DiMarzio Chopper T?

[Rex_Rocker]

So... follow up from my last thread...

Just came across this shootout... I'm digging the tone of the Chopper T!

I'm trying to find a pickup for my Squire Equire. Right now, it has a Quarter Pounder which is GREAT, but I'm finding it's a bit too mid-focused and not open enough in the EQ spectrum. I'd also prefer to lose some of that single coil twang.

So basically, I'm searching for something more open EQ-wise, but without the single coil twang sound. Bit lower output would be great too, but not weak and puny like a traditional single coil style of pickup. Something PAF-like.

I've been researching the Duncan offerings, but the Little 59 seems like it sound NOTHING like an actual '59. Not sure about the PG.

So... opinions? Is the Choper T the way to go? I want something PAF-like... meaning bright, open, and scooped, but without the twang of a single coil.

 

[CK71]

I've had both the lil 59 and the custom shop lil pg in the same tele. Yes the lil 59 is anything but scooped. I found the lil pg much more open and definitely brighter than the lil 59. The mids were also much less prominent, but not necessarily scooped. I believe the regular production model of the lil pg has A5 magnets, so it may be a bit more scooped and more to your liking.

 

[ToneFiddler]

i owned all three (lil59, chopperT, QP).
the chopperT is more PAF output. Get's mid heavy with gain, easily.
It really good for rock, but i don't like it when the gain goes up for rhythm. To round and some lack of balls.
great for soloing though.
I don't think it's good for metal.
i preferred the QP for heavier stuff, but yeah it was too compressed for me in the long run. The Super Paul Bunyan does everything better for my taste. But you will not like the single coil twang.

never tried the toneZoneT or superDistortionT but the single coil sized Pickups and tele style guitars might profit from the added low mids (which you hate ) and might get close to a LP with a low mid slim Pickup.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

i owned all three (lil59, chopperT, QP).
the chopperT is more PAF output. Get's mid heavy with gain, easily.
It really good for rock, but i don't like it when the gain goes up for rhythm. To round and some lack of balls.
great for soloing though.
I don't think it's good for metal.
i preferred the QP for heavier stuff, but yeah it was too compressed for me in the long run. The Super Paul Bunyan does everything better for my taste. But you will not like the single coil twang.

never tried the toneZoneT or superDistortionT but the single coil sized Pickups and tele style guitars might profit from the added low mids (which you hate) and might get close to a LP with a low mid slim Pickup.

Thanks for the review, man!

If it's PAF-like, I can make it work for me for Metal Rhythm. I have my phases, LOL, and nowadays, I've got Fishman Classics in my Les Pauls. They're a bit bright and scooped, but I like them for a more "imperfect" "rough around the edges" approach. The fact that they're extra bright really lends itself to a nasty emphatic attack which I'm kinda digging right now. And since they're scooped... well, you know me, I like no mud in my low-mids at all.

The one thing I'm afraid of is maybe what's really twangy is the guitar itself. I do remember it wasnt THAT bad with the Hot Rails, though. But that pickup had like no treble or attack whatsoever. And maybe a PAF-type might make it worse? Because honestly, EQ-wise, you can barely even tell the QP is a single coil at all.

But your description makes me think the Chopper might be worth a try.

I have had the Super D in Tele format, and I remember it was nice. But mine was microphonic, so back it went. I think I might remember it being slightly hotter, though? Can't tell for sure. I didn't spend all that much time with it compared as to when I had the HR or the QP.

 

[ToneFiddler]

i wouldn't call the chopper scooped. it's got quite some mids and brightness. While playing i get the feeling it's still some tele twang in there, but recorded i don't actually hear it anymore, so might be an illusion. i run it with 250k Vol only since i like the extra highs i get with a disconnected tone, it's more or less the same as 500k Vol + tone.

yes, my amp can do the heavy lifting and i also use low output for the brutalz, but the duncan SH-1b 59 in a LP get's a better metal tone than the chopper in my ash tele. the chopper just gets too smooth with added gain for my liking. the lil 59 was similar, but less bright and more output.

somehow i think you will be more happy with dimarzios high output single sized PUs. The hot rails is kind of crazy. reminds me of the blackouts AHB-2 metal. crazy amount of punching mids with not much else. it's was fun for about a day, but good riddance to that one.

 

[Guest]

Chopper T is an amazing tele pickup and nobody else makes one that sounds or reacts/responds quite like it. It's super cheap and yet impossible to duplicate. Richie Kotzen uses one for a reason!