DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

One issue I'm having on the concept of mixing the Duncans and DiMarzios is this: I just found out yesterday that the Duncans (such as Hot Rails, Lil '59 and JB Jr.) are voiced for 250k pots while the DiMarzios are voiced like regular humbuckers for 500k. Not sure what to do there.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

One issue I'm having on the concept of mixing the Duncans and DiMarzios is this: I just found out yesterday that the Duncans (such as Hot Rails, Lil '59 and JB Jr.) are voiced for 250k pots while the DiMarzios are voiced like regular humbuckers for 500k. Not sure what to do there.
That's not really true. Pot type is a matter of preference and you can use whatever you like. The JB Jr bridge is bright so it could use a 250k pot, however a 500K pot for the Little 59 and Hotrails is just fine. If you approach the choice of pots from the standpoint of resistance you get a bit better results. Because the higher the resistance the darker the pickup and the larger the value pot. The majority of single coil sized humbuckers are above 8K resistance which puts them in humbucker territory and they work fine with 500K pots. Even single coils with high resistance like the Hot, Quarter Pounder Custom can use 500K pots.
 
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Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

That's not really true. Pot type is a matter of preference and you can use whatever you like. The JB Jr bridge is bright so it could use a 250k pot, however a 500K pot for the Little 59 and Hotrails is just fine. If you approach the choice of pots from the standpoint of resistance you get a bit better results. Because the higher the resistance the darker the pickup and the larger the value pot. The majority of single coil sized humbuckers are above 8K resistance which puts them in humbucker territory and they work fine with 500K pots. Even single coils with high resistance like the Hot, Quarter Pounder Custom can use 500K pots.

That is a good way to look at it. I'm just basing this on what I heard on a video from Sigler's Music (920D Custom Shop). They were talking about their Everything Axe pickguard and said the pickups were designed and voiced purposely to require no change from 250k to 500k pots. Not an exact quote, mind you. Lol
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

That is a good way to look at it. I'm just basing this on what I heard on a video from Sigler's Music (920D Custom Shop). They were talking about their Everything Axe pickguard and said the pickups were designed and voiced purposely to require no change from 250k to 500k pots. Not an exact quote, mind you. Lol
The choice of pot has to deal with the relative amount of treble/bass you want. Lower value pots bleed more treble to ground and create a darker sound than higher value pots. It's a balancing act because if you use too low a value pot you can constrict dynamics and muffle a pickups sound, whereas too high a value will make a pickup sound bright and brittle. The right value pot should give you a good dynamic range and resonance, while smoothing out pickups sound. What that sounds like is up to you and your preferences.
 
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Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

The choice of pot has to deal with the relative amount of treble/bass you want. Lower value pots bleed more treble to ground and create a darker sound than higher value pots. It's a balancing act because if you use too low a value pot you can constrict dynamics and muffle a pickups sound, whereas to high a value will make a pickup sound bright and brittle.

Right. So, on a Strat for example, would using a 500k volume and 250k tone pots be a good compromise? I'm still kinda new to how it all works with the signal path from each pickup and such.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Right. So, on a Strat for example, would using a 500k volume and 250k tone pots be a good compromise? I'm still kinda new to how it all works with the signal path from each pickup and such.
If you look at it from a resistance/MV output point of view the general rule is the lower the resistance/MV output the lower value volume pot you would use. The higher the resistance/MV output the higher value pot you would use. The higher the resistance/MV output of the pickup the darker it is going to be due to frequency attenuation. Volume pots have a bigger impact on sound than tone controls because tone controls really don't much bleed treble when they're not being used. If you want to brighten up a pickups sound start with the volume before the tone controls.

Low Power Pickups:
Lipstick tubes = 4-6K resistance = 100K volume to round off the treble and beef up the pickups sound.
Strat pickups = 5-8K resistance = 250K volume to round off the treble and beef up the pickups sound.

Medium Power Pickups:
P90's and PAF's = 6-10K = 500K volume to round off the treble and beef up the pickups sound. 250K pots are often too dark.

