Seymour Duncan NAZGUL vs PEGASUS - Passive Bridge Pickup Guitar Comparison / Demo

Distorted and clean rhythm comparison demo between Seymour Duncan Nazgul (passive) and Seymour Duncan Pegasus (passive) guitar pickups on the bridge position. Settings are the following:
GUITAR
Model: Custom strat (alder body with canadian maple neck)
Tuning: Eь / D#
Strings: D'Addario EXL140 (010-052 gauge)
AMP
Distortion: Peavey 5150 profile (Kemper Profiling Amp)
Clean: EVH 5150 III profile (Kemper Profiling Amp)
RECORDING TECHNIQUE:
- One centered mono track per pickup.
- Same config and EQ for both.
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My music: mikestamper.bandcamp.com
#pickups #comparison #guitar

[@Terrysoddy]

These comparisons are by far the best ever on KZbin. And I don’t believe anybody can touch you on your great work on these. Great job man

[@davidjames3424]

They both shine in different registers. I feel like the Pegasus is over all my favorite because the mid range clarity. I think the Nazgul sounds better in the upper register, but not in the lows or mids. I’d be happy with either tbh!

[@mikedenkinger9570]

For those of you who actually use their volume/tone knobs (as opposed to full on all the time),I have the Sentient/Pegasus set in a LP Gothic with 585k Centralab pots/Sprague caps/50's wiring harness. The real versatility of the Pegasus comes out when you back off the tone and volume for chugging or for a "lighter" run of single notes that kind of "breathe" but maintain their tightness and separation. Due to the pots' taper characteristics with my set up (more like a vintage LP), there's a massive difference between 6 and 10 on the output for the volume sweep - almost like a blower switch. There's a big difference across the lower tone sweep as well. Because of the high value in my pots, there's very little treble bleed across the tone sweep, so you still get clarity all the way down to about 2. It's really allows you to hear that the Pegasus can dance with higher gain to get a classic rock/warmer sound, almost like an Alnico 2 or 3 pickup in this range....but then you can slam it back up to start tight chugging again with the twist of the pots.

[@rei.nobuyuuki]

I honestly love the sound of both of them and know I'm probably getting both in the future for the first one I buy, the nazgul just edges out on top to my ears

[@monsieurabsurd1395]

Pegasus for me all day. 5:02 is what convinced me. I have the Nazgul in my km7-mkii and this is the perfect example of what I dont like about it. That high mid peak. You can hear when it switches, it's not in the Pegasus and the pegasus has that low mid thing going on I really like.

[@MaestroJericho]

Nazgul in bright guitars is so piercing imo. I liked it the most in a singlecut PRS SE since it wasn't as shrill there.

[@calebjohnson6325]

I’m a year late on this one but yeah me too on the 5:02 mark. That overpowering mid-honk is what I don’t like about the Nazgûl

[@5150forevermore]

2 years later here. Im gonna change my Nazgul to a Pegasus on my KM7 MKII same as you lol

[@feltyash6484]

Just get better pedals for dirt lmao, pickup selection only matters for cleans and it's still only about 20% of the tone maybe less

[@wavtunemusic]

The Nazgul pickups hit the perfect midrange for metal and punk rock guitar tones.

[@Terrysoddy]

Yea I think the Nazgûl beat the Pegasus by quite a bit

[@AkiraSpectrum]

great demo! love me some Pegasus (have a 6 and 7 string version). boost the presence and treble on the Pegasus and it is a phenomenal pickup for a lot of different styles.

[@tony-silver]

Great comparison, thanks for that one.

[@briandicosmo3843]

I have both in my ibanez rg550’s. They both sound great. I don’t change my amp settings at all between the two. I love them both and I can never decide which one I like better. I probably just made your decision harder, sorry. But honestly you can’t go wrong with either one. The Nazgul has this amazing low end tight punch that reminds me of when you’re listening to electronic music real loud through big 15 inch subwoofers the way that bass hits you in the chest that’s the kind of feeling I get with the nazgul cranked up. The bass is so awesomely tight and punchy. Actually makes you play different and is very exciting if that makes sense. The other hand the Pegasus is clear and wonderful. It will also inspire you to write riffs with chords and Open notes.because it is so damn clear. The Nazgul sounds good with chugging and staccato like riffs. They both sound killer with solos and lead type playing.

