Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

[Rex_Rocker]

So two of my guitars have vintage-output pickups. They're great, and they give me a certain tone that I like. But lately, I've been missing the ferocity and tightness of some high-output, modern-sounding pickups, so why not try some fiercer pickups in one of my guitars?

The guitar I'm dropping them in is an Ibanez RG570. You know the deal with these: Basswood body, Edge trem. Not super bright, but not bassy either. Kinda sweet, smooth but tight, and mid-forward.

I'm looking for not overbearing amounts of bass, but not thin either. I also want a hint of an old-school 90's metal edge to it. I figured the 57/66 will have some elements that remind me of my guitars with PAFs, but with the modern vibe and output to them. I have also really liked the clips I've heard of the Black Winter. I used to have a Duncan Distortion in this guitar which I really liked at the time, and the Black Winter seems to be like a Distortion on steroids on the clips.

I'm looking for tones kinda like Carcass - Heartwork, Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions, Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods, In Flames - Clayman, and sorta like that.

What do you guys think?

 

[Ironbird666]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

I haven't used the EMG set mentioned personally so I can't help you there, but I can tell you the BW's will get you the sounds you're looking for. They do the 90's metal thing very well while still giving you the benefits of modern tightness and clarity.

I'm sure the EMG set would do a fine job also, but from what I understand they aren't as hard hitting as the 81/85 set. It's more of a warm, clean, clear sort of thing the way they seem to be described.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

I think the Black Winter is the answer here too. It's my new favorite. Very versatile, very edgy, very tight, very clear. It convincingly and seemlessly jumps through genres and decades of rock/metal tones with ease... excelling at each one.

The 57/66 set is nice too. Fat, punchy, clear. But there is a certain level of smoothness and softness in the attack and feel when comparing it to the BW. Still aggressive, but more reserved and refined.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

I would go BW personally

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

Thanks for the replies, dudes!

Yeah, I'm leaning a bit more towards the Black Winters.

The clips I've heard of the 57/66 have also sounded great, but I feel the bottom-end may be too tight (or kinda lacking), as I thought even the old 85 I had in this guitar couldn't even keep up low-end-wise with the JB (which isn't a particularly bassy pickup to start with) in another guitar.

 

[1b4n3z]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

To me the 57/66 set wasn't wholly different from the Het Set or 81 / 60. Little refinements but the core elements (bass cut, high mid screech) are definitely there. No way to escape the EMG core sound I guess I have the Duncan JL set too and its nothing like the 57/66 imo

 

[Mincer]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

You are describing the Black Winters. I think you will get more out of them, too- they do that plus a lot more things really well.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

I went thru this go around with my 87 RG550 the last few years. Initially it came with a Rio Grande BBQ, which i pulled out in favor of an Evolution (I run 1hum/1vol in all my guitars, so no neck pups were tried, nor harmed in this), so I played the Evolution, swapped in a JB, Seymour AHB-1 Holdsworth, DiMarzio Breed, Full Shred, 85, 81, B&B L500XL, Dimebucker, back to an 81, and now finally back to a custom color pink/yellow Evolution with a clear pickguard.
I wanted to try:
Black Winters
Alternative 8
Magnetar/Satur8
Fishman Fluence Modern ceramic
AHB-2 Blackouts

As you know basswood is its own animal and this guitar sounds different than my others which is why i was incessantly swapping pups out. I was on an 81 kick for a while, but I felt that this old girl would be better suited if I went back to passive, and DiMarzio itself.
Now all of thise pickups I tried all sounded good in their own right and I prob couldve,wouldve shouldve been content with living with either of them, but in my case runnning 1hum/1vol, my stuff needs to be fairly consistent when swapping guitars out. Im still like you and im on the fence about wanting to try a BlackWinter, specifically the Blackened Black Winter bridge pup that Masta' C has for sale. He has a set as well. Id hit him up and get one of those unique sets.

But all that being said, I still wouldnt mind trying a Satur-8 or even a Breed with a ceramic mag as opposed to the A5.
Please update this when you make your choice because im curious how this turns out for you. Also, im not very good at describing sounds with words, but if you have any specific questions regarding any of the pups I tried let me know and ill try to remember how they sounded. Or ill make **** up. Haha keep in mind this has been on going since 2012 with this one some of these swaps have been a while.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Duncan Black Winter set or EMG 57/66 for Ibanez RG570

^FWIW, I've had the Dominion which is based off the Breed (but with a ceramic mag and the Virtual Vintage thing), and it's been my least favorite pickup in this guitar. It reminded me a lot of the EMG 81 (tight almost to the point of thin and kinda dry), but with a slightly nasal midrange.

And thanks for the replies, dudes! I'll check with my local Duncan guy to see if he has the Black Winters in stock tomorrow.