Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
- Thread starter 357mag
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idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
I have both the Super Distortion and the Super 2. Basically there are four in the series counting the Dual Sound. 3 of the series have different EQ curves and slightly different specs. The different models are like twisting the presence knob on your amp. The Super Distortion has the most bass, the super 3 emphasizes the midrange and Super 2 treble. The Dual Sound just adds a switch and is a 4 conductor version of the Super Distortion which was originally 2 conductor. However since the SD now has four conductors the Dual Sound is kind of superfluous.
The Super Distortion and Super 2 make a good bridge and neck set. However plenty of people use a Dimarzio PAF as a neck pickup instead. You can use the Super 2 as a bridge pickup and it has enough output, but the guitar has to be fairly dark for it to work well. I haven't found a guitar that the Super Distortion didn't sound good in and it's not finicky at all. However it's a very warm, thick pickup that isn't very transparent or resonant, so it has a homogenizing effect on the guitars sound. Each guitar will sound different with a Super Distortion in it, but you will know that each has a Super Distortion in it. It also isn't a narrow genre specific pickup either. People as diverse as KISS, Al Dimeola and Tom Scholz have used it. Once you have tried one you realize just how many people have used it at one time or another and how many hit songs feature it.
I have both the Super Distortion and the Super 2. Basically there are four in the series counting the Dual Sound. 3 of the series have different EQ curves and slightly different specs. The different models are like twisting the presence knob on your amp. The Super Distortion has the most bass, the super 3 emphasizes the midrange and Super 2 treble. The Dual Sound just adds a switch and is a 4 conductor version of the Super Distortion which was originally 2 conductor. However since the SD now has four conductors the Dual Sound is kind of superfluous.
The Super Distortion and Super 2 make a good bridge and neck set. However plenty of people use a Dimarzio PAF as a neck pickup instead. You can use the Super 2 as a bridge pickup and it has enough output, but the guitar has to be fairly dark for it to work well. I haven't found a guitar that the Super Distortion didn't sound good in and it's not finicky at all. However it's a very warm, thick pickup that isn't very transparent or resonant, so it has a homogenizing effect on the guitars sound. Each guitar will sound different with a Super Distortion in it, but you will know that each has a Super Distortion in it. It also isn't a narrow genre specific pickup either. People as diverse as KISS, Al Dimeola and Tom Scholz have used it. Once you have tried one you realize just how many people have used it at one time or another and how many hit songs feature it.
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Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Thanks for the feedback. But I'm not clear on what you mean by "homogenizing"? Gives the guitar a real "general" tone?
Thanks for the feedback. But I'm not clear on what you mean by "homogenizing"? Gives the guitar a real "general" tone?
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Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
I believe he means that every guitar with a Super Distortion, sounds like a guitar with a Super Distortion. For better or for worse. Which is something I would agree with. The SD/Super 2 combo is a real hard rock set. It's still versatile, but especially the Super 2 is real aggressive for a neck pickup. I think they're EQ'd great as a set, and they both lend themselves well to lead work. I love the Super D for rhythms, it's big and brawny sounding, and tight enough without being sterile. I'm not a big lead player, and I thought the cleans on the Super 2 were pretty cold sounding, so I actually prefer another Super Distortion in parallel in the neck slot. The output works well, and it's a bit "bluesier" with leads, and warmer with cleans without being wooly in the lows or too high output.
I believe he means that every guitar with a Super Distortion, sounds like a guitar with a Super Distortion. For better or for worse. Which is something I would agree with. The SD/Super 2 combo is a real hard rock set. It's still versatile, but especially the Super 2 is real aggressive for a neck pickup. I think they're EQ'd great as a set, and they both lend themselves well to lead work. I love the Super D for rhythms, it's big and brawny sounding, and tight enough without being sterile. I'm not a big lead player, and I thought the cleans on the Super 2 were pretty cold sounding, so I actually prefer another Super Distortion in parallel in the neck slot. The output works well, and it's a bit "bluesier" with leads, and warmer with cleans without being wooly in the lows or too high output.
SoundAt11
Member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
I've used the Super Distortion several times over the years and what struck me the most is how direct it sounds and feels. When you hit a chord or note, there is no lag or delay, you get an instant response and it is a very strong and bold tone. And yes, it is a very muscular and beefy pickup, even in a thin or bright sounding guitar. When I hear old Iron Maiden or Judas Priest songs, it sounds just like my Super Distortion did.
I've used the Super Distortion several times over the years and what struck me the most is how direct it sounds and feels. When you hit a chord or note, there is no lag or delay, you get an instant response and it is a very strong and bold tone. And yes, it is a very muscular and beefy pickup, even in a thin or bright sounding guitar. When I hear old Iron Maiden or Judas Priest songs, it sounds just like my Super Distortion did.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Want to play Jazz Fusion? It can do it.