[@aegisreflector1239]

👍

[@AllCarsUnited]

I have the Pegasus on my 18 PRS CE with the bolt on neck and it totally sounds magical. May put one on my 01 PRS custom to see how they compare with the dragon 2 pups

[@johnk9762]

I was on the fence during the cleans but for high gain I'd go for Nazgul.

[@coreyblaisdell]

I've had both of these in 7 string guitars and I think the Nazgul is better for extended range/super low tuning. That upper mid bump sounds absolutely brutal on a 7 string in drop A while the Pegasus' low-mid focus seems to always require EQ/multiband compression on my 7 string. I think the Pegasus is better for Standard E/Standard D tunings though. I would love to hear more extended range comparisons!

[@ryaneiger5374]

That's the exact conclusion I came to after listening to the Keith Merrow demo of Seymour Duncan pickups. He's playing a baritone 6 string in Drop Bb I believe, and to my ears in that context the Nazgul has way more clarity and punch. However in this demo, 1/2 step down, I did slightly prefer the Pegasus.

[@bradleywhitaker6936]

Ive always gravitated toward Alnico magnets. To my ears, while playing metal riffs that constantly switch between dampened palm-muted notes and open, free-ringing, non-dampened notes, the lower-midrange warmth of Alnico magnets creates a wider dynamic jump between dampened and non-dampened playing. The palm-mutes are "bloomier" and fuller. Ceramic Magnets have a really aggressive top-end bite that actually sounds like additional distortion, so its more compressed and consistent, but less dynamic. With a set of humbuckers, I like to place a warmer, darker sounding pickup (Alnico) in the bridge position, which is inherently brighter, and an aggressive, top-heavy pickup (ceramic) in the neck position, which is inherently darker. I feel it sounds more balanced and natural in this configuration. Thats just what my ears like to hear though, so Im naturally leaning into the Pegasus here.

[@alabamaman9100]

I love the rich and balanced sound of the Nazgûl! Could you perhaps do a Nazgûl vs Duncan Distortion comparison, because both seem to be good metal pickups?

[@mikeallen5291]

nazgul is a god for high gain. period. as someone who uses both of these, the Nazgul is far more articulate than the distortion and loves down tuning wherreas the distortion kind of falls on it's face below D standard. The nazgul notes bite all the way down to Drop a and that's as low as any of my guitars are tuned. The only other pups I have that do that well so low are in my mich thompson soloist. Those are Duncan Blackout EMTY's That guitaris at drop b

[@Ecclesiastes11718]

dude,pickups aside,those riffs are fucking DOPE

[@mikestamper]

Thank you so much!!

[@MikeArpeggio345]

I have 3 guitars with the Nazgul and I may be selling one of them to get one with the Pegasus. I think i'll be pretty well off with it then. I really like them both.

[@ZagrasNixillis]

Sounds like the same wind but one has a large ceramic magnet and one has an alnico five.

[@BayAreaBrenner]

The Nazgul really handles the low frequencies well, but it seems harsh on the highs. Not my favorite clean tone, either. Meanwhile, the Pegasus isn’t doesn’t have a super well defined low end, but the mids sound great and it tames the highs. If I were just doing downtuned metal, Nazgul all the way. But the Pegasus seems more well-rounded.

[@Wormed101]

Pegasus vs Custom 5 would be badass.

[@angusorvid8840]

They're both great, but I ordered the Nazgul because I like to have some ultra crunchy ceramics in my guitarsenal as well as my prefered medium output Customs and Full Shreds. I've been using the Distortion for decades and the Nazgul is like a meaner Distortion.

[@experimentalgroup9473]

A Duncan distortion is a JB with a ceramic magnet. By theory, the Black Winter would be a beefed up Distortion. It’s a kickass pickup. I think the Nazgul has a more pronounced mid spike. I just got one for my 7 string SG. I hope it works out.

