All user reviews for the Seymour Duncan AHB-3B Mick Thomson Blackouts Bridge

Seymour Duncan Blackouts are their answer to the EMG pickups that people have been using for decades. Like EMG's these pickups run on batteries and have quick connect installation systems so they are very easy to install on your guitar. They come with their own set of pots and switches for you to put in your guitar also. These pickups should not be a signature model. They should just be the new Blackouts. With these pickups available I dont know why anyone would buy the old versions. The original Blackouts were okay but they seemed to be trying to fill in the role that EMG's couldnt do very well. The original blackouts had so much low end they were hard to dial in. These Blackouts have a more traditional active pickup sound. This set has a neck and bridge pickup. The bridge pickup has a ceramic magnet while the neck pickup has an alnico magnet. They still have good low end but the top end is nice and crisp so the sound never gets muddy. These pickups were voiced for a guitar playing in super low tunings so when you are not in super low tunings the clarity is excellent. With this clarity the neck position is actually useable. On the old Blackouts since the low end was so woolly the neck pickup sounded muddy no matter what you were playing. These pickups with the extra top end crunch you can hear what you are playing on the neck position. This is good because typically people who have neck position pickup want to be able to use them. The bridge is crushing like you would expect but the extra new found clarity brings more useablility to the table. The bridge tone is super tight in the low end and has the top end crunch like you would find on an 81. This allows you to tune to whatever you want and still retain clarity. If you are looking for a set of active pickups are that crisp like EMG's but have a bit more low end I would recommend these strongly over the standard Blackout pickups.

They Seymour Duncan AHB-3 Mick Thomson Blackout pickups are revisions of the original Blackouts that were meant to rival the infamous EMG pickups. Just like the EMGs, these feature the same style black cover, quick disconnects, use special pots and the such. They’re truly EMG clones.

Just like the original blackouts, the Mick Thomson signature models come in both neck and bridge varieties. This review covers both the neck and bridge models. First off is the bridge – The lows and mids seem to be much more even with the treble being extended when compared to the original Blackouts. They actually sound quite a bit closer to the original EMG 81 than the previous ones, and I find that to be a good thing. They’re tight, fat sounding and have a nice treble bite to keep everything nice and clear.

In the neck, they work very nicely. The treble helps keep everything more even and clear sounding without being a muddy mess like the original Blackouts were. The bass is just enough, the midrange seems to be even (just like the bridge), and the treble’s extended top end is a nice addition compared to the originals.

I’ve tried these in various woods, and they seem to work in nearly everything. Personally, I prefer these in mahogany, but they can work just as well in alder, basswood and probably even ash. Given that they’re active pickups, they’ll always remain quiet under even the most heavily lit stage.

If you thought the original Blackouts were too bass heavy, check these out. They should be a much better version of the original Blackouts. However, I still find myself preferring the original EMGs for whatever reason. Whether that’s due to nostalgia or my ears being adjusted to them, I’m not sure. Regardless, if you’ve always found EMGs to be lacking in something, check these out.