Dimarzio Super Distortion
- Thread starter pittbull
- Start date
shadowfire90
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
it depends on the guitar, your pedals and amp for EQ and all however
12 adjustable pole pieces - most pickups have 6 to fine tune the EQ of your pickup
you can actually get it in cream - Larry Dimarzio holds a patent on both bobbins in a humbucker being cream
that pickup model has been on records that have sold millions of copies .. or these days billions of streams on spotify or youtube :jester:
I really like the pickup myself. I'll put anything in my guitars as long as it sounds good but it really does depend on the guitar. I had a very old Dimarzio dual sound (4 wire super distoriton back in the day) in a mexican fender a guy brought in and didn't care for it.
Some Famous players include the following - some may or may not have recorded albums with these as I'll let the others pick measure over this but this is from Dimarzio official website, equipboard which did have references to each of these and finally the ever trustworthy wikipedia. This will give you an idea of how versatile this pickup is. If you look up comparisons make sure the person uses the same guitar as there is far too many they rock out on one guitar then pick up another guitar and everyone thinks only the pickup is what they are hearing.
Ace Frehley (KISS)
Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
Al Di Maeola
Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
Dimebag Darrell - Neck position only - this was in some guitars
Eddie Van Halen - very briefly as far as I know
Fast Eddie Clarke (Motorhead)
Jeff Hanneman (Slayer) - before the EMG endorsement
John Norum (Europe)
Kerry King (Slayer) - before EMG endorsement - watch the seasons in the abyss video with the cream pickups
K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Paul Gilbert
Phil Collin (Def Leppard)
Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
Tom Scholz (Boston)
Tony Macalpine (solo artist / keyboard player for Steve Vai)
Tracii Guns (LA Guns)
Vivian Campbell (Dio)
let the pick measuring over the authenticity of this list or add onto it commence! :sword:
it depends on the guitar, your pedals and amp for EQ and all however
12 adjustable pole pieces - most pickups have 6 to fine tune the EQ of your pickup
you can actually get it in cream - Larry Dimarzio holds a patent on both bobbins in a humbucker being cream
that pickup model has been on records that have sold millions of copies .. or these days billions of streams on spotify or youtube :jester:
I really like the pickup myself. I'll put anything in my guitars as long as it sounds good but it really does depend on the guitar. I had a very old Dimarzio dual sound (4 wire super distoriton back in the day) in a mexican fender a guy brought in and didn't care for it.
Some Famous players include the following - some may or may not have recorded albums with these as I'll let the others pick measure over this but this is from Dimarzio official website, equipboard which did have references to each of these and finally the ever trustworthy wikipedia. This will give you an idea of how versatile this pickup is. If you look up comparisons make sure the person uses the same guitar as there is far too many they rock out on one guitar then pick up another guitar and everyone thinks only the pickup is what they are hearing.
Ace Frehley (KISS)
Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
Al Di Maeola
Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
Dimebag Darrell - Neck position only - this was in some guitars
Eddie Van Halen - very briefly as far as I know
Fast Eddie Clarke (Motorhead)
Jeff Hanneman (Slayer) - before the EMG endorsement
John Norum (Europe)
Kerry King (Slayer) - before EMG endorsement - watch the seasons in the abyss video with the cream pickups
K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Paul Gilbert
Phil Collin (Def Leppard)
Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
Tom Scholz (Boston)
Tony Macalpine (solo artist / keyboard player for Steve Vai)
Tracii Guns (LA Guns)
Vivian Campbell (Dio)
let the pick measuring over the authenticity of this list or add onto it commence! :sword:
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Pro's - Hot, thick, tight, good highs, flexible, classic if not iconic.
Con's - Too thick? Maybe fizzy? Could be a touch more articulate? Colors sound of guitar.
Pros far outweighs any cons IMO. I'd never be unhappy with one. There might always be another sound I'd prefer for this or that purpose.
Pro's - Hot, thick, tight, good highs, flexible, classic if not iconic.
Con's - Too thick? Maybe fizzy? Could be a touch more articulate? Colors sound of guitar.
Pros far outweighs any cons IMO. I'd never be unhappy with one. There might always be another sound I'd prefer for this or that purpose.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
I think about pickups in a linear fashion. For example:
P90>PAF>Pat.#>Transition pickups>T-Tops>Circuit board buckers>490 series>Dirty Fingers
Then you have the Gibson Branches Branching \...........................\_>Shaws>57 Classics>Burst Buckers
Then you have the aftermarket progression..... \_>Dimarzio Super Distortion>JB>Duncan Distortion
I think the Super D is a REALLY cool pickup. It's ceramic and overwound, but it doesn't seem as far removed from a PAF, somehow, as a Duncan Distortion or even a JB in some ways. A JB is a more "perfect" sound than a Super D I believe. Some people think the SD is too middy, too dark, too fat. I think it does killer in a guitar you want to warm up.
Luke
I think about pickups in a linear fashion. For example:
P90>PAF>Pat.#>Transition pickups>T-Tops>Circuit board buckers>490 series>Dirty Fingers
Then you have the Gibson Branches Branching \...........................\_>Shaws>57 Classics>Burst Buckers
Then you have the aftermarket progression..... \_>Dimarzio Super Distortion>JB>Duncan Distortion
I think the Super D is a REALLY cool pickup. It's ceramic and overwound, but it doesn't seem as far removed from a PAF, somehow, as a Duncan Distortion or even a JB in some ways. A JB is a more "perfect" sound than a Super D I believe. Some people think the SD is too middy, too dark, too fat. I think it does killer in a guitar you want to warm up.
