Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

[KiD CuDi]

I've been trying to find a hot, articulate, responsive pickup to go into an all mahogany guitar that's good for metal, soloing, and cleans. I narrowed it down to these two pickups. I like the d-activator but I'm worried that the fact that it's supposed to emulate an active pickup sound will make it less spontaneous and dynamic as a normal passive pickup. On the other hand, I've heard in some cases that the evolution is too mid heavy for metal. I'm stuck right now and could use the benefit of someone's experience.


Thanks in advance

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Out of those two, definitely go with the Evo.

BUT I suggest you check out the D-Activator X. Really really cool pups that handle a wide range of styles.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

I've been trying to find a hot, articulate, responsive pickup to go into an all mahogany guitar that's good for metal, soloing, and cleans. I narrowed it down to these two pickups. I like the d-activator but I'm worried that the fact that it's supposed to emulate an active pickup sound will make it less spontaneous and dynamic as a normal passive pickup.

What do you mean Metal? As in detuned chug-a-lug-chug or duh-duh-duh-duh-wheedly-wheed? I need your final answer.

 

[crguti]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

I've been trying to find a hot, articulate, responsive pickup to go into an all mahogany guitar that's good for metal, soloing, and cleans.

My suggestion would be D sonic (blade towards neck) and Super Distortion

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

What do you mean Metal? As in detuned chug-a-lug-chug or duh-duh-duh-duh-wheedly-wheed? I need your final answer.

Well a bit of both actually, the lowest I'll tune to is drop c for some chuggage, but I do play some metal in standard and I still need that to sound ballsy down low, not thick but punchy/crunchy and defined

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Out of those two, definitely go with the Evo.

BUT I suggest you check out the D-Activator X. Really really cool pups that handle a wide range of styles.

So the evo can handle metal rhythms in mahogany? Out of curiosity what's the difference between the d-activator and the d-activator x?

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

So the evo can handle metal rhythms in mahogany? Out of curiosity what's the difference between the d-activator and the d-activator x?

Yeah it should hold up well. It'll tame it's crazy highs for sure.

The DAX is just a more versatile open pickup. Sounds great with gobs of distortion and even better clean. The DA is a one trick pony that can sound too modern and has nasty cleans IMO.

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Yeah it should hold up well. It'll tame it's crazy highs for sure.

The DAX is just a more versatile open pickup. Sounds great with gobs of distortion and even better clean. The DA is a one trick pony that can sound too modern and has nasty cleans IMO.

Thanks for the heads up on the evo I'm gonna put that in the bridge of my eclipse, but I'm surprised to hear that the d activator x is more open sounding than the original d activator because dimarzio kind of makes it out to be all about raw power and the original d activator to have the openness. I'll do some research cuz I need another bright, passive that's good for metal to go in my hellraiser.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

D Sonic with POLE PIECES on bridge side. That's the ONLY way to install it in my opinion. If not, a Super Distortion or Breed.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Thanks for the heads up on the evo I'm gonna put that in the bridge of my eclipse, but I'm surprised to hear that the d activator x is more open sounding than the original d activator because dimarzio kind of makes it out to be all about raw power and the original d activator to have the openness. I'll do some research cuz I need another bright, passive that's good for metal to go in my hellraiser.

It's true that it does have more power but oddly at the same time it's way more versatile. I love it in the neck.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

I've tried the Evo only out of the two. It's very tight in all frequency spectrum. Tight bass when you crank it up.

But I had very good results with the Steve's Special.

Ibanez RG370DX basswood body, maple/rosewood neck/board, Steve's Special and Marshall Valvestate 100W. Huge palm muting, very heavy tone and the cleans were nice because the pickup has a bit rolled off mids without mid honk etc. Fast solos had a breaking glass character to them if that makes sense. The notes were fully separated from each other (I think that was the main reason that pickup was created in the first place - separated legatos). A really good pickup, maybe a bit 2 dimensional overall. But pure metal sound.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Which eclipe are we talking about, the 401 or the 1000? The 401 is a huge heavy mahogany, sounds best with a scooped eq pickup imo. The 59 kills in the neck, a Steves Special or Custom 5 would be great in the bridge, excellent cleans too. If you really want a screaming high output pickup consider the Duncan Distortion as well, if you dig High on Fire, Mastodon tones.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

Nah, I've had Evos in a mahogany LP type, works great for metal. The neck pickup is very close in spec to the '59/Custom hybrid, sounded really good with an A5. The high powered ceramics and the pole screws make them extremely tight and responsive, so I personally think they're better with mag swaps, depends on what kind of metal sound you want. In retrospect I should have kept mine, I just couldn't leave good enough alone.

Haven't heard a D-Activator.

 

[dominus]

Re: Dimarzio Evolution vs D-Activator

D-Activator is great in Mahogany. I haven't tried an Evo in Mahogany yet but the Evo is great in Basswood and Alder.