Brightening a Super 2

idsnowdog

idsnowdog

Imperator of Indignation
I have a Super II in the neck position of a strat and I would like to brighten it with a magnet change. I am looking to trim the midrange and bass while focusing the treble.

What magnet would be better alnico 4 or alnico 5?
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Its already about the brightest neck pickup out there, A5 will cut the mids but add bass, which may not help things.

I'd look at a new pup, maybe an EJ Custom or a HFH
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

oilpit said:
Its already about the brightest neck pickup out there, A5 will cut the mids but add bass, which may not help things.

I'd look at a new pup, maybe an EJ Custom or a HFH
Click to expand...

A super 2 is voiced as a bridge pickup and is pretty high output. I am not sure you can get there with it. You might need to look at another model.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Had one in the neck of my Les Paul, never got along with it. I did raise the polepeices and that helped a bit. But it still sounded flat and dead and scooped. I replaced it with a Fred and was a lot happer. No match for the '59n, though....
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

The Super 2 can be used in both positions but most people (Dimarzio included) see it as primarily a neck pickup.

It's not everyones cup of tea, hotter than most bridge pickups and brighter than most PAFs...it's a one of a kind pup.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

AudioWonderland said:
A super 2 is voiced as a bridge pickup and is pretty high output. I am not sure you can get there with it. You might need to look at another model.
Click to expand...

umm - not quite. It is voicd how it is voiced. And that makes it pretty freaking bright. which makes it good for the neck.

Can I just suggest trying the bridge pickup for whatever you want to do.

Maybe a Full shred?
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

The Full Shred neck is one of the few neck pickups I really like, so I already thought about that. I lowered the neck side poles and raised the bridge side poles on the Super II and it sounds better. I would like to find something that is a closer match for the Custom 8 I have in the bridge.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Aceman said:
umm - not quite. It is voicd how it is voiced. And that makes it pretty freaking bright. which makes it good for the neck.

Can I just suggest trying the bridge pickup for whatever you want to do.

Maybe a Full shred?
Click to expand...

Good luck with that. You can suggest it but it rarely works.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

I had one in the bridge of a Strat, years ago. Sounded like ass, with more big fat sweaty smelly ass piled on top of it. In theory, this pickup it was just what I wanted. My theory was wrong.

This was through my old rack, with an ADA MP-1, and all of my other guitars sounded like God through it. The Super 2 made it sound like my Peavey Audition, which also sounded like ass.

I really like the Super Distortion, though.
 
Last edited:
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Not trying to hijack your thread OP, but since we're talking about the Super 2...

To those whov've tried the SD and Super 2: I like the SD, but I don't like how much bass it has, but like it's overall tone. How similar in sound is it to the SD, and on the bass strings how much treble cut does it have in comparison to the SD?

I just can't stand how much pure bass the regular SD has - particularly on the low E string - because when I'm trying to achieve a more trebly and/or cutting sound on the bassiest strings there's obviously too much pure bass on the regular SD.

So, I want the tone just more cut on the lower strings. Does the Super 2 cure this - in the bridge, of course. :)

And, the DiMarzio website has the eq to the Super 2 similar to that of the JB, so how close in resemblence are these two pickups?

(Once again, not trying to hijack, OP)
 
Last edited:
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Jackson Distortion said:
Not trying to hijack your thread OP, but since we're talking about the Super 2...

To those whov've tried the SD and Super 2: I like the SD, but I don't like how much bass it has, but like it's overall tone. How similar in sound is it to the SD, and on the bass strings how much treble cut does it have in comparison to the SD?

I just can't stand how much pure bass the regular SD has - particularly on the low E string - because when I'm trying to achieve a more trebly and/or cutting sound on the bassiest strings there's obviously too much pure bass on the regular SD.

So, I want the tone just more cut on the lower strings. Does the Super 2 cure this - in the bridge, of course. :)

And, the DiMarzio website has the eq to the Super 2 similar to that of the JB, so how close in resemblence are these two pickups?

(Once again, not trying to hijack, OP)
Click to expand...
That was my problem. A Super with cut bass would be perfect. And the Super 3 is too dark lol. I've always wondered about the 2 in the bridge myself.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Jackson Distortion said:
Not trying to hijack your thread OP, but since we're talking about the Super 2...

To those whov've tried the SD and Super 2: I like the SD, but I don't like how much bass it has, but like it's overall tone. How similar in sound is it to the SD, and on the bass strings how much treble cut does it have in comparison to the SD?

I just can't stand how much pure bass the regular SD has - particularly on the low E string - because when I'm trying to achieve a more trebly and/or cutting sound on the bassiest strings, but there's obviously too much pure bass on the regular SD.

So, I want the tone just more cut on the lower strings. Does the Super 2 cure this - in the bridge, of course. :)

(Once again, not trying to hijack, OP)
Click to expand...
I used it in the bridge of a mahogany bolt-on neck guitar and it wasn't too bright. It has a lot of the same character as the SD, but the emphasis is on the treble, rather than bass. I would characterize it as bright, tight and hot.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

idsnowdog said:
I used it in the bridge of a mahogany bolt-on neck guitar and it wasn't too bright. It has a lot of the same character as the SD, but the emphasis is on the treble, rather than bass. I would characterize it as bright, tight and hot.
Click to expand...

Okay, that's a satisfactory answer. That works. Thanks. :)
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Gplayerzzz said:
That was my problem. A Super with cut bass would be perfect. And the Super 3 is too dark lol. I've always wondered about the 2 in the bridge myself.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I own an uninstalled Super 3 and I like it's specs, but i just feel like it'd be too warm which is not quite the efect I want. But, I really might buy a Super 2 because it sounds just about right.
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Well, I just placed an order for an F-spaced Super 2. I'll see how it sounds in about a week and a half I guess. :hijacked: lol
 
Re: Brightening a Super 2

Jackson Distortion said:
Well, I just placed an order for an F-spaced Super 2. I'll see how it sounds in about a week and a half I guess. :hijacked: lol
Click to expand...
You can gather an idea of what the Super II sounds like by listening to Vinnie Vincent. Just keep in mind the recordings have the treble jacked way up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Thurisaz
Duncan/ESP Custom 14 and Alnico 2 Pro in an LTD EC-2025 -- How to improve further?
2
Replies
20
Views
357
beaubrummels
beaubrummels
T
Stacking a ceramic and alnico magnet in a Custom?
Replies
14
Views
402
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
solspirit
Is all of this true?
Replies
10
Views
529
solspirit
solspirit
T
Neck Humbucker that's not glassy/hollow sounding (for strat)?
2
Replies
25
Views
688
Juanhanglo
J
7
SD A2P Neck sounds single coil
Replies
3
Views
275
freefrog
freefrog
Back
Top