Duncan Distortion or Nazgul?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rex Rocker
  • Start date Start date
Rex Rocker
Rex Rocker
Well-known member
I've posted about my Strat Rat Rod.

It's a Roadworn from 2010 with a new baked Maple Flat Oval neck. The saddles and trem block I replaced with brass, and I also blocked the trem. Though, I'm not sure about the brass. Might try steel soon.

Anyways, right now, I have a DiMarzio D Activator in there, and I like it. It's very balanced for a high-output Ceramic. No hyped midrange, no boosted low-end, no overly sizzly top-end.... but I kinda wish it was more over-the-top.

The two guitars I'm playing right now are a Gibson Les Paul Tribute with a 500T/DiMarzio Evolution Neck and the Strat. The LP is a lot more upper-mid-forward, aggressive, and raspy. I'm kinda missing that with the Strat. It's too clean. It also doesn't help that the bridge pickup is further away from the bridge than on the Les Paul, so I feel the Strat needs something even more aggressive and over-the-top raspy than the Gibson even.

So... have you guys compared these two to maybe the 500T or the D Activator? Or maybe got another recommendation?

Would love to hear you guys' thoughts. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
There's one guy on youtube who seems to have endless permutations of pickup comparisons. Turns out he answered half your question:

 
I've had all four, but not in the same guitar so there's that. But in general I think the 500T is a bit wilder and hard to control than any of the other three. At least that's my distant memory of that pup. 500T was a bit hairier, more & not as tight low end, some grain to it. The DD is tighter, more modern sounding but still not as modern as say the Nazgul which is just that. It leans more modern with the voicing and bass response.

I did like the limited time I had with the Nazgul in a PRS, it was tight, fast, aggressive, like I said modern edged. I really like the DD...it's tight, aggressive, good articulation, good lows/mids/highs but not ultra modern sounding. I didn't like the D activator, just seemed bland and almost sterile, but I feel that way about the few Dimarzio I've tried.
 
7704A said:
There's one guy on youtube who seems to have endless permutations of pickup comparisons. Turns out he answered half your question:

Click to expand...

I've checked his vids... it does seem like I'd prefer both the DD and the Nazgul over the D Ac... but I'd still like to hear from you guys how they compare to the 500T. :)
 
MetalHeadMike said:
I've had all four, but not in the same guitar so there's that. But in general I think the 500T is a bit wilder and hard to control than any of the other three. At least that's my distant memory of that pup. 500T was a bit hairier, more & not as tight low end, some grain to it. The DD is tighter, more modern sounding but still not as modern as say the Nazgul which is just that. It leans more modern with the voicing and bass response.

I did like the limited time I had with the Nazgul in a PRS, it was tight, fast, aggressive, like I said modern edged. I really like the DD...it's tight, aggressive, good articulation, good lows/mids/highs but not ultra modern sounding. I didn't like the D activator, just seemed bland and almost sterile, but I feel that way about the few Dimarzio I've tried.
Click to expand...
How would you rate them all in terms of output.

I'd say the 500T is noticeably hotter than the D Ac, but the D Ac is still pretty hot. The 500T is pretty hot, but not quite X2N/Black Winter hot. How would all the Duncans stack up in terms of output to these two?
 
Duncan TB-5. Not over the top, tight low end, nice mids, yet somewhat relaxed. More clarity than the DD, and more PAF flavor. I find it works great in anything you put it in. My go-to. A Custom Custom is another good one if your guitar is on the brighter side. An Aldrich is another good one. I hated the Nazgul in the Schecter Banshee I had. I found it kinda dull/bland. Didn't really do anything exceptionally well.
 
Last edited:
Rex Rocker said:
How would you rate them all in terms of output.

I'd say the 500T is noticeably hotter than the D Ac, but the D Ac is still pretty hot. The 500T is pretty hot, but not quite X2N/Black Winter hot. How would all the Duncans stack up in terms of output to these two?
Click to expand...

My bad...EDIT...I was mistaken on the 500T. It was the 498T I had (still have in a drawer), so no experience with the 500T. I felt the 498T was a bit out there in terms of output compared to the DD, Dactivator, and Nazgul. I think the DD and Nazgul felt about the same in terms of output, but it's been a number of years since I had them in my guitar. The Dactivator actually did not feel like it had a ton of output to me. DD and Nazgul aren't over the top and very easy to control, but still hot enough your not having to dig in crazy hard to get the goods. DD is a bit more classic sounding/feeling compared to Nazgul, if memory is serving me...like I said, been a while. Both tight, aggressive, fast tracking, great for metal/hard rock.