[@killthekaiju9219]

@@experimentalgroup9473 did it work out?

[@angusorvid8840]

@@experimentalgroup9473 True. The JB and Distortion are two sides of the same coin, both solid pickups. It all depends on what your needs are for a particular guitar and the sort of music you play. One reason I've used a lot of ceramic pickups is that they tend to be a lot punchier and cutting. Some are warmer than others. In fact, I've played a number of alnicos that were on the cold side and didn't sound that good clean. There's a lot of mythology in the guitar world. I go for sound, not for the technical gobbldygook of the ad copy around a pickup. But I do find just from experience that a lot of ceramics have worked for me. The Custom SH-5 has been my main go-to pickup for years. That, or the Distortion. The Nazgul is great too, but I'm not using it as much these days because the high end is a bit too sharp for what I'm playing. But if you down tune it's one of the best pickups out there.

[@bones2532]

Interesting thing: I replaced the bridge PU in my Joe Duplantier Telly with a Nazgul and a 220pF treble bleed capacitor on the volume pot. When the volume is turned down for about a quarter to a half, it takes away the agressive high mid cutting edge of the pickup and changes its character completly. Almost sounds 'vintage'-like, similar to a JB, I'd say. Hadn't expected that. With coilsplitting the Nazgul sounds pretty good as a single coil, too. So it's a much more versatile pickup than you might think. I'm quite happy with it. The output level of the Nazgul is VERY high, though. Pushes the first gain stage in your signal chain quite hard. Can be difficult not to drive your clean sound into saturation/distortion on some preamps or pedals. Something you should keep in mind.

[@Norseman2]

Just roll the volume back a bit when you're playing clean.

[@bones2532]

@@Norseman2 Yeah, exactly. I also thought about adding a switch with a resistor. That would provide a more classic medium gain sound when engaged and act like a boost when disengaged. Call it the "insane aggression" switch. 🤪

[@Norseman2]

@@bones2532 after I commented i reread your comment and thought “duh he already said that” lol.

[@bones2532]

@@Norseman2 No problem, dude. Actually I'm not a fan of playing with rolled back volume pot, so the mod I mentioned above would be an interesting option, I think.

[@Norseman2]

@@bones2532 I like the sounds of that mod. I just like to play. I’m not a “project” kind of guy - though I do watch enough videos that I want to be LOL …but my drummer is an electrical engineer and works on circuit boards and stuff and he is always bugging me to do this or that with pickups and pots and stuff. I’ll mention this to him. 😎👍🏼

[@craigharrison5406]

The Nazgul is a killer pickup....just add an EQ in your effects loop to roll off the highs a touch and it's the perfect metal pickup.

[@profile_01]

The Pegasus w/ EQ in loop and bass rolled down is really good

[@koichifactor]

Amazing I like sound SD nazgul is balance Tone for Me

[@Achilleion]

I think the palm muted notes have more clarity with the Pegasus, especially the mids and low mids

[@9alt0]

oh man, that nazgul is just so fucking filthy, in the best way possible

[@johndrinkspepsi2]

To my ear the Nazgûl seems crisper with the lows and high Gain sounds.. I just can't shake it just sounds crisper without flub. But they're still very similar.

[@aaronbruch2204]

For motley crue song what is the best ????

[@ritabanscreech]

Can we get a Nazgul vs Omega comparison please?

[@HVACRTECH-83]

I'm on here trying to get info on the peg/sent sets as that's what's in my new Ltd and I'm very disappointed, I've heard good things about both and decided to get a guitar that came with that set and idk,I think somethings wrong with my setup cause this sounds good and nothing like mine at all. I have a schecter c1 sls elite evil twin that came with fluence moderns and oh man does that sound killer,best guitar tone and feel I have ever had,and I have quite a few guitars. I guess I shouldn't be comparing the two setups but I can't play the Ltd like this. Very uninspiring

[@beefysinglecut]

Nazgul for lead, Pegasus for rhythm.

