EMG 81 vs. Blackout Bridge (and also 9v vs. 18v) shootout!!

[Ermz]

Possibly. The extra headroom seems to increase bass response, but at the same time the low-end gets looser and the tone overall less fat and present.

I look forward to the voltage shoot-out!

Wish there were some more tests involving the 707 and how it (sans my living nightmare fret clicking) obliterates every pickup out there.

 

[::XeS::]

C,B,D,A

For me:
C and B -> EMG (C 18V)
A and D -> Blackout (A 18v)

 

[Ermz]

Ooh goddamn I love it when one product almost unanimously wipes the floor with another in a blind test...

 

[LSD-Studio]

Just hotter? More full?

Never tried it.

-Joe

nah, when the pups are closer to the strings (as they should be) the 9v powered preamp clips like crazy, reducing dynamics and giving a more "sterile" sound

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Oh I was referring more to the benefits of the 18v. Is the benefit that it can be further away? What distance do you recommend with the regular 81?

-Joe

 

[LSD-Studio]

as close to the strings as possible w/o touching them.

that's fine (and actually reccomended) with EMG since they've got rather weak magnets (compared to passives)

 

[Metaltastic]

Wish there were some more tests involving the 707 and how it (sans my living nightmare fret clicking) obliterates every pickup out there.

Only in fantasy-land Ermin!

 

[Torniojaws]

Thanks dude, I was thinking about Blackouts for my next guitar I guess not then Unlike the usual mods, it does seem that the 18V mod is beneficial and noticeable!

 

[J.DavisNJ]

as close to the strings as possible w/o touching them.

that's fine (and actually reccomended) with EMG since they've got rather weak magnets (compared to passives)

So the benefit of the 18v would be....???

I mean obviously it won't have to be as close to the strings, but what else.

-Joe

 

[Torniojaws]

So the benefit of the 18v would be....???

Judging from this shootout, it improves low frequency clarity and smoothens the weird midspike in EMG 81 at 9V, maybe in other active pups too?

 

[slashvanyoung]

So, am I the only one who actually prefers the Blackouts' tone?

 

[006]

note to self: don't listen to slash for tone advice...








~006

 

[006]

So the benefit of the 18v would be....???

More headroom is the main thing homie. More dynamic, not as sterile and "typical EMG sound" that people talk about.

~006

 

[J.DavisNJ]

More headroom is the main thing homie. More dynamic, not as sterile and "typical EMG sound" that people talk about.

~006

I seeee. Need to try this out.

-Joe

 

[Temps]

I had the same results when I switched from EMGs to Blackouts. The Blackout Neck in the bridge sounds way better than the bridge one does.

 

[slashvanyoung]

note to self: don't listen to slash for tone advice...








~006

Haha... fair enough. I mean, there is a little bit still left of my hearing so the woofiness/loose low end of the Blackouts was pretty atrocious to me too in these clips. But I've grown somewhat tired of the lacking bass response and harsh midspike of the ol' 81. The Blackouts just seem smoother to me.

 

[Metaltastic]

See, I just prefer to get the bass response from the amp/cab, rather than the guitar

 

[Behind]

hey metalstatic, thank you very much for this!

I chose B and now i'm seriously thinking to try the mod since the bassy thing with the 81 has always annoyed me (mahogany guitar with a huge low end). I was just afraid about soldering but that trick with thte wires is just pefect

greets!

ps: cannot wait for the next test

 

[Metaltastic]

No problem dude, glad it was helpful! And at first I was thinking of getting a Blackout Neck to try, but my complaints with this one were fizz and less tightness, and while the neck may have less of the former, I very much doubt it has more of the latter (since as far as I could tell from my spec-scouring, they're identical except for the magnet; ceramic in bridge, Alnico in neck)

 

[Erik Monsonis]

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.

+1

I think B is 18v EMG81
And also A sounds more like a 18v.

B sounds awesome