toneseeker74
New member
I read everywhere that the Super Distortion is supposed to have lots of lows and low mids. When I tried it in my fixed bridge basswood 25 1/2 inch scale it sounded bright and dense. I don't get it. What am I missing?
DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
- Thread starter toneseeker74
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vinta9e
New member
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
The adjustment. Get 2 nickels. Adjust the bass side to be the height of both away from the strings and the treble side 1 nickel height away from the strings. Set you amp's controls to 12 noon across the board (bass, mids, treble, presence). Proceed to rock.
Since it seems like your guitar is naturally bright, adjust the bass side to be 1 nickel thickness away.
The adjustment. Get 2 nickels. Adjust the bass side to be the height of both away from the strings and the treble side 1 nickel height away from the strings. Set you amp's controls to 12 noon across the board (bass, mids, treble, presence). Proceed to rock.
Since it seems like your guitar is naturally bright, adjust the bass side to be 1 nickel thickness away.
toneseeker74
New member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
Guitar was a Squier Venus. Very nicely built in Japan. I will say, however, that it turned me off from basswood...screw holes strip out so easily, and it dents easily too. Seriously, this was the trickiest guitar to find a pickup match for. I tried Seths, JB, Custom, Distortion, Screamin Demon, Full Shred, Super Distortion, PAF Pro, Evo2, and Norton. The best match, for great cleans and overdrive, was a DiMarzio Virtual PAF neck model installed in the bridge.
OK, I'll have to give a Super Distortion another try in a different guitar.
Guitar was a Squier Venus. Very nicely built in Japan. I will say, however, that it turned me off from basswood...screw holes strip out so easily, and it dents easily too. Seriously, this was the trickiest guitar to find a pickup match for. I tried Seths, JB, Custom, Distortion, Screamin Demon, Full Shred, Super Distortion, PAF Pro, Evo2, and Norton. The best match, for great cleans and overdrive, was a DiMarzio Virtual PAF neck model installed in the bridge.
OK, I'll have to give a Super Distortion another try in a different guitar.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
Easy fix for the screw hole deal - Put a bead of Gorilla glue in the screw hole, stick a good quality wooden toothpick in there and break it off, use a fine nail file to sand down without hurting the guitar wood, and screw the screw back in after it dries completely. You will never have trouble with the screw holes again. Most toothpicks are made of soft wood, but if you got to certain places like Bed,Bath & Beyond, you can sometimes find hardwood toothpicks and those are the best.
Easy fix for the screw hole deal - Put a bead of Gorilla glue in the screw hole, stick a good quality wooden toothpick in there and break it off, use a fine nail file to sand down without hurting the guitar wood, and screw the screw back in after it dries completely. You will never have trouble with the screw holes again. Most toothpicks are made of soft wood, but if you got to certain places like Bed,Bath & Beyond, you can sometimes find hardwood toothpicks and those are the best.
Inder_Cine_Mann
New member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
What you read is correct. That PU rules.
What you read is correct. That PU rules.
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
utahere:
Not sure about dense, but bright yes in a basswood body of 25.5" scale & 2-point trem, wired in series. Height adjustments didn't help with the brightness either. It sounded less bright in my 25" PRS SE mahogany/w-maple top.
utahere:Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
The Squier Venus is brighter than even a Jazzmaster: it's basically feeding no body for DSD to grab. Unplugged, it's all jangle. Strum an Epiphone or Gibson SG or Les Paul unplugged and listen for the low resonance: they sound more like an acoustic & less like a tennis racquet.
A pickup can only work with what you give it, it doesn't manufacture missing bass.
The Squier Venus is brighter than even a Jazzmaster: it's basically feeding no body for DSD to grab. Unplugged, it's all jangle. Strum an Epiphone or Gibson SG or Les Paul unplugged and listen for the low resonance: they sound more like an acoustic & less like a tennis racquet.
A pickup can only work with what you give it, it doesn't manufacture missing bass.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
i've only played one in mahogany, loved it. haven't played one in a strat, but i frick'n love iron maiden, and refuse to believe that a superD can't sound good in a half-decent strat.
FWIW, i had the poles basically flat, and the pickup relatively close to the strings. could've gone closer too, it's not shy. there was no wolf-tone or stratitis with that thing.
i've only played one in mahogany, loved it. haven't played one in a strat, but i frick'n love iron maiden, and refuse to believe that a superD can't sound good in a half-decent strat.
FWIW, i had the poles basically flat, and the pickup relatively close to the strings. could've gone closer too, it's not shy. there was no wolf-tone or stratitis with that thing.
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
file? glue?? ...WHAAAT?
wanna tell him to refinish it over and then redrill while you're at it?
No no no no no!!
