Comments on: EMG 81/85 vs. Seymour Duncan Blackouts

By: SGEbony

SGEbony — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:18:09 +0000

Here are both the 81 and the BO in mixes:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/equipment/490392-seymour-duncan-blackout-bridge-vs-emg81-round-2-dtb-content-d.html

I personally think the EMGs owned the BOs here. Just my opinion though.

By: jay

jay — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:29:10 +0000

I don’t like active pick ups but they do have certain uses.I have the 81-85 set but when I heard the black outs they just sounded more full than the Emg set.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:52:49 +0000

EMGs sounded thin on the clean tone, while the Blackouts were warmer. On the overdrive tone, they were virtually identical to my ears. On the final highest gain sound, the Blackouts were again more full sounding, so overall…

Blackouts win!

By: Russ

Russ — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:44:58 +0000

Thanks for the comparison. There’s so much gear out there that it’s often a difficult decision to make unless you can A/B two similar products – and most of us aren’t able to do that for one reason or another. So please keep up these kinds of shootouts – they are really helpful.

It would have been difficult for me to make a choice without this video. As you say, there’s no wrong answer and it comes down to personal preference. I definitely prefer the Duncans. The best way I can explain the way the EMG’s sound *TO ME* is that they’re sterile and lifeless, while the Duncans sound warm and have so much more character.

I don’t have any guitars with active pickups, but I’m looking to get one. This review just made my decision on choice of pickups an easy one.

By: TVLTNT

TVLTNT — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:58:28 +0000

TTK, I’m also not one for active pickups however regardless in this case. I like the nice sound of the Duncans totally.

It’s sort of a NO brainer just IMHO.
TERRY

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:32:32 +0000

To me on the clean channel especially, I thought the 2 EMGs sounded too similar whereas the Blackouts each had a distinct sound. Thanks TTK! Love your shootouts!

By: David

David — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:58:55 +0000

Interesting shootout — I personally don’t care for active pickups, [ I'm old school ] The EMG’s sounded to me way thinner than the Duncans, so I would probably go with them if I had to choose.

Great job TK !!

By: nellymalta

nellymalta — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:47:02 +0000

Funny thing personal preference. I have EMG’s in 2 of my guitars but I think i actually prefer the Blackouts based on the shoot out.

Hey, TTK. I think you should consider doing a shootout between these beasts and their low budget competitors from GFS/Irongear etc and perhaps throw in a $9.99 chinese ebay cheapy for fun. I guess it would take too much setting up though.

By: Stray

Stray — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:26:48 +0000

With distortion (how I mostly play) I think the EMG’s were clearer and more distinct, whereas the Duncans were melodic mush? I have owned lots of Seymour’s products through the years, but in this setting the black-outs wouldn’t be one of them.