A Dimarzio question for the experts

Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Gtrjunior, have you tried the Titan neck in the Bridge?

There are a whole slew of pickups in the medium output line that will work in the bridge spot of an LP if you like the sound of it. Just ignore that some of them say neck.

+1 to the PAF Joe; and the HFH is good too. Still think the Bluesbucker is worth considering. It responds well in split and/or parallel.
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Wow

...just...

...wow

No!

I don't get it either. High gain amps don't seem to have gain knobs. They are just going full tilt. Do they start were Marshalls and Fenders stop? /sarcasm

:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

I'm assuming people take a high gain pup and then crank the amp gain. And that often sounds like crap. Yes - you can ALWAYS turn the amp gain down. But most people foolishly don't.

They take mega-gain amp, turn it up way too far, then run mega-gain pup into it. Result = garbage.

I like high gain pups - but because of the crispness and immediacy of ceramic. And I use less gain than you would think from the amp. But I'm an old man who knows these things.


The EQ curve of a pickup is most important to me, then the feel/volume.
 
A Dimarzio question for the experts

Sounds like you dislike overtly fat sounding neck pickups, as they can certainly come across as honky and muddy if you've got your amp set to make the bridge pickup sound fatter.

Dimarzio has some great offerings for clear sounding neck pickups, and you certainly don't want high output in the neck position because the strings inherently vibrate much more and therefore much louder at the neck position.

Do you like the Gravity Storm in the bridge? If you do and you've got your amp set to complement it, don't mess with it. I've tried a bunch of things from mega high output like the Evolution to low output like Suhr SSV and Dimarzio EJ Custom in the bridge. Ultimately it's how you set your amp that makes each pickup work, and there are certain general EQ characteristics based on the magnet and output of the pickups.

Don't forget, the height of the pickup matters A LOT. If you don't pay attention to adjusting the height by really using your ears to listen, you can buy any great pickup and end up making it sound ****.

I would recommend the following for your neck position:

Air Norton: Rich and fat sounding, but plenty of brightness and clarity. On the hot side for a neck pickup, but not honky. I see it as a more modern, tighter, and harmonically rich take on the classic creamy Les Paul neck pickup tone. You won't be disappointed with this one, as it is also extremely versatile. Cleans up very well, and if you roll off the tone knob you've got some sweet sounding jazz tones to die for. Did I mention that it can also split like a Olympic gymnast? Heavenly cleans from splitting this one! It is now the staple neck pickup for prog metal players thanks to John Petrucci using this thing in the neck for over 20 years. Buy any high end Ibanez and they put this in the neck, for good reasons. Ibanez guitars are really selling like hot cakes these days among the heavy music crowd ever since they stopped shipping them with their old terrible stock pickups.

EJ Custom Neck: If this pickup isn't clear to you, then no humbucker is. Lower output and stays extremely clean unless you deliberately slap on distortion. Has a lot of chime and jangle, reminds me of TV Jones. Slap on some delay with a semi dirty channel and you'll pretty much sound like The Edge. Under high gain this thing really shines with its unmatched clarity and definition. Notes never bleed together, and if you're good at sweep picking it makes every note sound as clear as the sun in the summer sky. Best part about it though? Despite the amazing articulation it has, it's NOT a trebly or fizzy sounding pickup. The highs roll off very nicely. Very pleasant overall, highly recommend.

PAF Master: You might dig this one if you like P90 neck tones. Low output, and because it's supposed to be accurate to an old original PAF, it's got some P90 qualities to it (Gibson invented the PAF to replace the P90s). Of course the P90s will be a tad gnarlier and brighter, but this kind of rolls off that treble if you're into that kind of thing. Not a whole lot of bass so it shouldn't get too muddy.

Just saw some vids on the EJ custom....that pickup is crystal clear....maybe too much for me. Lol the highs are definitely rolled off, which I like.

PAF Master sounded pretty damn good too. I think I still like the 36th the best.

AT-1 bridge with a 36th neck maybe??
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

I'm assuming people take a high gain pup and then crank the amp gain. But most people foolishly don't.
I'm glad that I don't play with or listen to most people, then. :D

But I'm an old man who knows these things.
Which is why I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked at who authored that post.

