What's the difference between the bridge and neck pickup in this set?

The bridge pickup uses a ceramic magnet for high-end clarity and controlled sustain, while the neck uses an Alnico magnet for warmth and responsiveness in the lower registers. This asymmetrical design prevents muddiness on the neck while keeping the bridge tight and defined for modern metal applications.

Do I need an external preamp or power supply?

No—the AHB-1S is self-contained and powered by a single 9-volt battery, with integrated potentiometers, capacitor, and output jack included. Just wire the battery clip and you're ready to go; no external preamp enclosure required.

How quiet are these pickups compared to other active humbuckers?

The AHB-1S runs up to 14dB quieter than competitor active pickups, eliminating the hum and hiss common in earlier designs. This makes them ideal for high-gain rigs where noise floor matters.

What genres and tunings are these pickups designed for?

They excel in metal, hard rock, djent, and drop-tuning applications—anywhere you need aggressive, high-output tone without muddiness. They are not voiced for jazz, blues, or folk styles.

What's included in the set?

You get the matched neck and bridge pickup pair with nickel-plated covers, quick-connector cables, a battery clip, power connector, integrated electronics, and all mounting hardware needed for installation.

Do I pay sales tax on this order?

Sales tax is collected only on orders shipped to California; orders shipped to any other US state are not charged sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $19 less at checkout than the same listed price on a marketplace, which collects sales tax as the facilitator in most states. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.

Seymour Duncan AHB-1S Original Blackouts Neck/Bridge Pickup Set Nickel Cover

The AHB-1S Blackouts deliver tight, articulate active tone with an exceptionally low noise floor—a substantial technical advantage in studio recording and dense mix scenarios. This matched pair combines ceramic bridge and Alnico neck magnets to balance controlled aggression with musicality across the frequency spectrum. The included electronics package provides everything needed for a complete active installation without external gear.

Active Electronics & Studio Quiet Performance

Powered by a single 9-volt battery, these active humbuckers operate up to 14dB quieter than competitor active pickups, eliminating the hum and hiss that compromises recording takes and layered tracks. The self-contained electronics mean no external preamp enclosure required—just straightforward wiring and battery integration that simplifies session setup and recall.

Pickup Design & Magnet Configuration for Recording

The bridge pickup employs a ceramic magnet for defined high-end clarity and controlled sustain that cuts through dense arrangements, while the neck position uses an Alnico magnet to preserve warmth and responsiveness in lower registers ideal for rhythm tracking and layered textures. This asymmetrical approach prevents muddiness in the neck while maintaining bridge articulation essential for modern metal, hard rock, and high-gain production work.

Key Features

9-volt active humbucker configuration
Bridge pickup: Ceramic magnet
Neck pickup: Alnico magnet
Nickel-plated covers included
Up to 14dB quieter than competitor active pickups
Matched neck and bridge pair
Quick-connector cables included
Integrated potentiometers, capacitor, and output jack included
Battery clip and power connector included
Hardware and mounting components included

The AHB-1S Blackouts remain the go-to choice for engineers and producers tracking high-output active tone with minimal noise interference, delivering clean signals straight to the interface without unnecessary complexity.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States

Best suited for	Metal, Hard Rock, Djent, Drop Tunings
Tonal character	Tight low end, articulate highs, high output, minimal noise, aggressive yet warm
Less specialized for	Jazz, Blues, Folk (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily)
Skill level	Intermediate / Advanced / Professional