Opinions on the Megadrive?

[Mononoaware]

Lately I've been kind of obsessed with finding out more about this one. Everyone who had or has one speaks fondly of it.

But I'm having a hard time figuring out what it sounds like. "Like a Steve's Special, except not really" seems to sum up the descriptions I've read. The few demos I've found have been pretty one-sided; something about this pickup seems to compel reviewers to crank the gain to MEGA and wail away. I think I'm digging the 80s vibe, but want to know if there's more to it.

So, for anyone who has used the Megadrive, help a bro out and share some experiences? For example:

• How does it compare to, say, the Super Distortion? How about against the JB?
• What style(s) does it excel at?
• Are there certain woods it prefers?
• Does it clean up when you roll back the volume?
• Is it best for lead? Rhythm? Or something in-between?

(cross-posted over at the DiMarzio forum)

 

[BartOfDarkness]

Re: Opinions on the Megadrive?

I have one in an Ibanez RG 560
I've got it installed with the rail facing the neck, and while I think it sounds pretty good, it's not my favorite or anything. Gets the job done is the best thing I can think to say about it.

I haven't played that guitar in awhile, but to be honest it doesn't have a very good natural tone if that makes sense. It's probably the worst of the best so to speak and the Megadrive doesn't do anything to hide it. With that being said, your mileage may vary, I can't blame the pickup for the guitar.

It feels like the output is the same as a super distortion, despite what I've read online and it cleans up really well when you roll down the volume. I'd say it's a little bit better at rhythm than lead, but it's not a one trick pony, it does both pretty well.

I'll try to spend a little more time with it when I can, I might even flip it around and see how it sounds.

 

[BartOfDarkness]

Re: Opinions on the Megadrive?

Bumping to give the op more info, so pardon me

I'm glad you made this thread because I've enjoyed going back to this pickup and guitar (I've been preferring my ESP guitars over Ibanez lately). I've changed my amps EQ a bit since I first used this pickup and it really does sound great now along with some height adjustments.

I've been dialing more treble into my rig in general, and it's way more articulate than I originally gave it credit for, its really good for leads. It's slightly scooped as you know, so individual notes always have a nice weight to them, and it lets you ride the volume knob without things getting tinny.

I wouldn't place it into a particular genre, it covers a lot of ground within high gain genres, which you can see if you look at whose used them in the past. Death metal, power metal, old school shred, hell it even has a decent fusion sound going on. I'm still referring to it with the rail towards the neck, I'm too lazy to flip it when I'm cool with how it sounds

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Opinions on the Megadrive?

I have one of these installed in my Charvel Model 2 (which had an X2N before this). I have not given it enough time and attention but will chime in once i have some experience with it.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Opinions on the Megadrive?

An article Darth (one of the guys on this forum) wrote back in 2015 about the Megadrive.

http://darthphineas.com/2015/11/dimarzio-megadrive-dp107/