EMG 81 vs Seymour Duncan Blackout AHB-1

[matisq]

Hey!

I just made a quick comparison video with 2 most common 6 string actives in a bridge.



Which one do you prefer?

 

[atoragon]

I have always had problems with the 81. Too bassy and without enough musical mid frequences for my taste, so I always switched it with an 85 at the bridge position, which is much more mid focused and "recording friendly". The blackout ahb1 is designed with the aid of dino cazares, the same that for the first 7 string emg pickup asked for a 7 strings version of the 85 (the 707), instead of an 81. The result is that the ahb 1 is similiar to an emg85 in terms of tone, but probably has a bit more output and a little bit of low-mid muddiness added, anyway it's a very good pickup and in my opinin a great replacement for an emg81.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Great comparison!

From clips, I've always thought the blackouts pump out a bit too much low-end compared to the 81, but I like the added brightness up top they have. Would definitely love to try to compare them to my Het EMG's.

 

[matisq]

To be honest I expected bigger difference in tone between these two.
A way more saturation from Blackout and more sterile sound from EMG. Maybe my preset tone was too saturated to hear a difference?

BTW.
I have EMG 81 in Epiphone SG and this pickup sounds completely different there than on LTD.

 

[Frantick]

am I completely drunk (and I should shut the fuck up) or difference is so minor that can barely hear. I was expecting a huge boost in low freq. In ahb-1 compare to emg that have a lack in this department (compare to any passive pu, witch is a little down side of emgs for me, because I can't change guitars without messing with amp setting. (( excluding that I always could have every guitar loaded with emg )) )

 

[atoragon]

the difference is clearly audible when you play it yourself, this video is the proof that youtube videos cannot be trusted, since yes, these 2 pickups sounds very very similar, almost the same.

 

[matisq]

the difference is clearly audible when you play it yourself, this video is the proof that youtube videos cannot be trusted, since yes, these 2 pickups sounds very very similar, almost the same.

+1