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DiMarzio Illuminator vs Seymour Duncan Black Winter

high confidence

Compared with the DiMarzio Illuminator, the Seymour Duncan Black Winter has a brighter top end and more midrange.

Specs side by side

differs marks specs where they part ways
SpecDiMarzio IlluminatorSeymour Duncan Black Winter
DC resistancediffers10.56k16.6k
Inductancediffers6.77 H (measured, 1 reading)6.98 H (measured, 2 readings)
MagnetCeramicCeramic
CoilHum-cancellingHum-cancelling
Resonant peakdiffers6.68 kHz (Seymour Duncan's own test load)
Bass (tone chart)Each maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand5 / 105 / 10
Mids (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand6 / 109 / 10
Treble (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand3.5 / 107 / 10
Slotbridge humbuckerbridge humbucker
Traitsmoderate output, dark, tight & aggressivemoderate output, mid-forward, tight & aggressive

How close on each spec

100 means identical on that spec. The score weighs these, and counts anything we couldn't compare as a typical difference. How scoring works

Output
96
measured inductance
Magnet
100
both Ceramic
Coil
100
same coil type
Brightness
59
each against its maker's average
Mids
31
each against its maker's average
Bass
74
each against its maker's average

Videos

DiMarzio Illuminator

Seymour Duncan Black Winter

What players and reviewers say

On the DiMarzio Illuminator

The lows are controlled and big… never muddy, loose or flabby… but not constricted, brittle or overly tight.
Darth Phineas · May 31, 2023Darth Phineas (opens in a new tab)
The mids have a dominant roar to them that keeps the open chords clear and the lead work precise.
Darth Phineas · May 31, 2023Darth Phineas (opens in a new tab)
Everything on the DiMarzio Illuminator

On the Seymour Duncan Black Winter

Punchy and controlled lows with edgy and focused mids and highs.
Darth Phineas · May 18, 2016Darth Phineas (opens in a new tab)
Seymour's neck models are more known for that more traditional fuller neck voice that can often times be big in the lows and sweet in the highs.
Darth Phineas · May 18, 2016Darth Phineas (opens in a new tab)
Everything on the Seymour Duncan Black Winter

Full reviews