Are high output pickups outdated?

[NotDemanic]

Yes and no.

Yes - as stated, between the infinite dirt boxes available today, and the generally stupid amounts of gain available from amps, there is no need for the output levels of these pickups.

No - they have a certain eq, and often tone and tightness due to ceramic magnets, that you may want/like. So they remain a viable tonal option. I like a "ceramic screamer" in the bridge for hard rock / metal more than lighter output pickups usually.

I'm going to say that the output of the pickup is part of it's overall character. You can't change it without changing the character.
Not saying you can't get a good high gain sound using a lower output pickup, especially if you are running into something digital. In fact, hitting the input of a digital amp with a reduced strength signal might actually help.
But I think that if you do this into a tube system (even if it's just the pre-amp section) it's going to hit differently.

 

[Securb]

OK, so how do the Nazgul and the BW differ in sound?

The Seymour Duncan Nazgul sounds super tight and clean—great if you want your riffs to be really clear and punchy. The Seymour Duncan Black Winter is messier and meaner—it sounds more raw and nasty in a cool way. I layer them in the studio playing my 7 stuff on the Nazgul then on my 6 an octave higher with the Black Winters.

 

[Mincer]

The Nazgul has a lot more high end to my ears. The BW shines in the mids...great for a 1 guitar band, actually.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Not disagreeing with the above points, but here's what my ears hear: both the Nazgul and the Winter are mid-forward, and they both hold up very well under high gain. Lots of clarity and note definition. The Nazgul gives you more of a classic metal crunch, with a bit of an upper-mid spike, whereas the Winter has a very unique kind of "filth" to its heaviness, which is both raw and very articulate at the same time, if that makes any sense.

 

[Artie]

The Nazgul gives you more of a classic metal crunch, with a bit of an upper-mid spike . . .

I've never tried a BW, but what you say about the Nazgul matches my experience exactly. It's the only pup I've ever tried that seemed to have a bit 'o dirt built right in. You almost couldn't play it clean.

 

[uOpt]

Then how is the Nazgul different from the DC? The descriptions so far and the tech specs appear to be pretty similar.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Then how is the Nazgul different from the DC? The descriptions so far and the tech specs appear to be pretty similar.

Different from the Custom? The Custom isn't mid-forward and has more bass, for one thing.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Then how is the Nazgul different from the DC? The descriptions so far and the tech specs appear to be pretty similar.

DC is Duncan Custom?

The Nazgul is a lot more mid forward. The Custom has a big kinda thuddy low-end, the Nazgul has a lean and tight low-end. The Nazgul is a tad hotter, IME.

I know people are saying the 'Winter is middy, but I find the Nazgul is too, just in a different kinda way.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm not sure how they voiced them with Keith Merrow. I know they voiced the Nazgul originally for 7 string guitars, but they ended up making a version for 6 strings as well. I do know Keith was using Duncan Distortions before, and I do feel you can tell there is a little Duncan Distortion thrown in the voicing of both the Winter and the Nazgul. Not saying they're straight up clones by any means, but there's a hint of it on both, I feel.

 

[weepingminotaur]

The Seymour Duncan Nazgul sounds super tight and clean—great if you want your riffs to be really clear and punchy. The Seymour Duncan Black Winter is messier and meaner—it sounds more raw and nasty in a cool way. I layer them in the studio playing my 7 stuff on the Nazgul then on my 6 an octave higher with the Black Winters.

Very interesting. I have one guitar with a Naz and another with a Black Winter, and I can imagine that they'd be a killer combo for studio work. Both very heavy, but also very much possessing their own individual character.

 

[Securb]

Very interesting. I have one guitar with a Naz and another with a Black Winter, and I can imagine that they'd be a killer combo for studio work. Both very heavy, but also very much possessing their own individual character.

Most of my stuff was done with the Naz in my KM7 and the Heretic pickups in my Omen 7. But there were a few songs I doubled with a 6-string and used the BWs. We should have everything mastered in about a month, and I will post a clip.