L500XL vs Dimebucker?

[SFW]

How close is the Dimebucker to the L500XL? I'm not a huge fan a Dime's tone, but I absolutely loved the L500 in the Washburn N2 that I used to own. If the Dimebucker can cover those tones then I'm all over one!

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: L500XL vs Dimebucker?

to be honest, i think you'll be better of with a L500.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: L500XL vs Dimebucker?

I don't know about either of those two, but if you want a cheaper option get the BLUSA 500XL. Isn't that what used to be in the N2's?

 

[uOpt]

Re: L500XL vs Dimebucker?

The L500XL is much brighter than you'd imagine. I wouldn't recommend using a Dimebucker to replicate one, although I never used a Dimebucker.

 

[SFW]

Re: L500XL vs Dimebucker?

Well, I guess it's time to search the bay for an L500XL.

Now I just need to see if there is anything that comes close to that pickup that's made for 7 string.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Thought I'd bump this. Just got and installed a BLUSA L500XL into one of my guitars, and absolutely love it. Unfortunately it looks like BLUSA isn't making pickups anymore and BLUSA L500Xls aren't popping up used as often as I'd hope. So the options either Wilde Pickups or the Dimebucker. The Dimebucker is more readily available, so I'm curious how much it compares to the BLUSA variant.

 

[freefrog]

In my subjective experience and despite potentially misleading DCR values, the SH13 (measured inductance: 6.85H) is closer to a L500L (measured inductance: 6.4H) than to a L500XL (measured inductance: 9,4H). But it has a higher Q factor than both. IOW, it has a more focused harmonic peak.

These specs make it brighter than a XL and give it scoopier low mids than to a Wilde L500L.

For me, the closest Bill Lawrence to a SH13 might be the P90 sized L550...

IME. YMMV.

EDIT - Like with all passive pickups, the sound of a SH13 depends on the guitar used, with its scale, but also on external electrical parameters: resistance of the pot(s) , input impedance of the amp or pedal used, stray capacitance of the cable.

If a SH13 is too shrill, pair it with some pot(s) of lower resistance or mount some resistor(s) in parallel. If it's too bright, rise the capacitive load, either by using a longer cable, either by putting a low value capacitor from hot to ground. Or apply both solutions, since higher capacitance rises the Q factor and might require a lower resistive load.

A stupid 100pF cap from hot to ground would already make a 500L or a SH13 a lot closer to a 500XL EQ wise. But it's not forbidden to experiment with higher values, from 100pF to 1000pF (1nF) or higher.

FWIW: trying a capacitor from hot to ground costs a few cents and takes a few minutes if the cap is connected to the output jack by alligator clips... And the same strategy can be used to diminish the resistive load (if you have two 500k controls and want to hear what it would do with 250k controls, just put a 270k or 220k resistor from hot to ground of the output jack - or just lower your tone pot. LOL).

 

[RB522]

I don't know about the XL 500, but I can tell you that I do not like the Dimebucker. I've had it in two different guitars, and didn't like it in either one. Thin and shrill. I swapped it for a SH 5 Custom, and I'm a lot happier.

 

[Wound_Up]

I thought Dime mainly used the L500L? IIRC, it was created specifically for him because he wanted something between the L500XL and some other pickup whose name I can't recall atm.(L500C?)

 

[dave74]

Dimebucker is good IMO for a guitar that has some give to the lows and warmer buttery highs,,like many basswood bodies provide. I have one in an Ibanez prestige rg1570.

 

[Hehasthejazzhands]

Well I found a dimebucker for super cheap, so I guess I'll give it a shot.

 

[alex1fly]

Well I found a dimebucker for super cheap, so I guess I'll give it a shot.

Do it. Don't be afraid to tweak your EQ and other settings to positions that you don't normally use.

 

[dave74]

Yeah two things people often gripe on are the Dime not having enough lows and various metal amps (mesa cough cough) having too much bass. Perfect marriage right there!