The EQ curve of a pickup is most important to me, then the feel/volume.
+1
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

I think I still like the 36th the best.

AT-1 bridge with a 36th neck maybe??
If you want a ton of bass or can control it with the rest of your gear, then sure.

What are the tonal characteristics of your specific LP?
 
A Dimarzio question for the experts

Gtrjunior, have you tried the Titan neck in the Bridge?

There are a whole slew of pickups in the medium output line that will work in the bridge spot of an LP if you like the sound of it. Just ignore that some of them say neck.

+1 to the PAF Joe; and the HFH is good too. Still think the Bluesbucker is worth considering. It responds well in split and/or parallel.

No, I hadn't considered that. That is my first ever ceramic pickup. I've always had A5 pups. I'm feeling like ceramics aren't my thing....even though I do like the sound of the SD.

I've watched several vids on the PAF Joe, Bluesbucker and they both look like good choices as well. I think the thing with the PAF series I like it their response to picking dynamics.
I'd like a slightly hot bridge to just nudge the amp a little....and I don't mind a bridge pup that add a little compression..
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Well try it then!

As for the Norton, if you like over the top nasal/cocked-wah (and some guys do), by all means. Honestly, I would look into be Air Norton instead of the Norton and also before the Air Zone.
 
A Dimarzio question for the experts

If you want a ton of bass or can control it with the rest of your gear, then sure.

What are the tonal characteristics of your specific LP?

Which pickup are you referring to about having a ton of bass?

As far as tonal characteristics,
I think it fall somewhere in the middle of the curve. I have a Studio that's dark as hell, and my Tele is pretty bright. My Standard ( the guitar I want pups for) falls in the middle. Just the right amount of highs and lows acoustically. IMO, of course.

I want he neck pickup to carry a good amount of bass on clean. On Dirt, id like a round tone that doesn't flub out on the low notes. Kind of how a Strat neck pickup is deep but clear...
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Dude you just dont know metal I guess. I like the insane channel of my Line 6 cranked and the mids totally scooped. Then I also use a tube screamer maxed out as well for my leads. You know why, my playing is soooo bad I never want to be heard. Works great!!! LOL
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Which pickup are you referring to about having a ton of bass?
Both the AT-1 and the 36th.

I know I mentioned the Air Norton but that was tepid. I would heed Mr. B's warning.

I want he neck pickup to carry a good amount of bass on clean. On Dirt, id like a round tone that doesn't flub out on the low notes.
Don't underestimate how much bass and body an LP will give you. The description of your particular LP doesn't lead me to think it will behave any differently. Definitely do not think of it as you would a 25.5" scale bolt-on neck with tremolo.
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Both the AT-1 and the 36th.

I know I mentioned the Air Norton but that was tepid. I would heed Mr. B's warning.


Don't underestimate how much bass and body an LP will give you. The description of your particular LP doesn't lead me to think it will behave any differently. Definitely do not think of it as you would a 25.5" scale bolt-on neck with tremolo.

So, now I'm really confused..
The breed and air zone (suggested by Mr B) both have similar bass characteristics to the AT-1. I know I should place too much stock in the tone chart but...
I'm just confused as to why the former are better choices than the latter...?

I do like both the bluesbucker and PAF Joe he suggested though. They sounded great in he vids I saw.
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

I have an Air Zone in a PRS SE 245 and its isn't too fat in that. The Air Zone is smooth and more vintage sounding but still higher output than vintage. Its a very well balanced pickup. The Breed has more aggressive mids and is a bit tighter/cleaner, but still not over the top. The At-1 is one I have tried in 3 different guitars and did not like at all, although I love Andy Timmon's tone. I remember fighting to make one side of the pickup sound less harsh / brash (ceramic magnet feel) and fighting the other side to make it feel less soft / loose (a2 magnet feel). Its been so long, I can't remember which side (treble or bass) did what. It was just unbalanced and bothered me. With the perfectly matched amp, it might be just what you need. Other guys love it. If you want something that screams 80's rock, you can't go wrong with the Super Distortion and Super 2 in a Les Paul.

