Has anyone modified a Super Distortion?

[zpalms]

I'm wondering if anyone here has ever tinkered with a Dimarzio Super Distortion? It's such an iconic pickup, I figure some people have maybe tried some tweaks?

I'm mainly curious if anyone has tried it with Alnico 5 or 2 mags, or even done the Dimarzio "air" mod to one, and how it would sound.

 

[idsnowdog]

I put a nickle silver steel baseplate on mine. The bass is punchier, treble sharper, and midrange is slightly attenuated.

 

[zpalms]

I put a nickle silver steel baseplate on mine. The bass is punchier, treble sharper, and midrange is slightly attenuated.

Interesting. Probably sounds really ballsy and punchy. I'm actually hoping to see if it's possible to somewhat tame it, maybe the opposite of this in a way, and add some more airiness to it to counterbalance the ceramic magnet.

 

[GuitarDoc]

An A5 would be a definite improvement imo.

 

[gimmieinfo]

I once was going to try different magnets on one but the problem is the super D uses magnats that are very different in size than usual bars. They are much thicker and not as wide.

 

[soulforger]

Rumor has it that Eddie Van Halen put an Alnico 2 in a Super Distortion and that was the pickup in the Bumblebee guitar. Who knows which if any songs it was ever used on though...

 

[orpheo]

I tried many mods with the Super Distortion. Most of them didn't work (tonally) but then again, I'm not a fan of DMZ. Also, many Dimarzio's have their magnets and bobbins epoxied to the baseplate (in my experience).

 

[Aceman]

I never have - but I'm sure some of you maniacs have done all sorts of twisted experiments.

Silver nickel baseplate you say ?

 

[ErikH]

I have not and I will not. IIRC, the original Super Distortions used a nickel/silver baseplate. It wasn't until the 80's (maybe?) that it switched to brass.

 

[idsnowdog]

I have not and I will not. IIRC, the original Super Distortions used a nickel/silver baseplate. It wasn't until the 80's (maybe?) that it switched to brass.

The original X2N had a nickel/silver baseplate. I haven't seen a Super Distortion with anything other than a brass baseplate.

 

[Chistopher]

I tried many mods with the Super Distortion. Most of them didn't work (tonally) but then again, I'm not a fan of DMZ. Also, many Dimarzio's have their magnets and bobbins epoxied to the baseplate (in my experience).

Acetone works wonders, plus it will polish your brass. I've never tried it on a pickup though.

 

[idsnowdog]

I tried many mods with the Super Distortion. Most of them didn't work (tonally) but then again, I'm not a fan of DMZ. Also, many Dimarzio's have their magnets and bobbins epoxied to the baseplate (in my experience).

It is easy to remove the magnets because the glue is very brittle. Just run an XACTO blade around the perimeter of the magnet to break the bond. Then just slide the blade under the end of the magnet and pry it off. I have seen where people have tried to grab a hold with a pliers or pry it off with a screwdriver only to destroy the magnet.

 

[Dave Locher]

I put a regular A5 magnet into one a few years ago. It sounded weaker and brighter and I hated it.
I was hoping for more clarity and now I get that by lowering the whole pickup and raising all the pole pieces.
And idsnowdog is right: it was very easy to pop the original magnet loose by prying with a carpet knife blade.