Will these pickups fit my bass?

The ASB-BO-4 is a direct replacement for any bass with an EMG 35-sized pickup cavity and accommodates standard 4-string spacing up to 2.70 inches (68.5mm). If your bass currently has an EMG 35-sized pickup, this upgrade requires no routing or rewiring—just two conductors to connect.

What genres and playing styles are these best for?

These pickups excel in funk, metal, rock, and slap bass, where punchy articulation and aggressive tone are essential. They are not recommended for jazz, folk, or smooth jazz styles, where their scooped-mid character and high output would work against the tonal goals of those genres.

What makes the tone aggressive and punchy?

The ASB-BO-4 combines ceramic bar magnets, a dual-blade design for string-to-string balance, and a tuned 8.0 kHz resonant peak to emphasize clarity and definition. The integrated EQ (Bass 9 / Mid 5 / Treble 9) boosts presence on both low and high ends while scooping the midrange, creating the tight, controlled aggression ideal for cutting through dense mixes.

What does hand-built in California mean for quality?

Hand-built construction ensures individual attention to each unit's assembly and quality control, reducing manufacturing defects and variability. Combined with Seymour Duncan's reputation and the high-output active electronics design, this pickup is built for professional-grade reliability in live and studio settings.

Seymour Duncan ASB-BO-4 Blackouts For Bass Pickup

The ASB-BO-4 Blackouts deliver articulate, punchy response with minimal noise—a hallmark of active electronics engineered for studio-grade bass tracking. This high-output soapbar pickup excels at capturing tight, aggressive tones and sits as a direct replacement for standard EMG 35-sized cavities, making it an accessible upgrade path for engineers and producers seeking darker, more controlled midrange character that translates to the mix.

Recording Tone & Electronics

Built around ceramic bar magnets and tuned with a full 8.0 kHz resonant peak, the ASB-BO-4 emphasizes clarity and definition across the frequency spectrum for clean recording. The integrated EQ stack—Bass 9 / Mid 5 / Treble 9—provides aggressive presence boost on both ends while keeping mids scooped, ideal for carving through dense mixes in the DAW or capturing punchy slap tones with precision.

Design & Build

A dual-blade design ensures consistent string-to-string balance across the full dynamic range during tracking, while the two-conductor cable simplifies wiring in most bass electronics cavities. Maximum string spacing of up to 2.70" (68.5mm) accommodates standard 4-string spacing without compromise, and each unit is hand-built in California.

Key Features

High-output active 4-string soapbar bass pickup
Direct replacement for EMG 35-sized pickups
Maximum string spacing: up to 2.70" (68.5mm)
Two-conductor cable
Ceramic bar magnets
Resonant peak at full 8.0 kHz
EQ: Bass 9 / Mid 5 / Treble 9
Dual-blade design for string-to-string balance
Hand built in California

The Blackouts ASB-BO-4 combines controlled aggression with proven EMG-cavity compatibility, making it a straightforward choice for home studios and session work seeking active tone without rewiring complications.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States