[@Fragments_Ov_Shattered_Malice_]

I 100% agree

[@quinnkeating8431]

I'm waffling on these 2. The Nazgûl sounds a bit too much clean compared to the Pegasus; it breaks a bit too much. Distorted, the Nazgûl sounds much warmer with chords. Where I thought the Pegasus surpassed the Nazgûl was with higher notes and much more clarity with arpeggios. I'm assuming this is due to the higher output of the Nazgûl and figure it clears up by rolling off the volume a bit.

[@ractv22]

To me Nazgûl just has richer sound.

[@MaestroJericho]

I like Pegasus more since we have access to so many high gain amps/pedals that a Nazgul would be hard to tame above B standard imo.

[@ze-ce.cra_]

Riffs at 4:17 played with Nazgul somehow sounds a little bit friendlier to my ears, than played with Pegasus. The voicing and harmonic response of Pegasus kinda make it sounds a little bit more dissonant and mushy. But it just the isolated tracks though, the Pegasus could be a little bit more cutting through the mix

[@jeremyruss8153]

Where do I know the riff at 1:26 from?

[@aegisreflector1239]

How does the dimebucker compare to these?

[@ericv215]

I don't own the Pegasus but i wish i did.They sound like a more balanced pickup compared to the nazgul. I have the 7 string nazgul and it's great for the chugs but the mids are very harsh, however that's s what keith designed them for.

[@electropentatonic]

I have the Pegasus and I don't like it. Very mild pickup and despite its "progressive" selling point, its terrible for lead work. It would be a little more forgiving if it wasn't very articulate but had super crushing rhythm response for metal but its a mushy soft box of tone. Its hard to find a good balance with it, very uninspiring. It gives me that INF pickup feel that you get from entry level Ibanez, not joking at all. I've given it a year and I just can't stand this pickup but I don't think a Nazgul is on the menu either. Probably going with something traditional like an SH-6B or crunchlab.

[@ericv215]

@@electropentatonic what amp do you use?

[@electropentatonic]

@@ericv215 Engl FB100 and a Mesa TR. Even boosted with a ts808, it lacks bite.

[@ericv215]

@@electropentatonic that's crazy i run peavey 6505+ with ts9. Well glad i didn't get the Pegasus. I love my emg 57 and warming up to my fishman modern. I have the sh6 set..they'll do wait you want that the Pegasus lacks. Not my favorite though.

[@electropentatonic]

@@ericv215 Everyone's tastes are different, you might love the Pegasus...but I really don't think you would (especially if you're used to those high output emg's). I'm not set on the SH-6 but I've been playing on one on my 6 string for 15 years, so it would be a safe swap. I'm not opposed to new things though, those Fishman moderns seem pretty cool but I'm pretty certain i'd have to swap both pickups and controls at that point as opposed to just a bridge swap. It bums me out but I'll narrow down on something soon. Until then, I'll just keep chugging/mushing away

[@alyctro8158]

what is the difference between a normal nazgul and a trembucker nazgul?

[@mikestamper]

Trembucker is the Seymour Duncan's name for what is usually called "F-spaced" pickups and guitars. But there's also no problem if you use a non F-spaced pickup on an F-spaced guitar. if you do this, you will notice the strings won't be totally inline with the pickup magnets, but the sound difference isn't relevant at all.

[@understandinc]

it's there. but gotta tell ya. i'd have to have them isolated and side by side to even tell a difference.

[@iangarza990]

then youve some pretty trashy ears 😉

[@Fragments_Ov_Shattered_Malice_]

In my opinion Pegasus for cleans Nazgul for distortion

[@Erowens98]

Short answer: Pegasus for cleans, Nazgul for distortion. Long answer: While both pickups sound nice, the pegasus is the clear winner for cleans. The nazgul is just too harsh for it. When it comes to distortion it's not as clear. The pegasus would sound great for more modern death metal, doom metal, anything with a heavy emphasis on the bass end. But the nazgul will sound better for more classic metal, as well as black metal, Atmospheric metal or anything else that is supposed to be less "refined" and more "harsh" The Nazgul is much more agressive while the Pegasus is more radio friendly. Nazgul=burzum Pegasus=metallica

[@idontgivea1769]

4:18 Pegasus sounds more Burzumic than the Nazgul

[@SeedOilFitnessOfficial]

Nazgul is mid heavy. Older Metal Genres were known to scoop

[@Xuritron]

Have the Pegasus, totally agree with your comment. Love this mean pup

[@Dothreban]

I think the Pegasus sounded smoother and more balanced but the nazgul didn't sound bad at all..

