Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

xxxplorer

xxxplorer

Well-known member
I've been using breeds in my jackson for a while. Really like them. I do sometimes want a little more 'thunk' though, as in percussive attack I suppose. I like how the breeds clean up though and sing.

Any idea if the dominion cleans up at all? I know this is SD, but This place is un biased! I rock blackouts as well haha.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I have a set of them in one of my guitars tuned to D standard. I don't have a lot of experience with the Breeds but the Dominions are definitely tight, chunky, and ballsy pickups with a nice midrange push that's very nice. I find they have a very punchy sound that wants to jump out of the amp when you're playing fast staccato riffs. They are also very articulate and extremely tight so I hope you're into tight, "modern" pickups with a hot PAF tone (I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all).

I find they clean up reasonably well for moderate/high output ceramic pickups. It's nothing amazing but it will get the job done. Once again, I can't compare them to the Breeds because I've only goofed around on Breeds a few times and I've never owned a set of them. Also, my definition of cleaning up and yours might be different. Will it give me a slightly dirty tone when I roll the volume back on my heavy rhythm channel? Sure, but I don't know if it's as good as the Breeds. It definitely works and they are definitely NOT super hot pickups so I don't think you'll have any issues with them but I could be wrong.

I will go out on a limb and say they are one of my favorite sets of pickups on the market right now. I absolutely adore them, killer set of Dimarzio's and I'll recommend them to anyone looking for something similar to the Breed with more attitude. The neck pickup is surprisingly cool as well, don't be scared of the ceramic magnet in it. It's far more warm and smooth than I imagined it would be but super defined. It lets you know when you're sucking unfortunately.

One more thing: I find the clean tones are a little on the dark side but it could be my guitar (mahogany/mahogany bolt-on). Once again, it's not bad but I can't coax sparkling clean out of it UNLESS I'm using both pickups simultaneously, then I get a very nice clean tone. I imagine split would be great as well but I need to get a push/pull for the guitar. I hope that helped a bit!
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I had DiMarzio send me a pair to review about a month back. I'm hoping to have my review on my blog in the next week or so. I had to finish building the guitar I was putting them in (refinished basswood bodied RG with Edge Pro).

The Dominions are awesome pickups. Clear, direct, articulate, and heavy. They cut through beautifully, and also clean up really nicely. Split with each other, full series with each other, everything, great tones. The neck parallel with a clean tone is gorgeous, and both split to the inner coils sounds quite stratty.

I kind of liken the Dominion bridge to a Tone Zone without the boomy bass response, and a little bit quicker and direct. The neck model fits nicely between my Air Norton, and PAF Pro in the neck.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

LonePhantom said:
I kind of liken the Dominion bridge to a Tone Zone without the boomy bass response, and a little bit quicker and direct. The neck model fits nicely between my Air Norton, and PAF Pro in the neck.
Click to expand...

hey i could live with this!:):thanks:
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I'm thinking hard about ordering a set. If they are similar to the breeds but a little more chunky and 'quicker' then I will probably dig them. I may even wire them to do parallel sounds.

Pickup changing is a sickness I tell you! I may see if swaping some of my speakers around gives me a desired effect first as I have those already lol.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

xxxplorer said:
I'm thinking hard about ordering a set. If they are similar to the breeds but a little more chunky and 'quicker' then I will probably dig them. I may even wire them to do parallel sounds.

Pickup changing is a sickness I tell you! I may see if swaping some of my speakers around gives me a desired effect first as I have those already lol.
Click to expand...

If it's quick you want . . . . Lol!

Pickups are a sickness man, I tell ya. Every time I think I'm done changing them out in my guitars something newer/better comes out and I'm heating up the iron again. :approve:
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

Are they stiff feeling? Sometimes pickups with a quick response end up feeling a little stiff. I had that problem with the Suhr Aldrich. Almost plastic like in a way. Thanks for all the insights.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

Yes, I'd describe them as stiff but I happen to like stiff, tight pickups so it's exactly what I wanted. I also happen to adore the Aldrich so if that pickup wasn't for you I'd maybe reconsider. The good news is Dimarzio does have the return policy so if you're trading for a Breed you could always swap the Dominion for a new Breed to replace the Breed you got rid of (if you sold it anyway).
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I'm keeping the Breeds. I dig them quite a bit, just want a TAD bit tighter... but I'm experimenting with various speakers laying around first.

It's totally weird to me that I was watching a video where Mark was describing his sound... and how he looks for a 'thunk' like tapping a water mellon... THAT'S exactly how I describe what I'm looking for to my buddies and my guitar tech friend and they all look at me like I'm looney lol!

Best I had was a WCR Ironman... but I sold that thing twice... always get caught up in 'PAFs are better for everything' but I just now accept the fact I like hot chunky bridge pickups haha.

The Aldrich was cool, but something didn't feel right in the attack... if the Dominion is very similar I can try it, maybe the ceramic mag with the vv tech will 'thunk it up' haha.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

xxxplorer said:
I'm keeping the Breeds. I dig them quite a bit, just want a TAD bit tighter... but I'm experimenting with various speakers laying around first.

It's totally weird to me that I was watching a video where Mark was describing his sound... and how he looks for a 'thunk' like tapping a water mellon... THAT'S exactly how I describe what I'm looking for to my buddies and my guitar tech friend and they all look at me like I'm looney lol!

Best I had was a WCR Ironman... but I sold that thing twice... always get caught up in 'PAFs are better for everything' but I just now accept the fact I like hot chunky bridge pickups haha.

The Aldrich was cool, but something didn't feel right in the attack... if the Dominion is very similar I can try it, maybe the ceramic mag with the vv tech will 'thunk it up' haha.
Click to expand...

I'd still give it a shot man. It's similar but I prefer the Dominion actually, I find it feels better under high gain. It may well be what you're looking for. If the speaker swapping doesn't work out give the Dominion a shot.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I've never actually wanted to try a DiMarzio until now. That pick up looks very interesting.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I'm a rabid Breed user and I was wondering about those as well. From the tech specs it looks almost like a Breed with a ceramic mag in it, but they do the mismatched coils so DCR really doesn't mean jack, even if they are using the same ga. wire.

I'll be curious to see the review from someone who is familiar with the Breeds.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

So what is the back story on how Mark Morton went from using 59s which are like true PAFs to using a medium/high output distortion class pickup like the Dominions? It's not like his tone changed all of a sudden. The new album doesn't sound ground breakingly different than earlier ones.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

From what I gather, his production Jacksons come with 59's but he mostly plays custom shop Jackson Dominions and was always swapping stuff around. Early on before Jackson he used Invaders... Doesn't shock me he likes breeds. He likes a thick bridge. Invader is thick, breeds are thick (in a different way).

He also plays lotsa blues and country so wants a versitle pickup, 59's are that, but not quite as thick.

I have kind of come to conclusion myself that newer pickup designs can actually sound very good and the 'paf is king' way of thinking isn't true for everyone.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

Yep. And the Dominion has plenty of warmth and isn't super high output. In fact, it's tamer than the Tone Zone I have so it's not like he replaced his Breeds with some crazy high output humbucker. Just because it's a ceramic doesn't automatically make it some sort of screaming monster. I find it's a great pickup for an amp that's in the high gain category because it doesn't push the preamp super hard so you retain a lot of clarity. From owning it I can see exactly why he switched to it, it's perfect for his thrashy style and is HUGE sounding through a high gain head.
 
Re: Anyone try a dimarzio dominion?

I just was surprised with the 59s thinking that Lamb of God sound coming from them. Breeds and Invaders I can see. 59's for that to me would sound mushy with all that gain.
 
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