jrbowen81
New member
LONG POST ALERT:
I'm pretty well confused at this point. Just this past weekend, I installed a full set of DiMarzios in my Strat (Chopper, Fast Track 1, Fast Track 2, 500k volume, 250k tones, neck on switch, coil split switch for neck & bridge). The Chopper is phenomenal and has me falling back in love with this guitar for sure. The Fast Track 1 is pretty nice sounding too. Very unique to my ears.
My issue with the Fast Track 2, however, is somewhat complex. Just bear with me...
So far, I can tell the FT2 is a pretty darn good pickup. It gives LOADS of output and tons of definition in my Strat. However, I wonder, have any of you found the Fast Track 2 to have sort of a "cocked wah" sound to it, especially when palm muting? Not sure what's going on there. I suspect it may be something to do with my particular amp rig (which will be mentioned below). IMHO, this pickup is not incredibly thick sounding in this guitar unless I tune it way down (which is not why I have this guitar. That's what my Les Paul is used for.) I also feel the need to majorly scoop my amp's mids and turn the treble pretty low. Otherwise it's VERY tight and aggressive, which isn't a bad thing by any means, but I still feel like I'm not getting enough "thump" from it. I know DiMarzio describes it as having lots of mids and bass, but I just don't think I'm hearing it. From the way it is described by DiMarzio and by others who use it, I envisioned my perfect hard rock/metal rhythm pickup for this Strat. Now, my impression is that maybe this is more of a lead guitarist pickup. For that, it's AMAZING! Unfortunately I'm not much of a lead player at all. I just don't know how well suited it is for someone like me who is more about thick, heavy riffage than solos.
Also take into consideration that my rig is EQ'd around my main tone that I get from my Les Paul, which is super thick sounding to begin with (Custom 8 in the bridge, C# tuning with 12-60 gauge strings) plugged into a 6505+ head into a Port City OS 2x12 Wave Cab.
As a side note, the funny thing that I discovered tonight is that it sounds unbelievable plugged into my Roland Micro Cube. Hahaha... On that amp, it's REALLY thick sounding. I just don't know why that's not the case on my actual rig, which is a much larger amp!
Of course I'm not trying to make the Strat sound just like the Les Paul, but I don't want to feel like I have to radically change my amp settings to accomodate the 2 different guitars.
Basically, I recognize that this pickup is flat out awesome for what it seems to do. I don't even want to get rid of it. I AM wondering how much the Tone Zone S, Super Distortion S, or maybe the BC-2 would possibly remedy this issue though. I'd very much prefer to stick with another DiMarzio rail pickup since it matches with the others on the guitar. Plus, that Chopper ain't goin' NOWHERE. Haha
I just think I may be looking for something warmer than the FT2, or at least warmer than the one I have right now.
Any suggestions?
I'm pretty well confused at this point. Just this past weekend, I installed a full set of DiMarzios in my Strat (Chopper, Fast Track 1, Fast Track 2, 500k volume, 250k tones, neck on switch, coil split switch for neck & bridge). The Chopper is phenomenal and has me falling back in love with this guitar for sure. The Fast Track 1 is pretty nice sounding too. Very unique to my ears.
My issue with the Fast Track 2, however, is somewhat complex. Just bear with me...
So far, I can tell the FT2 is a pretty darn good pickup. It gives LOADS of output and tons of definition in my Strat. However, I wonder, have any of you found the Fast Track 2 to have sort of a "cocked wah" sound to it, especially when palm muting? Not sure what's going on there. I suspect it may be something to do with my particular amp rig (which will be mentioned below). IMHO, this pickup is not incredibly thick sounding in this guitar unless I tune it way down (which is not why I have this guitar. That's what my Les Paul is used for.) I also feel the need to majorly scoop my amp's mids and turn the treble pretty low. Otherwise it's VERY tight and aggressive, which isn't a bad thing by any means, but I still feel like I'm not getting enough "thump" from it. I know DiMarzio describes it as having lots of mids and bass, but I just don't think I'm hearing it. From the way it is described by DiMarzio and by others who use it, I envisioned my perfect hard rock/metal rhythm pickup for this Strat. Now, my impression is that maybe this is more of a lead guitarist pickup. For that, it's AMAZING! Unfortunately I'm not much of a lead player at all. I just don't know how well suited it is for someone like me who is more about thick, heavy riffage than solos.
Also take into consideration that my rig is EQ'd around my main tone that I get from my Les Paul, which is super thick sounding to begin with (Custom 8 in the bridge, C# tuning with 12-60 gauge strings) plugged into a 6505+ head into a Port City OS 2x12 Wave Cab.
As a side note, the funny thing that I discovered tonight is that it sounds unbelievable plugged into my Roland Micro Cube. Hahaha... On that amp, it's REALLY thick sounding. I just don't know why that's not the case on my actual rig, which is a much larger amp!
Of course I'm not trying to make the Strat sound just like the Les Paul, but I don't want to feel like I have to radically change my amp settings to accomodate the 2 different guitars.
Basically, I recognize that this pickup is flat out awesome for what it seems to do. I don't even want to get rid of it. I AM wondering how much the Tone Zone S, Super Distortion S, or maybe the BC-2 would possibly remedy this issue though. I'd very much prefer to stick with another DiMarzio rail pickup since it matches with the others on the guitar. Plus, that Chopper ain't goin' NOWHERE. Haha
I just think I may be looking for something warmer than the FT2, or at least warmer than the one I have right now.
Any suggestions?