[@zenmaster1752]

The Pegasus is better for my ears but both are very similar.

[@emo87653]

yea they sound a lot tighter than the nazgul.

[@LexerJason]

Pegasus + Nazgul vs Black Winter pls

[@mikestamper]

Hi, LexerJason! At last, Black Winters on this channel!! BW vs Pegasus is scheduled for tomorrow. Enjoy!!

[@Riffrippinroddy]

Pegasus definitely tops it for me. Probably gonna for it

[@treishtrei]

I got it. However an omega sounds fuller

[@Redraptor6214]

3:07 for the distortion

[@surfstrat59]

Rich aroma vs delicate bouquet 🎸

[@PendelSteven]

My choice would be the Pegasus. I love progressive metal, so yeah.

[@elmarg7966]

Nazgul👍

[@taku172]

I LOVE Pegasus ！

[@iangarza990]

for rhythm and cleans

[@nexus4googleplay612]

So similar, but Pegasus is definitely thinner-sounding and lower output.

[@lashedandscorned]

the pegasus has better chord quality and is suited for more progressive stuff

[@unknown6390]

the clipping in the audio is not appreciated. Otherwise, clever examples of riff styles that show off the dynamics of the pickups

[@InfamouslyCantankerous]

I'm thinking about putting a nazgul in my bridge and pegasus in the neck.

[@jacobkushman7622]

They do not make a neck Pegasus unfortunately

[@InfamouslyCantankerous]

I believe I can just put one in the neck position and wire it accordingly.

[@89joounit]

You can definitely use a Pegasus in the neck position but it may be louder than you want it to be as it is going to be higher output since it’s made to be in the bridge position. The Sentient neck pickup is great and is specifically made for the neck and also pairs very well with the Nazgul or the Pegasus.

[@nobu_teshima]

Interesting comparison! I heard that Nazgul has hotter output than Pegasus, but that's not so true in this video. Nazgul has more balanced frequency, whereas Pegasus has thickness in its low end. I like the Nazgul distortion sound, but Pegasus clean tone is also attractive. Interesting...

[@richardmartinez1628]

I hear that the JB sounds really muddy in Basswood body guitars. It's my favorite pickup for an Alice in Chains tone. That said, I was told a hotter pickup would help solve my issues. Would you recommend either of these for an LTD F-50? Would they be too hot for the tone I'm looking for or are they pretty versatile?

[@jessebarrera5471]

I have a Pegasus in a Basswood Ibanez RG and it rips!

[@AlistairMaxwell77]

pegasus would be great for AIC . nazgul more for modern metal/core stuff

[@MaestroJericho]

I find JB variant in a basswood is pretty muddy as well. I had a Perpetual Burn in my 550 and it was awesome for leads but doesn't get that Van Halen type bite a Custom has.

[@bloodiy_1324]

Pegasus sounds a little more articulate than nazgul, maybe if nazgul have a little less resistance or maybe an alnico v magnet would be killer

[@DunderHead.5000]

The Pegasus seems warmer and rounder without sounding 'vintage'.

[@scottdavidson6066]

If you really need to cut then go Nazgul. But I prefer the more balanced Pegasus. It sounds like a high-powered Custom.

[@JR-et5kx]

pegasus 6 and 7 sound like a stock pickup in a midrange guitar, the 8 string version of pegasus is one of the best 8 string pickups tho. But for 6 and 7, the Nazgul is so much better for distortion in my opinion

[@nazgulvalerevich3444]

Nazgul has low end, pegasus hi end. Depends on where you belong.

