Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

ACH91332

ACH91332

New member
I can't seem to get much info on this pickup. Anyone ever use it?

In the fall I'm planning on building a guitar. In a nutshell it will be constructed like a Les Paul as far as tone goes but appearance it will look like a Charvel San Dimas except with a set neck and ebony board.

I really like the fatness of a neck humbucker but the overtones of a neck single coil. I understand this might be kinda of odd seeing how you either get one or the other but it seems like the Virtual Solo is something that can get me this. I really like the sound of a neck single when its clean and I love the sort of twang it gets from having those overtones a humbucker usually doesnt have because of the canceling of frequencies. On the other hand I like that a humbucker isn't thin sounding where as most singles are for me. Basically what I'm wondering is if the Virtual Solo generally has the single coil vibe but the fatness and warmth of an old PAF. It would be nice to have a single coil that sounds like a single coil but is as smooth as a bucker at the same time. I'm not 100% concerned with it sounding exactly like a single coil. I just would like it to have the vibe of one.

I play hard rock mostly. I play everything pretty much but as far as being in bands I'm a hard rock guy. I use a Marshall JVM and the tone I prefer is generally LP through a Marshall. This is for the neck position. For the bridge I plan on putting a Norton in it.
 
Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

I have one paired with a Virtual heavy blues 2 in the neck. It is the best. I have a SD Quarter pound in the middle. I like my combination. This youtube video I found when searching from Dimarzio is exactly what the Virtaul solo sounds like with overdrive. Real nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9MK22Y8g7k
 
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Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

ACH91332 said:
I can't seem to get much info on this pickup. Anyone ever use it?

In the fall I'm planning on building a guitar. In a nutshell it will be constructed like a Les Paul as far as tone goes but appearance it will look like a Charvel San Dimas except with a set neck and ebony board.

I really like the fatness of a neck humbucker but the overtones of a neck single coil. I understand this might be kinda of odd seeing how you either get one or the other but it seems like the Virtual Solo is something that can get me this. I really like the sound of a neck single when its clean and I love the sort of twang it gets from having those overtones a humbucker usually doesnt have because of the canceling of frequencies. On the other hand I like that a humbucker isn't thin sounding where as most singles are for me. Basically what I'm wondering is if the Virtual Solo generally has the single coil vibe but the fatness and warmth of an old PAF. It would be nice to have a single coil that sounds like a single coil but is as smooth as a bucker at the same time. I'm not 100% concerned with it sounding exactly like a single coil. I just would like it to have the vibe of one.

I play hard rock mostly. I play everything pretty much but as far as being in bands I'm a hard rock guy. I use a Marshall JVM and the tone I prefer is generally LP through a Marshall. This is for the neck position. For the bridge I plan on putting a Norton in it.
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Your description has P-90 written all over. A GFS Mean 90 neck might be just what you're asking for. Combined with a good set of 500K Audio pots would get you there.

Use the Norton ONLY if the guitar's made of Basswood. If you use Alder or Swamp Ash (my favorite), think Duncan Custom 8 instead. It balances very well with the Mean 90 volume-wise and tone-wise.

HTH,
 
Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

LtKojak said:
Use the Norton ONLY if the guitar's made of Basswood. If you use Alder or Swamp Ash (my favorite), think Duncan Custom 8 instead. It balances very well with the Mean 90 volume-wise and tone-wise.

HTH,
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I am sorry but this statement is not true. I installed a norton in my ash carvin with maple cap and it is probably the best humbucker I found. It seems to work equally well in any guitar.
 
Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

It's going to be mahogany body/neck with a maple top and ebony board.

Yeah I know it's P90 what I wan't but I was hoping to get in in a single coil size and without hum. I've heard the Virtual Solo being P90-esque which is why I was thinking of it.

Also I've heard the Norton in Les Pauls and played one with it and it was awesome. Reminds me of the JB without the crazy mid hump.
 
Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

I suppose the Virtual solo is like a p90 but very quiet. There is a mid hump in the Norton. Most Dimarzios have it but the Norton is not uber middy like the Breed or Paf Pro. I have a similar guitar, Carvin CS4 with maple cap and ebony fretboard. I went with a Paf 36 set instead of a Norton in that guitar. It worked out beautifully.

To me the Norton is a lot like the JB. If they updated the JB by adding the right balance of low mids and presence it would probably sound identical to the Norton. If you went with either Norton or JB in a mahogany/maple setup it would probably be ideal.
 
Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

Well by mid hump I meant that upper mid ice pick tone it seems to have. Maybe its the added lower mids that makes the Norton sound better to me. Everyone says they're similar and Satch used to use JBs and he designed the Norton as well so it makes sense.

But yea anyone else have anything on the Virtual Solo? The DMZ forum seems dead compared to the SD forums. You'd think they'd jump all over the topic.
 
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Re: Anyone use the DMZ Virtual Solo?

Nothing I can say more than I already told you. Dimarzios describe it perfectly on the website. The tone samples are right on. I can record my strat if you think that will help you know how it sounds. Buy it. You cannot go wrong.
 
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