Hey guys, I am always reading on here that Seymour Duncans and Dimarzios are different from each other, and that one brand almost never sounds the same as the other. My question is not which brand is better (although you may state your opinion if you'd like), but rather what is the difference? Does the Dimarzio sound more modern and compressed and the Seymour Duncan more vintage; Is one naturally higher output than the other; etc. Sorry if this question is lame, just trying to figure out another approach to choosing pickups, thanks.
Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
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TeleJr24
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
To me, the Duncans sound more organic and you can let the sound of your guitar come through. With Dimarzio, the pickups I've tried sort of had their own sound.
If you listen to the sound samples on the Duncan site you will find generic natural sounding samples (no digital effects, etc.) whereas on the Dimarzio site you will hear sound samples from songs that have a lot of digital processing going on. So in that sense it is hard to compare. And the Dimarzio samples all seem to be from shredders - mostly.
Both companies have good pickups though.
To me, the Duncans sound more organic and you can let the sound of your guitar come through. With Dimarzio, the pickups I've tried sort of had their own sound.
If you listen to the sound samples on the Duncan site you will find generic natural sounding samples (no digital effects, etc.) whereas on the Dimarzio site you will hear sound samples from songs that have a lot of digital processing going on. So in that sense it is hard to compare. And the Dimarzio samples all seem to be from shredders - mostly.
Both companies have good pickups though.
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Fender_Punk
BerriesAndCreamologist
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I've heard a lot of Duncans I like and, well, I've yet to come across a DMZ that I wanted to buy. MAYBE, it's because Seymour Duncan is one of the gods of pickups and so when he comes up with his designs, or approves a design into his line, he knows what he's talking about and isn't going to accept a stupid, ridiculous design. Not that DiMarzio would, I'm not saying they're bad pickups, just not my taste.
+1. For some weird reason in my mind, I find a lot of Duncan pups, as well as some other manufacturers to seem more natural and DiMarzio more artificial. Like an SD is a class A tube amp and a DMZ is a solid-state. Although, I'd probably play a DMZ before an EMG (I can't stand EMGs, or really, any active pups).
My personal opinion is either get Antiquities or Zhang's pups. Those would probably be your best bets for getting what you want.
I've heard a lot of Duncans I like and, well, I've yet to come across a DMZ that I wanted to buy. MAYBE, it's because Seymour Duncan is one of the gods of pickups and so when he comes up with his designs, or approves a design into his line, he knows what he's talking about and isn't going to accept a stupid, ridiculous design. Not that DiMarzio would, I'm not saying they're bad pickups, just not my taste.
+1. For some weird reason in my mind, I find a lot of Duncan pups, as well as some other manufacturers to seem more natural and DiMarzio more artificial. Like an SD is a class A tube amp and a DMZ is a solid-state. Although, I'd probably play a DMZ before an EMG (I can't stand EMGs, or really, any active pups).
My personal opinion is either get Antiquities or Zhang's pups. Those would probably be your best bets for getting what you want.
I_M_Ken
Active member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
i agree with T4D, its hard to really compare them as each has very diffferent sounding pups and maybe cater to different groups of musicians.
There are a few pups frmo each company i like. It so happens that i prefer duncan bridge pups more and dimarzio neck pups.
my fav duncans are the JB, Custom 5, PATB-2/3
fav dimarzos are Air Norton, V-Paf neck, hum from hell
i agree with T4D, its hard to really compare them as each has very diffferent sounding pups and maybe cater to different groups of musicians.
There are a few pups frmo each company i like. It so happens that i prefer duncan bridge pups more and dimarzio neck pups.
my fav duncans are the JB, Custom 5, PATB-2/3
fav dimarzos are Air Norton, V-Paf neck, hum from hell
baritone
Well-known member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I actually enjoy the sounds of both, but I feel the same way as previous posters. DiMarzio pickups seem to have a wider vatiety of tones, but they sound more industrial, while Duncans seem to have taken a good, natural sound and stretched it in every way possible.
I actually enjoy the sounds of both, but I feel the same way as previous posters. DiMarzio pickups seem to have a wider vatiety of tones, but they sound more industrial, while Duncans seem to have taken a good, natural sound and stretched it in every way possible.
