Seymour Duncan Blackouts Metal AHB-2 distorts. Is that normal?

[Sylim]

i got an ahb-2 used and i noticed the pickup pre amp itself clips and distorts quite heavily. is it supposed to do that? when i remove the jumper for lower output it doesn´t distort, but it also loses some of that grind and punch. i have the regular Blackout ahb-1 in another guitar and that pickup doesn´t distort. EMG´s in yet another, those also don´t distort.

 

[narad]

Yea, probably. With the jumper on that's a crazy hot pickup.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Yes because the ahb2 is supposed to be super high output with the jumper engaged. That's the selling point of the pickup

 

[Eyelessfiend]

Pretty much. It's really high output

 

[Sylim]

just to be clear, i mean the pickup itself clips and distorts, not that a clean tone still distorts. as in, the di is clipped even though the interface input doesn´t clip. i get that the pre amp in the active pickup is supposed to make it loud and i get this pickup is supposed to be super high output. it just seems odd to me that it´s supposed to distort like that.

 

[cindarkness]

If the interface input isn't clipping, then is the DI really clipping though? How does one even measure or observe that I think that the pickups are just "being very loud"

I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Sylim]

here´s a sample:


first di is the AHB-2, second one the AHB-1, third one is the EMG 81. all directly into the interface, input gain at 0, input pad is on. you can clearly hear the distortion and it doesn´t seem normal.

If the interface input isn't clipping, then is the DI really clipping though? How does one even measure or observe that I think that the pickups are just "being very loud"

I'm genuinely curious.

you record a di. you see the wave form looks like someone ran over it with a lawn mower. but the peaks don´t actually reach 0dbfs. you listen to the di. it sounds distorted. you check your input meter and clip indicator on the interface, they all show no problem. ergo, the active pickup itself must be producing this distortion.

 

[cindarkness]

Okay, the sample clip makes more sense now, thank you.

Googling the pickup does back up the theory that it's one hell of a high output pickup that will distort almost anything it's plugged into. If you don't want to remove the jumper, try lowering the pickup?
I'm kind of interested in this now, would like to try it out for sure one day.

 

[Sylim]

Okay, the sample clip makes more sense now, thank you.

Googling the pickup does back up the theory that it's one hell of a high output pickup that will distort almost anything it's plugged into. If you don't want to remove the jumper, try lowering the pickup?
I'm kind of interested in this now, would like to try it out for sure one day.

i mean if this is what the pickup is supposed to do i´m totally fine with it. in the end it does sound extremely gnarly and i can´t believe it´s so under the radar. i just never experienced this kind of distortion coming from a pickup itself, so i thought i better ask around to make sure.

 

[SubsonicDoom99]

Yeah honestly I think that's just the way the AHB-2 responds, it's crazy high output and distorts if you just breathe on it lol.
I've heard plenty of people get great sounds from that pickup but for my taste it's always just been a bit too much, but that's just me.
I definitely wouldn't remove the jumper though, as you noted it winds up affecting the tone and response of the pickup in a less flattering way.
Gnarly is definitely a good way to describe how this pickup reacts. I don't think there's any kind of defect happening, so if you like it, I say go with it.

 

[cindarkness]

Do these have the same quick connect system as EMG pups? Would be a nice thing to put in my DIY flying V bridge instead of the 81.

 

[Sylim]

Do these have the same quick connect system as EMG pups? Would be a nice thing to put in my DIY flying V bridge instead of the 81.

yeah, they have the same connectors as EMG. you can just swap it and you´re good to go.

 

[Grindspine]

Despite the volume difference, I heard a little crunching on all of the DI tracks. What interface are you using?

 

[Sylim]

Despite the volume difference, I heard a little crunching on all of the DI tracks. What interface are you using?

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen

 

[Grindspine]

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen

The indicators are pretty decent at showing clipping, but I'd still recommend dropping the DI level even a bit further. I know that the Clarett series has higher headroom available before clipping, but this is really just the nature of the pickups, I think.