Jackson WRMG and Charvel Desolation DS-1 ST user, so I have some experience with 81/85 and Blackouts. The EMGs are standing out when you are using a lot of gain on your amp or setting. Great for live situations or just practising.. However, the Blackouts win in cleans, low and mid gain, hands down. Mid-gain does include recordings. The EMGs in clean are just brittle, which is not good in a mix, and in mid-gain situation are very muffled and uneven in response. I prefer the Blackouts, but they're very different beasts to the EMGs.
Exactly! This is also how I feel and I also own Charvel Desolation DS-1 ST, with Blackouts and Godin Freeway EMG with EMGs 81. Right on the point my friend!
I have emg’s and blackouts. I swap them at will when I change the strings lol. I’m playing a Dean deceiver. Killer guitar and same for the pups, both sets lol.
@@ericvalverderosado2046 if the 81 is more focused on high mids than wouldn't it be less muddy than the blackout? Tone is subjective of course but you know?
The Blackout is somewhere in-between the 81 and 85 to my ears. I don't like the 85 or the Blackout in the neck. I prefer the 81 bridge for metal, it really captures high speed palm muting the best for me.
The GTV set is basically two modded 81s, so I bought them to replace the EMTYs in my Jackson SL2-MTW Pro series which were sold with the EMG electronics; those Blackouts are even brighter than the AHB-1 and that probably goes for the discontinued Seymour Duncan actives as well.
To me the 81 distorted sounds more clear and defined in comparisin to bridge SD which sounds muddy to me. But on clean the 81 sounds thin a quiet in comparison to SD. The neck pickups to me are equal. I'm a SD guy all my life (own distortions, black winter, invader and nazgul/sentient) but in this case I'd go with EMGs.
From what i can hear, for the riffs i prefer the scooped sound of the emg’s (i’d like a more scooped sound for that as i think it has a certain grind and a more heavy sound than the mid rich blackouts) and the blackouts for the clean setting. But this is just my opinion, this is how i like them Also, if you don’t like the scooped midrange of the emg’s you can always dial in some mids on your amp or fix that with an eq pedal
EMG all the way. They cut through the mix alot better. Duncans have too much bass. Thats what a bass player is for. Its popular to hate on EMGs for some reason and any active pickups nowadays. Even though most metal heads favorite albums were recorded with EMG pickups. But always go with your ear, dont follow the trends. If it sounds good.... its good. Plus it depends on what kind of rig youre running
The AHB-1 tone chart shows that they’re bright, but EMGs don’t necessarily have too much bass as I always set the input gain to the pickup; it’s basically possible to get a similar tone to a low-output single coil.
In my humble opinion if all your going to play is heavy metal style music with distortion EMGs are slightly better. Blackouts have better clean sound. Both sound really good and have thought of changing my active pick ups to black outs
Very cool video, thx a lot! Both pickups sound great. I have EMG's on my Jackson guitars but I totally would install the Seymour Duncan on one of them! B)
I have both. I've played then both in a jackson and ltd and the blackouts seem real bassy but great highs. Don't like them for chugging. Emgs are great but missing the high.
@@Aramgeddon yes indeed. According to Seymour Duncan it should give more headroom and dynamics = less compression. So it should give less distortion for input signal, when player is "hitting hard".
Use a good amp and cab. The cab is probably the most important part of the signal chain. In this video I used the pod hd which actually is not that great, fortunately I sold it 😅
Aramgeddon, I have a few questions about your guitar. 1) Did your guitar come with a pre-made battery compartment? 2) If not, Where did you store the 9V battery? Did you make a battery compartment? or is the 9V somewhere inside the controls cavity?
Well, that isnt a best PU, all we can tell is what pairs in the bast way in a chain. The guitar is the more important. For me, on this comparison, EMGs has taken on most of situations. The 81 for me was better, more articulation an slightly richer. But on the neck Blackout tone were more organic and smoother. EMG`s know how results in a farly better result B+N situations: SD produces the oposite of the parallel tone expected, while EMGs delivers a quieter "jazzy" combination. As we know, this is not a vereditc, as the performance on a LP or on a EL34 amp can easily do not reguard any of these aspects
If you own Jackson or Schecter or ESP, or BC RICH or other guitar brands similar to this brands EMG's Would be better. If its Gibson or Epiphone or Prs The Seymour Duncan blackouts would be better.
