EMG vs SD Blackouts

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Flavatrocious

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So whats the gerneral consensus regarding the difference in tone between these pickups?

Im more interested in knowing about the Mick Thompson Blackouts than the other versions but any observations would be good.

Rock on Rig-TALK :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
I haven't tried SD blackouts, but I think they are supposed to have a mix of passive and active sound, but still have the really good characteristics of active. I like EMG's a lot, I use them In all of my guitars, no complaint for high gain, some people love them to death, and some people absolutely hate them. I think the new James Hetfield EMG will be cool, since it is supposed to have the tone of a passive and active like the SD. It would be cool to compare the JH EMG with the SD blackout.
 
I've got EMG's in all my guitars too. They're just one of those things thats right IMO.

I recently picked up an Ibanez MTM2 and dig the shit out of it. So i'm wondering if Mick got this right then how are the SD's he's involved with...?
 
Flavatrocious":2cocyde7 said:
I've got EMG's in all my guitars too. They're just one of those things thats right IMO.

I recently picked up an Ibanez MTM2 and dig the shit out of it. So i'm wondering if Mick got this right then how are the SD's he's involved with...?
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I don't really know much about his pickups, except they are made for really low tunings, put really high up near the strings, and get really heavy when you tune your guitar down to B or lower. They also stay very clear when tuning down so it's not some muddy, undefined mess.
 
from my experience with emg's and blackouts, my opinion is that the original balckouts sound like a more open less compressed emg, kinda like an 18v modded emg if you wanna call it that. as for the mick thompson sig pickups, i have a set in my esp h-1001, and absolutely love them. they still have that open sound, and are very aggressive, but the low end response is just way tighter than emg's or the original blackouts. no flub at all on the bottom end, just super tight hard hitting bass. the mids are well pronounced, and the highs are great, but at the same time dont have that high end sizzle that a lot of high output pickups seem to have.

EDIT: just saw someone mentioned the mick thompson pickups are heavy .. and let me tell yah, that is the honest to god truth. they are HEAVY !!!
 
I have Blackouts, but have used EMG's in the past. TBH I like EMG's way more. They have a lot more bite to them. The Blackouts kind of sound dull and lifeless in comparison.
 
Blackouts are darker with an overbearing low-midrange and more output. They sound more organic with more mids overall. They are much more dynamic than EMG's.
EMG's (81/85 combo) are brighter, more scooped and "fuzzier" in the lows. They sound thinner and more clinical.
Both have gobfuls of compression, sustain and have equal string volume.
EMG's clean up much better IMO, blackouts will clip the input of some amps when you play clean

Havent tried the Mick Thomson blackouts, the EMG X's are a bit nicer sounding and have a more natural dynamic and to my ears a tad less output & fizz. The Blackouts metal has a stupid amount of gain that no sane person would ever make use of and sound like a gigantic mess. Even on the lower gain notch they are still hotter than the regular blackouts.

When it comes to active setups, my ideal combo would be a blackout bridge and EMG 60X neck or 85TW.
 
I have both...

IMO, The Blackouts are vastly superior, and I highly recommend them!

They are much more Organic sounding than the EMG's

They Have Even More Output, and Tonal Range, And Are Dead Quiet!

All you need to do is Listen To Any Of Mark Day's Videos when they were installed, and listen to him Get Dead on Perfect sound from everything from Pink Floyd Gilmour sounds to Queensryche.

You can't do better! :thumbsup:

Roid RAGE
 
noob_pwn":3mgsmoy8 said:
Blackouts are darker with an overbearing low-midrange and more output. They sound more organic with more mids overall. They are much more dynamic than EMG's.
EMG's (81/85 combo) are brighter, more scooped and "fuzzier" in the lows. They sound thinner and more clinical.
Both have gobfuls of compression, sustain and have equal string volume.
EMG's clean up much better IMO, blackouts will clip the input of some amps when you play clean

Havent tried the Mick Thomson blackouts, the EMG X's are a bit nicer sounding and have a more natural dynamic and to my ears a tad less output & fizz. The Blackouts metal has a stupid amount of gain that no sane person would ever make use of and sound like a gigantic mess. Even on the lower gain notch they are still hotter than the regular blackouts.
Click to expand...

That's almost how I'd describe the Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader.
 
I had both and like the emgs better than the blackouts.
 
In my opinon...

EMG with 18v mod = Blackout (Similar, not exact)

Except EMGs have better cleans, especially with the 18v mod, it's the most noticable difference.
 
If we're talking actives, I think the EMG X series and 18V mod on the regular EMGs have a lot to recommend them. My main gigging axes are 85X/SAX/SAX and a T set at 18V. Both sound very good to my ears. The blackouts strike me as more of a purely high gain thing. Some people say they sound "organic" for cleans or whatever but I don't hear it at least compared to the 85X.
 
Blackouts are like 2V output. That's not tone. That's just an overdrive stomper built into your pickups.

EMG +18V FTW ;)
 
Never tried the blackouts they do sound good in Mark days clips, but everything sounds good in his clips.

I think EMG's with 18V mod can't be beat for that metal sound. Who cares if they are compressed, that is what the music actually requires! are they a one trick pony? SURE ARE, but what a trick :rock: if you want dynamics get another pickup!
 
i dont think EMG's are a one-trick-pony. they have more versatility potential than people give them credit for. i can play some shreddy B tuning chunky heavy ass riffy stuff, then back off the volume and change amp models and play some old aerosmith or something without being dissatisfied.

i can't comment on blackouts since i've never used them, but i do not like using passive-sounding pups for high gain. i hate fuzz.
 
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