Hard choice here... I keep flipping back and forth. Sometimes I like the clarity and focus of the alpha, but the openess and warmth of the Nazgul is nice on some riffs, which is unusual for me... Usually I'm a "brighter/tighter is better" guy
Right away I noticed that the Nazgul has more low mids, while the Omega has more high mids... They're both great pickups, but the right choice depends on your tone preference and guitar wood. Remember that the Alpha/Omega was built for Mark's signature PRS, which is considered a warm-sounding guitar, so it's better suited for warmer guitars (Schecter, PRS, ESP, etc...). I think the Nazgul would be better suited to brighter guitars in my opinion (Ibanez, Charvel, Jackson, Kiesel, etc...)
I've recently bought an omega (and alpha). I'm not scared to say it, the omega is the best bridge pick up I've ever used. Does absolutely everything very well, no matter how low you tune and how much gain you throw at it. And it's not 'too' hot, keeping control and clarity over out and out power. I'll probably start the process of putting it in the rest of my guitars as it's absolutely outstanding. I like the Nazgul too, but it's made for one job - which it does very well, but in comparison is no way as pleasant on the ears.
@@brandonbryson3317 Same here. I actually had to take a little bit of the mids out with the EQ section in Archetype: Gojira lol. Still love the pickup, though!
What do you mean Alpha & Omega? The Alpha is the neck Pickup, while both Nazgul and Omega are Bridge pickups. Did you play the samples with both the Neck and Bridge PUs engaged?
Alpha and Omega just has more flexibility over any notes and has modern sounding. But Nazgul has great tones over soloing-stuff. So, IMHO, it depends to our musical-needs.
There's something about the palm mutes on the Nazgul that sounds off to me, nothing on your end. Almost kinda woofy, like it has the chunk but not enough cut.
Yeah I can hear that too, good ear! Honestly I think the Nazgul is a good pickup but isn't what I'd normally choose for an Alder body guitar like this. Something like a SH-6 Distortion pickup or even the Duncan Invader works much better for me in this kind of guitar, plenty of chunk and cutting edge to it.
@@nvmbrsdoom5 I agree! I have a Invader and a JB in two alder strats and both sound great, the Invader gets huge but not muddy. I actually bought an Omega a while ago but haven't tried it in the strats yet.
The Alpha/Omega is too warm for my taste, makes it sound a bit bland. But the Nazgûl is too harsh for most of the clean stuff. I guess I would need something in the middle.
No worries at all, Ertus! As I told you, If I have the chance of testing a SH5 or a SH14 someday, it will be here compared against all of the previous ones. There's always room here for new models and there's no need to be angry! Hope to have the chance, but it's not a matter of days, weeks or even months. So, you only need to be patient, :) This will keep growing along the way. Thanks for the interest!!
Distortion:
Alpha & Omega 3:06
Nazgul 3:18
Chug Test:
Alpha & Omega 3:31
Nazgul 3:43
Riffing:
Alpha & Omega 3:54
Nazgul 4:06
Dissonance:
Alpha & Omega 4:18
Nazgul 4:27
Higher Distortion
Alpha & Omega 4:38
Nazgul 4:49
Higher Riffing:
Alpha & Omega 5:02
Nazgul 5:13
Definitely prefer the Alpha & Omega. Great comparison as always!
You made it clear... thanks buddy!! Alpha/Omega UP!!
Hard choice here... I keep flipping back and forth. Sometimes I like the clarity and focus of the alpha, but the openess and warmth of the Nazgul is nice on some riffs, which is unusual for me... Usually I'm a "brighter/tighter is better" guy
Right away I noticed that the Nazgul has more low mids, while the Omega has more high mids... They're both great pickups, but the right choice depends on your tone preference and guitar wood. Remember that the Alpha/Omega was built for Mark's signature PRS, which is considered a warm-sounding guitar, so it's better suited for warmer guitars (Schecter, PRS, ESP, etc...). I think the Nazgul would be better suited to brighter guitars in my opinion (Ibanez, Charvel, Jackson, Kiesel, etc...)
Ya agree but that’s why I also think the omega is my choice because I have a all mahogany Jackson
Tonewood in an electric is virtually indistinguishable when you have the same strings, pickups, and signal chain
Hmm, preferring Nazgul over Alpha in this one.
I've recently bought an omega (and alpha). I'm not scared to say it, the omega is the best bridge pick up I've ever used.
Does absolutely everything very well, no matter how low you tune and how much gain you throw at it. And it's not 'too' hot, keeping control and clarity over out and out power.
I'll probably start the process of putting it in the rest of my guitars as it's absolutely outstanding.
I like the Nazgul too, but it's made for one job - which it does very well, but in comparison is no way as pleasant on the ears.
This video makes me glad I went with A&O. Thanks for doing these, they're extremely helpful.
Nazgul sounds like they boosted the lows and scooped the mids, but the highs are alright.
Alpha & Omega sound great all around.
I have a Nazgul in my LP and it’s the most mid forward pickup I have lol it’s almost too much.
@@brandonbryson3317 Same here. I actually had to take a little bit of the mids out with the EQ section in Archetype: Gojira lol. Still love the pickup, though!
What do you mean Alpha & Omega? The Alpha is the neck Pickup, while both Nazgul and Omega are Bridge pickups. Did you play the samples with both the Neck and Bridge PUs engaged?
In that case, it's the Omega (bridge). At the moment of making these demos, I thought it was the name of the full set.
I feel like the nazgul here os set too close to the strings
Alpha and Omega just has more flexibility over any notes and has modern sounding. But Nazgul has great tones over soloing-stuff. So, IMHO, it depends to our musical-needs.
There's something about the palm mutes on the Nazgul that sounds off to me, nothing on your end. Almost kinda woofy, like it has the chunk but not enough cut.
Yeah I can hear that too, good ear! Honestly I think the Nazgul is a good pickup but isn't what I'd normally choose for an Alder body guitar like this. Something like a SH-6 Distortion pickup or even the Duncan Invader works much better for me in this kind of guitar, plenty of chunk and cutting edge to it.
@@nvmbrsdoom5 I agree! I have a Invader and a JB in two alder strats and both sound great, the Invader gets huge but not muddy. I actually bought an Omega a while ago but haven't tried it in the strats yet.
The Alpha/Omega is too warm for my taste, makes it sound a bit bland. But the Nazgûl is too harsh for most of the clean stuff. I guess I would need something in the middle.
The Pegasus is probably more what you're looking for then.
Nazgul sounds nasal here, which is showing just how good the Omega is
alpha omega wins :)
can you do sh5 vs sh4 vs sh14 please?
Please Mike don't do this
@@FilziSH why?
pls don't
I don t know why all of you are so offended.
No worries at all, Ertus! As I told you, If I have the chance of testing a SH5 or a SH14 someday, it will be here compared against all of the previous ones. There's always room here for new models and there's no need to be angry! Hope to have the chance, but it's not a matter of days, weeks or even months. So, you only need to be patient, :) This will keep growing along the way. Thanks for the interest!!
Alpha and omega too bright and annoying, Nazgul is the best in terms of balance and heaviness.
Nazgul always had some nasty upper mid frequency I couldn’t stand, glad it came through in this comparison. Literal garbage pickup.
If you don't like it, that's cool, but it's ridiculous to say it's a garbage pickup lol.
The upper mid gonna dominate in a mix tho.
@@brandonbryson3317this is true, but it’s a gross upper mid resonance, not a good one, I’d rather add in more pleasing upper mids in a mix