Black Winter Pickup Height

[UnderTheFlame83]

Anyone else need to set their Black Winter pickups lower than they normally would to get a good sound? Specifically the neck. I have the neck set pretty low, the same low height as a X2N. Surprisingly they're still rather loud. Just need to find that sweet spot and adjust volume pot more than usual with these puppies. Well worth your patience.

 

[Securb]

I put a set in for a hardcore metal guy I worked with. They sounded great but he even thought them to be a bit hot at first. Once we got them dialed in they sounded great. I have thought about putting a set in one of my Les Pauls for a while. Here is a write-up I did way back when they first came out.

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

And here is a review Darth Phineas did

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

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

I put a set in for a hardcore metal guy I worked with. They sounded great but he even thought them to be a bit hot at first. Once we got them dialed in they sounded great. I have thought about putting a set in one of my Les Pauls for a while. Here is a write-up I did way back when they first came out.

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

And here is a review Darth Phineas did

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

Nice reviews.

If you end up putting them in a Les Paul, do coil split. They sound amazing.

 

[beaubrummels]

I tend to put humbuckers in at one of the known standard Gibson heights (fret high and low E at 22nd fret, measure 3/32" from bottom of string to top of pickup, except 4/32" on the neck low E bass side). My Black Winters were fine for me at those heights. Matched the output of my Distortions, just a slight change of character. I might lower the neck a little more if I need more cleans for rhythm.

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

I tend to put humbuckers in at one of the known standard Gibson heights (fret high and low E at 22nd fret, measure 3/32" from bottom of string to top of pickup, except 4/32" on the neck low E bass side). My Black Winters were fine for me at those heights. Matched the output of my Distortions, just a slight change of character. I might lower the neck a little more if I need more cleans for rhythm.

My neck is set while fretting the last fret at high e 4mm and low e 5mm.

 

[Hsb]

I have the BW neck set a bit lower than usual, but love it. Have it paired with a Distorton in my Iceman.

 

[Clint 55]

What you could do is remove the spacer magnets from the neck, that'll make it a little cooler. Or remove all the magnets and replace just with a regular thickness ceramic. That'll make it less beastly, reduce string pull, and have it balance better with the bridge.

 

[nexion218]

I sure had to back them down a bit due to string pull issues.

 

[dave74]

I set by fretting the last fret and getting the bridge pickup as close as possible without interfering with the clarity of the note. (set the neck as low as it will go before starting so it's completely out of the picture)

Then once the bridge is set I start bringing the neck up and finding the spot where it best does whatever I'm wanting it to do. Sometimes I want the best blended lead tone I can get, and other times I want the neck set for the best possible cleans, or sometimes the best neck-only leads. I favor differing applications depending on which guitar.

 

[RevDoom73]

I set them slightly lower than usual but honestly not much. I haven't had any issues with string pull from them so it's worked out fine.
I tend to roll my volume and tone off slightly anyhow so that is likely helping to compensate.
I really love the middle toggle setting between both pickups too with this set in particular.

 

[Aceman]

I find almost all hot pickups have a sweet spot a little lower than 'spec' at least to my ears.

And too high kills tone/sustain.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

You guys are getting string pull issues with humbuckers? Weird.

 

[Clint 55]

^ Yeah. Each pickup has 3 double thick ceramics. Dumb for the neck, just rip out the side ones.