Thats something you just can't generalize like that.. I mean it all goes down on how your guitar is built.. what kind of body it got (mahagony or swamp ash etc.). I have an Epiphone with 81s, and 85s and it just sounds killer.. also my jackson, Schecter and ESP guitars all got Seymour Duncans... Its all personal preference and not based on some brand which pickup would fit the best...
Blackouts seem to have a more passive bell like tone. Emg's have a bit more of an edge that helps them cut. They'll both sound killer in any axe.
I freaking love my blackouts!
Jackson WRMG and Charvel Desolation DS-1 ST user, so I have some experience with 81/85 and Blackouts.
The EMGs are standing out when you are using a lot of gain on your amp or setting. Great for live situations or just practising..
However, the Blackouts win in cleans, low and mid gain, hands down. Mid-gain does include recordings. The EMGs in clean are just brittle, which is not good in a mix, and in mid-gain situation are very muffled and uneven in response.
I prefer the Blackouts, but they're very different beasts to the EMGs.
Exactly! This is also how I feel and I also own Charvel Desolation DS-1 ST, with Blackouts and Godin Freeway EMG with EMGs 81. Right on the point my friend!
I have emg’s and blackouts. I swap them at will when I change the strings lol. I’m playing a Dean deceiver. Killer guitar and same for the pups, both sets lol.
I like Seymour Duncan ones. I have EMGs in two of my guitars and wish for more life in the sound.
My first impression of the blackouts where they sacrificed a little bit of definition for a little bit more warmth
0:06 EMG 81
0:25 SD AHB-1b
The EMGs did the cleaner sounds very well. I even heard qualities similar to the resonance in my Gibson guitars.
I like how the Duncans are a little more tight in the distortion . But in the clean the Emgs win hands down
yeah i don’t like blackouts since they’re too bright
They are both good.
the blackout's sound muffled and muddy compared to the EMG's
Beatlejuice I have to disagree with you, I tried both, and I could feel a gnarlier growl the Blackouts, the 81 is more focused on high minds
Painkiller488 X 👍
I think the 85 makes the better bridge pickup than an 81 or a blackout.
@@ericvalverderosado2046 if the 81 is more focused on high mids than wouldn't it be less muddy than the blackout? Tone is subjective of course but you know?
To my ears the SDs are better for distortion while the EMGs are better for clean tones
I like the beefier mids in the blackouts, emg sounds more high end.
The Blackout is somewhere in-between the 81 and 85 to my ears. I don't like the 85 or the Blackout in the neck. I prefer the 81 bridge for metal, it really captures high speed palm muting the best for me.
The GTV set is basically two modded 81s, so I bought them to replace the EMTYs in my Jackson SL2-MTW Pro series which were sold with the EMG electronics; those Blackouts are even brighter than the AHB-1 and that probably goes for the discontinued Seymour Duncan actives as well.
To me the 81 distorted sounds more clear and defined in comparisin to bridge SD which sounds muddy to me. But on clean the 81 sounds thin a quiet in comparison to SD. The neck pickups to me are equal. I'm a SD guy all my life (own distortions, black winter, invader and nazgul/sentient) but in this case I'd go with EMGs.
Great comparison. Just judging on the bridge pickup alone, the EMG just nabs it with the tight snarl.
Impressed with the SD too 👍🏻
From what i can hear, for the riffs i prefer the scooped sound of the emg’s (i’d like a more scooped sound for that as i think it has a certain grind and a more heavy sound than the mid rich blackouts) and the blackouts for the clean setting.
But this is just my opinion, this is how i like them
Also, if you don’t like the scooped midrange of the emg’s you can always dial in some mids on your amp or fix that with an eq pedal
I have old emg wired first gen with the Brown epoxy and I can tell they sound better than the new solderless ones. Anyone else notice this?
The think in EMG 85 Bridge with a Seymour Duncan Blackout Neck would be pretty cool
Definitely the EMGs for me
SD sounds more dynamic
I'd use the DI of the Blackout ALL DAY!
