Black Winter—Feel under the Fingers

[SweetClyde99]

I heard a comparison between the Black Winter and a Dimarzio Super Distortion today, and I actually preferred the Black Winter in most of the samples, which surprised me because I’m a big fan of the Super D. My problem is that I haven’t gotten along with some of the ceramic and A8 pickups I’ve tried because they tend to have a stiffer feel than A5 pickups. As I said, I do like the Super Distortion a lot though, so if the feel is in the same ballpark as that, I think I’d be happy with it.

So for those of you who’ve gotten your hands on the Black Winter, what was your experience in the feel department?

 

[beaubrummels]

Mine is different in different guitars. In my Les Paul Studio, it was flat, even, character-less; it sounded and felt like an active pickup. it was the first pickup in my Les Paul Studio that really required me to change my amp settings to get what I needed out of the guitar and the pickups.

However, when I moved that same pickup to my Jackson, totally different animal. Had bright top end, tight bottom, but still wam, organic and full of character across the middle, and having it on full triple-shot-style switching, every combination was usable and useful. It could get everything from Distortion sounds to Fender strat tones to thrash/punk P-90 sounds to Tele tones. Also being able to bypass the tone gave me another level of looseness and character to play with.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I had both the Black Winter and the Super D in my Les Paul. Actually didn't like either in there (they weren't bad, but a bit too boomy) and ended up swapping in a JB, which works really well.

The Winters went into my LTD EC-1000, which is tuned to C#, and they sound killer. Great feel: articulate, tight bass, mids without the honk, and nicely responsive to tone and volume knob. The Winter is less bassy than the super D, and its highs are cutting without being shrill.

 

[Securb]

I don't find the BW stiff at all, I have all three variants, OGBW, BBW and BWR. The one thing I love about the BW is how it responds to the VOL knob. The character dramatically changes rolling it back the VOL taking it from an aggressive modern tone to something more classic.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Thank you all for your help and for enabling me. I’ve got one on the way, so we’ll see how it goes.

 

[80's_Metal]

You'll either like it or not, same as every other pickup ha ha.

In my opinion, the BW has a lot more character than the Super D does, and a nice upper mid grind to it.
Also more harmonic presence in the BW.

I have loved it in the 3 or 4 guitars I have put them in, but had one Les Paul that didn't like it, so I stuck a TB 6 in it and it's perfect

 

[Securb]

I have loved it in the 3 or 4 guitars I have put them in, but had one Les Paul that didn't like it, so I stuck a TB 6 in it and it's perfect

I love my BW in my LP but it is the LP Lite which might make the difference, seeing it is as thick as an SG. It also sounded killer in my SG and would still be in there if I didn't get the custom build from Peg City for that guitar.

 

[weepingminotaur]

You'll either like it or not, same as every other pickup ha ha.

In my opinion, the BW has a lot more character than the Super D does, and a nice upper mid grind to it.
Also more harmonic presence in the BW.

I have loved it in the 3 or 4 guitars I have put them in, but had one Les Paul that didn't like it, so I stuck a TB 6 in it and it's perfect

I have a JB in my Les Paul right now and it's great, but if I ever get bored, I think a Distortion is in the cards...

I agree with you on the Winter. It is a mid-forward pickup but without the honk. Given how nicely it responds to volume and tone knob, it is way more versatile than its name would suggest.

 

[Securb]

I also do not think the BWn gets any of the attention it deserves. Probably because the target audience rarely uses the neck. However, it is an amazing pickup alone or in the middle position.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Yeah that BWn is very underrated. The high output might scare some people off. But man, it cleans up very nicely and splits super-well. You can play jazz on it, no problem.