Side note: the design of the Blackouts supposedly doesn't make them benefit from 18V, but I guess I'll find out when I listen to the clips...
Jeff
Jeff
EMG 81 vs. Blackout Bridge (and also 9v vs. 18v) shootout!!
- Thread starter Metaltastic
- Start date
Torniojaws
They call me Juha
Here's my picks:
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. A
And comments during listening:
D = lots of bottom, a bit muddy mids, smooth highmids
C = a bit clearer lows, weird midspike, clear highmids
A = a little undefined bottom, lifeless mids, muddy high
B = most balanced lows, clear mids, round highs
In general, no matter what happened, I always thought B was much better than any of the other ones. It was perfectly balanced in all ways and nothing to complain about, while all the others had one or two flaws.
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. A
And comments during listening:
D = lots of bottom, a bit muddy mids, smooth highmids
C = a bit clearer lows, weird midspike, clear highmids
A = a little undefined bottom, lifeless mids, muddy high
B = most balanced lows, clear mids, round highs
In general, no matter what happened, I always thought B was much better than any of the other ones. It was perfectly balanced in all ways and nothing to complain about, while all the others had one or two flaws.
John_C
formerly Skeksis268
A- just generally floppy feel to it, would suit some things though. i second torniojaws on this one blackout
B- very clear and tight, my favourite. 81
C- like B but too much upper mids. 81
D- a real lack of decent mids. blackout
All of these though could sound very good with the right amp, set up exactly right for them.
B- very clear and tight, my favourite. 81
C- like B but too much upper mids. 81
D- a real lack of decent mids. blackout
All of these though could sound very good with the right amp, set up exactly right for them.
RockGuitarX
Miles of Machines
LSD-Studio
HCAF crusher
B/C
A
D
I really don't like D
either your pups are really far away from the strings or you're hitting really softly...usually the clips on the DI should reveal the 9v emg at the first glance
A
D
I really don't like D
either your pups are really far away from the strings or you're hitting really softly...usually the clips on the DI should reveal the 9v emg at the first glance
LSD-Studio
HCAF crusher
Jaymz
Stymphalian Productions
If B and C are Blackout and EMG 9V, then we are back to square one deciding which one wins haha.
LSD-Studio
HCAF crusher
to be honest...I really hope A and D are the blackouts, cause if those were the EMGs (what I doubt) I'd have to spend like 2000€ replacing all my EMGs
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
The differences on your clips are more noticeable. Since the mids are more intact and the tone is closer to how it would sit on a record, it's easier to tell.
B & C sounds like the EMGs. I'm thinking C may be the 18V, due to sounding more punchy and like there's more headroom. B is more compressed and somehow less tight and more muddy lows. I hope it's the other way around though as I CBF doing the 18v mod to the Hellraiser...
A & D sound crap. Loose lows, not defined enough mids, no 'grind'. If these are EMGs, I will hate myself and spend lots of money like Lasse to rectify the situation.
In light of those clips, C is definitely my favourite.
J.DavisNJ
\m/
slashvanyoung
Dopefish lives!
I'd say a and d are the Blackouts. The bottom is a bit loose but I like the overall character more than on b and c...
Jaymz
Stymphalian Productions
I really hope the 18v EMG pulls through, then everybody will be off modding their 9v's straight away 
Well, I guess this one wasn't too hard, and you guys are absolutely right:
A - Blackout 9v
B - 81 18v
C - 81 9v
D - Blackout 18v
And Lasse, good call - I definitely wasn't picking lightly, but the pickups were indeed a bit farther away from the strings than I'd like, since these are direct-mounted, and I don't have the mounting screws (they have to be pointy so they can go straight into the wood, I have a set on order so I'll do another 9v vs. 18v test then!) Thanks for playing guys!
A - Blackout 9v
B - 81 18v
C - 81 9v
D - Blackout 18v
And Lasse, good call - I definitely wasn't picking lightly, but the pickups were indeed a bit farther away from the strings than I'd like, since these are direct-mounted, and I don't have the mounting screws (they have to be pointy so they can go straight into the wood, I have a set on order so I'll do another 9v vs. 18v test then!) Thanks for playing guys!
J.DavisNJ
\m/
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
Oh thanks man!
Wow, I should've stuck with my initial impression of C being the 9V. For some reason I altered the post last minute... I just figured the positive attributes of C were due to the extra headroom of 18v, but apparently not. Strange result but hey, no complaints!
You've had quite the shoot-out filled week... What's next for us, Marcus?
Wow, I should've stuck with my initial impression of C being the 9V. For some reason I altered the post last minute... I just figured the positive attributes of C were due to the extra headroom of 18v, but apparently not. Strange result but hey, no complaints!
You've had quite the shoot-out filled week... What's next for us, Marcus?
Haha, don't think I'm running outta gas Ermz! Next will be the 81 9v vs. 18v (since I can safely relegate the Blackout to my backup guitar, the EC-400) with the pickup at an ideal height
J.DavisNJ
\m/
You know, I bet the Blackout wouldn't sound bad in a different context with different settings. I guess it just comes down to preference.
-Joe
-Joe
LSD-Studio
HCAF crusher
cool.
lucky I was right, lol.
the benefit of the 18v will become really obvious when the pups are closer to the strings I guess.
lucky I was right, lol.
the benefit of the 18v will become really obvious when the pups are closer to the strings I guess.
