, I have a 57/66 set in my Charvel SoCal, running it at 18V and I am completely happy with them.

EMG Retro Active Hot 70 I have in a bridge position of Schecter Sun Valley and it's really a great pickup.

Which EMG Retroactive Single Coil for the slant neck position would match well with a EMG Retro Active Hot 70 in the bridge?

 

[boltzthrower]

Man, these were all the rage when they first came out so I got em and boy did I fucking hate them. I remember them sounding fat, bloated, mega high output. Nice to see ppl agree with my assessment these days.

OP, might want to look into Fishman Fluence as well.

 

[Rex Rocker]

OP, might want to look into Fishman Fluence as well.

Agreed. Look in the Classic. Voice 1 is a nice and bright PAF-type ala Duncan '59B, Voice 2 is a fat mid-focused hotrod a la Duncan JB. Both voices are not direct clones, just inspired by.

They're the most passive-sounding actives I've tried.

 

[mcstinger]

Which EMG Retroactive Single Coil for the slant neck position would match well with a EMG Retro Active Hot 70 in the bridge?

AFAIK, Retroactives are not produced as single coils.

 

[Charvel1975]

Agreed. Look in the Classic. Voice 1 is a nice and bright PAF-type ala Duncan '59B, Voice 2 is a fat mid-focused hotrod a la Duncan JB. Both voices are not direct clones, just inspired by.

They're the most passive-sounding actives I've tried.

I'm not familiar with Fishman pickups but while I just started researching them just now, came across this below, is this something that is needed with the Fishman Fluence pickups?

https://www.americanmusical.com/fishman-fluence-reactive-tone-control-single/p/FSMACCFLURT1

 

[Rex Rocker]

I'm not familiar with Fishman pickups but while I just started researching them just now, came across this below, is this something that is needed with the Fishman Fluence pickups?

https://www.americanmusical.com/fishman-fluence-reactive-tone-control-single/p/FSMACCFLURT1

I don't know if it's needed. I never used it with mine. But I also rarely use tone controls anyway.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

AFAIK, Retroactives are not produced as single coils.

There are two sets, the Maverick 5 and the Crossroads. There's also a Tele set and a Jazzmaster set.