DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

S

snowman3000

New member
Hi..It's my first post here but i read this forum constantly..
Unfortunately i'm a DiMarzio guy =) and i think i need to replace my bridge pickup..
I have an alder strat with '57 maple neck and floyd rose. (250K pots and .09 D'Addario) By now i have a DP103 PAF (bridge position), i play a lot of hard rock - heavy and prog stuff, i know the DP103 is very soft and quiet but it's very balanced and i think also pretty tight! Maybe it's a bit bright and lack of output (203 mV).. I mainly use Mesa Boogie Mark C+ and Bogner Ecstasy with a lot of gain. I don't need BIG output pickup (or i'd have squealing probs) or honky mids (Boogies already have mids).. EVO2? Norton? Virtual HOT PAF? I've had the Steve's Special...it wasn't bad...but a bit 'lifeless'
Keep in mind that i'm trying to track down a sweet, clear-articulate, TIGHT IN THE LOW-END and with a good amount of harmonics pickup..

Thanks ya all for the suggestions...
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

Have you considered the PAF Pro? Hotter and a little brighter than what you have now, but with an EQ curve much closer to what you're used to than the Breed or Evo2 or Norton or Fred.
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

Welcome to the forum snowman :)

I would suggest the Super Distortion. It's got a nice meaty tone, and it can do do the harmonics really well.
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

So you want a pickup that's a bit darker and has more output and harmonics? A Tone Zone is dark and medium output pup, I don't know if it's too dark but it is Thick with a capital T! Harmonics come out nicely as well. It may be a bit loose to some people's tastes, though. An Air Zone would be a bit more airy and open version of the TZ, but I haven't tried it out myself. I'd use 500k pots with these pups, they may be too dark with 250ks.

If you'd like, I could probably make a quick clip of the Tone Zone, but it's in the bridge of my Gibson SG Standard so it's a bit different guitar.

Btw, if you live in Europe and are letting go of that PAF, I could be interested...
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

snowman3000 said:
Hi..It's my first post here but i read this forum constantly..
Unfortunately i'm a DiMarzio guy =) and i think i need to replace my bridge pickup..
I have an alder strat with '57 maple neck and floyd rose. (250K pots and .09 D'Addario) By now i have a DP103 PAF (bridge position), i play a lot of hard rock - heavy and prog stuff, i know the DP103 is very soft and quiet but it's very balanced and i think also pretty tight! Maybe it's a bit bright and lack of output (203 mV).. I mainly use Mesa Boogie Mark C+ and Bogner Ecstasy with a lot of gain. I don't need BIG output pickup (or i'd have squealing probs) or honky mids (Boogies already have mids).. EVO2? Norton? Virtual HOT PAF? I've had the Steve's Special...it wasn't bad...but a bit 'lifeless'
Keep in mind that i'm trying to track down a sweet, clear-articulate, TIGHT IN THE LOW-END and with a good amount of harmonics pickup..

Thanks ya all for the suggestions...
Click to expand...



Stick with the Dimarzio PAF, only switch out the alnico V magnet for a ceramic one. :) The Duncan shop will do it for $20 I think.
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

I'd recommend the Virtual Hot Paf. It's gotten great reviews by other members here (myself included).
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

The Tone Zone would probably be fine considering the floyd rose and the 57 style maple neck. The extra low end that the TZ has, counteracts the slight loss of lows associated with floyds. It's a big change from a PAF in output though. It has a noticable increased midrange thickness, but in a bright guitar it comes out like a real BIG PAF EQ wise. It will overdive the front end of a high gain amp, but you have the option of rolling back a touch. It seems more sensitive to picking dynamics than most high output pickups.

The Virtual Hot PAF might be nice if you want a little more of what you already have, with more 3D dimension. From the descriptions, it seems to have a warmer top end than the PAF you now use, and the slightly brighter medium ouptup pickups like the PAF Pro.
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

I'm seeing PAF Pro, Vitual Hot PAF, and Tone Zone. An Interesting group...Tone zone and VHot are roughly the same level of oomph, but way different sounding, I think. The PAF Pro and the VHot are similar sounding, but way different output...

I have both a PAF Pro and A ToneZone at the moment, and I think I'm kinda leaning PAF Pro...Unless you want monster output and Monster bass. Then I'd say Tone Zone.

Other Options: I'm sure someone will suggest Air Zone as a compromise.