Brewtone
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
+1 to that now that I think about it, this is how I end up using them 99% of the time.
+1 to that now that I think about it, this is how I end up using them 99% of the time.
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
They both have top of the line poducts.Seymour's PUs have better material ,better workmanship and more mojo for my ears.DMZ has great line of PUs ,but they are mostly too dark and vocal for my ears.I like the ToneZone ,Fred ,Dropsonic and even X2N in the right Guitar.But there will allways be a SD that i would prefer to those ,and if not ,i wouldn't be here to write this words!
I wrote better and better since i got my first SD,the Distortion.It chilled my back ,and gave me a great amount of inspiration.Than i moved to the PATB-2.Wich had allmost everything what DD had ,and gave me more versatility ,better harmonic controle ,more balls ,and a Professionl feeling!SD rules in many ways.For what you pay ,you get a perfect product!
They both have top of the line poducts.Seymour's PUs have better material ,better workmanship and more mojo for my ears.DMZ has great line of PUs ,but they are mostly too dark and vocal for my ears.I like the ToneZone ,Fred ,Dropsonic and even X2N in the right Guitar.But there will allways be a SD that i would prefer to those ,and if not ,i wouldn't be here to write this words!
I wrote better and better since i got my first SD,the Distortion.It chilled my back ,and gave me a great amount of inspiration.Than i moved to the PATB-2.Wich had allmost everything what DD had ,and gave me more versatility ,better harmonic controle ,more balls ,and a Professionl feeling!SD rules in many ways.For what you pay ,you get a perfect product!
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I use 3 different Dimarzio pickups and mostly Duncan after that...
I feel like the Duncan humbuckers are smoother and rounder sounding...
The DMZ humbuckers I currently use(VPAF,VPAF HOt,Fred) are more aggressive sounding and seem to have slightly more output...When I say aggressive,it's something in the higher mids and a sought of "sizzle" I hear in the highs....The closest I could say to this would be the SD Pearly Gates pickup...Dimarzios and Duncans are definately different sounding animals and I Like both depending on the guitar and what the guitar needs or lacks...
For some reason Joe Satriani likes the Fred,MO Jo etc...but he also uses a Pearly Gates in one or more of his guitars...Maybe the PG reminds him of a warmer,rounder,or smoother DMZ and close to the other pickups I mention?
I use 3 different Dimarzio pickups and mostly Duncan after that...
I feel like the Duncan humbuckers are smoother and rounder sounding...
The DMZ humbuckers I currently use(VPAF,VPAF HOt,Fred) are more aggressive sounding and seem to have slightly more output...When I say aggressive,it's something in the higher mids and a sought of "sizzle" I hear in the highs....The closest I could say to this would be the SD Pearly Gates pickup...Dimarzios and Duncans are definately different sounding animals and I Like both depending on the guitar and what the guitar needs or lacks...
For some reason Joe Satriani likes the Fred,MO Jo etc...but he also uses a Pearly Gates in one or more of his guitars...Maybe the PG reminds him of a warmer,rounder,or smoother DMZ and close to the other pickups I mention?
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Uk Ant
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I was just thinking th eother day about why I went down the SD route not the Dimarzio one.
I think needs a car analogy really. Dimarzio's have that italian kinda name, like Ferrari, Seymour Ducan just sounds more down to earth, bit like Aston Martin (hey, I'm british). oddly I think this is actually refelcted in the pickups. SD's are more classic/down to earth than Dimarzio's, which give you more performance and flash.
Then again I could be wrong
I was just thinking th eother day about why I went down the SD route not the Dimarzio one.
I think needs a car analogy really. Dimarzio's have that italian kinda name, like Ferrari, Seymour Ducan just sounds more down to earth, bit like Aston Martin (hey, I'm british). oddly I think this is actually refelcted in the pickups. SD's are more classic/down to earth than Dimarzio's, which give you more performance and flash.
