DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dr. Lo

Dr. Lo

New member
I like the HFH's low output, brightness, and tight bass. However, I want to put a pickup with a traditional nickel cover in my guitar, and the HFH doesn't come that way. Which nickel-covered pickup would you suggest that would give me characteristics similar to the HFH?
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Have you called Dimarzio or asked a Dimarzio dealer? I would think you could order one that way. The HFH has two rows of Allen poles, but I've seen some OEM versions of Dimarzios where they've changed the poles and slugs to match the rest of the guitar.

Phat Cat and Seth Lover are two great low output HB sized pickups.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dimarzio now offers their hex pole pu's covered
Cover_12_Hole_Chrome.jpg


There is NO other pup that sounds exactly like the HFH so i suggest using the new covered HFH
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Ed Hunter said:
Dimarzio now offers their hex pole pu's covered
Cover_12_Hole_Chrome.jpg


There is NO other pup that sounds exactly like the HFH so i suggest using the new covered HFH
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I don't know why I don't mind one row of poles poking through the cover, but I HATE the way this pickup looks.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dr. Lo said:
I like the HFH's low output, brightness, and tight bass. However, I want to put a pickup with a traditional nickel cover in my guitar, and the HFH doesn't come that way. Which nickel-covered pickup would you suggest that would give me characteristics similar to the HFH?
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You could put an A3 in a '59N, which would reduce output and basiness. Or put an A3 in a JazzN.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

You could replace one row of Allen screws with slot screws, and lower the other row even with the surface and put a regular cover on...
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Although I did have a HFH myself, and wasn't that impressed with it. Not a tone I'd chase after.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

the HFH seems just a compromise: it's not an humbucker, it's not a single coil but this is not the con, the worst thing is it's not inspiring.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

marcello252 said:
the HFH seems just a compromise: it's not an humbucker, it's not a single coil but this is not the con, the worst thing is it's not inspiring.
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Then what do you (or others) recommend as a humbucker-sized pickup that will give me as close to a vintage single-coil sound as possible? That's what I'm after.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dr. Lo said:
Then what do you (or others) recommend as a humbucker-sized pickup that will give me as close to a vintage single-coil sound as possible? That's what I'm after.
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Then why not a HB-sized P-90, with as low an ohms rating as you can get? That's a real single coil.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

marcello252 said:
the HFH seems just a compromise: it's not an humbucker, it's not a single coil but this is not the con, the worst thing is it's not inspiring*.
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*To you

I think it's pretty amazing. I will say that it probably will take the OP by surprise. I know it did me.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dr. Lo said:
Will the Mean 90 balance well (volume-wise) with the Classic 57 I have in the bridge?
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Adjust PU heights to get the volumes where you want them.

I have a Dot Deluxe with a '57 Classic bridge and a Phat CatN (A5/A4). Very nice combo.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

My two favorite neck humbuckers are the Jazz and the the Fralin 7.5 humbucker. I like bright neck humbuckers and both of those fit the bill. The Fralin has a little less bass than a traditional a5 humbucker. It has an almost single coil tonality to it, but it still sounds like a humbucker.

Have you tried the Jazz? Maybe a Jazz/'59 hybrid might be to your liking? Put an a4 in there for a little less bass.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

Dr. Lo said:
I like the HFH's low output, brightness, and tight bass. However, I want to put a pickup with a traditional nickel cover in my guitar, and the HFH doesn't come that way. Which nickel-covered pickup would you suggest that would give me characteristics similar to the HFH?
Click to expand...

To my ears, the Alnico 2 Pro sounds pretty close. I own both the HFH and Alnico 2 Pro, which I just installed tonight. I couldn't play loud enough (wife was sleeping 2 feet away), but the A2P has similar characteristics.

I could try recording the two tomorrow so you could hear the similarities.
 
Re: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell alternatives?

blueman335 said:
Although I did have a HFH myself, and wasn't that impressed with it. Not a tone I'd chase after.
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I agree completely. It's good for shredtastic fun, but I'm not that impressed with it. I actually prefer a PAF Pro over the HFH.
 
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