Blackouts with the 18volt mod?

[FortePenance]

So, has anyone tried the blackouts 18v-modded yet? I'd love to hear how they compare to 18v EMGs and the Classic/Metal Livewires.

I heard some pretty old clips of 18v 81-7s that Soldierkahn made and I was really impressed by the sound, great headroom, fuller sound.

I'm thinking about putting Blackouts/EMGs in my RG and i'm interested in how Blackouts might sound with the 18v mod.

 

[zimbloth]

18v is a HUGE help with EMG 81-7s, subtle help w/ EMG 707s. I'd imagine it would help with Blackouts too, but we'll find out.

When do the 7-string ones come out?

 

[F1Filter]

There was a thread over on the SD forums about this. Apparently it won't be necessary.

Blackout 18v

 

[zimbloth]

I demand to know when these will be available for 7-strings

 

[FortePenance]

All I got for ya Zimbloth (from the Blackout 7s thread):

Hotrox uk will be getting them in, They're based in Nottingham. I spoke to mark this morning & he seems to think they're gonna be in mid November.

here's the link.
Hot Rox - Electro Harmonix Pedals, valves, ZVex pedals, MXR pedals

F1Filter, do you know how an 18v EMG compared to a 9v Blackout sounds?

 

[Sepultorture]

after talking to the SD forum guys and hearing a few clips, there really wasn't much of an improvement at all, a little less than what a modded 707 would do.

and in comparisons the Black out still sounded better then the EMG's even when the EMG's were modded

 

[7 Dying Trees]

I demand to know when these will be available for 7-strings

I feel your pain It's like being forever And my 2027 is screaming for them (seeing as no othe rpickup has really ever worked, and actives are the last resort before building a new body for it)

 

[frank falbo]

We should ship the first load by November 1st, but that's not a promise. We still have some final manufacturing tooling to make, etc. 7DT-I don't know when they'll hit the UK but our distrubutor will have them ASAP.

While it won't hurt the Blackouts, the 18 volt mod is very much not necessary. The way we're using our differential preamp is like having twice the dynamic range per coil. Now, forget for a moment that our coils and preamp topology is purely "Duncan" and just compare that part of the equation. The 18-volt mod on the EMG's doesn't produce the same result to the dynamic range. It increases the clean headroom by juicing up the components, but running the differential preamp with balanced inputs does far more (IMHO) to increase dynamic range and preserve transients.

One of the things I've been saying all along is that if you like what the 18 volt mod does to EMG's, then you should love the Blackouts at 9-volts. For those of you who haven't tried the EMG's with 18 volts, you should be flat-out blown away by the Blackouts, just like Dino, Mick, Alexi, and all the other artist who have made the switch.

It's like Hi-Def TV. I'm not that into TV so I don't really care. But when you show me HD next to my old tube television, the difference is undeniable. The EMG's aren't bad pickups. They have made and to this day are making very successful and great sounding albums and live concerts. And with 18 volts they're even better. But I'm sticking with Blackouts.

 

[ShawnFjellstad]

man, my blackout GAS is kicking in.

 

[zimbloth]

We should ship the first load by November 1st, but that's not a promise. We still have some final manufacturing tooling to make, etc. 7DT-I don't know when they'll hit the UK but our distrubutor will have them ASAP.

Frank, is your ETA for the EMG sized ones only or both? Thanks for that cool description, sounds great.

 

[frank falbo]

Both. We may do a production run of one first and then the other second, which could account for a day or two difference, but they will both be put into manufacturing at the same time.

 

[jaxadam]

I am really looking forward to throwing these into some 7's...

I'm a pretty big fan of EMGs w/ 18V's, so I can't wait to check out these.

 

[zimbloth]

Both. We may do a production run of one first and then the other second, which could account for a day or two difference, but they will both be put into manufacturing at the same time.

Nice! My bandmate and I will definitely be buying a few of these. Do they require their own pots and stuff like EMGs? Or can I install them in place of my current passive Duncan?

 

[frank falbo]

Like the 6-strings, we'll give you potentiometers. If you want to use the 250k or 500k pots that are in the guitar, you can. But as with all active pickups, it throws off the taper.

 

[zimbloth]

Like the 6-strings, we'll give you potentiometers. If you want to use the 250k or 500k pots that are in the guitar, you can. But as with all active pickups, it throws off the taper.

Okay Frank, thanks for the updates, can't wait to order some of these

 

[Scarve]

Since I have 7 string guitars, I've never been that much excited to try a new pickup.

 

[djpharoah]

man, my blackout GAS is kicking in.

Agile baritone check, blackouts check. Anyone know what price range the blackouts (both neck and bridge) will be in?

 

[newamerikangospel]

The only question I have so far is that, from what I have heard, they are going to be labeled "bridge and neck", with the neck being emg85ish and the bridge 81ish. Are the outputs staggered (passive neck pickups have less output than the same model bridge pickups to compensate for string movement aka output being increased due to location)? And will we be able to order just a neck/neck, bridge/bridge set, or are they sold neck/bridge?

 

[mnemonic]

^^i've read the same about the neck supposedly being like an 85, and the bridge like an 81.

if so, i may have to switch them around if i get some (hopefully they wont be too expensive! i have limited funds!) as i loves me some massive bottom end.

 

[newamerikangospel]

bump for packaging question.