Dimarzio recommendations

[alex1fly]

The Dimarzio website recommends The Air Zone, Tone Zone, and Air Norton for the bridge of my alder strat no matter what amp, music style, or solution I choose. The PATB-1 I have in there right now sounds good, but I'd rather go for a more vintage sound in the bridge of this guitar while still having a good lead tone. I'd like to try a Dimarzio after really liking the tone and feel of the VPAF in the neck of my LP. I like how it alive it feels and how it responds quickly to digging in but it can still sound really sweet.

Should I look at a VPAF or a VHPAF? The only differences on the DMZ site between the two are 35 output points and .5 more mids and bass for the VHPAF, which doesn't seem like a whole lot of difference. Is the VHPAF touch sensitive like the VPAF? I'd like a softer feel than the PATB-1, so that makes me think alnico 2. I have been recommended a VHPAF w/ A2 a couple of times. On paper it looks good - A2 vibes, less highs and output than the PATB-1.

 

[Rick1114]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I've tried a quite a few duncan & dimarzio pups in my strat. It will depend on what sound and how much output you want in relation to the SC's.

I liked the VHPAF and tried the A2 magnet but I liked the A5 a bit better. I also thought the Air Norton was very interesting but bassy. The Air Zone was good too but too much ouput for my strat compared to the SC's.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

The Dimarzio website recommends The Air Zone, Tone Zone, and Air Norton for the bridge of my alder strat no matter what amp, music style, or solution I choose. The PATB-1 I have in there right now sounds good, but I'd rather go for a more vintage sound in the bridge of this guitar while still having a good lead tone. I'd like to try a Dimarzio after really liking the tone and feel of the VPAF in the neck of my LP. I like how it alive it feels and how it responds quickly to digging in but it can still sound really sweet.

Should I look at a VPAF or a VHPAF? The only differences on the DMZ site between the two are 35 output points and .5 more mids and bass for the VHPAF, which doesn't seem like a whole lot of difference. Is the VHPAF touch sensitive like the VPAF? I'd like a softer feel than the PATB-1, so that makes me think alnico 2. I have been recommended a VHPAF w/ A2 a couple of times. On paper it looks good - A2 vibes, less highs and output than the PATB-1.

Not to diss Dimarzio,
but why not buy the best? Seymour Duncan Pickups.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Best is subjective. I like the sound and feel of the VPAF. It actually sounds the best out of all the pickups I've tried. I've tried 14 Duncans, 7 of them in the bridge of my strat, and 1 Dimarzio - the pickup I've dug the most is the VPAF, with the Phat Cat neck in second place.

 

[jimlp]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

If you have the PATB-1 and want something more vintage try the PATB-3, somewhat vintage sounding with a lot of balls.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Who else wants to convince me to try my 15th Duncan instead of my 2nd Dimarzio?

I'd really like to try another Dimarzio because I like their VPAF, the way that airbuckering sounds and feels, and the 3-D like tone... I'm pretty much deciding between a VPAF, VHPAF, and maybe an Air Classic, and I'm particulary interested in the VHPAF with an A2 magnet and how the output of that compares to the output of the regular bridge VPAF.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

The VPAF and the VPAFH sound "woodier" than the neck version.

 

[jimlp]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Who else wants to convince me to try my 15th Duncan instead of my 2nd Dimarzio?

I'd really like to try another Dimarzio because I like their VPAF, the way that airbuckering sounds and feels, and the 3-D like tone... I'm pretty much deciding between a VPAF, VHPAF, and maybe an Air Classic, and I'm particulary interested in the VHPAF with an A2 magnet and how the output of that compares to the output of the regular bridge VPAF.

I had the Air Norton in the bridge position of a LP style guitar and I thought it sounded great, it is an A5 magnet but the "air" technology gives it a tone between an A2 and A5. For more traditional PAF tone you could try a set of Dimarzio PAF's, I have one in the neck position of my LP style guitar and it is a great natural sounding pickup. I tried the VHPAF and I thought it was thin which seems to be the opposite of what everyone else hears.

 

[edsmith]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I won't try to convince you to buy any brand. That Dimarzio wizard is crap. I called them and asked the very same thing and they said it was more for trying to push certain pickups to the public. I know some people don't like Harmony-Central, but I think they're a very good source of information from people who have actually used them.

I'm not too familiar with Dimarzio pickups per se, but I have heard the VHPAF, Bluesbucker, and Humbucker From Hell. They were all outstanding, but my favorite was probably the Virtual Hot PAF. I don't know of any Duncans that sound like Dimarzios though, so I can't help there. Go for it and let us know what you think.

