Ibanez POWERSOUND vs Seymour Duncan NAZGUL - Bridge Pickup Comparison

Distorted and clean comparison between electric guitar bridge pickups Ibanez PowerSound (passive) and Seymour Duncan Nazgûl (passive). In both E-Standard (E A D G B e) and Drop B (B F# B E G# C#) tunings.

TIMESTAMPS:
1:43 Track 1A
2:09 Track 1B
2:36 Track 2A
2:50 Track 2B
3:08 Track 3A
3:19 Track 3B
3:34 Track 4A
3:43 Track 4B
4:02 Track 5A
4:10 Track 5B
4:27 Track 6A
4:47 Track 6B
5:08 Track 7A (chorus)
5:27 Track 7B (chorus)
5:47 Track 7A (breakdown)
6:02 Track 7B (breakdown)
6:29 Track 8A
6:59 Track 8B
7:33 Track 9A
7:57 Track 9B
8:32 Track 10A
9:05 Track 10B
9:36 Track 11A
9:47 Track 11B
10:08 Revelation of Pickup A (E-Standard clean)
10:15 Revelation of Pickup A (E-Standard distorted)
10:21 Revelation of Pickup A (Drop B distorted)
10:29 Revelation of Pickup A (Drop B clean)
10:38 Revelation of Pickup B (E-Standard clean)
10:44 Revelation of Pickup B (E-Standard distorted)
10:50 Revelation of Pickup B (Drop B distorted)
10:58 Revelation of Pickup B (Drop B clean)

GUITAR: Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Production year 2011.
AMPLIFIER: Boss Katana MK1 (Gen 1) 50W Combo Amp.

STRINGS:
(a) For E-Standard: Ernie Ball "Regular Slinky" (10-46)
(b) For Drop B: D'addario "EXL140" (10-52)

BOSS PRESETS:
Found via the following links, leading to the Tone Studio screenshots:
1. https://ibb.co/cKXsDZdT (High gain)
2. https://ibb.co/35ZDZx1W (Low gain)

LINKS:
All audio clips from the video (and not only!): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/znx8tq5ljn2...
My Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/hugomos
My Bandcamp: https://hugomos.bandcamp.com/
Don't forget to subscribe to ‪@hugomos.guitar‬ :)

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PERSONAL OPINION (TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT):
TL;DR: Both pickups DELIVER. Forum promises and pickup mythology are exaggerated at best and misleading at worst. I would personally stay with the Nazgul, simply because its tightness and pushed character match my preferences - but the changes are incremental. In blind tests, even I struggle to reliably tell them apart.

1. Chugging power is clearly stronger with the Nazgul. It stays tighter and clearer during rhythmic chugs.
2. The Nazgul sounds more metallic and biting, more sterile in a good way for metal, though far from a night-and-day difference.
3. PowerSound is rawer and looser. It can get flubby during complex chords, whereas the Nazgul maintains better note separation.
4. Distortion feels more organic and alive with the Nazgul, with a subtle “purr” that stands out to me.
5. Sustain and harmonic clarity are all BS. Techniques like squeal harmonics depend on technique, not branding.
6. Under low gain, the Nazgul sounds more “pushed.” Slides, hammer-ons, and low-string notes feel more percussive and raspy - like an experienced smoker versus a beginner singer... if that makes sense :)
7. High-register notes are less muted with the Nazgul. PowerSound can sound “underwater” above frets 15-16.

Concluding, the idea that “budget pickups are trash” is no longer sustainable in my opinion.
These upgrades are refinements, not transformations. Pickups do not fundamentally change your tone. They shape and optimize it. A pickup swap only makes sense when YOU know exactly what you want to fix. I did - and that’s why it was a justified 150-euro decision. Otherwise, staying stock is entirely reasonable.

Thank you for your time :D