And DiMarzio Players are welcome here! We are all brothers in the battle for ultimate tone!!! DiMarzio Management, however, the Mother *&^%&%^$ who make it a Pain in my @$$ to get double creme pups *&^%*^ big hairy moose (*(*&*!!!
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

I'd reccomend the Virtual Hot PAF or the Breed Neck if you want a bit more. Yes, the Breed Neck model makes a really good bridge pickup.
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

I tried the Tone Zone (Axis guitar) on my Mark IIC+...and it didn't sound bad but..for me it's too...mh...boomy and loose in the low-end, not very clear at all. If it had less and TIGHTER bass would be reeally nice.. Keep in mind that the C+ has a lot of mids, the TZ has a lot of them too...!..it's just too much

Never thought about a Paf Pro.. Isn't it too bright in bridge position? I say that because of the tone guide: treble-6 mid-5 bass-5

Didn't like the Fred at all...just not my tone..

DiMarzio PAF but with ceramic magnet? How would be the tone? A little darker with more output? I was thinking to get the EVO2 and swap the ceramic with Alnico V....

Sorry guys, i know i'm picky....but...i really want to get the best p.u. for me. SWEET - TIGHT LOWEND - CLEAR - HARMONICS is this too much for a p.u.? :fingersx: =)

How is this Norton? A very few people has it...really wonder why...is it TIGHT? =)
 
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Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

Aceman said:
......Tone zone and VHOT are roughly the same level of oomph...I think... The PAF Pro and the VHot are similar sounding, but way different output....


.......
Click to expand...
Stratdeluxer in his review, reported his VHPAF was about the same precieved output as his Fred. Dimarzio lists the VHPAF at 265mv, and the Fred at 305mv. My Fred is noticably lower output than my TZ, but certainly hotter than a typical vintage PAF. The PAF Pro is listed at 300mv. I'm voting VHPAF at this point, based on snowman's later memo.:)
 
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Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

The PAF Pro is my Favorite pickup. Its got the 80's tone I wanted. Just the Right power for Super Strats and Has great Harmonics.

Snowman- what tuning do you use?
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

Hey snowman3000.for what you have and what you're looking to gain i would say-paf pro or breed "neck" model.i've got them both & i have the paf dp103,also.the paf pro is very close to the paf dp103,but a tad hotter.not any brighter or darker,really,maybe just a sliver more of mids,but the paf pro is very tight and has beautiful harmonics.it's got a good crunch,sings sweetly and is very clear and articulate under gobs of high gain.great for hard rock & 80's metal.not enough thickness & chug for anything heavier like death metal,etc.i had a paf pro in my '91 ibanez rg565,basswood body & all-maple neck/fretboard and was a really nice pickup for the same style of music.very,very versatile pup.after a few years with it in the bridge spot of my axe,i wanted to go a little thicker with a bit more low-end(bass & low-mids).i was recommended the breed-neck model.that's exactly what fit the bill for what i wanted.the dimarzio website description is dead-on saying that the breed neck-model is a slightly hotter,slightly fatter paf pro.bingo.still a very clear pup with nice harmonics and sings with all the gain in the world...so there ya go.take your pick.i believe either of these two will get you want you're looking for!!!
 
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Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

I think there is some great advice here on this thread.

I would say you would want to consider a little power in your pickup choice.

If you want SMOOTH go Air Norton. Tighter in the bass then Air Norton is the Norton (though I have limited experience with it).

Steve's Special is a tad bright.

The PAF Pro is great, but bright as well. I would consider the FRED, but you have to like that PAF pro-ish tone.

I personally think the Air Zone is the way to go, you get botrh classic and modern. THE AZ gets fatter as you dig in, which is nice with maple. The Breed will scream more. The Evo is good for shredding, but you have to like that stiffer feel in the highs that you get with ceramic mags. I have not used the Evo2 much, but you should think on it. (The Tone Zone is good but a little more harsh, not as open inthe highs. Damn, if it isn't tight in the lows with nice bass - eso for an A5 pup.)

The VPAFs and VHot are a nice idea, but you are going into the vintage output range 9yes, even at 9k) So I would consider the higher output models above.

I personally like the Air Zone because it fattens up thinner bodied guitars, while giving you healthy highs. Best of all worlds.

BTW you have GREAT TASTE IN AMPS!
 
Re: DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

Ok kids...Thanks for the suggestions...Sounds like i'll end up buying EVO2 and Breed 'neck' and see what happens... I like the Alnico V of the Breed and like the new EVO (i've had the old and sounded good, tight as i like, a bit too bright and harshy but the new version seems to be more warm)

Too bad that i left my C+ in Italy i just have a 'kin' pod 1.0 here in west 'kin' hollywood.. =)
 
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