Will this pickup fit my 5-string bass?

Yes, if your bass has an EMG 40-sized soapbar cavity in the neck position. The dual-blade design accommodates string spacing up to 3.10 inches, which covers virtually all modern 5-string bass neck widths. Check your current pickup dimensions or cavity size before ordering to confirm compatibility.

What's the tone like compared to passive pickups?

The ASB-BO-5N is active and high-output, delivering punchy, articulate mids with a presence-focused character that cuts through live mixes and recordings without harshness. The 8 kHz resonant peak emphasizes clarity for both fingerstyle and slap techniques, and the preset EQ shape (9 Bass / 5 Mid / 9 Treble) keeps lows controlled while maintaining definition.

Is this a single pickup or a set?

This is the neck position pickup only. If you need both neck and bridge pickups, you will need to purchase the bridge model separately.

How quiet is the active electronics?

Seymour Duncan engineered the Blackouts specifically for quiet operation despite high output and headroom. The active circuitry keeps noise low even under heavy playing dynamics, making it suitable for studio recording and live performance without hum or buzz.

What does the two-conductor cable mean for installation?

The two-conductor cable simplifies wiring compared to some multi-conductor active pickups. You will need to connect it to a preamp or control circuit; the cable carries both signal and ground to your electronics.

Seymour Duncan ASB-BO-5N Blackouts For Bass 5-String Neck Pickup

The ASB-BO-5N is a high-output active neck pickup engineered to capture clarity and punch without noise in the studio. Its dual-blade design and ceramic bar magnet deliver articulate mids and controlled lows across the full fingerboard width, translating to defined tracking on tape or DAW. Built as a direct replacement for EMG 40-sized soapbar cavities, this pickup integrates seamlessly into existing instruments while bringing modern active electronics to your recording chain.

Tone & Electronics

Active circuitry with high headroom keeps transients clean and preserves dynamic range, crucial for capturing natural finger dynamics and pick attack through the tracking chain. The full 8.0 kHz resonant peak emphasizes definition in the crucial midrange, ensuring neck-position articulation cuts through dense mixes in both fingerstyle and slap recordings. With preset EQ values of 9 (Bass) / 5 (Mid) / 9 (Treble), the pickup shapes tone across the frequency spectrum to deliver presence in the mix without harshness or mud.

Design & Specifications

The dual-blade configuration ensures consistent string-to-string balance across the 5-string format, critical for even multitrack recording and DI capture, with a maximum string spacing of 3.10" accommodating modern bass neck widths. Two-conductor cable simplifies wiring in your studio setup, and the ceramic bar magnet provides the high-output character Blackouts deliver while maintaining the quiet operation essential for clean recording without preamp noise.

Key Features

High-output active pickup design with high headroom
Ceramic bar magnet construction
Dual-blade configuration for balanced 5-string response
Maximum string spacing: 3.10" (78.5mm)
Resonant peak: Full 8.0 kHz
Two-conductor cable
EQ values: 9 Bass / 5 Mid / 9 Treble
Direct replacement for EMG 40-sized soapbar pickups
Quiet operation with active electronics

The ASB-BO-5N combines Seymour Duncan's reputation for active pickup engineering with the practical advantage of EMG 40 compatibility, making it a no-compromise choice for 5-string bass players tracking and mixing in the studio.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States