Luke
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Dave Locher
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
After trying at least a dozen different medium-to-high output humbuckers over the past several years I have settled on the Super D as my pickup of choice. It is not perfect, and some guitars could use less low mids, but damn it just works 98% of the time.
One day a few months ago I heard three very different songs in a row on a classic rock station and realized I really liked the sound of all three and they were all recorded with Super D pickups in at least one of the guitars! (I don't recall which three songs but I believe it was Judas Priest, Def Leppard, and maybe Motley Crue.)
People who don't like them typically have super high-gain amps and/or use high-gain pedals for their dirt. I use them to get push & sustain into a more "classic gain" amp.
After trying at least a dozen different medium-to-high output humbuckers over the past several years I have settled on the Super D as my pickup of choice. It is not perfect, and some guitars could use less low mids, but damn it just works 98% of the time.
One day a few months ago I heard three very different songs in a row on a classic rock station and realized I really liked the sound of all three and they were all recorded with Super D pickups in at least one of the guitars! (I don't recall which three songs but I believe it was Judas Priest, Def Leppard, and maybe Motley Crue.)
People who don't like them typically have super high-gain amps and/or use high-gain pedals for their dirt. I use them to get push & sustain into a more "classic gain" amp.
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Hard to argue with the sounds they make. Classic, yet still capable of making some very modern metal and rock tones.
I bought a $100 fb marketplace guitar that had been roller-painted just for the vintage factory Super Ds. Still happy with that purchase!
Hard to argue with the sounds they make. Classic, yet still capable of making some very modern metal and rock tones.
I bought a $100 fb marketplace guitar that had been roller-painted just for the vintage factory Super Ds. Still happy with that purchase!
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
One of the best aftermarket pickups ever. It works for so many genres despite the name. It splits well, it works in parallel mode well, it cleans up well. Part of the magic of it is the double-thick ceramic magnet but the lower wind of coils compared to pickups like the JB and Distortion or even the Dirty Fingers. While it has a little sizzle, I feel it adds a little dimension to it. I have one at the house I bought several weeks ago to install in my LP. Haven't gotten around to it yet. But I do know from experience that it is a match made in Heaven.
One of the best aftermarket pickups ever. It works for so many genres despite the name. It splits well, it works in parallel mode well, it cleans up well. Part of the magic of it is the double-thick ceramic magnet but the lower wind of coils compared to pickups like the JB and Distortion or even the Dirty Fingers. While it has a little sizzle, I feel it adds a little dimension to it. I have one at the house I bought several weeks ago to install in my LP. Haven't gotten around to it yet. But I do know from experience that it is a match made in Heaven.
LLL
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
LOL - I've got a pair of "circuit board buckers" (says "The Original" on back too) from my '89 LPC stashed away...
Oddly enough, I've yet to try a DiM SD... and I've been playing since 1983.
LOL - I've got a pair of "circuit board buckers" (says "The Original" on back too) from my '89 LPC stashed away...
Oddly enough, I've yet to try a DiM SD... and I've been playing since 1983.
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Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
It's the only pickup I like in a Strat just as much as I like it in a Les Paul. Sounds really heavy and mean but in a groovy 70s way.
It's the only pickup I like in a Strat just as much as I like it in a Les Paul. Sounds really heavy and mean but in a groovy 70s way.
vinnie1971
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Good but prefer super 70s.
The tone is too thick - not as bright as I like. I been riding super distortion bridge and PAF pro neck in my LP for 3 years... I prefer Gibson 57s. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I do t like them. I do. Just not enough. There’s other pickups I prefer.
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Good but prefer super 70s.
The tone is too thick - not as bright as I like. I been riding super distortion bridge and PAF pro neck in my LP for 3 years... I prefer Gibson 57s. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I do t like them. I do. Just not enough. There’s other pickups I prefer.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Iron1
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
I had one in my main guitar for a really long time. Always easy to dial in a great tone regardless of the amp/pedals/etc. Finally moved away from it looking for something darker, but would love to have one again. Like Aceman said, everyone should try it at some point.
I had one in my main guitar for a really long time. Always easy to dial in a great tone regardless of the amp/pedals/etc. Finally moved away from it looking for something darker, but would love to have one again. Like Aceman said, everyone should try it at some point.
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
I had a super Dist in my Carvin, swapped it out for a Bill Lawrence 500XL (to nail Diamond Darrell tones) then gave it to my nephew (the 500XL) and re-installed the super dist, it has more power than Livewires Classic I, EMG 81, 60, 85 and DMZ Blazes.
I had a super Dist in my Carvin, swapped it out for a Bill Lawrence 500XL (to nail Diamond Darrell tones) then gave it to my nephew (the 500XL) and re-installed the super dist, it has more power than Livewires Classic I, EMG 81, 60, 85 and DMZ Blazes.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Classic 70s tone, but with fairly stiff feel and sterile cleanup when you roll it back. I prefer alnico myself.
Seems like most of the newer DiMarzio models use ceramics; the SuperD was the one that started Larry down that road I think.
Classic 70s tone, but with fairly stiff feel and sterile cleanup when you roll it back. I prefer alnico myself.
Seems like most of the newer DiMarzio models use ceramics; the SuperD was the one that started Larry down that road I think.
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