Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

[The New Guy]

Hey everyone,

Dumb question...do dimarzios really compliment the sound of Ibanez guitars better overall than SD's? or is it just that they are associated with that guitar line because of endorsments, factory installs, etc.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

Hey everyone,

Dumb question...do dimarzios really compliment the sound of Ibanez guitars better overall than SD's? or is it just that they are associated with that guitar line because of endorsments, factory installs, etc.

It's a combination of the two but it's the latter mostly by far.

People usually say Ibanzes are thin sounding and Dimarzios with the way a good chunk of them are EQ'd are generally(certainly not always) meatier and warmer sounding than Duncans IMO...hence they seem to work well with the Ibanezes.

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

Thanks ranalli,
Are you or anyone else out there familiar with what a JB or a c5 sound like in the bridge position of your standard Ibanez bridge position? (basswood, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard...fixed bridge). I've got a Dimarzio Steve's special in it now, but have a JB and a c5 that I could swap out.

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks ranalli,
Are you or anyone else out there familiar with what a JB or a c5 sound like in the bridge position of your standard Ibanez bridge position? (basswood, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard...fixed bridge). I've got a Dimarzio Steve's special in it now, but have a JB and a c5 that I could swap out.

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

From the description it seems that your guitar may be quite bright. The JB it is a brighter pickup than the C5. It can be too much for your guitar. So in terms of EQ I would go for the C5 which have more bottom end. But it all depends of what tone you are after.

 

[DiminisheD-7th]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

i got DiMarzio's in my Ibanez (mahogany body, curly maple top, maple neck, rosewood board, edge pro bridge) right now, and im too happy with the tone to change anything on it except strings
the guitar came with them installed already, so i figured their tone is alot of what drew to me to that particular guitar (and i hate Ibanez with a passion)

DiMarzio's seem to work well with basswood most of all, i've played Wolfgangs, Music Mans and other various guitars with DMz and most of them sounded realy nice (i dislike alot of Dimarzio's models).

if you ask me, i realy do think some dimarzio's fit excellently in Ibanez guitars, but that doesnt mean a Duncan or EMG wouldnt rip in there aswell.
its all about the sound you're looking to get from that guitar.

 

[RGN]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

I have two Ibanez guitars and both have Duncans. I had a white Jem w/stock Evolutions but sold it.

My tune "The Patriot" was done 100% with a Ibanez Jem and a C5 in the bridge. That guitar sounds great.

I believe that most of "Evelyn" was done using the Jem above and an RG with a CC.

Hope that helps. I don't think there is anything to the rumor that Ibanez guitars sound better with Dimarzios. They just have a big contract with Dimarzio to supply their pickups.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

not true. it's all about preferences. yes i've had good results with Dimarzios but i prefer Duncans in my Ibanez guitars. I'm not into EMGs but this is impressive with high gain.

i'm with Duncan because:
*better midrange (selected models)
*transaparent tone- lets the guitar body's wood breathes through
*clarity

 

[inter]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

I've tried a stack of pups in the bridge of my RG570.

I found most Dimarzios in the bridge have an bland, irritating "mid hump" in their eq and a lack of treble. (Except for the Tonezone, which has a sterile, bassy tone with little treble).

Having said that, I have a Paf pro in the neck which really shines. Wonderful for neck shredding and nice clean tones

It's really all about personal preference and how anal you are. Some guys are never 100% happy with their pups and I think you have to accept that most pups have flaws of some kind.

Try out a bunch and see which one you prefer. No amount of advice will you'll get first hand experience of what each pup sounds like in your axe.

Btw, I have a JB in the bridge and I love it.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

I think it's just a myth... you should never believe that one company's pickups complement one company's guitars for any reason. It's just not true. Everything is about personal preference... that's why we have after market pickups in the first place!!!

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

it's mostly because of endorsements and factory installs.

i've never seen a stock ibanez with duncans in it except for one guitar, i think it was an allen holdsworth model?

 

[Forbes]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

Yer, my friend has the JEM equipped with DImarzio's, and my mate told me he preferred my tone out of both of them, but i think its more for what style you are going for. The dimarzio's being better suited is all a myth really, im know you can get great tone from either.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Dimarzio's better in Ibanez?

The Ibanez/Dmz think gets repeated alot on the internet to the point that some folks treat it as gospel but think about it. What is it that seperates Ibanez guitars from any other guitar? Absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. Basswood, maple, some frets and a bridge/nut assembly. Sounds like the same stuff in 1/2 of the guitars out there at the moment.

An Ibanez is just another twist on a Strat, and it's not a big twist. I have an alder/maple Strat with a Floyd and a basswood/maple RG 550 and both have a JB in them. They sound amazingly simular and both guitars have exceptional tone.

Put whatever pickups you like into an Ibanez, it's just a guitar like any other.