Pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus 7
Guitar: LTD SCT-607B
Tuning: Dropped G#

This is the only 7-string pickup we're testing in a different guitar, but both of them have a 27" scale and I honestly don't believe that woods make an insane impact on the tone you're getting out of a high gain pickup.

The Pegasus is probably my least favourite pickup out of the ones we have tested so far. It has a much lower, or as Duncan calls it - "moderate" output - than the Nazgul. You really have to dig in to make this thing scream, and the sustain suffers from that, especially when you're playing palm-muted chords. I also find it a little muddy in the low end chord/note separation, which is really the opposite of what I am looking for. One thing I really liked about the Pegasus is its incredible tightness, though.

If you're looking for a more crunchy-sounding pickup, the Pegasus will be your thing. It might also be a good choice for those of you who like "Djent", since it's very tight. For my style of playing it is too tame and a little bit too muddy.

Riff I - Seymour Duncan Pegasus 7

Pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

I got the Nazgul because I am in the process of having a Hapas Sludge custom guitar built, and since all of my other guitars are loaded with D Activators already, it was time to try something else for this one. This pickup has received raving reviews so far and seemed to fit what I am looking for in a pickup.

The Nazgul sounds very similiar to the DiMarzio D Activator, but is a little more tame in the high end. It also has the twangy pick attack of the Polymath B, which gives the low end a percussive and sorta "squelchy" attack - and I like that. 

The tame high end will fit well with a guitar made of a more bright sounding selection of woods. That is where I feel like the Nazgul will shine!

Riff I - Seymour Duncan Nazgul 7

Pickup: DiMarzio Polymath B 7 Prototype
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

The Polymath B is a prototype built for my buddy Ben Eller. Only two of them have ever been made and he was nice enough to borrow one of them to me so I could try it. 

This pickup is awesome and incredibly tight in the low end! It shares a very similiar tone with the D Activator, but has a more pronounced pick attack and produces more overtones in the high mids, which makes it cut through the mix just a hair better than the D Activator. It might be my favourite sounding pickup so far and has everything I am looking for in a Metal pickup.

So listen up, DiMarzio: Put this thing in production, please!

Riff I - DiMarzio Polymath B 7 (Prototype)

Pickup: DiMarzio D Activator 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

The DiMarzio D Activator is my go-to pickup for 6-, 7- and 8-string guitars. It has a very clear low end with a nice attack, pronounced high mids and great note separation across the fretboard. The high end can be a little sharp on baritone scale guitars, though.

It's a perfect alternative for active high gain pickups and beats the the famous EMG81 series in every regard, when compared side by side.

Riff I - DiMarzio D Activator 7

Pickup: Lundgren M8
Guitar: Ibanez RG2228A
Tuning: F Standard

Riff I - Lundgren M8 (27")

Pickup: DiMarzio AirNorton 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

I am extremely surprised by the AirNorton 7 and didn't expect it to be such a great Metal/high gain pickup. It is chunky, but very well defined and has a nice midrange crunch to it. It does awesome in the mix and is a great alternative for people, who like a more moderate output and still want to be able to Metal it up. Definitely the surprise of this shootout so far.

Riff I - DiMarzio AirNorton 7

Pickup: DiMarzio PAF 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

The PAF 7 is pretty much Korn's signature 7-string pickup and handles high gain tones quite well, but it sounds more scooped than the AirNorton 7. Their output and character is similiar, but the PAF is chunkier and doesn't cut through the mix as well. It also is a little less snappy on low end single notes.

Riff I - DiMarzio PAF 7

Pickup: Kiesel Pickups Lithium 8
Guitar: Carvin DC800
Tuning: F Standard

Riff I - Kiesel Pickups Lithium 8

Pickup: Instrumental Pickups SFTY3-7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - Instrumental Pickups SFTY3-7

Pickup: Seymour Duncan Retribution 7
Guitar: Ibanez DCM100
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - Seymour Duncan Retribution 7

Pickup: EMG 81-7
Guitar: Ibanez DCM100
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - EMG 81-7

Pickup: Bare Knuckle Aftermath 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - Bare Knuckle Aftermath 7

Pickup: DiMarzio Ionizer 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - DiMarzio Ionizer 7

Pickup: EMG 81-7X
Guitar: Ibanez DCM100
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - EMG 81-7X

Pickup: Bareknuckle Pickups Juggernaut 7
Guitar: Ibanez RG2077XL
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - Bare Knuckle Juggernaut 7

Pickup: Bare Knuckle Pickups Black Hawk
Guitar: Ibanez RGD2127FX
Tuning: Dropped G#

Riff I - Bare Knuckle Black Hawk 7

Riff I - Fishman Fluence Modern 7 (Passive Voicing)

Riff I - Fishman Fluence Modern 7 (Active Voicing)

Riff I - Fishman Fluence Modern 8 (Active Voicing)

Mastered at Sludge Studios Berlin.

Taken from the EP "Welcome to Corpse Wonderland".

Walking Dead on Broadway - We are Legion (2012)

Jericho Edge Premium 6 Baritone / SD Nazgul - Drop G

Hapas Læviathan I

Hapas Læviathan II

Hapas Incæption I

Hapas Incæption II

Hapas Bæhemoth I

Hapas Bæhemoth II

WFAHM - Terrifier | E-II NT-7B WH | Fishman Fluence Modern

ESP PU Shootout - Riff II | E-II NT-7B WH | Fishman Fluence Modern

ESP PU Shootout - Riff I | E-II NT-7B WH | Fishman Fluence Modern

Rif II | Koca Lightmare 7FF

Riff I | Koca Lightmare 7 FF

WFAHM - Terrifier | Koca Lightmare 7FF

Riff II - Instrumental Pickups SFTY4

Riff II - Seymour Duncan Black Winter

Riff I - Instrumental Pickups SFTY4

Riff I - Seymour Duncan Black Winter

Instrumentals recorded and mixed at Sludge Studios Berlin.
Vocals recorded and mixed by C. Schwarz at Schwarz Productions.
Mastered at Sludge Studios Berlin.

Taken from the LP "Exhaust".
Release: 14th June, 2013
Available via www.shop.bastardizedrecordings.de

Buy at Amazon.de

Science of Sleep - Dogma (2013)

Sludge Studios is the next step in the evolution of Moulder Masters. Having started as a mastering only studio in 2008, we are now offering full production services, which include recording, mixing and mastering.

Our studios are digitally based, so we don't offer drum recordings at this point but will hopefully be able to in the future. We currently have two studios - one is located in Berlin, Germany, the other in Tampa, Florida. We are specializing in Metal, Hardcore/Punk and Indie/Alternative Rock music. Our most recent productions include:

War from a Harlots Mouth - Voyeur (guitar/bass recordings, editing, mastering)
The Sleeper - Aurora (guitar/bass recordings, mixing, mastering)
Science of Sleep - Exhaust (guitar/bass recordings, mixing, mastering)

Simon also plays guitar in War from a Harlots Mouth (Season of Mist Records).

Message us if you need some work done!

Popular tracks by Sludge Studios