Re: Dimebucker...
I have one and I like it a lot. It is a real loud and clear pickup, it really bangs that amp, at first I thought it was a high output pickup but when I got an APH-1n it was real loud also, so I think that many Duncan pups really bump up your guitars output.
You are going to have to adjust your E.Q.'s because this thing just screams, all my previous favorite E.Q. settings weren't compatible with this pup. Some people say to start your E.Q. settings on 5 and then dial in a good tone but for this pup it is better to start all the settings LOW and then dial in a tone to taste. This pickup will not hide any flaws or flubs of the player. This pickup reminded me that I need to practice more and I need a better guitar to put it in. ha ha
I can get pinch harmonics anywhere on the fret board and good palm mutes and the power chords stay tight and clear, all the notes ring out. The high notes sound like shattering glass whereas the APH-1n's highs sound like what broken glass sounds like under your boot. If that makes any sense! ha ha The bass stays real tight too which is good for heavy playing and downtuning.
Some people say this pup has scooped mids but I don't really hear it like that, the specs show the E.Q. to be 6/5/8 Low/Mid/High. You're just not going to get that Dime tone right out of the box without heavy processing like he did. I don't know what tones you're after, I'm just pointing that out.
Now to my ears I hear all kind of different tones with this pup, one chord will sound like a Foreigner tune or a Cars tune or AC/DC. It's funny because it really nails the tones of bands that Darrell would have grown up hearing ( I'm not saying that he listened to the bands that I mentioned, I'm just saying this pup really nails the tones from old). Now I know that all the bands I listed are way before your time but I'm just using them as a point of reference. This pickup can nail a lot of tones, it plays great clean or dirty and with the 4 conductor wires you have the option of using it with a coil splitter, it sounds REALLY good as a single coil, great chords and riffage.
Hope this helps you and good luck with your decision.