SD Blackouts vs. EMG81 comparison

[Ola Englund]

As requested, here are two clips where I compare the sound from a Dean cadillac with emg 81 against my newest addition Ibanez RGR08 with a Blackout.

I can't say which one I like the most. I like them both just as much

Blackout:
http://www.feared.se/crap/blackout.mp3

EMG81:
http://www.feared.se/crap/emg81.mp3

 

[Morgorroth]

I prefer the EMGs , sound a bit "smoother", the blackouts seem to "grunt"

 

[Element77]

I'd say the blackouts, A.) cause I just preordered a set (ha!) and B) they have alittle more bite and clarity to them, which suits the music better. With all the 16th picking, I hear more attack, where the 81's seem to mush into each other a little. If it was more open "chordy" music, I'd say mabye the 81s. It's the same way I feel about my Invaders.

And p.s. how much post are you doing on the drums? S2.0, i assume?

 

[Dom Ostarig]

Thank you Goddamm for the comparison....

 

[wishtheend]

I like the Blackouts. Seems much meatier in the lows, and more pronounced mids (most noticeable on the tremolo picked riffs). Thanks for the post

 

[Wild Hades]

Really interesting!
I was thinking about getting the SDs over the EMGs I have on my LTD M-1000, but I'm actually digging the 81 sound more than the Blackout here, smoother on the highs and more fat/full... maybe the EMG 85 instead of the 81 is what I'm looking for, not the Blackout...
Has the Cadillac a mahogany body?

Big thanks for taking the time to do this comparison man! Much appreciated!

 

[Toni S.]

Thanks for the comparison man. Somehow I like the SD's a little more.

And the revalver preset would be nice!!!

 

[KeithTidd]

the black outs have more low mids. I think the 81's sound more gritty. I'd lean towards the 81's, but either pickup is good.

 

[Metaltastic]

Hmm, not to be overly demanding, but since both pickups have the quick-connect option, if you could test them both in the same guitar (or both guitars ) that'd be a lot more scientific! Pretty please?

 

[JonWormwood]

Hmm, not to be overly demanding, but since both pickups have the quick-connect option, if you could test them both in the same guitar (or both guitars ) that'd be a lot more scientific! Pretty please?

I would do this but an 81 sounds like piss in an alder/maple V.

 

[Metaltastic]

Hahaha, yeah, that I have NO trouble believing (I hated it in the bridge of my maple/mahogany RG) - though if you had an 85...

 

[Ermz]

The EMG seems to be a bit more aggressive in the high mid and generally sound bitier, whereas the Blackout sits more in the back. I think in this case the Duncan may sit better in the mix whereas the EMG has more 'grrrr'.

The EMG clip sounds like it has louder guitars so perception may be biased based on that.

Thank you for the shoot-out!

 

[mintcheerios]

Thanks for the comparison. I'm going to rename the files and do a blind A/B test to see which I prefer.

 

[LSD-Studio]

I'm really lucky I liked the EMG more! (since replacing all the EMGs in my guitars with Blackouts would cost me like 2000&#8364

 

[Ola Englund]

Hmm, not to be overly demanding, but since both pickups have the quick-connect option, if you could test them both in the same guitar (or both guitars ) that'd be a lot more scientific! Pretty please?

I could do that, but I'm a lazy bastard!

 

[Josh Burgess]

The blackouts have a signature kind of sound to them. Almost every recording I've heard of them sounds similar. It's easy to pick them out. I like them.

 

[symphonicmind]

I prefer Blackouts to EMG81! Tone is very powerful and clarity.

 

[Djabthrash]

Thanks for posting this.

Both sound different and killer. I have an EMG81 loaded Schecter Hellraiser, and i might think about buying another similar axe loaded with SD blackouts, and use both guitars for dualtracking.

 

[006]

Um...yeah I fail to see how this is fair in any way. Two different pickups in two different guitars...

FWIW I do prefer the 81 in these clips...but it doesn't make sense to me to use two different axes to showcase the differences of two pickups. Honestly I'm surprised that nobody has really pointed that out yet except Marcus hinting at the same point.

~006

 

[hkollner]

Um...yeah I fail to see how this is fair in any way. Two different pickups in two different guitars...

FWIW I do prefer the 81 in these clips...but it doesn't make sense to me to use two different axes to showcase the differences of two pickups. Honestly I'm surprised that nobody has really pointed that out yet except Marcus hinting at the same point.

~006

+1