I need to put my DD back in for a spin, that or the Painkiller. I love the Wagner Ironman I've had in this guitar the last 4-5 years, but those are great pups too. Also want to retry a Cpig or try an Apig.
 
Last edited:
napalmdeath said:
Duncan TB-5. Not over the top, tight low end, nice mids, yet somewhat relaxed. More clarity than the DD, and more PAF flavor. I find it works great in anything you put it in. My go-to. A Custom Custom is another good one if your guitar is on the brighter side. An Aldrich is another good one. I hated the Nazgul in the Schecter Banshee I had. I found it kinda dull/bland. Didn't really do anything exceptionally well.
Click to expand...
I want over the top, LOL.

I've had the Custom before, and I've dug it, but I didn't love it. Kinda scoopy with some lower treble/high mid bite, which I dug. But right now, I want an aggressive midrange emphasis, or else, I would keep the D Activator in there.

I've not tried the Custom Custom, but I've tried the Custom 5, and I didn't like it, and I don't really like A2 PAF-types in the bridge, so I don't think the Custom Custom would be for me, extrapolating from that.

Usually not a fan of middle-of-the-road pickups. I kinda like PAF-types that are bright and aggressive like the '59B. I like over-the-top Ceramic screamers too with aggressive mids and output to pimp slap amps' inputs. I feel like mid output pickups are kinda neither here nor there. I do like the 498T, though.
 
Last edited:
Rex Rocker said:
I want over the top, LOL.

I've had the Custom before, and I've dug it, but I didn't love it. Kinda scoopy with some lower treble/high mid bite, which I dug. But right now, I want an aggressive midrange emphasis, or else, I would keep the D Activator in there.

I've not tried the Custom Custom, but I've tried the Custom 5, and I didn't like it, and I don't really like A2 PAF-types in the bridge, so I don't think the Custom Custom would be for me, extrapolating from that.

Usually not a fan of middle-of-the-road pickups. I kinda like PAF-types that are bright and aggressive like the '59B. I like over-the-top Ceramic screamers too with aggressive mids and output to pimp slap amps' inputs. I feel like mid output pickups are kinda neither here nor there. I do like the 498T, though.
Click to expand...
I'd give the 500T a go. Love them in my Pauls. Aggressive pup for sure.
 
Both the Nazgul and Duncan Distortion have very aggressive mids. The Nazguls being a bit broader across the spectrum, the DD with a bit more upper mid focus. Both have a tight low end attack.

Compared to a 500T, all three would have a similar output....all 3 are hot. But the Nazgul and DD will come across as hotter/more aggressive due to their midrange.
 
jabps said:
I'd give the 500T a go. Love them in my Pauls. Aggressive pup for sure.
Click to expand...
Already have a 500T in my Gibson. :)

I want something to bring the Strat closer to the Gibson, but still keep its own personality. :)
 
I had DD's in my 7 string and hates them. No bass and all treble.

Went with a Nazgul Sentient set and am much happier. Much more balanced sound.

If your looking for over the top go black winter . I have a set of 59s in my les Paul copy and black winters iny Frankenstein koren Ibanez and they really sound similar, just the black winters have way more output.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I want over the top, LOL.

I've had the Custom before, and I've dug it, but I didn't love it. Kinda scoopy with some lower treble/high mid bite, which I dug. But right now, I want an aggressive midrange emphasis, or else, I would keep the D Activator in there.

I've not tried the Custom Custom, but I've tried the Custom 5, and I didn't like it, and I don't really like A2 PAF-types in the bridge, so I don't think the Custom Custom would be for me, extrapolating from that.

Usually not a fan of middle-of-the-road pickups. I kinda like PAF-types that are bright and aggressive like the '59B. I like over-the-top Ceramic screamers too with aggressive mids and output to pimp slap amps' inputs. I feel like mid output pickups are kinda neither here nor there. I do like the 498T, though.
Click to expand...
Dimebucker.
 
I always thought the 500T sounded like a mix of the Duncan Custom and Duncan Distortion.

You could always do something completely different, like a Dimarzio D Sonic or something. Those are pretty aggressive in the highs without being piercing.
 
How about something from Bare Knuckle? Aftermath maybe? Painkiller?
 
Dimarzio super distortion or prs "m" Maybe even an invader...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
 
Back
Top