Then again I could be wrong
LesPaulRules
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
This is going to be really weird sounding (and I'm sure I'll get flamed). For some reason (as of late), I really like using DiMarzios for live performance, but ALWAYS use Duncans for studio work.
For lack of a better description, DiMarzios seem to have a more pumped up sound (I guess Uk ANT's description of the Ferrari is similar), where Duncans have substance and a comfort factor.
This is going to be really weird sounding (and I'm sure I'll get flamed). For some reason (as of late), I really like using DiMarzios for live performance, but ALWAYS use Duncans for studio work.
For lack of a better description, DiMarzios seem to have a more pumped up sound (I guess Uk ANT's description of the Ferrari is similar), where Duncans have substance and a comfort factor.
S
shogunlegend
Guest
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
they both make equally good pickups. if i were to give an edge to dimarzio, it would be their norton dp160. it's the best they've got. if i were to give an edge to duncan, it would be the patb because i think it's duncan's best pickup. no way to prefer one over the other because they both make great moder and vintage tones.
they both make equally good pickups. if i were to give an edge to dimarzio, it would be their norton dp160. it's the best they've got. if i were to give an edge to duncan, it would be the patb because i think it's duncan's best pickup. no way to prefer one over the other because they both make great moder and vintage tones.
checo
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I was (still am) a Duncan freak....but after installing a DMZ Classic PAF in my esp ltd archtop (with a SD phat cat neck), it blew away the others i had tried (JB, 59, DD, Custom) for the classic rock tones i was loooking for. For what seemed like the same amount of distortion ( had to raise it with this one), the dimarzio was a lot more defined. It is also the only DMZ i've liked after trying many others....i have them in four of my guitars.
I was (still am) a Duncan freak....but after installing a DMZ Classic PAF in my esp ltd archtop (with a SD phat cat neck), it blew away the others i had tried (JB, 59, DD, Custom) for the classic rock tones i was loooking for. For what seemed like the same amount of distortion ( had to raise it with this one), the dimarzio was a lot more defined. It is also the only DMZ i've liked after trying many others....i have them in four of my guitars.
Crazy_Guitar
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
I am neither a DMZ nor a SD freak... in fact, I love both!
I find that they are quite some different worlds. For me, SD have a more organic and transparent sound, whereas DMZ have a more refined/tailored sound. That's why DMZ's catalogue is much broader than SD's.
For example, I would never imagine myself having a SD loaded Ibanez... nor a DMZ loaded Fender!
I guess my likings for an Ibanez are a more tailored sound... and there is nothing better than a transparent pickup to let out all that vintage tone of a Fender.
Favourite DMZ: Evo 2
Favourite SD: JB
Oh... and I hate EMG's for guitar. But love them for bass!
I am neither a DMZ nor a SD freak... in fact, I love both!
I find that they are quite some different worlds. For me, SD have a more organic and transparent sound, whereas DMZ have a more refined/tailored sound. That's why DMZ's catalogue is much broader than SD's.
For example, I would never imagine myself having a SD loaded Ibanez... nor a DMZ loaded Fender!
I guess my likings for an Ibanez are a more tailored sound... and there is nothing better than a transparent pickup to let out all that vintage tone of a Fender.
Favourite DMZ: Evo 2
Favourite SD: JB
Oh... and I hate EMG's for guitar. But love them for bass!
Crazy_Guitar
New member
Re: Seymour Duncan vs. Dimarzio
Well... the only real experience I have with EMG's is the 81/SA/SA on a friend's 1994 Jackson Dinky XL-Pro (one of the best Dinkys ever built). It has a lot of punch, but it lacks something... almost if it wasn't organic. Too thin and bright!
He had previously a DMZ Steve's Special and I think it sounded better...
However, I have tried other guitars with 81/85 in music shops and they never quite convinced me...
Well... the only real experience I have with EMG's is the 81/SA/SA on a friend's 1994 Jackson Dinky XL-Pro (one of the best Dinkys ever built). It has a lot of punch, but it lacks something... almost if it wasn't organic. Too thin and bright!
He had previously a DMZ Steve's Special and I think it sounded better...
However, I have tried other guitars with 81/85 in music shops and they never quite convinced me...
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