Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

[BPSUL]

Sorry to ask a dimarzio question on the SD forums. I registered there but its a ghost town. Maybe you guys can help.




I went to a local shop looking for used double cream buckers. They had a pair of old dimarzios that they recently got off one seller (so they assumed they came from the same guitar)

They have no labels or codes. Not sure if you can see in the pictures, but one of them (the one with the pole pieces that extend from the bottom of the pickup) is stamped "Dimarzio Pickups" and the other one, with the flat bottom, has no stamp.
Also note, the pickup with the flat bottom has allen wrench screw type pole pieces on top, instead of slugs and flathead screws.

Okay, anybody care to take a guess??? Big props to anyone who can give me some info!

 

[BNSFJoe]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

I'll guess . . . . Super Distortion and PAF.
Call Dimarzio and ask them, they're really helpful.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Yeah they look like pre-1979 Dimarzio Super Distortion / PAF set. That said Dimarzio is very good at identifying their older pickups that are not labelled.

Just yesterday a guy from the JCF forum posted an unmarked Dimarzio that looked to be vintage and he thought it was a PAF Joe. I corrected him since the PAF Joe didn't come out until 2004 and a PAF Joe has chrome hex poles and his was a creme old worn Dimarzio brass baseplate and no DPxxx and had braided cable and all slugs which is something I never have come across.

His response from Dimarzio is it was a MK10? which is similar to a Super 2 with non-adjustable slugs.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93058

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Wow - I emailed dimarzio AFTER I posted this thread and already got a reply. Here is what they said:

We cannot positively ID them, but they appear to be a very old PAF and Super Distortion (the PAF has the 6 slotted screw poles). These pickups are probably 30 years old and appear very worn. It would be wise to be certain they are functioning correctly before purchasing.

So looks like you guys may have hit the nail on the head.
Now, couple questions:

If I use a multimeter and get a normal resistance reading from them I can assume they work, correct?


Secondly, assuming these are a very old super distortion / PAF set, what do you guys think? Should I try them out? I can get them for $20 each which I assume is pretty darn cheap so my gut tells me "Try them! and if you dont' like them just ebay them"


Thoughts?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Wow - I emailed dimarzio AFTER I posted this thread and already got a reply. Here is what they said:





So looks like you guys may have hit the nail on the head.
Now, couple questions:

If I use a multimeter and get a normal resistance reading from them I can assume they work, correct?


Secondly, assuming these are a very old super distortion / PAF set, what do you guys think? Should I try them out? I can get them for $20 each which I assume is pretty darn cheap so my gut tells me "Try them! and if you dont' like them just ebay them"


Thoughts?

If they read correctly on a multimeter two things could be wrong with them. First the magnets may have lost their charge and the wax potting may have dried out and the pickups might be microphonic. Both are easy fixes though.

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Well these are from a used gear shop here in town so if the pickups were bad I could simply take them back.


But what about the sound of these, any impressions? I've never used dimarzio before. I've only used SD and GFS. I assume these wouldn't sound the same as a modern super distortion or PAF? But either way I don't even know what those sound like either...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Well these are from a used gear shop here in town so if the pickups were bad I could simply take them back.


But what about the sound of these, any impressions? I've never used dimarzio before. I've only used SD and GFS. I assume these wouldn't sound the same as a modern super distortion or PAF? But either way I don't even know what those sound like either...

Both are very good pickups. The PAF sounds like a PAF should and the Super D is a classic pickup. I think the Dimarzio PAF sounds much more like a real PAF than many reproductions. The Super D is warm thick and fuzzy without being muddy or unclear.

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Okay then, one more question for the pickup gurus!


If I pick them up, should I attempt to clean any of the corrosion/rust off the metal parts?

Obviously I would have to be very careful doing this if I did - but is there any point in doing so?

Thanks,
Brian...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

I'd get them, try them out and if all is good, just take a hair dryer to them a little bit to get the wax reflowing a little to help repot them a little.

The ceramic mag should still be good to go in the Super Distortion, probably full charge. I don't think ceramic looses its charge over time. The Alnico 5 in the PAF will most likely be aged a bit and have less than full charge but probably still usable.

As for cleaning them, I'd just clean the tops off with a damp cloth a bit. The worn look would be cool in an older guitar.

I say go for it.

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Two candidates for these pickups:


1. An Epi Les Paul Classic Quilt Top - its a very very nice example of an epiphone. I love the guitar.

2. A full hollowbody Artcore AF75 - this is the big thick, fully hollow version



I need to upgrade the pups in both these guitars. My gut tells me the Super Distortion is too hot for a hollow body guitar. Am I crazy? Im thinking this pair is perfect for the Les paul.

The other guitar will get a SD 59 and GFS Mean 90 more than likely...

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

I would try that set in a semi hollow Artcore. Hell even a full hollowbody. It will feedback though at high volumes but you can tqape the F-holes to minimize this from what I have read.

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Fusion (or anyone else)

You think those pups would be better in a full hollow than in the Les Paul? Thats surprising.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

They are pre 79 for sure. Later on they had plastic cover hookup wire.

I would put them DiMarzio in the Epi LP. Thats the classic mid 70ies LP set up.

and i would put the SD/GFS set into the Fusion. The 59 in the Bridge and the 90 in the neck.

 

[BPSUL]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Well, the 59 is a 59n and the mean90 is a neck version... I think I'll have to leave it that way for the outputs to match properly. But thanks for the advice, big time.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Help me Identify these Dimarzio pups

Put it in the EPI. I just thought you were wanting something for a semi hollow. It wouldn't be my first choice with a SD and PAF but I am crazy enough to try it.