Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

Thames

Great White Malice
Hey dudes! :smokin: Long time no talk!


Just to let you know that I just installed a set of Dimarzio Virtual PAFs (DP196/197) in my DOT 335 and WOW!! Impressive!


Ive heard about their 3D quality, and yes! it is true! These pickups do sing! Clear lows, smooth highs, sustain, clarity. Everything is there!

Of course, I played them at gig volume yesterday evening for about an hour. I havent changed the whole electronic yet (will install CTS pots soon), and they are already great!

Hmm... 3 electric guitars... 2 with Dimarzios... only 1 with Duncans... :smack: :rolleyes:
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

Looks like you have a seth and an antiquity in your ESP Les Paul. How do those compare to the virtuals in your 335? Different guitars for sure but it would be nice to hear the comparison.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

Benjy_26 said:
Yes, please do compare the V Paf's to the Seths.

I have, the seths have less output and are more mellow overall not as much overtones,harmonics,aggression
the Vpaf's have a "edginess" to them i liked :)
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

WICKED LESTER said:
I have, the seths have less output and are more mellow overall not as much overtones,harmonics,aggression
the Vpaf's have a "edginess" to them i liked :)



Sounds like I might like them.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Virtual PAFs. I had a '59 in the neck of many guitars of mine....always disappointed. I think I might give the V-PAF a try.

Can anyone compare them to a '57 Classic by chance??:)


I'm curious about the Virtual "Hot" PAF too....might be a good combo...both that and the regular V-PAF.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

I know this is a Duncan board, but Dimarzio makes some fine pickups. I have a PAF Classic and VV Hot T in a tele and they sound great. The Virtual PAF does have a nice 3-D quality to it. Great sounding pup. It's all about finding what works best with your guitar, style and gear.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

i have the virtual paf in the neck of my pau along with a duncan distortion in the bridge, it really surprised me how well they compliment each other. the virtual has a sound that is just awesome for lead sabbath tones from the neck. very airy and as someone mentioned earlier "3-d" sounding.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

ranalli said:
I'm curious about the Virtual "Hot" PAF too....might be a good combo...both that and the regular V-PAF.

Same.

A higher output pickup with more bite, combined with that '3D' quality found in the Virtual-PAF sounds like a great pickup. That's the thing about Dimarzio for me though. When looking through their catalog, there's like a thousand Humbucker Models. Picking one or two to try is just too tough.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

I would love to put a Virtual Hot PAF in my Axis guitar.

I'd love to hear a forumite's sound clip w/ the VPAF, or the VHOTPAF.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

I too have the Virtual PAF's in my swamp ash LP and I've grown very fond of them. These pickups just seem to have the right amount of what you need to get a great sound going. Low output without sounding wimpy and very, very balanced. They seem to have the clarity of a single coil while retaining the punch of a humbucker, and due to the 'air' technology they use you don't get those annoying ice-pick highs. And I'm playing thru a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue which many say is a very trebely amp. I love the clean tone I get using the neck pickup by itself as well as the neck and bridge combined. The bridge pickup takes very well to OD and distortion pedals too. I'm not saying the Virtual PAF's are better than this or that but they are an outstanding set.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

dudes, after 2 weeks with them and 2 gigs, Im more than satisfied. :)
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

Hi Wicked Lester, the big with mag is not the alloy, but the magnetic strength. The Dimarzio VPAF uses a A5 but developed a system (Airbucker), which creates a lower magnetic strength at the polepieces. So it nearer to A2 or A3 than to the built in A5.
BTW i have VPAF Bridge in the neck together with a rewound '79 DiMarzio PAF. I like it very much.
I also would like to read about a Hot VPAF! Anybody?
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

I've tried SO MANY of the other high profile PAF types from several manufacturers in my Goldtop. Recently, I got a G.A.S. attack nd decided to try the VPAFs in the GT too. I love them - 10 out of 10! They do what everyone else has said here, including what the DiMarzio catalogue says (which IMO, is astonishing as well as refreshing).

Recently, under the headings of not being able to leave well enough alone (G.A.S. residuals), I replaced the 'normal' bridge model with the Hot model. The Hot has the same treble response as the 'normal' bridge model but with an expanded midrange, a hair more bass and higher output. I like this Hot one better because it balances more naturally with the lows and output from the neck pickup. This is NOT to say that the 'normal' one didn't. I have always preferred a medium output "PAFish" bridge pickup with a bit more 'attitude' than usual but not entering the realm of high output where the natural qualities of the guitar are electronically masked. I highly recommend the "Virtuals" combo of either DP196/DP197 or DP196/DP214.
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

This is my "dream" thread...the reason I've been coming here for so long.

It's a done deal. I'm putting a Virtual Hot PAF in the bridge of my Axis Super Sport. It's a question of "when".

......to answer someone else's question: the Virtual Hot is wound to about 9.1k

On paper, it's basically a less expensive '78 (or "EVH").
 
Re: Dimario Virtual PAF - thumbs up

I'm really tempted to try the Virtual Hot bridge and Virtual neck myself.....damn....I haven't heard a bad thing about these yet and not just on this forum.
 
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