Want to play Thrash? It can do it.
Want to play pop-punk? It can do it.
Want to play grunge? It can do it.
Want to play classic Rock? It can do it.
What I'm saying is that each guitar will still have its own character, but you will know that each has a Super Distortion. It's a very forgiving pickup and isn't idiosyncratic like a lot of pickups which only sound good in certain kinds of guitars, so you can use it nearly everywhere. It has its own voice and luckily that thick, fuzzy, and smooth voice is a good fit for a wide range of musical styles. However if your are looking for tight, transparent and resonant like a Black Winter it's not that kind of pickup.
Want to play Jazz Fusion? It can do it.
Want to play Thrash? It can do it.
Want to play pop-punk? It can do it.
Want to play grunge? It can do it.
Want to play classic Rock? It can do it.
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RayBarbeeMusic
Active member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Super 2 is the neck pickup to match a super hot bridge. It has blazing output with minimal mud and plenty of articulation. Not just for metal or hard rock at all, it will do funk, jazz, etc. nicely, at least that's what I used it for. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead (not known for their thrash epics.....) used to use 2 in his guitars iirc.
Super 2 is the neck pickup to match a super hot bridge. It has blazing output with minimal mud and plenty of articulation. Not just for metal or hard rock at all, it will do funk, jazz, etc. nicely, at least that's what I used it for. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead (not known for their thrash epics.....) used to use 2 in his guitars iirc.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Super Distortion = Hot and spicy, but not completely over the top. Very bottom heavy (low mids are huge), but still has a slight metallic "zing" to it, especially if you don't hit the strings too hard. They can get incredibly muddy through a low-headroom amp, and sound a bit like a cocked wah. They need 50 or, even better, 100 watts to sound their best IMHO. They also tend to sound better with fresh strings (unlike many pickups, IMO). Otherwise they are too dirty and muddy, and lose most of their magic.
Super 2 = everything that is good about the SD (loud, warm and bluesy, but spicy), while eliminating everything that is bad about it (murkiness and lack of clarity in chords). This is the pickup to get if you like the way a SD sounds through a 100W amp, but you want to use a 15W (for example) amp.
Super Distortion = Hot and spicy, but not completely over the top. Very bottom heavy (low mids are huge), but still has a slight metallic "zing" to it, especially if you don't hit the strings too hard. They can get incredibly muddy through a low-headroom amp, and sound a bit like a cocked wah. They need 50 or, even better, 100 watts to sound their best IMHO. They also tend to sound better with fresh strings (unlike many pickups, IMO). Otherwise they are too dirty and muddy, and lose most of their magic.
Super 2 = everything that is good about the SD (loud, warm and bluesy, but spicy), while eliminating everything that is bad about it (murkiness and lack of clarity in chords). This is the pickup to get if you like the way a SD sounds through a 100W amp, but you want to use a 15W (for example) amp.
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Drunken Bowling
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
I've always had a love/hate relationship with the Super D. On the one hand, I love that it has the classic thick sound heard on so many recordings that I love. On the other hand, I noticed that when I switched to it from the '59, I lost that classic PAF bridge sound that I had with the 59. It's a trade-off, I guess.
I've always had a love/hate relationship with the Super D. On the one hand, I love that it has the classic thick sound heard on so many recordings that I love. On the other hand, I noticed that when I switched to it from the '59, I lost that classic PAF bridge sound that I had with the 59. It's a trade-off, I guess.
RayBarbeeMusic
Active member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Make sure you buy strippers that can do 26ga wire. That's what I use and I install a LOT of pickups with no issues at all.
Make sure you buy strippers that can do 26ga wire. That's what I use and I install a LOT of pickups with no issues at all.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
I've had a few Super Ds in various guitars.
Always found them to be pretty generic sounding . Definitely an improvement over the stock pickups you'd get from John Doe guitar manufacturer.
But out of the "Big Three" iconic aftermarket pickups (along with JB and 81) I think it's the least interesting.
I've had a few Super Ds in various guitars.
Always found them to be pretty generic sounding . Definitely an improvement over the stock pickups you'd get from John Doe guitar manufacturer.
But out of the "Big Three" iconic aftermarket pickups (along with JB and 81) I think it's the least interesting.
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion & Super 2
Space Ace...I am unfamiliar with full size Dimarzio humbuckers. I've never bought or installed a ****ing Super Distortion or any other Dimarzio humbucker. Never. It's a fair question.
Space Ace...I am unfamiliar with full size Dimarzio humbuckers. I've never bought or installed a ****ing Super Distortion or any other Dimarzio humbucker. Never. It's a fair question.
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