What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
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Iron1
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Francois
New member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
You decide !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbRlcdNHYDM
You decide !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbRlcdNHYDM
Iron1
New member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
Love that video (the riff is just plain awesome) but I've listened to it so many times over the last 3 years - ha. When I first was listening to it for a 6-string pup, someone told me the BW was an evolution of the Distortion, which was a restrained Invader. But, I'm not sure I buy that... Anyone have spec/tech info one way or the other?
Love that video (the riff is just plain awesome) but I've listened to it so many times over the last 3 years - ha. When I first was listening to it for a 6-string pup, someone told me the BW was an evolution of the Distortion, which was a restrained Invader. But, I'm not sure I buy that... Anyone have spec/tech info one way or the other?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
They’re both high 16k, ceramic magnets, but the BW has 3, right?
They’re both high 16k, ceramic magnets, but the BW has 3, right?
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
The Black Winter is indeed close to the Black Winter! :lmao:
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
The Distortion is similar but with more low-end, and the brightness seems to be shifter up from the bite and clang of the BW to more sizzly frequencies. It's also lower output (but still pretty hot). The JB has a similar upper-mid grind, but with stuffier low mids and slightly looser low-end. Lower output too. You can definitely tell these three pickups belong to the same family, though. At least IME.
The Distortion is similar but with more low-end, and the brightness seems to be shifter up from the bite and clang of the BW to more sizzly frequencies. It's also lower output (but still pretty hot). The JB has a similar upper-mid grind, but with stuffier low mids and slightly looser low-end. Lower output too. You can definitely tell these three pickups belong to the same family, though. At least IME.
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Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
The Black Winter sounds very neutral. I can't think of another Duncan pickup that has that quality. Maybe the Custom, but then it's still sorf of PAFish. I don't think saying the BW and DD are similar is very accurate.
The Black Winter sounds very neutral. I can't think of another Duncan pickup that has that quality. Maybe the Custom, but then it's still sorf of PAFish. I don't think saying the BW and DD are similar is very accurate.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
I guess we hear things differently. To me, the BW is anything but neutral. At least not the BW-B. It has an even fiercer upper-mid focus than the JB in every guitar I've had it in. Each to his own.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
Ya I don't mean tame. Like how the Phat Cat is colored Gibsony, the strat is wet and statty, the JB has a tele country thing to it. The Black Winter doesn't sound tilted any preexisting direction in tone. It's nice and stark for metal.
Ya I don't mean tame. Like how the Phat Cat is colored Gibsony, the strat is wet and statty, the JB has a tele country thing to it. The Black Winter doesn't sound tilted any preexisting direction in tone. It's nice and stark for metal.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
IMHO nothing else in the Duncan line sounds close to a Black Winter, and nothing even close enough that you could EQ or tweak your amp to make it sound like a Black Winter. The only thing that comes to mind for me would be an active pickup, not for level or noiselessness, but just the fairly ruler flat frequency response.
The Black Winter is the only Duncan so far where I had to change my amp EQ to give it some character. Keep in mind I don’t play metal, so I used it like any other Humbucker, clean to edge of break up to distorted, but not insane gain, which is part of why I heard the Black Winter as I have.
IMHO nothing else in the Duncan line sounds close to a Black Winter, and nothing even close enough that you could EQ or tweak your amp to make it sound like a Black Winter. The only thing that comes to mind for me would be an active pickup, not for level or noiselessness, but just the fairly ruler flat frequency response.
The Black Winter is the only Duncan so far where I had to change my amp EQ to give it some character. Keep in mind I don’t play metal, so I used it like any other Humbucker, clean to edge of break up to distorted, but not insane gain, which is part of why I heard the Black Winter as I have.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
What are you after? A black winter thats not a black winter? Why not just play the black winter? Bare Knuckle juggernauts are in the same sonic neighborhood but definitely arent the same
What are you after? A black winter thats not a black winter? Why not just play the black winter? Bare Knuckle juggernauts are in the same sonic neighborhood but definitely arent the same
Iron1
New member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
Different flavors from the same cookbook, if that makes any sense at all. When I record I use 2 guitars mainly, but sometimes 3 - I want variations on complimentary tones. I currently have a Nazgul in my main one, want a Black Winter in another, then a third option that compliments the Naz in a similar manner as the BW.
Different flavors from the same cookbook, if that makes any sense at all. When I record I use 2 guitars mainly, but sometimes 3 - I want variations on complimentary tones. I currently have a Nazgul in my main one, want a Black Winter in another, then a third option that compliments the Naz in a similar manner as the BW.
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
I don't think these are very close at all, actually.
I don't think these are very close at all, actually.
Francois
New member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
The DD / SH-6 has a little more treble than medium. IME (on a SG) this will helps pushing tubes in a nice way, but if with a clean sound it is a little spiky.
I have not got my BW yet but on paper it is supposed to have a flat EQ. So it will retain the specific EQ of your tonewoods IMO...
The DD / SH-6 has a little more treble than medium. IME (on a SG) this will helps pushing tubes in a nice way, but if with a clean sound it is a little spiky.
I have not got my BW yet but on paper it is supposed to have a flat EQ. So it will retain the specific EQ of your tonewoods IMO...
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: What is closest to a Black Winter, tone-wise?
Some people in this thread I think may be mistaking this for a "flat EQ", though. It is a VERY focused pickup with a fierce, cutting emphasis on high mids, and a more or less restrained low-end. Not thin, but VERY tight and bold. I don't really think it sounds like an active, but I do get why some people compare it to the EMG 81. If anything, I do feel it has some things in common with the EMG Het Bridge, but that's very loosely speaking. The BW is still its own thing.
Oh. I get what you're saying now. Yes, the Black Winter is very clean, and precise, and it can be made to sound either old school or modern, and it does get along well with very different high-gain amp voicings. I agree.
Some people in this thread I think may be mistaking this for a "flat EQ", though. It is a VERY focused pickup with a fierce, cutting emphasis on high mids, and a more or less restrained low-end. Not thin, but VERY tight and bold. I don't really think it sounds like an active, but I do get why some people compare it to the EMG 81. If anything, I do feel it has some things in common with the EMG Het Bridge, but that's very loosely speaking. The BW is still its own thing.