Higher Power Pickups:
Custom, Distortion, Invader = 12-20K = 500K or 1meg volume. Use a 1meg volume if you want more resonance, a wider frequency range and a less muffled sound. There are some very bright high power pickups like the JB but the majority are darker sounding.
 
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Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Look at the Billy Corgan sig pickups!

Those might be a good match for the FT2 also. I didn't even think about that.

I've heard that the Lace pickups Billy used before he switched to DiMarzio are even better though.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

I'm thinking I'll change my volume to 500k and go with one of these combos from the DiMarzio website:

"Using a 500K volume control will open up the top end, and we recommend this value. The best neck pickup choices with the Fast Track 2[emoji769] would be relatively hot models like the The Chopper[emoji769], Pro Track[emoji769]. Air Norton S[emoji769] and BC-1[emoji769]. We recommend brighter models like the Cruiser[emoji769] or Fast Track 1[emoji769] in the middle. You can also mix it with Stratier pickups like the Area and Virtual Vintage[emoji768] lines, if you're prepared for the jump in power of the bridge position."

I'm leaning toward a Pro Track or Chopper in the neck, and a Fast Track 1 or Cruiser (bridge) in the middle.

I'm still liking the idea of the Air Norton S in the neck though too. Decisions, decisions...
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

I was messing around with some clean tones last night and realized I actually find the middle pickup sound useful for a few things. With that said, I'm now wondering which would sound best by itself in the middle: Fast Track 1, Cruiser, or Cruiser bridge. I like the idea that the Cruiser bridge has a bit of a mid scoop on it. I also don't mind if it's a tad bit warmer than the single coil that's there now.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Hi, I have your very same pickup in the bridge position of my Strat. I decided to couple it with a Chopper in the neck. They sound killer both on their own and together (I did a blending mod to do that). I left a normal single coil in the middle position. It's one killer of a guitar, if you trust my words. Regards!
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Hi, I have your very same pickup in the bridge position of my Strat. I decided to couple it with a Chopper in the neck. They sound killer both on their own and together (I did a blending mod to do that). I left a normal single coil in the middle position. It's one killer of a guitar, if you trust my words. Regards!

Thanks! Good to know!
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

I have the cruiser bridge in the neck slot & area 67 in middle slot. The area can overpower the cruiser at same height with ease as well as sound clearer while at it. The area 61 is an option for middle for better quack but i would consider the fast track 1 there for output when paired with the fast track 2 in the bridge.

Also consider looking into the satch track for the neck.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

I have the cruiser bridge in the neck slot & area 67 in middle slot. The area can overpower the cruiser at same height with ease as well as sound clearer while at it. The area 61 is an option for middle for better quack but i would consider the fast track 1 there for output when paired with the fast track 2 in the bridge.

Also consider looking into the satch track for the neck.

Ok, cool. Thanks for the tip!
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

My Blackmore strat has a Super Distortion S in the bridge and a Fast Track 1 in the neck. Coil splitting on the Super Distortion S is fantastic. That guitar does pretty much everything you can think of. I had Hot Rails at one time but they don't really sound good.
 
Re: DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Alright, I should have a Fast Track 1 on the way to my house soon. Now to get a Chopper.

Once I have all of my pickups lined up, I'm getting a low friction 500k volume pot. I would like to get push/pull pots for the 2 tone knobs to enable series/parallel switching for the neck & bridge. I think sticking with my regular 5-way blade switch would be ok for now. Not really sure if a Super Switch would be good in this configuration or not. I might be happy with the normal 5-way switching. Not yet sure which pickups I should route the tone controls to. Any suggestions on any of this? It could turn out to be a super versatile guitar.
 
DiMarzio Strat-sized Humbucker pairings

Ok, after more of my obsessive brainstorming, this is the switching I think I would want:

Standard 5-way switching

500k Master Volume

250k or 500k tones

Tone 1 controlling neck & middle

Tone 2 controlling bridge

3-way mini toggle for split/series/parallel

2-way mini toggle to turn the neck pickup on in any position

Would that work, and is there a specific diagram for that?
 
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