TOP 3: Best Guitar Pickups for CLASSIC METAL || Active Humbuckers || Seymour Duncan

► 00:00​​​ - AHB-1 Blackouts Humbucker Set
► 01:01​​​ - AHB-3 Mick Thomson Signature Blackouts Humbucker Set
► 02:00​​​ - Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts Humbucker Set

The debate among players as far as what kind of pickups, passive or active, are best for metal rages on. And it will continue to do so for a long time. But one thing's for sure. When it comes to the best pickups for metal, active humbucking pickups are regularly at the top of the list.

Unlike passives, active pickups are powered by a battery (or batteries) that’s onboard your guitar. Usually a 9-volt. The battery gives the active guitar pickups all they need to deliver their hotter output levels and uniquely defined tones. They also offer a buffered output with a very low noise floor.

If you’re pushing a long line of true-bypass pedals, active pickups are a great choice. But it’s in their preamp-punishing output where actives built their legacy. And that’s why they are some of the best pickups for metal, period.

► AHB-1 Blackouts Humbucker Set
The original Blackouts high-output active humbuckers deliver all of the power and full-bodied punch that today’s metal players demand from an active pickup. You get the high-output signal level of an active pickup, with a more organic feel and open tonal response that allows the true character of your guitar to come through. The treble and bass response is extended beyond the range of traditional active pickups and has been carefully balanced with a slightly scooped midrange for the perfect crunch.

► AHB-3 Mick Thomson Signature Blackouts Humbucker Set
Mick Thomson of Slipknot asked us for a set of 6-string Blackouts customized to complement the complex, crushing riffs he plays in dropped tunings. The bridge model has the energy and output of the original Blackouts but with Mick’s custom voicing, which emphasizes the percussive chunk of palm-muted notes. The neck model is designed to provide crystal clear clean tones, but when you crank up the gain you’ll hear more aggressive mids and increased sustain; great for high-speed solos and ominous melodic interludes.

► Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts Humbucker Set
The Jeff Loomis Blackouts are inspired by the voicing of high-output passive humbuckers, but with the output, headroom, and low noise of actives. Jeff’s active Blackouts set is designed to sound more organic and dynamic than most active humbuckers. His bridge humbucker is a high-output pickup made with an Alnico 5 bar magnet. It keeps power chords sounding big and powerful and has a pronounced midrange response with a strong pick attack for tracking fast playing. His neck pickup employs Alnico 5 rod magnets to further enhance the response to picking and legato techniques, with a slight bump in the treble frequencies and a focused bass response to keep lower notes from sounding too boomy.

★ SEYMOUR DUNCAN★

★ Gear Used in Video★
► Guitar: 2018 ESP LTD MH-400
► Friedman 4x12 Cabinet loaded with 12" Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers
► Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone
► Royer R10 Ribbon Microphone
► Warm Audio WA273-EQ Microphone Preamp
► UA Apollo Twin Interface
► Logic Pro X
[NOTE: all individual pickup heights, pedal settings, amp settings, outboard gear settings, and mic placement were consistent across all 3 pickup sets]

[rsa]

Timestamps for the neck pickups only

AHB1 0:34
AHB3 1:33
Loomis 2:32

[zukioh]

What a great demo! More pickup comparisons like this please!

[SlapMyBass]

I had blackouts in an Ibanez years ago, but those Loomis pickups are fire!

[wmxx]

I think I like the EMTY Blackouts, been using the AHB1s for years

[AudreyYun]

comparison shootout videos are the best plz more of these!

[GreenMeanie]

Just use a JB and 59 most classic metal was made with these.

[charlesb]

I have an original 89 Kramer Nightswan, I bought new, few years after I installed the Active Heavy Metal Live wire in the bridge position and a JB in the neck position. The JB has a coil spit. This set up let's me do everything from mild to wild. I have a push/pull volume pot as my pick up selector. There's no way I could ever part with this axe. I wish I could still get the original version of the Heavy metal Live wire though. Not to mention they kill my EMGs hands down

[angrytroll]

Hang on what bout the GUS G blackouts?

[harmonicseries]

How does it sound through a tube amp like a Mark V or 5150?

[jobckts]

I knew it's all same pickup. It's the cool name. Invader is Most Baddazz.