[@giodyna4584]

I think the nazgul would be ideal in a guitar with dark tonewoods because of the brightness in the kids and top range but the Pegasus is more well rounded

[@saflex1613]

"tonewood" isn't real. There is no real difference in sound with different woods on an electric guitar

[@21stcenturymetal31]

Pegasus in a baritone is killer. Nazgul is a bit to much for a baritone IMO. However they both sound killer and I prefer the Nazgul in a standard scale.

[@sorinaco]

To me Nazgûl

[@TheRumbles13]

I have the nazgul, of course the Pegasus sounds better to me lol

[@Zombie_13x33]

That's how it works lol. I have the distortion and I'm here looking at the nazgul

[@TheRumbles13]

@@Zombie_13x33 I've grown to like my p90s for metal, great clarity and bite

[@warlockdruid]

Pegasus has slightly more clarity.

[@revengeVS]

Debo estar sordo porque suenan igual para mí

[@williamdesilva67]

Pegasus.. I don't get anyone who would think the nazgul would sound better.. its that big a difference to my ear

[@alexgallant2379]

I mean, I disagree, It's for me, the Nazgul is more aggressive, and that's what I would want. The Pegasus is still amazing, but I want something that gets more aggression out of it and is a bit more snarly rather than the more tight and precise Pegasus. My money would be going for the Nazgul. It's just got a better bark to it for my ears.

[@williamdesilva67]

@@alexgallant2379 for sure bro.. u know what they say different strokes.. rock on 🤘

[@Anjer]

Nazgûl is the real deal with this "new" generation of passive pickups. I can't undertsand why Pegasus is the new ESP standard for guitars with passive pickups, it is muddy and boring, it seems to be dead. I've had a Pegasus on my new Eclipse-7 Evertune, I changed it.

[@Anjer]

​@@joshygaminghub7428 Sure I know, that is why I'm wondering why ESP chose this pickup to be on every new passive guitars they made: it is not going to be a standard (like SH4, the one they previously used on their passive guitars or EMG81 on actives). In my opinion, the Pegasus is very special and restricted to one genre ; Nazgul is not perfect, but I think it's more a new standard than the Pegasus, at least, to my ears. PS: I replaced my Pegasus-7 with an EMG81-7H, not a Nazgul : /

[@Wrathofkala]

Because it's SAFE. The Nazgul is too aggressive for mainstream customers.

[@idontgivea1769]

The thing can do extreme metal, no problem. But, if you’re into Death Metal or modern stuff, it won’t do

[@Anjer]

@@Wrathofkala Pegasus is safe?.. It sounds dead xD

[@Anjer]

​@@idontgivea1769 I agree. After all, I think Pegasus and Nazgul are already off the trend. Custom 5 and EMG81 are better for going through time (and through the mix too).

[@gabrielhearn2274]

I dont know about the Pegasus but I know the nazgul is for low end bass and drop tunings. I can definitely hear it in this video. Tbh the Pegasus in my opinion is not interesting me at all here with the obvious loss of low ends coming through. If I wanted punchy high notes id play just the bottom three strings and cut my neck in half. Bass is important af.

[@iangarza990]

Pegasus is made for lower frequencys and has much tighter low end, tf u talkin bout my guy

[@idontgivea1769]

Sounds like you’ve inverted the names. Nazgul is bright , Pegasus has better low end

[@aaronsmithey4044]

Pegasus buries the Nazgul hands down. Nazgul is squeaky and woofy in this demo. Pegasus is tight and defined, yet still full.

[@MaestroJericho]

Pegasus imo is better with all the high gain amps out there.

[@kazimierzgazecki4587]

when it comes to chuggy meaty low tuned riffs nazgul sounds way bettrr

[@jaychen2000metal]

Pegasus for high gain and nazgul for clean

[@davidgann3251]

The Nazgul has more mids than the Pegasus. The Pegasus has scooped mids. That's virtually the only difference.

[@mahoganymarco9199]

Pegasus better on overdrive. But that's my ears

[@perfectblue2033]

Pegasus sounds better

[@Lordadamas_2640]

nazgul win. I have one

[@Miketri]

confirmation bias

[@borgjude4993]

Nazgul for clean and Pegasus for distortion. Bottom line? EMG ALL THE WAY!