Nazgul or pegasus

Zeuss

Zeuss

New member
So with taxes coming up I'm looking at getting a new bridge pickup!

I have an Ibanez RGD 26.5" scale, Drop C I currently have Dimarzio De-Activators in it. I play a lot of metalcore style music.

I'm looking for something with a nice tight low ends and lots of clarity. I know that's kinda the pitch of the Pegasus witch is what I'm leaning towards. The nazgul seems to me to maybe be a one trick pony.

My local music store doesn't have anything and the next closest is just over 2 hours away so I'm just looking for opinions from people who have used them.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

IMO "something with a nice tight low ends and lots of clarity" better describes the nazgul. It's perfect for metalcore. I have not tried the Pegasus, so I can't really give an accurate assessment or comparison.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

Zeuss said:
I heard the nazgul is hard to control, or clean up at all
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Depends on the amp. If you're running through an amp with a "clean channel" that's also intended to give you mild OD tones beyond 12 o'clock, this pickup will push that side harder faster, so it'll dirty up sooner on the gain dial. If you're running through a clean channel designed to stay clean, or you can back off enough on the gain dial without the amp dropping out, the Nazghul cleans up rather well IMO, a little brassy but very usable. Either way, the Pegasus is lower-output so it's easier to find a clean gain setting for it, but its tone profile is different; more bass, less mids, for a deeper clean tone and a hairier breakup with a little less "snarl" than the Nazghul.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

I think the nazgul unfairly gets a bad rap with all the descriptions of it being out of control. Maybe it's EQ curve that makes it seem a little gnarly, but it's certainly not the hottest pup in the Duncan lineup.

I find the cleans to be clean, stiff, boxy sounding, yet still usable.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

I would not say out of control, but it has a chainsaw grind at low gain.
 
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Re: Nazgul or pegasus

I have a Pegasus in my Jackson JS22-7, which is also 26.5" with basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. It definitely delivers clarity and tight lows. I debated the Pegasus and Nazgul for a while, but this is the video that ultimately convinced me to go for the Pegasus. Could be useful for you too:

 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

My local store does have the seven string version of the nazgul. I mean will I still get a good idea of what the 6 string version has to offer?
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

Zeuss,

Have you checked out the most recent 6 pickup string comparison Keith Merrow has done? It's gives a good idea of how the pickups sound relative to each other.

 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

chris effect said:
Zeuss,

Have you checked out the most recent 6 pickup string comparison Keith Merrow has done? It's gives a good idea of how the pickups sound relative to each other.
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Great video. I used to think that at these gain levels there were really only two tones; deep hairy growl from a scoop voicing like the Alt-8, or midrangey snarl from a "vintage hot" voicing like a JB or Nazghul. However, the nuances between each of these pickups is more clearly illustrated by the video, and shows there is a true gradient, and you can get combinations like bassy snarl (Custom 5) or midrangey growl (Invader).

I also learned that the JB, while probably not for everyone, won't embarass itself on a modern metal stage. Most people say it's better at older genres, and it probably is, but it stacks up to the Nazghul or Omega quite well for a cutting snarly tone.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

If you like and play only heavy music, the Nazgul is a better choice. If you like a little more versatility, the Pegasus is the one. Both sound tight with low tunings, but the Pegasus has more of a balanced EQ, while the Nazgul has a lot of mids and highs, which makes it great for heavy music, but not nearly versatile beyond that.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

Liko's post above is a good one. Definitely take that into account if you're worried about cleaning them up. Honestly your amp probably matters a lot more than the pickups.

I currently have them both. I would say "nice tight low end and lots of clarity" more accurately describes the Nazgul. The Pegasus is a warmer pickup in comparison, a bit more robust on the bottom end. In direct comparison, I would say that due to the Pegasus being a bit bassier, it's actually a little less clear due to the bass strings sort of overtaking some of the higher notes on big chords. (Again, that's in direct comparison, it's not something you'll really notice on its own.) I'm not saying that as a negative either, it's just a different tone, sort of like comparing different colors, neither is better, just different. Just depends on the person, since it's all subjective anyway.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

LaserSharks said:
Liko's post above is a good one. Definitely take that into account if you're worried about cleaning them up. Honestly your amp probably matters a lot more than the pickups.

I currently have them both. I would say "nice tight low end and lots of clarity" more accurately describes the Nazgul. The Pegasus is a warmer pickup in comparison, a bit more robust on the bottom end. In direct comparison, I would say that due to the Pegasus being a bit bassier, it's actually a little less clear due to the bass strings sort of overtaking some of the higher notes on big chords. (Again, that's in direct comparison, it's not something you'll really notice on its own.) I'm not saying that as a negative either, it's just a different tone, sort of like comparing different colors, neither is better, just different. Just depends on the person, since it's all subjective anyway.
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Which one would you say is more versatile? Because I only have two guitars my ibanez which is for heavy and my tele which I use for most everything else. So I still need a pickup that does the heavy real well but, can also do the maybe not as heavy. This is where I have doubts in the nazgul.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

I have the Nazgul and I don't personally recommend it. It has a fuzzy overtone to it that makes it lose definition. The low end is tight, but it's very boomy also, almost like a neck pickup. Also, it isn't that powerful. It's in the lower output range of the high output pickups according to the SD website. I A/B it with a guitar that had the JB in it and the JB was much more powerful and clear. The Nazgul is good for very fast brutal picking but that's about it. FWIW I have the 6-string version. This pickup was originally created for 7 and 8 string guitars so it might be better in those, but I personally think it falls short in my guitar. Never tried the Pegasus so can't comment on that.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

Magic said:
I have the Nazgul and I don't personally recommend it. It has a fuzzy overtone to it that makes it lose definition. The low end is tight, but it's very boomy also, almost like a neck pickup. Also, it isn't that powerful. It's in the lower output range of the high output pickups according to the SD website. I A/B it with a guitar that had the JB in it and the JB was much more powerful and clear. The Nazgul is good for very fast brutal picking but that's about it. FWIW I have the 6-string version. This pickup was originally created for 7 and 8 string guitars so it might be better in those, but I personally think it falls short in my guitar. Never tried the Pegasus so can't comment on that.
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I own JBs and Nazguls. Something is not right with your post. It sounds like a bad install or something. It sounds absolutely NOTHING like a neck pickup in my guitars. It sounds extraordinarily hot in my guitar. It isn't as hot as a BW but it sounds hotter to me.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

I just meant on the low end, the higher notes are pretty trebly and sharp. I tried my guitar with the nazgul in a 6505 along with the other guitar with the JB and the JB was definitely more powerful and clear. Not to say the Nazgul is a weak pick up I just think the JB was much more powerful. SD website as the JB in the red with 16.6 whereas the Nazgul tops out in the yellow with 13.1 and I have to say that sounds about right to my ears. And again this is for the six string version.
 
Re: Nazgul or pegasus

DCR =/= output. The JB has an a5 and the Nazgul has a big ceramic. My Nazguls are much clearer than my JBs. It is mighty peculiar. Both are hot pickups but should be extremely similar in output with the nazgul being far more aggressive. The magnet should be significantly stronger in the nazgul which is at least as big a part of output as DCR
 
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