 

[alashredder]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I had the Air Norton in the bridge position of a LP style guitar and I thought it sounded great, it is an A5 magnet but the "air" technology gives it a tone between an A2 and A5. For more traditional PAF tone you could try a set of Dimarzio PAF's, I have one in the neck position of my LP style guitar and it is a great natural sounding pickup. I tried the VHPAF and I thought it was thin which seems to be the opposite of what everyone else hears.

+1 on the Dimarzio PAF's. If you want more lead tones, the PAF Pro would provide you with that, but it will sound less vintage than the regular PAF.

 

[theodie]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

If you have the PATB-1 and want something more vintage try the PATB-3, somewhat vintage sounding with a lot of balls.

I agree, the PATB-3 is the way to go. Out of the Dimarzio's, I say the VHPAF but, your guitar is not basswood so, I wouldnt do it. Dimarzio in Basswood works really well but, IMO they are lifeless and sound like ass in most other guitars.

 

[theodie]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

+1 on the Dimarzio PAF's. If you want more lead tones, the PAF Pro would provide you with that, but it will sound less vintage than the regular PAF.

As long as you want a sterile sound with no mojo what so ever that is a great idea.

And no, I am not only about Duncans. I like other brands such as Bill Lawrence and some Lace pickups but, Dimarzios just usually have no personality in most guitars.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I tried the VHPAF in the bridge of my alder strat while I was getting a custom pickup wound for that position, and I ended up liking it so much that I asked that the winder wind the pickup to VHPAF specs instead of what I originally asked for. However, I tried the VHPAF w/ A2, I don't know what it sounds like with A5. I really liked it, great bass response for A2, lots of character, not too fat, but not too thin either. You can probably get a used one on the cheap, I'd go for it if I were you. But If you don't like it with A5, definitely throw an A2 in there before you dismiss it completely.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Who else wants to convince me to try my 15th Duncan instead of my 2nd Dimarzio?

I want to talk you into selling me all the Duncans you didn't like for a dollar. mg:

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Not to diss Dimarzio,
but why not buy the best? Seymour Duncan Pickups.

Boy that's a pretty opinionated comment. That's okay; Duncan is what you like. I favor DiMarzio humbuckers over most others'. I favor Duncan's single coils though.

Personally, I have an Air Zone in the bridge of one of my guitars. It sounds great; however, it is a little higher-output than it sounds like you want. You could install one and lower it. That would give you an airier tone; allowing for better string vibration. Other than that, if you're after a DiMarzio product, you might go with a Virtual Hot PAF...

 

[devastone]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Of the 2, I would probably go for the VHPAF. I really like the regular Norton also, it's a very open sounding bridge pickup, but it may have a little too much output for you. The Air Norton in the bridge might be a good choice though, both the Norton and AN have some of the midrange thickness of the Zones, but with tighter lows so it won't get woofy. They also have nice open souding highs but still have some vintage flavor.

Hope this helps. I use SDs and DMZs pretty equally, in a pinch, I'm with Butch, I might grab a DiMarzio hb over a Duncan, the DMZs seem to have a little more low end growl that I really like.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I'd probably go the PAF Pro / Fred /something similar route. Not that high output or that much compression but nice lead tones with healthy mids.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

Is the VHPAF low enough output to balance with singles, and still be clean when strummed hard? This is the main issue keeping me from deciding between the VPAF and VPAF Hot; both a Harmony Central and a Guitarplayer review of the VPAF Hot compare its output to the Super Distortion mg:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/dimarzio-virtual-hot/Aug-05/12034

An A2 would help with lowering the output, and a VHPAF w/ an A2 is what I'm leaning towards after reading a lot about VPAFs - Saturday is my deadline for deciding.

Does swapping magnets or other tinkering (assuming you don't break the pickup) void the replacement policy?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

The Air Norton for bridge would be WAAAAAAAAAY to bright!

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Dimarzio recommendations

I'd probably go the PAF Pro / Fred /something similar route. Not that high output or that much compression but nice lead tones with healthy mids.

I really like this combo; but the Fred isn't near as fat as the Air Zone and might not be a good choice for alex1fly. Also, the Fred is very modern-sounding as is the PAF Pro. Again, I love them but they might not be what he wants.

The Air Norton for bridge would be WAAAAAAAAAY to bright!

Boy howdy!!!!

The Air Norton is a fantastic neck pickup but does not work in the bridge position.