Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

[SpiderFingers]

I've been playing a JB for going on 20 years now. Anyways I was wondering has anyone here ever tried a MegaDrive by DiMarzio? I just bought one on ebay & I'm going to put it in my backup guitar. I read good things about it & thought it looked cool. I will keep the JB on my main axe a BC Rich Gunslinger. Anyways if anyone has can you tell me how different or same they are? I read that the MD has a ceramic mag which I've always tried to stay away but that it also has the deal with the bobbins wound different etc. Anyways they don't make it anymore other than a Custom job & I'm currently awaiting it's arrival so rather than wait I figured perhaps you guys here could fill me in. I do a variety of styles of music & run through a Rocktron Taboo Twin.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

Very different pickups. The Megadrive sounds more like a passive EMG81.

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

Crap!!! I HATE the EMG sound!!! The only I ever heard that got a good sound of out them that I liked ( to my ears no offense) was David Gilmour. Other than him has ANYONE ever gotten a GREAT tone? Please don't mention Zakk PLEASE!!! Man I hope it's better than that. I just can't imagine a PASSIVE 81.:yell:

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

The difference between the Megadrive and a EMG81 is that the megadrive is more dynamic. It is also more responsive to the tonality of the wood of the guitar. EMG's more or less impose a sound on a guitar. I have had it in a hard ash and a soft ash guitar and it is a different beast in each. With softer woods it is more bass heavy and smooth and with a harder wood it is brighter and more cutting.

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

Were you referring to the MegaDrive or the 81? Well I hope it sounds good to the point I won't have to purchase another pickup.

 

[roadstar II]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

actually the megadrive sounds like a steves special with more mids and NOTHING like a EMG which i also hate(all emgs)
the megadrive was used by tony macalpine on his maximum security record and his tone is great,this was BEFORE he switched to the patb-2 pup

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

I know Tony used that on that album which happens to have his best tone though I wasn't crazy about it. I also know Leslie West used it but never heard any recording where he used it. Well, I should hopefully have it in by Monday or Tuesday so I'll see how it measures up to my JB. It's my first DiMarzio so I'll see. I hope it's good for rolling down to volume etc.

 

[wixomwhat]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

If your using the Megadrive in the bridge install the megadrive with the Blade coil towards the neck and the screw coil side toward the bridge.

It sounds way better that way.

 

[Orange]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

You just bought one on EBAY ? Well i Just Sold one on Ebay last week !!!
Is it Green ?

This pickup is not similar to the EMG 81 at all. Except that it' s obviousely good for playong heavy. But it has more ROAR and gives more color to your tone - the EMG being quite transparent.
Plus the actives have a really special sound i wouldn't compare ot to any passive because it just leads to confusion.

I tried it both with the blade towards teh bridge and towards the neck. I preferred to have the blade towards the Bridge, sounded brighter.

I also loved the split-coil sound (blade). Bright too. I you want a fatter sound, just turn it upside down ^^
But i liked this "twang" i got from the blade, very metallic for sure.
Good for cleans, well depends on the kind of cleans you're looking for.......


I would preferably put this pickup in a warm guitar. Mahogamy or basswood w a rosewood fretboard.

Compared to the JB, it's more agressive, makes your chords RROAR, and fatter, has more bottom end.

Good sounds, Di marzio says this one is similar to the steve's special, well i can't see why.............
Doesn't have this scooped sound and isn't clear like the Steve's special.
To me it's totally different.

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

If your using the Megadrive in the bridge install the megadrive with the Blade coil towards the neck and the screw coil side toward the bridge.

It sounds way better that way.

It's very easy to flip it around and the tone changes dramatically when you do this.

Personally, I prefer it with the BLADE closest to the BRIDGE, but try it both ways to see what you like best. With the blade toward the neck, I think it's too woofy and it loses a lot of character, but with the blade toward the bridge, well, I think it's one of the best high output pickups of all time.

Also, I think the JB and MegaDrive are WORLDS APART in tone and output.

The MegaDrive is a Hydrogen Bomb in overdrive...but it's still VERY responsive to subtleties in pick attack, hand position, etc. (Especially with the BLADE toward the bridge!) Also, the MegaDrive is GORGEOUS in parallel, and in single coil modes each coil sounds radically different.

The MegaDrive should be FAR more popular than it is.

Congrats and welcome to CLUB MEGADRIVE...it's a SECRET WEAPON!

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

I'm putting it with the blad towards the bridge. The one I bought on ebay is cream with black blade/allen wrench screws. I was told they will ship it barely today. Hopefully I'll get it by Monday then. My guitar does have a rosewood neck. Well the one I'm putting on. If I like it I might put it on the one that I have the JB on. I'm pumped about getting it!!!:banana:

 

[ishoulddie]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

i just recently got myself a MegaDrive, it's in a B.C. Rich NJ Classic Mockingbird. So far i'm digging it. Mine is installed with the blade closer to the bridge. Even though it's technically lower output than the stock BDSM pickup it replaced, it seems a heck of a lot louder. Probably just more clear. i'm having a bit of trouble re-EQ'ing my sound, as i seem to have lost a bit of low end. i'm sure it'll just take some time, but it sounds great otherwise. i may try flipping the pickup, just to see if it sounds any better. Very Slayer sounding, which makes sense, since Kerry King used it for a little while.

Never tried a JB, so i can't compare the two.

 

[Folo]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

The middle guitar has a Megadrive with a cover on it. It also has an ebony fretboard, and let me say that it really cut through the mix in a two guitar metal band. I didn't know that MacAlpine used one, but it makes sense. I once was told that I had a MacAlpine sound after playing with that band.

 

[wixomwhat]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

Personally, I prefer it with the BLADE closest to the BRIDGE, but try it both ways to see what you like best. With the blade toward the neck, I think it's too woofy and it loses a lot of character, but with the blade toward the bridge, well, I think it's one of the best high output pickups of all time.

The blade towards the bridge sounds terrible! Way to much treble and has no character.
Everybody puts it in with the blade toward the bridge and never gives it a shot the other way around.

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

The JB is probably one of the most versatile if no THE most versatile pickups out there. It can do almost any style which is why I was using it. I play variety music & work as a studio musician as well. Is the MegaDrive equally as versatile or is it a one trick pony suited only for hard rock/metal?

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

The blade towards the bridge sounds terrible! Way to much treble and has no character.
Everybody puts it in with the blade toward the bridge and never gives it a shot the other way around.

It really depends on the guitar it's installed in. I tried it both ways, and for me, blade to the bridge worked best. Just trust your ears and go with what sounds best to ya.

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

The JB is probably one of the most versatile if no THE most versatile pickups out there. It can do almost any style which is why I was using it. I play variety music & work as a studio musician as well. Is the MegaDrive equally as versatile or is it a one trick pony suited only for hard rock/metal?

The MegaDrive is more versatile than ya might think! Install it with a push/pull pot for series/parallel, and you'll get 2 very different and very awesome tones.

 

[taphappy]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

actually the megadrive sounds like a steves special with more mids and NOTHING like a EMG which i also hate(all emgs)
the megadrive was used by tony macalpine on his maximum security record and his tone is great,this was BEFORE he switched to the patb-2 pup

LOL I get a similar tone to hundreds of thousands and I use EMG's

 

[SpiderFingers]

Re: Anyone A/B a JB with a MegaDrive?

Just picked up the mail & got my MegaDrive. I'm having my repairman pick it up at work for me. Can't wait to hear it! I'll post as soon as I test it out.