Dimarzio SDS-1

[jerryjg]

A true clasic! Don't hear much about this high output Strat bridge pup. Some tech notes;

It might look like a Strat guitar pickup, but the SDS-1™ adds balls, gain and warmth reminiscent of the best old soapbar pickups. The adjustable pole pieces don't pull as hard as regular rod magnets, so you can get the pickup closer to the strings for stronger output. The highs are less exaggerated and the bottom is deeper than most singles for a rounder, darker tone. If your guitar's bridge position sound is too edgy, without the push needed to drive your amp, remedy the situation with an SDS-1™. Add a pair of Class of 55™ pickups for sparkle, or a Class of 55™ in the neck and an FS-1™ in the middle for even tone choices.
Recommended For: Bridge position.
Tech Talk: The bar magnets that power the SDS-1™ are ceramic, but the sound and feel are very similar to Alnico-equipped soapbars, partly due to the big steel polepieces and spacer bar. This type of magnet structure also has noticeably less magnetic pull than standard rod-magnet pickups, even though the output is very high for a single-coil.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

I'm wanting to try this one in the middle position in my RG when I switch it over to Dimarzios.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

I'm wanting to try this one in the middle position in my RG when I switch it over to Dimarzios.

Ya , its gotta be a great pickup!

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

I have 'em in the neck & middle of my strat, and they do give it plenty of guts. Definitely not a vintage tone, that's for sure.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Allan Holdsworth and SDS-1's (2:44 for the SDS-1s)
linkage

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Jake E. Lee ran a pair of those in his white Fender-Turned-Charvel with an Allan Holdsworth in the bridge, then later a JB in the bridge.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Jake E. Lee ran a pair of those in his white Fender-Turned-Charvel with an Allan Holdsworth in the bridge, then later a JB in the bridge.

yes, and that blue guitar in the clip
never had a Holdsworth in the first place

I heard from the customshop a few years ago
that the Holdsworth PROTO Jake used
was practically a JB with double screwcoils

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

yes, and that blue guitar in the clip
never had a Holdsworth in the first place

I heard from the customshop a few years ago
that the Holdsworth PROTO Jake used
was practically a JB with double screwcoils

Right. The blue and purples ones had JB's from the start, didn't they?

I've been wanting to try those SDS-1's for a while now. Problem is, I have nothing to put them in. I'm not swapping anything out with what I have right now any time soon.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Right. The blue and purples ones had JB's from the start, didn't they?

Yes

 

[jeremy]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

i have a sds-1 from the early 90's, great pup.

 

[BigDreamer]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Awesome pickup! Got it in the neck of my strat and it is much ballsier than your average SC. I personally really like it for its lack of mushiness under high gain and with low tunings.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

does the sds-1 go by any other name? Is it discontinued? I can't seem to find any information about it on the dimarzio site.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

does the sds-1 go by any other name? Is it discontinued? I can't seem to find any information about it on the dimarzio site.

Look under Pickups/Strat/Standard Strat. It's the last one on the list.

 

[chill]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

How would you describe the tone of the SDS-1?

 

[jimijames]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... I thought it was a noiseless model, didn't even look under the standard section. Mucho Grassyass

 

[J Moose]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

How would you describe the tone of the SDS-1?

Loud! Loud & midrangy. I have an early '80s example that came in my '70s hardtail strat. Can easily compete with a P-90 and hang tough when swapping to a 'bucker plank like a Lester yet, matched really well with the stock '70s Graybottoms.

There's a HUGE magnet on the bottom of that! The pickup is like a deep-dish pizza... the previous owner had to drill out a bit of wood from the bottom of the cavity so it would fit.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Dimarzio SDS-1

How would you describe the tone of the SDS-1?

It kind of sounds like a single coil super distortion. Fat, warm, fuzzy and a little raw on the top end.

Grounding and shielding of the guitar and the pickup are a must.