What does active mean, and does it need a battery?

Active pickups use a 9V battery-powered preamp built into the pickup to amplify and balance the signal before it reaches your amp, delivering cleaner tone and more consistent output than passive designs. The battery clip is included, and the battery typically lasts several months of regular playing.

Will this fit my 7-string guitar if I have EMG pickups now?

Yes—the AHB-1B is designed as a direct retrofit for EMG 707 pickups, fitting the same soapbar cavity without modification. It also includes quick-connector cables, so you can install it without soldering.

What tone should I expect from this bridge pickup?

Expect extended treble and bass with a slightly scooped midrange, delivering clarity and articulation in high-gain settings—especially strong for metal, djent, and drop-tuned riffs in dense mixes. It prioritizes definition and cut over warmth, making fast passages and chunky rhythm work stand out.

What's included in the box?

The pickup ships with pots, mounting hardware, quick-connector cables, a capacitor, output jack, battery clip, and wire—everything needed to complete the installation.

Is this pickup suitable for jazz or blues?

No—the extended treble boost and scooped mids make this pickup best for metal, hard rock, progressive, and djent styles. It will sound too aggressive and bright for jazz or blues applications.

Seymour Duncan AHB-1B Blackouts 7-String Phase 2 Bridge Pickup

The AHB-1B Blackouts Phase 2 is an active bridge pickup engineered for extended frequency response and articulate high-gain performance on 7-string instruments. Its soapbar form factor delivers a direct retrofit path for studios upgrading from EMG 707 setups, offering balanced signal architecture and quick-connector convenience without rewiring hassles.

Active Design & Studio Signal Chain

Built on 9V active amplification with balanced differential preamp inputs, this pickup maintains clean signal integrity through your recording chain and heavily processed sessions. The quick-connector cable system streamlines swaps between instruments and removal for maintenance, eliminating the need for traditional soldering while preserving signal quality throughout tracking and overdubs.

Tone & Mix Presence

The Phase 2 voicing emphasizes extended treble and bass response paired with a slightly scooped midrange, delivering clarity in the high-frequency range and tight low-end definition that translates well in the DAW and cuts through dense production. This tonal character sits naturally in mixes with heavy processing while maintaining articulation during layered lead takes and chunky rhythm tracking.

Key Features

Active mount soapbar-sized design
9V active pickup configuration
Direct retrofit for EMG 707 pickups
Balanced inputs with differential preamp
Quick-connector cable connectivity
Extended treble response
Extended bass response
Slightly scooped midrange voicing
Includes pots, hardware, quick-connector cables, capacitor, output jack, battery clip, and wire
7-string bridge position voicing

The AHB-1B Blackouts Phase 2 combines proven active circuit design with modern connectivity standards, making it a versatile choice for session work and production on 7-string instruments seeking frequency-extended tone without a complete electronics overhaul.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States