New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

[Johtosotku]

Can anyone compare these pickups to each other:

-Distortion
-Nazgul
-Pegasus
-Black Winter

I'm looking for a new set for my Tokai LP Custom. It currently has no-name stock pickups that sound good but I'm thinking if the guitar can sound even better. The stock ones have a nice, full meaty growl that I'd like to keep.

Things I'd like in the new pickups compared to the stock ones:

-A bit tighter bottom end
-More clarity
-A bit more open
-A bit more meanness and grit

I'm mostly interested in the SH6 set and the BW set. The Nazgul and the Pegasus have sounded interesting in clips. Other recommendations are welcome as well.

I play distorted 95% of the time, but good cleans on the neck pickup don't hurt. Music I play is mostly hard rock and especially metal. I don't care for the modern overly processed and compressed tones. I occasionally dabble in some ZZ Top, both new and old, so it would be nice if the pickups could do something like that but it's absolutely not a priority. Tuning is mostly E or Eb.

Ampwise I play with hot-rodded EL34 tones and some fuzzes. My main setup is a THD Univalve through a Cannabis Rex. For louder gigs I have a Jet City JCA50H and a 4*12 with V30s.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

I Have the distortion and BW and a 7 string nazgul. BW sounds like what you want. The Distortion has more lows and low mids. The BW is Very open, very clear, very tight, and very mean. The Nazgul is softer than a BW, though it is probably the most articulate of the 3 of those I have played. That said, a BW is very close. Personally I find a BW to sound exactly like you seem to be seeking.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

I vote BW as well. It's like they took the Distortion and took out some of the mid range hump, gave it a bit more bass and took away the high end fizz. Still rips your head off but in a good way if that makes any sense. Love that pick up.

 

[Dahla]

Re: New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

How the BW and Nazgul compare? And the JB and the Pegasus?

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

I vote BW as well. It's like they took the Distortion and took out some of the mid range hump, gave it a bit more bass and took away the high end fizz. Still rips your head off but in a good way if that makes any sense. Love that pick up.

I would say the BW has less bass than a distortion, rather than more. Definitely less low mids, and less of an overall boxy sound. I actually A/B'd a BW and a DD in the same guitar within 5 minutes using the same strings and everything. (I have my own quick release system installed in a few guitars)

I only have a nazgul 7, so I am comparing a 7 to a 6 which is not entirely valid. BW seems to have more output, Nazgul seems a touch cleaner and clearer, I would also say they share a similar voicing that is modern.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: New pickups advice wanted, Distortion vs BW etc

Thanks for the advice. The Black Winters sure sound nice based on the reviews and soundclips.