Toothpick method:
1) break toothpick, outside guitar
2) stick broken toothpick in
3) screw in over that
...DONE. yes, even for strap buttons.
NO glue. NO files. none of that nonsense. you'll only screw things up, or, most likely, be intimidated away from a foolproof 5second fix method
file? glue?? ...WHAAAT?
wanna tell him to refinish it over and then redrill while you're at it?
No no no no no!!
Toothpick method:
1) break toothpick, outside guitar
2) stick broken toothpick in
3) screw in over that
...DONE. yes, even for strap buttons.
NO glue. NO files. none of that nonsense. you'll only screw things up, or, most likely, be intimidated away from a foolproof 5second fix method
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
You are mostly correct...
Definitely measure and break the toothpick first. You don't want to have to trim (and ESPECIALLY file) after it is in the guitar...unless you actually WANT to scratch up your guitar finish.
But, you DO want to glue the toothpick(s) in. Use as many as it takes to tightly fill the hole. Just plain ol' Elmers wood glue works perfectly and when dry, it leaves a nice hard hole the won't strip out.
After you glue in the toothpicks, screw-in the screw right away...before the glue gets hard. That way you don't have to drill at all, and it makes a nice dense wood filling as the wood compresses from the screw pressure.
You are mostly correct...
Definitely measure and break the toothpick first. You don't want to have to trim (and ESPECIALLY file) after it is in the guitar...unless you actually WANT to scratch up your guitar finish.
But, you DO want to glue the toothpick(s) in. Use as many as it takes to tightly fill the hole. Just plain ol' Elmers wood glue works perfectly and when dry, it leaves a nice hard hole the won't strip out.
After you glue in the toothpicks, screw-in the screw right away...before the glue gets hard. That way you don't have to drill at all, and it makes a nice dense wood filling as the wood compresses from the screw pressure.
Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
Ah, I've been wondering about the single coil size models, as that may be my next chance to use a DMZ SD. Good to go, I take it?
I have one in my MIM Tele and the thing rocks like a beast. Loads of bass and mid punch.
Ah, I've been wondering about the single coil size models, as that may be my next chance to use a DMZ SD. Good to go, I take it?
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
Glue is counterproductive if you ever want to remove the screw...itll tear everything out, and maybe then some. Also, if it sets to the screw but not to the hole (bad timing screwing in, luck, etc), it would actually become lots LESS secure and more likely to slip out
It sounds iffy just using an unattached toothpick, but try it attaching a strap button w/ a grolschlok (or a straplock) to a 2x4 and swing it around till you get confident and/or feel supersilly, if youve got doubts.... Just toothpicks works just fine. And nothing to scratch that way.
Glue is counterproductive if you ever want to remove the screw...itll tear everything out, and maybe then some. Also, if it sets to the screw but not to the hole (bad timing screwing in, luck, etc), it would actually become lots LESS secure and more likely to slip out
It sounds iffy just using an unattached toothpick, but try it attaching a strap button w/ a grolschlok (or a straplock) to a 2x4 and swing it around till you get confident and/or feel supersilly, if youve got doubts.... Just toothpicks works just fine. And nothing to scratch that way.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
It may seem like nonsense to you but if you file the toothpick to a flat edge after you break it off, then the screw will more evenly drill down the middle of it. Otherwise you might end up with the screw on one side of the hole and the toothpick on the other. You can also split the toothpick so the screw will go down the middle. The point is to make sure there is wood around the screw that is harder than the wood in the guitar. Many toothpicks are made of ash which is a harder wood than basswood. I'm not an expert but I did some research before attempting such a repair my self. If you're OK with using just any toothpick which isn't necessarily made of quality wood, or don't have a preference whether it screws in evenly or not, then that's your perspective. I'd rather do it right the first time and have a quality repair.
It may seem like nonsense to you but if you file the toothpick to a flat edge after you break it off, then the screw will more evenly drill down the middle of it. Otherwise you might end up with the screw on one side of the hole and the toothpick on the other. You can also split the toothpick so the screw will go down the middle. The point is to make sure there is wood around the screw that is harder than the wood in the guitar. Many toothpicks are made of ash which is a harder wood than basswood. I'm not an expert but I did some research before attempting such a repair my self. If you're OK with using just any toothpick which isn't necessarily made of quality wood, or don't have a preference whether it screws in evenly or not, then that's your perspective. I'd rather do it right the first time and have a quality repair.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: DiMarzio Super Distortion...I don't get it
I always use glue and toothpicks and it has never tore anything out. Once the screw is back in its spot you can remove it and put it back in as though the hole was never stripped.
I always use glue and toothpicks and it has never tore anything out. Once the screw is back in its spot you can remove it and put it back in as though the hole was never stripped.
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