Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

OlinMusic said:
I can tell you this about the DMZ samples. I always thought wow they don't have enough samples - still do. I always thought their samples are too processed etc - then I realzied something... DMZ has the most accurate descriptions and analysis of their pickups. I usually plug and think damn that's what they said it sounded like (ie Phil collen or Yngqie). As far as the samples - I must say that a lot of them are major players in action with them, and from my own experience I have found the tone to be right on the money, processed or not, that's true to form.

I have trouble with the samples on WCR or Rio's sites. They don't make me feel like I am hearing the true sound. I think they pick good samples. No one has perfect samples. I like SD's samples concept, but the problem is I have bought a couple of SD models feeling like I didn't get a good enough chance to hear what the pickuo does best, and therefore bought the wrong model.

This is hard to put in words, but in a nutshell, I actually somewhat prefer to hear a pickup in action with an artist who is showing what it is meant to do.



I couldn't agree more with your analysis here and have had the same experience for the most part.
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

I first played the AirZone and analyzed it, then went on the DiMarzio website and BANG. I couldn't believe it. It was all exactly as I heard it. I was a bit surprised. Pickup is still pretty bad for me, but yeah the website is right on.
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

I think you'd love a DiMarzio MegaDrive provided that your rig already has enough mids! I loved mine. ;)

A5, 16 17 Kilo Ohms and mismatched coils. The bass is tight and I think these were what Sepultura or Slayer guys were using back in early 90's. Don't remember exactly. Please correct me if I am wrong. It has clarity due to the mismatched coils. I am not 100 percent sure but I kinda remember that the wire wasn't the same on the two coils. Anyways one coil has a bar magnet and the other allen heads.

DM stopped doing those in their mass production line. Their FAQ was saying that they did it because steve's special was quite similar. But the funny thing is that to my knowledge petrucci before all these was using a megadrive and after this change is not using steve's specials (he used them for a while but now his musicman custom guitar has "Two Custom DiMarzio Humbucking - specially designed for Petrucci"). I have a very strong feeling that those Custom DiMarzio Petrucci pickups are nothing but megadrives. BTW who is steve? ??? I had both of them for a while and honestly speaking did not think they were alike, and did not care about that steve's special pickup. It was too high and low focused. Too hifi!

I might be wrong, and people, please correct me on any such points.

Anyways MegaDrive is a very nice pickup. The mids is the only place I kinda would suspect that you would not like. Depends on the guitar, but this pickup ain't a CC thus it is not especially strong on the mids section. It has a clear tone and tight bass.

If you really have to get those mids, then I'd advise you to consider some loss of clarity, because then rio grande BBQ is a pickup that I think could work for you. It has tight bass, but this pickup is dark! On the other hand, like any other rio grande pickup I came across (including their single coils) BBQs have very screaming and present uppermids. This is cool because helps you to cut through. I loved it at first, but later couldn't bear it because I could not get it to deliver a smooth tone. It always had to scream it always had to be ANGUS (in early 90s he was using a BBQ). BBQ sounds like very dark C5 with less clarity and more of that PG uppermids. It has an a5 magnet and resistance values like 12.50-13.00K.

Good luck bro.

B
 
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Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

BTW I fished out the following specs for you (from Harmony Central user database):

MegaDrive specs are: output-350mv., treble-6, midrange-5, bass-7, & D.C. resistance-15.03K.

B
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

FWIW, Leslie West played the Megadrive quite a bit in those Steinbergers
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

my pleasure :)

he got some killer tone out of those steinberger things.

Of course Leslie West could get good tone out of 6 rubber bands strapped to a broomstick played through a transistor radio.
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

hAILS dR bARLO
Thank´s for the reviews Man
what i need for this guitar is :
Tight bass, moderated mids(not boosted and not scooped) and Smooth Highs(cause the amp has too much mids and highs).
is tha a megadrive?!
i wanna go dimarzio this time.
Q:p
Hails and thanks again
J.P
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

Thank´s AGAIN
sounds perfect for me.
J.P
will it match the air norton neck!?


dr.barlo said:
BTW I fished out the following specs for you (from Harmony Central user database):

MegaDrive specs are: output-350mv., treble-6, midrange-5, bass-7, & D.C. resistance-15.03K.

B
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

Sure thing Bro.

Why don't you get a VPAF? That is a good bucker. Or maybe a PAFpro.

Why air norton? A particular reason?

B
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

Well.. for the neck, i heard some clips and the air norton sound smooth, not BRIGHT/BRITTLE/HARSH Etc, and not bassy too
since i need a dimarzio combo that will tame my ASH body Charvel fusion Dinky harshness(it´s pretty harsh and dry sound.lots of volume and tightness) and i´m planning to get a smooth lead tone in teh neck
the air norton seems to fit like a glove.
what do you say!?
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

I agree with the Doctor, the reviews of the VHPAF, is the exact kind of balanced tone sought after in the descriptions, and would work good in those woods.

The Air Norton neck, at a medium output, may be too hot to balance well against a PAF, or a hot PAF in the bridge position. The air Norton would probably require a high output, or at least a medium output pickup in the bridge position.

It's a good plan to choose the bridge position first, based on TONE (not really output), and then select a neck pickup to match up with the bridge pickup. If you use a high output pickup in the bridge position, then a medium output neck position pickup would be more ideal for the neck position. Likewise a medium output bridge model matches up better with a low output neck pickup. A hot PAF bridge pickup like the Virtual Hot PAF would probably sound great in the bridge position, and the virtual PAF neck model, or the air classic, would be a good choice for the neck position........

These pickups will have enough output....
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

I did a mistake and sold my megadrive to MRID here. :smack:

And its been years that I used an air norton. Even then only for a short while like 2 months. I had paired with the a superD. It's been more than 8 years you know.

I am getting old! :smack: :laugh2:

BTW PAFpro does not sound harsh or anything. I used it quite for a while (like 5+ years) and never recall complaining about its harshness. The only thing I would complain about it would be it being too thick, too mid driven, and its lack of clarity (comparing with duncan neck PAF clones). Sure I know it is designed that way intentionally. I don't suppose you'd be playing Joe Pass tunes with this guitar. :D So it'd be fine!

B
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

JP, there is NOTHING that says your guitar is made of Ash bro ;) Based on the period and what make it is, there are 90% chances that it's made of Basswood.
 
Re: Dimarzio Pups..which one...?

If it's basswood, and not ash; that changes everything! However, it shouldn't be overly bright with high quality basswood.

Basswood is not noted for tight bottom end though.

I believe that a air Norton would actually be too fat in the neck position of a basswood guitar without a maple cap.

If it is basswood, then take note, that the Breed neck and bridge models were designed specifically for Vai's basswood Jems, while the Evo's are used on the alder body Jem screemers. Earlier on it was PAF Pros in most positions on most guitars.

A close cousin of the Tone Zone was used on the EBMM EVH basswood guitars, in conjunction with the Norton derivative neck, but these guitars had thick maple caps along with maple necks too. Those type of pickups may deliver a more later EVH type tone in a basswood guitar.

Satch uses PAF Pro derivatives in his guitars, many of which are basswood.
 
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