EMG all the way. They cut through the mix alot better. Duncans have too much bass. Thats what a bass player is for. Its popular to hate on EMGs for some reason and any active pickups nowadays. Even though most metal heads favorite albums were recorded with EMG pickups. But always go with your ear, dont follow the trends. If it sounds good.... its good. Plus it depends on what kind of rig youre running
The AHB-1 tone chart shows that they’re bright, but EMGs don’t necessarily have too much bass as I always set the input gain to the pickup; it’s basically possible to get a similar tone to a low-output single coil.
I wonder how the blackouts will sound on a marshal dsl
Try Fishman Fluence (Classic only)
EMGs for distortion and SD for clean
In my humble opinion if all your going to play is heavy metal style music with distortion EMGs are slightly better. Blackouts have better clean sound. Both sound really good and have thought of changing my active pick ups to black outs
Very cool video, thx a lot! Both pickups sound great. I have EMG's on my Jackson guitars but I totally would install the Seymour Duncan on one of them! B)
Mazel Tov buy fishman fluence. Best sounding active pickup so far
I have both. I've played then both in a jackson and ltd and the blackouts seem real bassy but great highs. Don't like them for chugging. Emgs are great but missing the high.
Hi, Nice video. Your EMG pickups sound great. Does your EMG pickups have a tone capacitor or have you removed it?
Thank you, the pickup is in stock configuration
Aquele famoso...."tanto faz"....ambos são muito massa!!!!
emg wins! emg is a very very evil hi gain machine!
Amazing video brother! But, what’s the guitar that you have the EMG pickups on? Looks like a Jackson USA Select Dinky DK1 to me.
Thanks man, it's the Jackson soloist slat 3-6
Für Metal haben meiner Meinung nach die EMGs fetter geklungen. Präziser.
Ansonsten Seymour ;)
How about with 18 volts instead?
Never tried that before, would be nice content for a video
@@Aramgeddon yes indeed. According to Seymour Duncan it should give more headroom and dynamics = less compression. So it should give less distortion for input signal, when player is "hitting hard".
Seymour Duncan has a bright clear sound. The EMGs are too middle range.
fucking insane!!
What's the first song you play?
It's just a riff I wrote for this comparison
@@Aramgeddon awesome 😎🤘🤘
🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
Never got that sound out of my EMG's!!! How do I get such beef and chicken out of my EMG's?? Lol.
Use a good amp and cab. The cab is probably the most important part of the signal chain. In this video I used the pod hd which actually is not that great, fortunately I sold it 😅
Aramgeddon, I have a few questions about your guitar. 1) Did your guitar come with a pre-made battery compartment? 2) If not, Where did you store the 9V battery? Did you make a battery compartment? or is the 9V somewhere inside the controls cavity?
What tuning are you using on this guitar? Tuned down to D or C#?
Hi, it's dropped B
What string gauges did you use?
@@ThePoppinJawn 11-56
Well, that isnt a best PU, all we can tell is what pairs in the bast way in a chain. The guitar is the more important. For me, on this comparison, EMGs has taken on most of situations. The 81 for me was better, more articulation an slightly richer. But on the neck Blackout tone were more organic and smoother. EMG`s know how results in a farly better result B+N situations: SD produces the oposite of the parallel tone expected, while EMGs delivers a quieter "jazzy" combination. As we know, this is not a vereditc, as the performance on a LP or on a EL34 amp can easily do not reguard any of these aspects
what is the guitar model ?
The EMG seems tighter & chunkier on the lows.
Blackouts very goooooood!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
If you own Jackson or Schecter or ESP, or BC RICH or other guitar brands similar to this brands EMG's Would be better. If its Gibson or Epiphone or Prs The Seymour Duncan blackouts would be better.
Thats something you just can't generalize like that.. I mean it all goes down on how your guitar is built.. what kind of body it got (mahagony or swamp ash etc.). I have an Epiphone with 81s, and 85s and it just sounds killer.. also my jackson, Schecter and ESP guitars all got Seymour Duncans... Its all personal preference and not based on some brand which pickup would fit the best...
АНВ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuning?
Eric Valverde it’s C
B*
they sound very much alike
EMG clean tone bad.
For heavens sake try to play in the same key, it helps LOL
Worst composer ever
Yes you are