Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

[Maxinyo]

Hey folks,
im looking forward to get a new set of pickups.
But now i dont know if i should get the Black Winters or the DiMarzio Evo´s, since the evos are very good for the tone of the guys in the title.
Can i get a similiar tone out of the BW´s and are they good for this kind of music?
How is the Sustain and Attack?
I really like the BW´s tone for Metal but i dont know if they are versatile enough.

Greetings

 

[dave74]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Even with the Evo set you'd have to have all their other gear to be their tone exactly (hope you got some big$ for all that lol).
If you can really shred then it'll be shred with any high-output model, especially a ceramic wound specifically for clarity,,,like either one of the sets.

BW set will have thicker mids and lows instead of a more upper-mid focusing as do the Evos,,,,,,,but then it goes into a boost and then an amp which both have plenty of knobs for shaping.

Personally, if I were wanting to prioritize lead playing I'd get the Evo set (out of the two sets you mentioned).
Seymour makes better pups than the BW set if leads were the main priority,,,,,,,,,IMO.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Vai and Yngwie and Gilbert are about in all directions from being the same.

Vai and Gilbert have both used the PAF Pro before getting into their own "signature" stuff.

For Yngwie, it depends on what timeframe and if you want noiseless or not.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

The BW will be more like an affordable BKP Aftermath, which some of the Periphery guys used at one point, so it could be a cost effective version to some of the more expensive prog metal stuff in that vein.

 

[Maxinyo]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

I dont want the specific tone of one of those artists, i just want to get near that special type of "shred sound" they have. I know they dont share the exact same tone but i think you know what i mean.
My fear is that the evo could be a little to powerless in the bridge for maybe thrash metal or death or so on..

 

[Mincer]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

The Black Winter certainly has the percussive low chuggy thing going on, and it is perfect for those guitarists (like me) who pick every note. The Black Winter is sort of unique, as it is a high output pickup with a lot of mids. This really pushes the sound through a dense mix, taking up a lot of sonic space. It is perfect if your band only has 1 guitarist.

 

[jonsick]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

You don't mention what guitar model this is for.

I have an all-mahogany Jackson Broderick 7. TBH the Black Winter set just isn't jelling for me in it, but I have a 6-string set in a maple/alder Charvel and it sings. I've swapped in an Invader 7 to the 7 string which is great, but I know i'm going to switch everything up for EMG 81-7s. It's currently my so-far unsurpassed pickup for anything downtuned.

Personally I have never liked the Evo bridge in anything.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

I dont want the specific tone of one of those artists, i just want to get near that special type of "shred sound" they have. I know they dont share the exact same tone but i think you know what i mean.
My fear is that the evo could be a little to powerless in the bridge for maybe thrash metal or death or so on..

Generally, shred guys want a lot of articulation.

What type of power and how much are you looking for?

 

[Maxinyo]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Its a Ibanez RGA42 with mahogany body and a 3 piece maple neck

What type of power and how much are you looking for?

Well in the neck i want more attack and sustain like the evos (or even the Gravity Storm, i like them too) would give me and the Bridge should have high treble, high bass and some middle. I want the power of an good thrash pickup in the bridge, like an sh-6 or dimebucker (even if i think that the dimebucker is not versatile enough..).

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

The only way to do Yngwie right is with an Yngwie strat. Trust me, I have 2 of them. The naturally loud note volume and separation of the scalloped fretboard and single coil pickups are essential components, as well as clear but loud boost and fairly low preamp gain. The scallops will also influence the way you play.

For Vai and Gilbert, you can more easily get their tones with any Floyd equipped shredder with Dimarzios and plenty of gain. If the Evo Bridge is a bit sharp for your taste, consider the Evo2 Bridge and either Evo Neck or my favorite, the Air Norton. And again, they have signature axes and other products that will put you right there. I often recognize the DNA of the Passion and Warfare album whilst playing my Universe. I can nail those tones perfectly with the UV above all others in my stable.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

My fear is that the evo could be a little to powerless in the bridge for maybe thrash metal or death or so on..

Nobody would call Evos powerless 20 years ago when people actually played metal. Well except those who played X2Ns. Duh. And now, when even Fender makes amps with huge reserves of preamp gain, high output pickups are less necessary than ever in order to drive the amp into chug-mode. Nonetheless, the pickup makers' menus have grown many times over. Spoiled for choice we are.

 

[dave74]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Nobody would call Evos powerless 20 years ago when people actually played metal. Well except those who played X2Ns. Duh. And now, when even Fender makes amps with huge reserves of preamp gain, high output pickups are less necessary than ever in order to drive the amp into chug-mode. Nonetheless, the pickup makers' menus have grown many times over. Spoiled for choice we are.

I totally agree,,,,,,,but maybe by "powerless" he meant "beefless", as in not hefty in the low-end or thick in the lower-mids.

 

[Gunslinger_505]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Nobody would call Evos powerless 20 years ago when people actually played metal. Well except those who played X2Ns. Duh. And now, when even Fender makes amps with huge reserves of preamp gain, high output pickups are less necessary than ever in order to drive the amp into chug-mode. Nonetheless, the pickup makers' menus have grown many times over. Spoiled for choice we are.

Gilbert's pups are vintage to med output.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

I don't know about copying their tones, but I do know that the BW is great for lead work in general. Articulate, cutting and can sing. Great pick up.

 

[Maxinyo]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

So i had a long conversation with myself and i came to the conclusion that the Jeff loomis Blackouts maybe do the trick. Amazing Attack and Sustain and the Bridge has much beef.
What are your opinions on that? Would it fit with the mahogany body?

 

[Securb]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Don't let the name of the pickup pigeonhole the type of music you think you can play with it. I play metal and have an SD Jazz in the neck of my Iceman. The Black Winter is a very versatile pickup and will allow you to do a lot outside of the realm of "metal." Here is a review I wrote that highlights the versatility of the pickup

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2013/55930/guitar-gear-review-seymour-duncan-black-winter-one-trick-pony

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

Don't let the name of the pickup pigeonhole the type of music you think you can play with it. I play metal and have an SD Jazz in the neck of my Iceman. The Black Winter is a very versatile pickup and will allow you to do a lot outside of the realm of "metal." Here is a review I wrote that highlights the versatility of the pickup

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2013/55930/guitar-gear-review-seymour-duncan-black-winter-one-trick-pony

I'm a little partial to this one

http://www.tmrzoo.com/2016/71068/review-seymour-duncan-black-winter-humbucker-set

 

[Mincer]

Re: Black Winter for Lead work like Vai/Malmsteen/Gilbert?

So i had a long conversation with myself and i came to the conclusion that the Jeff loomis Blackouts maybe do the trick. Amazing Attack and Sustain and the Bridge has much beef.
What are your opinions on that? Would it fit with the mahogany body?

Also a good choice. Going to actives opens up some more EQ possibilities with the active tone knobs. Those should work well in mahogany.