These 9-volt active humbuckers deliver a less compressed tone, with a more extended frequency response. In Duncan's efforts to solve the issues involved in achieving that goal, they discovered that some of the most popular active pickups have what they consider a design flaw in their circuit architecture.

They use unbalanced inputs in a differential preamp. The problem is, an unbalanced differential preamp is not very effective at canceling hum. Seymour Duncan engineers figured out how to capture the tone that players want in an active design, but using balanced inputs.

The result is that not only do these Seymour Duncan Blackouts active humbuckers have less hum than the competition, but they also have more lows, more highs, and more output. Simply put, the Blackouts have more tone than other active pickups. Players will notice the benefits of the reduced hum when they record, especially if they're around computer monitors or fluorescent lighting. As for the benefits of having more tone, well those will be apparent everywhere.

Blackouts are available in individual neck and bridge models, or as a 2-pickup set. All versions come with all necessary mounting hardware, including pots, jack, and a battery clip.

AHB-1 Blackout Neck

- Resonant Frequency: 750 Hz

- Average Output Voltage: 0.65 Volts RMS (1)

- Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)

- Noise: -97dBV

- Output Impedance: 1K Ohm

- Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes

- Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)

- Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input

- Preamp Gain: 16 dB

- Preamp THD @ 1V: .003%

AHB-1 Blackout Bridge

- Resonant Frequency: 530 Hz

- Average Output Voltage: 2.00 Volts RMS (1)

- Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)

- Noise: -96dBV

- Output Impedance: 1K Ohm

- Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes

- Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)

- Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input

- Preamp Gain: 18 dB

- Preamp THD @ 1V: .003%

Notes:

(1) Output voltage measured under the following conditions:

a. Pickups installed in a guitar and set up for typical playing conditions.

b. Neck pickup adjusted approx. 3/16" from strings.

c. Bridge pickup adjusted approx. 1/8" from strings.

d. String gauge used - .010 to .046

e. Open E-chord strummed at moderate intensity.

f. 5 sample average reading taken using storage oscilloscope.

(2) Maximum output voltage is taken at the onset of clipping in the preamp when powered from a 9 Volt source.

(3)Battery life computed for one pickup. Divide by two for life of set.