SD Black Winter Worship thread

[Iron1]

here's a clip comparing all three in the meantime (starts with ceramic unboosted and boosted, then same for a8 and a5):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tmbv3a7aqr0o4jw/kaijiujitsu_a5_a8_ceramic mag comparison.mp3?dl=0
here's some TRV KVLT shit:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/69scnu4kmyetder/Skadi TRV KVLT_triple recto .mp3?dl=0
other clips:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/plrqhcapdi6nu15/AAB1X12zjt65irpAWlvfqnzKa?dl=0

I'll have more in depth comparisons up eventually

Thanks for posting these, KB!

From what's going on in the first one, I prefer it stock.

 

[Seabeast2000]

After several months of playing a BW 7 bridge in a OG KM7, it's just not able to get nearly as Black Winter as the 6 version. It works well for me but it's not any kind of direct translation from the 6. Ime. I have bw 6's in two other guitars.

 

[Iron1]

After several months of playing a BW 7 bridge in a OG KM7, it's just not able to get nearly as Black Winter as the 6 version. It works well for me but it's not any kind of direct translation from the 6. Ime. I have bw 6's in two other guitars.

How so? Can you give a more detailed description of both?

 

[Seabeast2000]

How so? Can you give a more detailed description of both?

I'm a bit leary of the words for that, but less percussive, focused, and def looser. Still good for me, but more indistinguished as a stand-alone pickup than the regular BW.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

I'm a bit leary of the words for that, but less percussive, focused, and def looser. Still good for me, but more indistinguished as a stand-alone pickup than the regular BW.

yeah it's muddier/looser on the low end for the 7 and 8 string versions compared to the 6 string version. The voicing isn't particularly suited to super low tunings, especially if you're downtuning below A. It's not a huge deal ime, as you can just dial in your rig differently to compensate for the difference in feel. The lack of clarity on lower notes is very noticeable when I play extended chords but that's not something most ppl are going to be doing with the bw

 

[Seabeast2000]

yeah it's muddier/looser on the low end for the 7 and 8 string versions compared to the 6 string version. The voicing isn't particularly suited to super low tunings, especially if you're downtuning below A. It's not a huge deal ime, as you can just dial in your rig differently to compensate for the difference in feel. The lack of clarity on lower notes is very noticeable when I play extended chords but that's not something most ppl are going to be doing with the bw

I'd dare to say the BW7 is a good doom pickup. Sunn O should endorse and rebrand it or something.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

I'd dare to say the BW7 is a good doom pickup. Sunn O should endorse and rebrand it or something.

I do really like using it for sludgier/doomier riffs, I think it works better for that than super tight tech riffage. The 8 string version was a better doom pickup than the avedissian scythe I had, and the scythe is marketed as more of a doom pickup lol

 

[Seabeast2000]

I do really like using it for sludgier/doomier riffs, I think it works better for that than super tight tech riffage. The 8 string version was a better doom pickup than the avedissian scythe I had, and the scythe is marketed as more of a doom pickup lol

What would you recommend as best 7 version of a BW 6? Does that question make sense?

 

[MrWulf]

I like my BW7 if anything. I put it in my basswood Jackson and ash/maple Schecter. Maybe the wood helps balanced it out? But for me it is high gain, and very articulate/balanced.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

What would you recommend as best 7 version of a BW 6? Does that question make sense?

hmm I can't really answer that as my experience with 7 string pickups is pretty limited compared to my experience with 6/8 string pickups. There are other pickups I've used that get the sledgehammer lows of the bw, but they have a different mid emphasis (like the M7 and the d-sonic).

 

[Seabeast2000]

I like my BW7 if anything. I put it in my basswood Jackson and ash/maple Schecter. Maybe the wood helps balanced it out? But for me it is high gain, and very articulate/balanced.

Have you had the 6 version in anything? Interested to hear your thoughts if so.

 

[chopeth]

I had the 6 version and loved it in my mahogany ibanez and was thinking in buying a pair of BW7 for my baritone swamp ash guitar, so after reading you I'm maybe taken too much of a risk of not getting what I want especially considering the high price of a couple Black Winters (new)

 

[Iron1]

I had the 6 version and loved it in my mahogany ibanez and was thinking in buying a pair of BW7 for my baritone swamp ash guitar, so after reading you I'm maybe taken too much of a risk of not getting what I want especially considering the high price of a couple Black Winters (new)

Not sure that's really a risk since they hold their value really well on the resale market. Just get a bridge and if you don't like it, sell it for almost what you paid for it and move on.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

random noodly clip with my BW loaded LTD viper 7 and my PRS Archon:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/z67nrvvkw3y15d9/bw7_archon_recto4x12_medley.flac/file

 

[Seabeast2000]

I'm going to modify my opinion of the BW7 bridge a bit. Did some random BMT tweaking and its now much more cutting and raw. Sorry for confusion, it just needed a lot MORE eq tweaks than I was accustomed. My bad. Chalk up to a fair amount of newb ignorance.

 

[sonoftheoldnorth]

Can anyone tell me how a BW7 directly compares to a Dimarzio Titan 7?

I have an Ibanez JBM27 with the stock gold covered Titans. The guitar is tuned Ab and used mainly for Death Metal, along the lines of mid-era Morbid Angel C-G, Hate Eternal, Immolation, Lost Soul etc through either a Framus Dragon, JCM800 or GSP1101(5150)>Peavey Classic 60/60

I don't dislike the Titans sound, not so keen on the looks and I don't care about modifying the guitar as I'm not a fan of Periphery (bought for good specs). Can't help but wonder if the BW will be more my thing.

 

[MetalHead40]

Dam this thread has me gassin for the Black Winters again!

I need to re-visit the BW set. Had them in an all walnut Carvin ST300c and liked the pickups but not the tone through the amp I had at the time (PV Triple XXX 2). That amp was so harsh and honky in the upper mids and harsh in the highs. I moved the BWs on a hopeless pickup search trying to correct the things I didn't like about the amp.

Well I've since ditched that amp and now play on an Engl Savage 120 and an Engl FB100 and really think I need to try the Black Winters again.

Well...three years later and I finally grabbed another set of BWs. These will be going in a Mayo Qatsi 6. Distortion in there now and it rips, but I've always wanted to retry the BW. What I remember most was this sub-sonic low end response that was just awesome; hope I get the same response in this guitar.

 

[PRS_Baritone_Vito]

I love the Black Winters. I've got a set in my PRS SE 277 baritone and a set in my Agile AL-2500 baritone. They give so much clarity to the lower tunings without losing any low end beefiness.

I haven't tried the seven string version yet. I'm sure they sound just as great, though.

 

[1b4n3z]

I wonder if the spacer magnets actually contribute a significant amount to clarity? I modded a JB with a normal size A8 magnet (tends to beef it up quite a bit, possibly at the cost of clarity) and two ceramic spacer magnets and the result is just amazing. Big tone, excellent note separation - very 'focused' attack. My BW bridge is still quite a bit grittier and brighter, but that really wasn't the direction I was going for in the first place. Clarity is noteworthy in both cases

 

[LeviathanKiller]

I wonder if the spacer magnets actually contribute a significant amount to clarity? I modded a JB with a normal size A8 magnet (tends to beef it up quite a bit, possibly at the cost of clarity) and two ceramic spacer magnets and the result is just amazing. Big tone, excellent note separation - very 'focused' attack. My BW bridge is still quite a bit grittier and brighter, but that really wasn't the direction I was going for in the first place. Clarity is noteworthy in both cases

Spacer/flanking magnets make a substantial difference imo