LOVE a pickup, only problem is output

[chilln2music]

Alright guy, I know this is a SD forum but one of my favorite pickups is the Dimarzio Norton. My ONLY gripe is the output just isn't high enough, is there anything I can do to increase the output of this pickup without changing the tonal characteristics? Also, I tried moving the pickup closer to the strings, still isn't enough. Tonally this is one of my favorite pickups just wish it had a tad more output to drive the amp. Am I stuck or can this be done?

 

[Top-L]

If you want to keep the "solution" in the guitar, you could install an active PA-2 preamp to boost the output.

Or you could do what most people do, use a boost pedal. A clean boost is just a preamp that amplifies the signal and makes it louder.

I have much experience with the norton. If there was a hotter version of the pickup, it would loose some of the openness and character of that pickup. Its already pretty hot.

A better question might be to ask what is the hottest A5 pickup? I think in the dimarzio catalog, the Tone Zone is the hottest A5, so if you dont like that, maybe there is something on the SD side.

If you put a ceramic magnet in the Norton to make it hotter, it won't be the same pickup.

 

[Toejam]

I love the Norton and think it's fine in output, seems hot enough to me for thrash-type metal.

Either you'll need an amp with more gain on tap or some kind of OD/boost pedal as suggested above.

 

[Masta' C]

Yup! Time for for a clean boost pedal. The SD Pickup Booster was created for exactly this and is one of the best in the market.

There are also onboard boosts you can add individually to your guitars, but the price for one of those is roughly the same as a used Pickup Booster pedal and the pedal will work with everything you own, plus you don't have to add batteries to your passive guitars

 

[ErikH]

Another boost option is an EQ pedal like the Boss GE-7 or the MXR 6-Band EQ. You don't have the boost/cut any frequencies but can use the level control to boost the signal a bit. And if you need to tweak the EQ for any reason, the option is there.

 

[Clint 55]

Yes it can be done easily. Double thick mag or spacer mags or both.

 

[Mincer]

If you love the tone of the pickup, but need more output, the best solution is a clean boost pedal like the Pickup Booster.

 

[chilln2music]

Thanks for the responses guys, I suppose a boost pedal is the most obvious choice here, however that PA-2 booster sounds interesting too. Does the onboard PA-2 color the tone at all or is it purely a clean boost?

 

[chilln2music]

Yes it can be done easily. Double thick mag or spacer mags or both.

This sounds a little beyond my knowledge, any resources you can suggest to get me up to speed?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Thanks for the responses guys, I suppose a boost pedal is the most obvious choice here, however that PA-2 booster sounds interesting too. Does the onboard PA-2 color the tone at all or is it purely a clean boost?

I use the Friedman Buxom Boost. Absolutely no tone coloration plus it’s got a switchable 3 band eq. Hands down the best boost pedal I’ve ever used.

 

[Top-L]

Thanks for the responses guys, I suppose a boost pedal is the most obvious choice here, however that PA-2 booster sounds interesting too. Does the onboard PA-2 color the tone at all or is it purely a clean boost?

The PA-2 doesn't "color" the tone, its just a clean boost switch with a dial on the side that lets you adjust how much boost.

One advantage of PA-2 is that it changes the output of the guitar from hi to low impedance, which means that longer cable runs will not suck any tone.

If there is a change in tone, its that it will make it a little brighter because there will be no signal loss from the cable.

I used the PA-2 for a long time, but these days I would just get a clean boost pedal.

 

[Clint 55]

This sounds a little beyond my knowledge, any resources you can suggest to get me up to speed?

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/t...er-magnet-swap

Here's an article that explains swapping magnets. It only explains swapping magnets with the same dimensions however. What noone tells you is that you can swap for a bigger magnet in the center or swap the spacers on the side of the magnet for additional magnets and you absolutely will get more output and fullness from your humbuckers without changing their tone. And for $20 instead of $120. I'll walk you through it if you want to do it. The Distortion, for example, uses a thicker ceramic in the center, and the Black Winter and Invader use 3 thick magnets. You can use any magnet type though, it doesn't have to be ceramic.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yes it can be done easily. Double thick mag or spacer mags or both.

That would change the tone and character of the pup. A booster pedal is the best advice. Plus, the booster can be constantly adjusted on the fly for output levels. Try that with a double thick magnet.

 

[Clint 55]

That's true. Although only adding spacer magnets doesn't really change the tone, only boosts output. Double thick changes the sound a bit.

 

[Masta' C]

Boost pedal is the clear answer. Plus, you can use it with ANY guitar that needs a little "more"