Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Thank you!
I got my DiMarzio AT-1 - My thoughts
- Thread starter Rex_Rocker
- Start date
Thank you!
soulforger
New member
That's where I'm at with it too really, I love the AT-1 in the PRS and plan to leave it alone, but I may later get one to try some stuff with. Some have said they have removed the VV in some Dimarzios, many have said they tried and failed however!
Juanhanglo
New member
It's surprising to hear that the at1 amd Dominion are less fat sounding than domarzio's eq ratings would have you believe
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
That has been my experience.
I used to have the Dominion some time ago, and I wouldn't say it's a thin-sounding pickup, but far from a low-end monster like their EQ chart would lead you to believe. I actually have a comparison clip I made way long ago where I compared it to a JB, and the JB was chunkier while the Dominion was more focused. I remember it lmost sounded like a DD-lite. That clip must be like 10 years old. I'll try to find it again and post it here.
The AT-1 is running on the airbucker thing. That decreases inductance because there is less metal on the pickup, so that makes sense. There is also a post where they analize the AT-1 comparerd to the JB, and both have a resonant peak at 2K, but the AT-1 is more intense, thus leaving the low-end more laid back. Totally agrees with my experience.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CehEOYyuL3k
Last edited:
I don't think that's what "airbucker" does - it's just a gap between the magnet and the pole pieces to reduce the magnetic field, right? And then the VV pieces in between the slugs increase the inductance. Seems like a way of reducing the treble response while keeping the output the same...? I think?
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Yes, that's the main thing is does. But one byproduct is you no longer have a keepr bar to hold the screws touching the magnet. Hence, less metal.
Yeah, I suppose they raise the inductance back that way. I guess they thought the airbucker thing on its own as well as the nickel baseplate (DiMarzio normally use brass) made the pickup too bright when designing it. But I have them side by side. I've had the JB in the Strat as well, although briefly. I'm pretty sure the AT-1 is leaner in the lows and not subtly.
I'm not sure if it's actually thinner or brighter or both. It's not like it's detailed in the highs like a PAF-type is. But it's certainly not as fat as JB. I've read Andy Timmons was using A2 JB's at some point. So maybe they designed it thinking "let's make it have some elements from A2 (leaner bass and lower output) and some elements from A5 (more detailed/open highs)"? Maybe? That's just me assuming, but that's kinda like the whole reasoning behind the airbucker thing?
Last edited:
soulforger
New member
This is what Steve Blucher said about how and why he came up with it 
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Yeah, sometimes their ideas are all over the place. I like them daring to implement non-traditional ideas like the Airbucker thing, but to say (I'm paraphrasing) that using A2 in pickups is a bad idea is a bit radical (not in a good way, IMO).
They didn't use A2 magnets for the longest time claiming they were unstable. But then, they came up with the Area single coils, and now they use it in their newer PAF models. Whatever sells, I guess.
I used to not like the Airbucker idea because I thought it was just making a pickup weak for the sake of making it weak. But I like how the AT-1 and the Air Norton sound, so I've changed my mind... to an extent, LOL.
Last edited:
soulforger
New member
I don't remember Eddie ever using an Ebow, but he was only using the drill on one song at the time, funny because he seemed to hold the drill over the bridge pickup only anyway haha, where the air thing was only developed for that neck pup because he was using the Custom Custom in the neck of the prototype and loved that so much he didn't want to change it. He was already sold on the bridge pickup and suggested keeping the Seymour in the neck (perhaps he even did in his own guitars!) I guess "air" rose out of Larry and Blucher's desperation to have Dimarzio in both positions haha!
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
It's also funny because his Fender Wolfgang pickups were A2 in the end, LOL.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
In the EVH brand guitar? I remember reading it's A2?
Yep, but only in the EVH USA Signature model. Perhaps that was one of his final tweaks before passing. All others (including the one you can buy aftermarket) are A2.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Interesting! I didn't know that.
