Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 5 stores. Prices updated .

Average Price: $283

High-end/Boutique

$99

$200+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Seymour Duncan Blackout Alt. metal". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Unleash the thunderous low end and searing highs of the Seymour Duncan Blackout Alt. Metal pickups, meticulously crafted for seven-string guitars. This powerhouse set includes both a bridge and neck pickup, designed to dominate alternative metal soundscapes with precision and aggression. The bridge pickup is your key to turning palm-muted percussive strikes into pounding, rhythmic assaults, while the neck pickup ensures your clean tones remain pristine and dynamic. When driven into high-gain territory, expect a boost of mids and sustain that caters to djent, metalcore, and modern metal enthusiasts.

The Alt. Metal Blackouts are not just about raw power—they bring sophistication to your riffs with enhanced low-end tightness and top-end bite, all without the harshness often associated with such fierce pickups. Whether you're riffing in lower tunings or soaring through solos, these pickups deliver the aggressive tonal palette you need, while maintaining the energy and output of the original Blackouts.

Installation is a breeze with all necessary hardware included, ensuring you can quickly swap these pickups into your guitar and start shaking the stage with your crushing, alternative metal riffs.

Key Features:

  • Designed for 7-string guitars
  • Thunderous low-end with searing highs
  • Enhanced low-end tightness and top-end bite
  • Emphasizes percussive quality of palm-muted notes
  • Increased sustain under higher gain settings
  • All necessary installation hardware included
Riffs, Beards & Gear

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Checking Out The New Seymour Duncan ALT.METAL Pickups!

Video thumbnail for Checking Out The New Seymour Duncan ALT.METAL Pickups! by Riffs, Beards & Gear

Checking Out The New Seymour Duncan ALT.METAL Pickups!

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Riffs, Beards & Gear

Video thumbnail for alt.metal Blackouts® Overview with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce by Seymour Duncan

alt.metal Blackouts® Overview with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce

Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan

Video thumbnail for alt.metal Blackouts® Demo with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce by Seymour Duncan

alt.metal Blackouts® Demo with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce

Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan Blackout Alt. metal.

Features and functionality

  • Seymour Duncan Blackouts are noted for their warm, natural distortion handling, making chugs and riffs feel "bigger" compared to other pickups.

    Source
  • The Alt Metal 7 Blackouts offer extreme metal tones comparable to Fishman pickups, excelling in clarity even in drop G tuning.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Owners often compare Blackouts to EMG 81/85 sets, noting Blackouts offer a fuller low end, benefiting metal styles and thicker strings.

    Source
  • The Alt Metal is the renamed Mick Thomson AHB-3 set; it mimics the EMG 81 EQ but uses Blackout preamps for a more dynamic sound.

    Source
  • EMG 707 pickups have a soapbar form factor and are based on a bass pickup, using an Alnico V magnet like the EMG 85, offering better cleans in the neck position.

    Source
  • Duncan Blackouts are preferred by some for a darker, fuller tone in live settings compared to the EMG 81/60 combo.

    Source
  • EMG 57/66 set is considered by some as a potential upgrade from the EMG 81/85 for studio recordings, offering a different tonal character.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Users recommend trying Seymour Duncan Nazgul pickups for those who prefer EMG 81/85 tones but want more depth and clarity.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Blackouts are praised for their performance at lower tunings, offering a robust tone without needing to venture into baritone territory.

    Source
  • Blackouts are noted for achieving clear, dynamic tones suitable for both clean passages and heavy metal riffing without the need for baritone guitars.

    Source
  • Blackouts are found to be more versatile and adaptable for players in diverse musical groups, offering organic and less compressed sounds.

    Source
  • Duncan pickups, including Blackouts, are noted for their suitability in modern prog, metalcore, and lighter thrash genres with more dynamic range.

    Source

User experience

  • Some owners find Blackouts to be slightly muddy without precise amp/modeler adjustments, emphasizing the importance of fine-tuning for optimal sound.

    Source

Other

  • It's highlighted that the 7/8 string AHB-1 Blackouts were poorly adapted from the 6-string version, potentially leading to EQ issues on lower strings.

    Source

Critic Reviews

“If you are into anything aggressive, you owe it to yourself to check these out”: Seymour Duncan issues reconfigured alt.metal Blackouts – specifically tailored for low-tuned metal riffs | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

Seymour Duncan's alt.metal Blackouts are a powerful addition for aggressive guitarists, boasting a reconfigured EQ that excels in low-tuned riffs. Musicians will appreciate the enhanced low-end tightness and crisp top-end, making these pickups ideal for drop C# and lower tunings. The ceramic bridge and Alnico V neck pairing delivers versatility, with the neck pickup praised for its clarity and sustain. While they shine in high-gain settings, some may find the aggressive mids overwhelming in certain contexts. Overall, these pickups are a strong choice for those seeking a brutal edge in their sound.

positive

Seymour Duncan alt.metal Blackouts excel at lower tunings

mixdownmag.com.au

Seymour Duncan's alt.metal Blackouts bring thunderous power and clarity to lower tunings, making them a solid choice for any alternative metal guitarist. They enhance low-end tightness while providing a rich harmonic response, retaining the essence of the original Blackouts. The pickups are exceptionally quiet and offer a fantastic blend of percussive punch and sustain. However, while they excel in aggressive settings, some players may find the top-end refinement slightly lacking in bite compared to other options. Overall, these pickups are a formidable weapon for heavy riffs, but players seeking a more aggressive high-end might want to explore alternatives.

positive

Seymour Duncan's Heavy Metal Blackout Pickups - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
G

Впечатляюще

I'm writing based on my fresh impressions, I got what I was looking for! SD turned out to do what they wrote about in the description of this pickup, the only thing I would like is a pulm mute like on AHB3, but in terms of balance, it's perfect, I want to play again on guitar and i do not want to turn the equalizer every moment, this company realy knows about the needs of guitarists, I won't touch to the emg anymore. Feelings like an SH6 which done as active pickup. Rich mid harmonics, sweet&powerful tone. True alt metal sound, like maybe Emil Bulls, Filter or Hellyeah🤘 In short, alt metal is an improved AHB 1 with some tricks of AHB3

More Seymour Duncan Electric Guitar Pickups

Accessories & Related Items

Artist usage

Community setups

Similar

Gear Guides