Once you go black...

[Securb]

I was listening to the playback from practice today. I love the WLH set in my Les Paul. However now that I am playing heavier music the Black WInters just fit for the music. They just have so much "thud" and are thick, and articulate. I am thinking about having MJ wind me a gold-covered set of Black WInters for the Les Paul lite. This would be my 3rd BW loaded guitar

 

[Top-L]

I was listening to the playback from practice today. I love the WLH set in my Les Paul. However now that I am playing heavier music the Black WInters just fit for the music. They just have so much "thud" and are thick, and articulate. I am thinking about having MJ wind me a gold-covered set of Black WInters for the Les Paul lite. This would be my 3rd BW loaded guitar

What is the equivalent Dimarzio to the BW set?

 

[JOLLY]

I've not tried any. They didn't do anything for me in the demos that I heard years ago.

 

[Securb]

What is the equivalent Dimarzio to the BW set?

Interesting question and segue.

 

[dave74]

What is the equivalent Dimarzio to the BW set?

Really there isn't. Evo has some punchy thick mids but is a bit brighter in the highs. BW is smoother in the high-highs.

 

[Demanic]

Scrolled the whole thread for sound clips.
Found crickets.

 

[Mincer]

It isn't surprising that Black WInters sound better for heavy music. But the cool thing is...they sound good for other things, too.

 

[beaubrummels]

I was listening to the playback from practice today. I love the WLH set in my Les Paul. However now that I am playing heavier music the Black WInters just fit for the music. They just have so much "thud" and are thick, and articulate. I am thinking about having MJ wind me a gold-covered set of Black WInters for the Les Paul lite. This would be my 3rd BW loaded guitar

Now, that would be cool if they put the gothic logo on the gold covers. Class, and attitude.

 

[weepingminotaur]

It isn't surprising that Black WInters sound better for heavy music. But the cool thing is...they sound good for other things, too.

This is the hidden value to them. Sure, they do metal well, but they aren't one-trick ponies. You can play a surprising range of genres with them. And they split really well.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

What is the equivalent Dimarzio to the BW set?

No direct equivalent, as others have said.

The BW-B is about as hot as the X2N, but it's brighter and way leaner in the lows.

The D-Activator... maybe? It's been a while, but I remember the D-Ac Bridge being overall broather in frequency spectrum with extended highs and lows compared to the 'Winter.

Evo Bridge... maybe with the high mids, but the BW-B would be much hotter and more grindy and aggressive. The Evo would be slightly more low-middy and loose.

The BW-N... same thing. Maybe the Evo Neck, but the BW-N is REALLY hot, and the Evo Neck isn't all that much. The Evo Neck is more DiMarzio with fatter low mids and the BW is more Duncan with the edgier high mids.

The Dominion Bridge also has some BW-ish elements with the edgy rasp and the tight rolled-back lows. But I find the Dominion Bridge's mids a bit more vocal and slightly nasal. It's also not nearly as hot either.

 

[The Dark Wolf]

No direct equivalent, as others have said.

The BW-B is about as hot as the X2N, but it's brighter and way leaner in the lows.

The D-Activator... maybe? It's been a while, but I remember the D-Ac Bridge being overall broather in frequency spectrum with extended highs and lows compared to the 'Winter.

I was thinking D-Activators as well. The D-Activator bridge is a really great, HOT, but tonally balanced pickup. Chugs well. Nice tone. Nothing jumps out at you egregiously, and it's very articulate.

 

[Securb]

It isn't surprising that Black WInters sound better for heavy music. But the cool thing is...they sound good for other things, too.

Without a doubt but I don't typically grab those guitars for my classic rock gig. Maybe I should more. But this is the main reason why I have no problem putting them in my Les Paul. They will not make the guitar a solely "metal" guitar.

 

[Securb]

I am thinking it would be cheaper and quicker if I just by a set of Black Winters and add the gold covers and change the poles to gold myself. Quick question is there anything special about the SD poles to consider or can I just order gold ones on Stew Mac?

 

[Top-L]

No direct equivalent, as others have said.

The BW-B is about as hot as the X2N, but it's brighter and way leaner in the lows.

The D-Activator... maybe? It's been a while, but I remember the D-Ac Bridge being overall broather in frequency spectrum with extended highs and lows compared to the 'Winter.

Evo Bridge... maybe with the high mids, but the BW-B would be much hotter and more grindy and aggressive. The Evo would be slightly more low-middy and loose.

The BW-N... same thing. Maybe the Evo Neck, but the BW-N is REALLY hot, and the Evo Neck isn't all that much. The Evo Neck is more DiMarzio with fatter low mids and the BW is more Duncan with the edgier high mids.

The Dominion Bridge also has some BW-ish elements with the edgy rasp and the tight rolled-back lows. But I find the Dominion Bridge's mids a bit more vocal and slightly nasal. It's also not nearly as hot either.

So the BW set is really hot!

Based on your description, I'm thinking maybe a Super3.

I did try the Dactivator X and thought it was quite excellent for a super hot pickup.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

So the BW set is really hot!

Based on your description, I'm thinking maybe a Super3.

I did try the Dactivator X and thought it was quite excellent for a super hot pickup.

I wouldn't think so. The Super 3 is kinda dark and really bassy, isn't it? I've never tried it, but the BW is the opposite of dark and bassy. True, the high-end isn't as airy as a PAF or as sizzly as a Duncan Distortion, but what makes the BW the BW is the rasp and grind it has that personally vaguely reminds me of the Swedish chainsaw sound. It's also really tight, meaning it has a low-end rolloff.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I was thinking D-Activators as well. The D-Activator bridge is a really great, HOT, but tonally balanced pickup. Chugs well. Nice tone. Nothing jumps out at you egregiously, and it's very articulate.

I mean, you're describing the opposite of the 'Winter there. To me, it's the opposite of balanced, and that's why I like it. It's a huge punch in the mids, but it's not nasal or vocals as some DiMarzios. It has a low-end rolloff that keeps it tight, and it's got a very emphatic attack and high-mid rasp.

 

[Mincer]

Now, that would be cool if they put the gothic logo on the gold covers. Class, and attitude.

Especially if the logos could be etched on, rather than paint.

 

[Aceman]

It isn't surprising that Black WInters sound better for heavy music. But the cool thing is...they sound good for other things, too.

I hear this from everybody, and I believe it. That said, If I'm putting pickups like BW's, Distortions, etc....in a guitar all I'm playing on it is metal.

 

[Sun King]

I was listening to the playback from practice today. I love the WLH set in my Les Paul. However now that I am playing heavier music the Black WInters just fit for the music. They just have so much "thud" and are thick, and articulate. I am thinking about having MJ wind me a gold-covered set of Black WInters for the Les Paul lite. This would be my 3rd BW loaded guitar

You don't have to go to quite that extent, as to have MJ wind you a special one.

I lucked onto a single Sentient neck pickup, in white, that had been part of a Pegasus/Sentient combo.
​My plan was to match that with a Black Winter bridge, also in white.

I don't recall the name offhand, but there is a seller on Reverb who can order pickups as "Shop Floor Customs," rather than from the Custom Shop. You can specify bobbin color, logo font and color, as well as standard spacing vs F-spaced. It took about 6 weeks to arrive after ordering, and if I recall it was about $120. If I can get back into my order history, I'll let you know who that seller was.

EDIT: It was Squid Music, and the actual cost was $132.50.

 

[Mincer]

I hear this from everybody, and I believe it. That said, If I'm putting pickups like BW's, Distortions, etc....in a guitar all I'm playing on it is metal.

Yeah, but you can do that jazz gig, too.