Before Seymour Duncan started designing the 9-volt Blackouts active humbuckers, they did market research. They found that while lots of guitarists love active pickups, many want a tone that is less compressed, with a more extended frequency response. In Seymour Duncan's efforts to solve those issues, they discovered that some of the most popular active pickups have what may be considered a design flaw in their circuit architecture. They use unbalanced inputs in a differential preamp. The problem is, an unbalanced differential preamp is not very effective at canceling hum. Seymour Duncan's engineers figured out how to capture the tone that players want in an active design, but using balanced inputs.

The result is that not only do the Seymour Duncan Blackouts active humbuckers have less hum than the competition, but they also have more lows, more highs, and more output. Simply put, the Blackouts have more tone than other active pickups. Players will notice the benefits of the reduced hum when they record, especially if they're around computer monitors or fluorescent lighting. As for the benefits of having more tone, well those will be apparent everywhere.

Blackouts come with all necessary mounting hardware, including pots, jack, and a battery clip.

Wiring Instructions

Video Demo

Guitar World Review

Application

9-volt active humbucker for aggressive playing styles. Recommended for old school metal, garage, punk, thrash, drop tunings, and other heavy rock styles.

Description

The "other" USA-made active humbuckers use unbalanced inputs in a differential preamp. The problem is, an unbalanced differential preamp is not very effective at cancelling hum. Our engineers figured out how to capture the tone that players want in an active design, but using balanced inputs. The result is 12dB to 14dB less noise, plus more lows, more highs, and more output. Simply put, Blackouts have more tone than other active pickups.

Complete Setup

Blackouts are available in individual neck and bridge models, or as a two-pickup set. All versions come with all necessary mounting hardware, including pots, jack, and a battery clip.

Guitars

For all humbucker guitars. The blade magnets make this pickup suitable for both humbucker and Trembucker string spacings.