With Dimarzio neck pickups, the Humbucker from hell is not as bright as people pretend it is. It does have a bit of a glassy top end sort of like a strat pickup, which may be what they are hearing. It is a bit clinical sounding, like the Duncan jazz, very clean and precise, but it handles high gain better than the Jazz. The PAF Joe has more of a vintage PAF vibe, although the EQ is tweaked to be less boomy in the neck position. It works great with increasing gain as well. The PAF Pro is like a really fat vintage neck humbucker with more attack. It sounds better in longer scale guitars like Ibanez to me. I always find the bass end too farty and boomy in short scale. The Air Norton has much less attack than any of those and has a very smooth character to it. It does sound great clean, but the lack of attack and extreme smoothness under high gain just sound like mud to me. Others love it. With ALL of these Dimarzio neck pickups (whether the website says it makes a difference or not) you should try them oriented both ways in the pickup route. Even the ones that Dimarzio says sound the same either way might hit the sweet spot for harmonics turned one way or the other.
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

I have an Air Zone in a PRS SE 245 and its isn't too fat in that. The Air Zone is smooth and more vintage sounding but still higher output than vintage. Its a very well balanced pickup. The Breed has more aggressive mids and is a bit tighter/cleaner, but still not over the top. The At-1 is one I have tried in 3 different guitars and did not like at all, although I love Andy Timmon's tone. I remember fighting to make one side of the pickup sound less harsh / brash (ceramic magnet feel) and fighting the other side to make it feel less soft / loose (a2 magnet feel). Its been so long, I can't remember which side (treble or bass) did what. It was just unbalanced and bothered me. With the perfectly matched amp, it might be just what you need. Other guys love it. If you want something that screams 80's rock, you can't go wrong with the Super Distortion and Super 2 in a Les Paul.

With Dimarzio neck pickups, the Humbucker from hell is not as bright as people pretend it is. It does have a bit of a glassy top end sort of like a strat pickup, which may be what they are hearing. It is a bit clinical sounding, like the Duncan jazz, very clean and precise, but it handles high gain better than the Jazz. The PAF Joe has more of a vintage PAF vibe, although the EQ is tweaked to be less boomy in the neck position. It works great with increasing gain as well. The PAF Pro is like a really fat vintage neck humbucker with more attack. It sounds better in longer scale guitars like Ibanez to me. I always find the bass end too farty and boomy in short scale. The Air Norton has much less attack than any of those and has a very smooth character to it. It does sound great clean, but the lack of attack and extreme smoothness under high gain just sound like mud to me. Others love it. With ALL of these Dimarzio neck pickups (whether the website says it makes a difference or not) you should try them oriented both ways in the pickup route. Even the ones that Dimarzio says sound the same either way might hit the sweet spot for harmonics turned one way or the other.

Great info! Thanks. There's just too many damn choices.
 
Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

You have to analyze Andy Timmon's rig and take note that he uses a treble bleed and it will make perfect sense...

With the Cruisers he pushes his already fairly-gained clean channel well into distortion with a compressor set with modest amounts of compression but a lot of level.

The job of the AT-1 is to goose the front of a something that is "Vintage British"-inspired, and I don't mean Vox.
 
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Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Great info! Thanks. There's just too many damn choices.
Put the Titan Neck in the bridge spot while you still have it.

...you will discover a different group of choices to fret over.

For the neck go with a PAF Joe (PAF-ish), Bluesbucker (P90-ish), or HFH (single-coil-ish).

The LiquiFire is also one of the finest neck pickups made. You kinda need to pair it with a high-output bridge, though. I wasn't that happy over the sound of it in the bridge, however, but other guys seem to like it there.

FWIW, I will gladly take a 59 or PG in the neck spot of an LP over a Jazz. I don't even really like the Jazz that much. Why? Because I like to shred. It's great for cleans though! My favorite Duncan for high gain is the Full Shred; cleans aren't all that stellar.
 
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Re: A Dimarzio question for the experts

Do you just want to borrow a damn HFH to try it?

Lol....I actually watched a bunch of vids just now on it. I can definitely hear the upper sparkle in it...it's not what I'm looking for. Overall I'm looking for something a little darker on the top end.
Thanks though!
 
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