Seymour Duncan Blackout Pickup Options

[SLASH91]

As some of you know, I'm looking for a new guitar, and I feel settled on This one. There are two versions of the guitar however. The bodies are the exact same, but one has the EMG-HZ H-4 humbucker and the newer version has the Seymore Duncan Blackout. I can get the one with the EMG for a couple hundred less, but is it really worth it? Is the Blackout allready awesome? Thanks for the help.

[Tjchep]

Well, here's my two cents on these pups.

I tried them out after trying out a similar guitar (Forget which models, both schecter) One EMG then the other Seymour duncan Blackout pickups.

Emg, everyone knows what they sound like, very compressed, not very natrual and only really good for metal and heavy lead stuff.

Blackouts - Very warm and articulate, it has all the things that you love in an active and alot more things are more natrual about it than the EMG, way less compressed, and seemed to even do blues decently.

But really, I'd go try them out, especially if your going to buy an expencive guitar without knowing which pickups you'll like better.

tj

[skennington]

Don't know if your comparing apples to apples here. The H'4's are passive. If SD's are active, try playing them against a guitar with a set of EMG 81 and 85's.

[Bogdan Radovic]

Since you are buying expensive guitar I would strongly suggest that you try both guitars in a shop (if you have one near you)..

[Goliath]

You're probably not going to be happy with the EMG passive, BUT the good thing is that you can pick up an 81 and plug it in and be squared away since EMG has plug n play harnesses for their pickups.

I'm a bigger fan of the SD actives. I don't have a blackout, but my Livewires can get squealy when I need them to but they also clean up a LOT nicer than EMG actives. Honestly, BUYING the $700 Alexi 600 and INSTALLING a ~$100 SD Blackout in it is a way to get an almost $300 savings on virtually the same instrument.

I would buy this one http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp...-HOMEPAGE+Side2

Since I'm pretty certain both play the same. Then install a BRIDGE one of these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Sey...cker?sku=301006

even if you drop $40 to get it installed, you're paying $840 for a guitar they're asking for $1175 new.

You could go even cheaper and get one on ebay, they typically go for $550-$650 and most times include a case.





This post has been edited by Goliath: Mar 6 2008, 02:12 PM

[Spreedmaster]

You're probably not going to be happy with the EMG passive, BUT the good thing is that you can pick up an 81 and plug it in and be squared away since EMG has plug n play harnesses for their pickups.

I'm a bigger fan of the SD actives. I don't have a blackout, but my Livewires can get squealy when I need them to but they also clean up a LOT nicer than EMG actives. Honestly, BUYING the $700 Alexi 600 and INSTALLING a ~$100 SD Blackout in it is a way to get an almost $300 savings on virtually the same instrument.

Wouldnt the passive pickups electrics have no connection for a battery, you would have to add that in?

[Guitarman700]

blackouts are very nice, the alexi 600, ehh, not so much. i have some recommendations for you;
ESP LTD MH-1000 Electric Guitar with EMGs
ESP LTD JH-600 Electric Guitar (Black)
Jackson RR24 Randy Rhoads Snow White Electric Guitar with EMGs
i HIGHLY recommend the Hannemen sig or the Rhoads, both are AMAZING guitars and wont dissapoint.
let me explain. the alexi 600 i tried felt, well, cheap, and the lack of a second humbucker was very disappointing,
not to mention the one it had sounded like crap. the hannemen sig has dual emg's, as well as a kahler trem,
i simply love that guitar, and plan on buying one when i land a steady job. look at some other guitars is my advice, ive tried several of the alexi series, and hated every one.

good luck!
Edit: another recommendation; Ninja-600

This post has been edited by Guitarman700: Mar 6 2008, 02:30 PM

[Goliath]

heh forsake the Alexi sig for the Rhoads sig? The Alexi sig is basically an RR24 with a fatter body and bigger lower wing. The bevels are pretty much the similar, they're bigger on the A600. Both have alder NTB construction, but he could walk away with an A600 for $850 w/ an SD or drop. The bigger body of the A600 should help with sustain. Shark tooth vs. reverse shark tooth , preference there. Both have OFRs. Doesn't look like either gets a case w/ it.

I know the A600 is korean, but LTD gets all guitars from korea and inspects/sets them up just like Schecter does (come w/ stickers on the back of the guitar saying "Inspected in the USA", it's still on my DV8R ).

I fail to see how the RR24 is a better value considering they're near identical.

[Toni Suominen]

I would go with the Blackout's. More tone and more natural sounding

[SLASH91]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies guys.

Sadly, there's now way that I can play this guitar. No ESP dealer around here, but I will check just to make sure.

I'm liking your idea goliath, is that sight, Samash or whatever, good to order stuff from. I'm not ordering ANYTHING for Muscisians friend.

The Rhoads is nice for sure, but so expensive...Alexi-600 looks cooler anyways.

Thanks for the help

I will look at other guitars though, Guitarman

This post has been edited by SLASH91: Mar 6 2008, 03:40 PM

[RIP Dime]

Personally I would buy the one with the EMG and put a pickup of my choice in it, even then I think it would be cheaper than the one with the Blackout.
But ask yourself, what would Chuck Norris do?

[SLASH91]

Personally I would buy the one with the EMG and put a pickup of my choice in it, even then I think it would be cheaper than the one with the Blackout.
But ask yourself, what would Chuck Norris do?

He'd throw a roundhouse kick, and they'd give him the guitar for free

[Guitarman700]

Slash, how much is your budget? because the alexi is listed as $1179, and the hannemen sig is listed less, and that guitar carries my highest recommendation. its your choice, but i like versatility in my guitars, so just a thought.

[SLASH91]

I'd say that I don't really want to pay more that $1200.

That Hannemen is very nice looking, the inlays are awesome. I'll just have to do some more research it seems.
I'm really considering the Alexi now because:

1. I can get it for a pretty cheap price (if I do what Giolath said)
2. It's basically a Rhoads, except it looks cooler imo.
3. OFR, which the Hannemen has also

Thanks, it'll still be several months till I buy one, but I am trying to research it alot more than I have in the past. Any more advice is welcome

This post has been edited by SLASH91: Mar 6 2008, 06:13 PM

[Guitarman700]

I'd say that I don't really want to pay more that $1200.

That Hannemen is very nice looking, the inlays are awesome. I'll just have to do some more research it seems.
I'm really considering the Alexi now because:

1. I can get it for a pretty cheap price (if I do what Giolath said)
2. It's basically a Rhoads, except it looks cooler imo.
3. OFR, which the Hannemen has also

Thanks, it'll still be several months till I buy one, but I am trying to research it alot more than I have in the past. Any more advice is welcome

actually, the hanneman sig has a kahler trem. the site info is wrong, i dont know why.

[SLASH91]

actually, the hanneman sig has a kahler trem. the site info is wrong, i dont know why.

Oh...not cool. That's out.

[Guitarman700]

your perfect guitar has arrived!

check some of these out.

[Smikey2006]

your perfect guitar has arrived!

check some of these out.

BRR0000TOL.. soo much evil in that guitar

[SLASH91]

your perfect guitar has arrived!

check some of these out.

Like I said in the PM i sent you. I'd really want to play one of those before I bought it. So metal though

[SLASH91]

So, Goilath, is Samash.com a good place to buy gear from? I would buy it from Sweetwater, but they don't carry ESP.