[Metal Ken]

I think from what i can hear the 707 doesnt have as much low end but its SO hard to tell in this clip cause they're so similar. what amps are you using?

Also, you should have tried leaving the volume up since the blackouts have more power, just lower it in the recording afterwards. that'd make a more accurate comparison.

[Zer0]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

I think from what i can hear the 707 doesnt have as much low end but its SO hard to tell in this clip cause they're so similar. what amps are you using?

Also, you should have tried leaving the volume up since the blackouts have more power, just lower it in the recording afterwards. that'd make a more accurate comparison.

This man speaks the truth. The blackouts seem a little "fuller" in the mids. The real decider I believe would be if you left the gain the same for both, gain is just as important as every knob for the sake of tone.
Having said that in the clips so far I vote blackouts. But thats only by a hair.

[Celiak]

uh... I hear absolutely no difference.

[zimbloth]

As always, you can't judge on low-grade webclips. Blackouts and EMGs are most definitely very different. If they sound exactly the same to you, perhaps it's the amp he's using or the way it was recorded. That said, the Blackout Neck model does sound a little bit like the 707, bu the Blackout Bridge model is not even close.

I wouldn't say the Blackouts are low middy and the EMGs high middy. It's more like the Blackouts are balanced throughout the entire frequency range, whereas the EMGs are peaky. I definitely prefer Blackouts - they are clearer, heavier, quieter, and more organic.

[dtrax]

I'm only listening on my laptop (craptastic speakers), and I hear very little difference. Maybe on my studio monitors it'll be more apparent, but it sounds like the 707's have a bit more low end chunk - it's rather small in comparison.

I'm curious to know what amp you used as well.

[Lethe]

Metal Ken:
Well, I adjusted the gain because that's the level of distortion I want to use. More gain would have meant more distortion, but I could have just added gain on the 707 if I wanted that. I was interested in how well they do the sound I want, hence I adjusted the gain to level the playing field. I think it's way more important how the pickups perform tonally and in terms of tightness than simply how hot they are. It's easy to have too much gain, I don't need a pickup to give me even more.

Thanks, zimbloth, for calling a 160kBit-clip that contains all my knowledge in mixing and (pre)mastering a "low grade webclip". I know I still have a lot to learn, but damn, do you fuckers have to be THIS honest all the time?

Just to make it clear: The blackout used in the clip is the bridge model. I installed the neck model into the bridge position yesterday, and although it was a little more different, I also liked it less, so I didn't bother recording.

The only "amp" I use is my trusty PodXT using Big Bottom, FX-Boost and EQ. Again, all the settings were the same for both pickups except for the gain. I record via USB. All the recorded guitar tracks run through Izotope Ozone, but again, the settings were the same: Moderate EQ and Harmonic Exciter.

So yeah, the guitar signal is somewhat processed, but the only thing I care about is how it sounds in the end, that means double-tracked, with drums and after mixing and mastering is done. Of course, these are very special conditions, and in other environments the difference may well be more pronounced, but in this case, the difference is too small to justify spending 190€ for it. Although the blackout is a tiny bit more organic, I like the peakyness of the 707 better. It's got a little more "edge" to it.

[Edroz]

zimbloth was just making a point (a valid one at that) that web clips really mean nothing, and first hand experience is everything . just because 2 pickups might sound similar, they still may not "feel" the same when you're actually using them (the Dimarzio Blaze and Steve's Special are a perfect example of this IMO).

it really is foolish to judge a piece of gear on web clips. as many clips have proved in the past (*cough*HighGain510s Brunetti clip*cough*), you can make even the best sounding amp (or any piece of gear) sound bad, and vice versa with a poorly recorded web clip.

btw, i'm not implying your clips are bad at all

[Lethe]

Hey, I know that's what he meant, I was only kidding.

But yeah, if I were any of you guys I would never base my decision on these short, processed clips of 2 different chords being played. But it's not even a matter of audio quality, it's the fact that everyone has different settings, some of which amplify the differences, while others don't. I would never buy a Loomis just because nevermore have good tone, there's so much more at play than just pickups. Like I said, your mileage will vary.

[Edroz]

Originally Posted by Lethe

Hey, I know that's what he meant, I was only kidding.

But yeah, if I were any of you guys I would never base my decision on these short, processed clips of 2 different chords being played. But it's not even a matter of audio quality, it's the fact that everyone has different settings, some of which amplify the differences, some of which don't. I would never buy a Loomis just because nevermore have good tone, there's so much more at play than just pickups. Like I said, your mileage will vary.

it's all good man, i was just throwing my in the thread .

i still think clips of ANY gear are fun to listen to. by all means post some more if you can.

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by Lethe

Thanks, zimbloth, for calling a 160kBit-clip that contains all my knowledge in mixing and (pre)mastering a "low grade webclip". I know I still have a lot to learn, but damn, do you fuckers have to be THIS honest all the time?

The only "amp" I use is my trusty PodXT using Big Bottom, FX-Boost and EQ. Again, all the settings were the same for both pickups except for the gain. I record via USB. All the recorded guitar tracks run through Izotope Ozone, but again, the settings were the same: Moderate EQ and Harmonic Exciter.

So yeah, the guitar signal is somewhat processed, but the only thing I care about is how it sounds in the end, that means double-tracked, with drums and after mixing and mastering is done. Of course, these are very special conditions, and in other environments the difference may well be more pronounced, but in this case, the difference is too small to justify spending 190€ for it. Although the blackout is a tiny bit more organic, I like the peakyness of the 707 better. It's got a little more "edge" to it.

Yeah what Edroz said. I wasn't saying you're recording skills are bad, I meant no disrespect there. To me, by default all webclips of pickups are low grade to me. They just never sound accurate and flattering. The clips on Seymour Duncan's website I'd throw in that category too, so it's not your fault. It's just the nature of the beast. The only way to properly judge a pickup is through real life experience IMO.

Of course, some recordings can give you a good idea but it's usually dependent on so many other factors (ie: how it sits in the mix, the amp, technique, speakers, etc). If I went to try to show people clips of a pickup in my custom shop 7-string, and I ran a Randall into a Crate 4x12, no matter what pickup I used people would be saying the tone sounded like shit. Then people would think the pickup sucked. You know? There's so many variables.

Also, the fact you use a POD really seals the deal for me. Almost everything sounds the same with a POD to me. I'd need to hear comparison clips between an EMG and a SD Blackout through an analog amp, as it would not be as subtle then. Digital amps really do not do a good job of sounding distinct, pickup to pickup, guitar to guitar. My Behringer is really cool, but pretty much everything sounds about the same with it. Be it a $2300 guitar or a $300 ESP.

I'm not even trying to come down on your thread. I just have a general distaste for pickup comparison threads with amateur recordings using cheap gear as the test. It can really give impressionable people the wrong idea. I just wanted to stress that although these things can be fun, it's not accurate and one shouldn't judge too seriously until hearing it in real life.