Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackouts

4.5 (2)

1 Review

Find out who is using Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackouts

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Description

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Designed in collaboration with Slipknot's Mick Thomson, the Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackouts are the epitome of active pickup innovation, crafted to meet the demands of high-octane metal riffs. These pickups deliver ultra-tight lows and crisp highs, ensuring your sound pierces through the mix without a hint of harshness. The ceramic magnets provide a super-fast attack and lightning-quick responsiveness, making them the perfect choice for high-speed solos and drop-tuned chugging.

But the EMTY Blackouts are more than just brutal force; they offer a surprisingly organic tone that's both clean and quiet, adding a new dimension to the traditional active pickup sound. The bridge pickup is designed to accentuate the percussive chunk of palm-muted notes, while the neck pickup transitions smoothly from crystal-clear cleans to aggressive mids with near-endless sustain.

Installation is a breeze with the included hardware, which features quick-connector cables compatible with most existing setups. Whether you're shredding on stage or laying down tracks in the studio, these pickups bring out the best in your performance, offering versatility that goes beyond extreme metal.

Key Features:

Signature pickups of Slipknot’s Mick Thomson
Ultra-tight lows and highs with zero harshness
Ceramic magnets for fast attack and responsiveness
High-output design for solos and drop-tuned riffs
Clean and quiet with an organic-sounding tone
Bridge pickup for percussive palm-muted notes
Neck pickup with a range from clean to aggressive tones
Includes all necessary installation hardware

Videos

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Seymour Duncan

Mick Thomson's Signature Blackouts EMTY

Seymour Duncan

EMG vs. EMTY Blackouts

Gord Olson

Mick Thomson EMTY Blackouts

Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackouts Mick Thomson Signature Pickups

Metalhead Productions

Reviews

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Owner Insights

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

Setup and maintenance

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Proper pickup height adjustments seem ineffective at resolving muddiness in tone, suggesting other factors like strings or scale might be influencing sound.
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Some owners report having to dremel the pickup cavity for proper fitment of Mick Thomson 7 string EMTYs, indicating potential installation challenges.
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Software and compatibility

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Playing through Logic Pro X without a physical amp might contribute to tone issues, indicating potential compatibility or modeling limitations in achieving desired sound.
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Comparisons

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Mick Thomson EMTY Blackouts reportedly deliver tighter tones compared to Retributions and Loomis sets, yet can sound muddy without adjustments, contrary to user experiences with regular Blackouts.
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Users suggest Fishman pickups as a better alternative for less low end compared to the Mick Thomson EMTY Blackouts.
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Seymour Duncan Blackouts are noted to sound "warmer and more natural" with distortion compared to EMG 81/85, with riffs feeling "bigger" due to this tonal quality.
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Some users find Fishman Fluence pickups too thin and lifeless compared to the Mick Thomson EMTY Blackouts, which are preferred for their fuller, chunkier tone.
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User experience

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Some users achieve clearer tones by rolling the volume knob down to 75%, suggesting a workaround for muddiness without changing gear.
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Owners of the 6 string versions note they retain clarity in drop A tuning, questioning the 7 string version's muddiness.
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Owners report that Blackouts deliver a more full-bodied sound than EMGs, particularly in low-end response, making them suitable for genres requiring a robust low-end presence.
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Other

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It's been noted that contacting Seymour Duncan for potential defects can lead to replacements, suggesting potential quality control issues with some units.
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Use cases and applications

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Blackouts are favored for shredding in lower tunings, providing a fuller sound for metal and thicker strings without venturing into baritone territory.
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Features and functionality

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Blackouts have been described as having a "hot and compressed" output, making them optimal for achieving aggressive metal tones in drop B tuning.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

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thales_carvalho

107

almost 10 years ago

Definition

It took me two or three months to decide which pickup to install on a custom guitar, and this one had actually changed my opinion about active pickups. This is not about high gain, this is all about great and quick response out of this low impedance active pickup. Great definition on highly distorted tones and for the cleans, I really got impressed how much it get close to passive humbuckers. Totally satisfied with'em!

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Metal old school thrash

Artist usage

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Mick Thomson

Guitarist

Slipknot

Verified via Seymour Duncan

“I had them tighten up the bottom because tuning low like we are, you don’t need that lower ‘woof,’” Mick says. “And I had the top end adjusted a little bit for more cut without being harsh or scratchy. They’re extremely quiet, they’re extremely clean and they have a lot more tone than the typical active pickup. They sound more real. The harmonics are richer. It’s a bigger sound across a wider range of frequencies.”