Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

Ascension

Ascension

New member
My Carvin ST 300 and I'm struggling with the neck pickup tones. Came with a Liquifire in the neck and a Crunch Lab in the bridge when I got it wired to a 5 way super switch. The Crunch Lab left quickly. Good sounding really heavy pickup but absolutely did not open up and clean up well with touch and the guitar volume like I needed it to. The Liquifier did but was a little to fat muddy and undefined as it came but thought I could work with the height and it be usable. I replaced the Crunch Lab with a Gravity Storm Bridge and really like it in the bridge it's sweet smooth fat and sassy and cleans and opens up very well. However the Liquifier is still just to dark and hot to get the tonal balance I need with the Gravity Storm.
What I need is something that responds more like a Sentient in the neck of that guitar. I have a loose Zebra Perpetual Burn / Sentient set that I could drop in that guitar and be done with it. However I really like what I'm getting with the Gravity Storm in that guitar so would like a matching Dimarzio if one exists in the neck. Maybe I'm just OCD or something but normally don't mix brands of pickups due to cosmetics.
Dimarzio seems to love ceramic mags in neck pickups and I don't care for how they feel and respond so the Gravity Storm neck is out and the Breed is to hot the PAF looks closer but is also from what I am hearing in clips a little to muddy on the bottom and hot. What has my attention is the PAF Joe it's a match in appearance has a little more top end clarity and sparkle plus a little less output at 8.26 K ohm and 275 mv with an A5 than the PAF Joe does. Goes down from the over 10K and 300mv of the Liquifier and then drops the bottom the mids and adds a little top.
Thinking about it hard but wondering if I am missing something else.
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

The Humbucker from Hell is a bright, low output neck pickup, it's almost single coil-ish, but with more output than a standard single. I wouldn't get hung up on magnets that much, I have a Transition set that has ceramics but they sound great and are very touch sensitive. Most people compare them to a hotter 36th Anniversary set.
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

I have been curious about the Gravity Storm neck, Ben Eller says its his favorite neck pup
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

I like a really clean neck. So i vote for EJ neck, but i loved also the virtual PAF neck which had a kind of Chorus pedal like sound going on (hard to decribe).
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

hamerfan said:
I like a really clean neck. So i vote for EJ neck, but i loved also the virtual PAF neck which had a kind of Chorus pedal like sound going on (hard to decribe).
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EJ neck is not the tone i'm looking for. To bad they discontinued tha entire Virtual PAF line as a Virtual Hot bridge Virtual PAF neck set up would have been cool. The Gravity Storm Bridge compares pretty well with the Virtual Hot BTW.
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

Ascension said:
Maybe I'm just OCD or something but normally don't mix brands of pickups due to cosmetics.
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Maybe ~ but that's a 800 - 1k Ax right ? who cares ~ chk out Pic of my main Drop-tune guitar , people LOOK at The Frankie ax because of what they HEAR in it . Dimarzio is in it

[K HD.jpg
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

KNUCKLHEAD said:
Maybe ~ but tht's a 800 - 1k Ax right ? who cares ~ chk out Pic of my main Drop-tune guitar , people LOOK at The Frankie ax because of what they HEAR in it . Dimarzio is in it

[View attachment 97175
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New was just under $1700 optioned like this one and it stomps the heck out of my PRS Custom 24, that one was right at $4200 street .
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

yea , I really like A5 in a few configs ( D man talks about Alt8 - haven't really had the Ax to drop one in yet ( maybe trial swap with Lace Bar . in fact that Ax above has A-5 / T-Z in it
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

KNUCKLHEAD said:
yea , I really like A5 in a few configs ( D man talks about Alt8 - haven't really had the Ax to drop one in yet ( maybe trial swap with Lace Bar . in fact that Ax above has A-5 / T-Z in it
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I'm really missing that Alt 8 tone but also like the Gravity Storm so a little torn here. Had the Alt 8/ Sentient combo in my old KOA carvin DC 127 and loved the tone for aggressive stuff. However it is one of only 2 true fixed bridge guitars i have and I needed more of a versatile more mellow overall package in that guitar so swapped the Alt for a Hybrid. The ST 300 would be a great platform for the Alt /Sentient combo. I would swap the super switch for a 3 way and then go to a push pull tone as a master tap same was the 127 was set up. With this one having a Floyd and the SS Jumbos would make for a truly wicked hard rock to metal weapon! Pulled the rigger on a Sentient tonight so will let you guys know what i decide. Will ether pull the Liquifier and go PAF Joe neck or pull it all apart and do the Duncan swap.This incoming Sentient is definitely going some where with that Alt though!!
This is the Sentient Alt combo live in the DC 127.
 
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Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

I really cant tell much from the live sound and dynamics in regards to the pickups , in the mix of that performance. meaning , in relation to the criteria mentioned i cant decipher Any gear including pickups ~ imho
 
Re: Dimarzio neck pickup tone help.

Ascension said:
Just cut a deal I think on a Sentient. might happen or the Alt don't know yet.
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Theres a very good chance the GS neck is awesome, my next purchase in fact. You know the Sentient will work great, but until you try that Gravity Storm.....
 
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