Duncan Little '59, Dimarzio Pro Track, or Chopper?

[Rex_Rocker]

Anyone have experience comparing these three?

I'm finally ready to move away from the SDS-1 in my Strat. I like the '59N in my EC and the Air Norton in my LP. I kinda want something in between for the Strat. However, the Strat is only routed for a single coil in the neck. So I need something single coil sized.

So... how would these compare? I want something a bit more open than an Air Norton, but a bit smoother than a '59N.

Recommendations?

If it's any good, the pickup in the bridge is an AT-1.

 

[Teleplayer]

I think the Chopper and Pro-track would both be a bit too dark and bassy unless I misunderstood what you want. The only thing that makes me pause is the pot selection and if you still want to use a single 1M control pot, in which case a warmer pickup might be ok.

It’s around 8 years since I owned the AT-1. From memory, I’d suggest the DP 425 Satch Track would be the closest tonal match. It has good mids, probably the right amount of bass. The main reason why I suggest is the character of the harmonic overtones with gain have a similar brightness to the AT-1 from my recollection. I found the AT-1 had a dark balance and strong mid-emphasis on the clean tone, but with gain it becomes brighter and more cutting. The Satch track has a similar character IMO.

There is also the new Mirage neck pickup, which seems to be a tighter version of the chopper. Maybe it would be worth asking their support department which is better for you.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I think the Chopper and Pro-track would both be a bit too dark and bassy unless I misunderstood what you want. The only thing that makes me pause is the pot selection and if you still want to use a single 1M control pot, in which case a warmer pickup might be ok.

It’s around 8 years since I owned the AT-1. From memory, I’d suggest the DP 425 Satch Track would be the closest tonal match. It has good mids, probably the right amount of bass. The main reason why I suggest is the character of the harmonic overtones with gain have a similar brightness to the AT-1 from my recollection. I found the AT-1 had a dark balance and strong mid-emphasis on the clean tone, but with gain it becomes brighter and more cutting. The Satch track has a similar character IMO.

There is also the new Mirage neck pickup, which seems to be a tighter version of the chopper. Maybe it would be worth asking their support department which is better for you.

Oh, no. I've currently got the guitar with a single 500K pot.

Thanks, I'll look into the Satch Track and the Mirage.

 

[Aceman]

Played Lil'59's, Owned Choppers, Heard Pro Tracks.

I don't think any will be more open than the Lil' 59 - but that is not as open as the regular 59. Tighter string field and whatnot.
The Pro and the Chopper will be the smoothest, but way less "open"

You know, DiMarzio makes a dual blade Air Norton single....

 

[Hank-]

I have the CruiserB, FT1, Chopper & FT2, from those the FT1 would probably work better with the AT1 volume wise if the At1 isnt set flat down along with the pickguard.

I'd consider the Injector neck over those though if possible. Its more lively & dynamic than their rails models and hot enough to keep up with the At1 set close to the strings.

 

[jeremy]

the cool rails is more open that the lil59 for sure, output is similar in the neck models. lil59 bridge has more umpf than a cool rails bridge though

 

[Bowtomecha]

How is open being defined here?

 

[hamerfan]

Nine of ten things discussed here soundwise is about mids, low mids or high mids. Openness has to with lesser low minds IMO.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I consider "open" to be more lows and highs. Less mid-focused.

 

[Mincer]

I consider "open" to be more lows and highs. Less mid-focused.

This is what I define open as, too. That being said, I'd love for someone to go through all of the EQ graphs for all of the pickups and re-do them. Have an 'EZ' 3-band version, and a more complex 10 band graph.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Have an 'EZ' 3-band version, and a more complex 10 band graph.

I agree.

Or maybe a frequency response graph like they have on speakers.

 

[Mincer]

I agree.

Or maybe a frequency response graph like they have on speakers.

Well, add enough bands, and you get a graph like that.

 

[Bowtomecha]

I guess if open is more prominent bass and treble/less midrange, then wiring any of those up in parallel would probably give you something similar.

 

[Teleplayer]

I recall the OP dislikes “chirpy” top end on neck pickups. So I guessed the Duncan cool rails is probably out. Satch Track isn’t particularly bright, but has some interesting harmonic overtones with gain, although not much IMO. It’s just hard to know how a pickup will sound to someone else.