Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

[CTN]

I've been thinking lately about taking the Super Distortion I've got in one of my other guitars and putting it into my strat. I already know it'll sound kickass in the Alder body/Maple neck configuration of my strat, but I'm wondering if I should change the mag to an A5 for a bit more of an organic sound.

I know a few of you have tried it before, how did it sound?

Also, has anyone ever wired a Fast Track 2 in parallel in the neck position? (long shot, but no harm in asking!)

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

I've been thinking lately about taking the Super Distortion I've got in one of my other guitars and putting it into my strat. I already know it'll sound kickass in the Alder body/Maple neck configuration of my strat, but I'm wondering if I should change the mag to an A5 for a bit more of an organic sound.

I know a few of you have tried it before, how did it sound?

Also, has anyone ever wired a Fast Track 2 in parallel in the neck position? (long shot, but no harm in asking!)

Honestly, I wouldn't think that putting in any kind of magnet is going to make a DiMarzio pickup sound more organic. I mean, I have an Air Norton (paired with a SuperD in the bridge) and that's (probably) supposed to be one of DiMarzio's most vintage-sounding pickups and the thing still acts like a 'shred' pickup. Not implying that shred is an 'un-organic' artform or that I specialize in shred but, DiMarzio's have a certain response irregardless of what kind of mag you throw into it IMO. YMMV

 

[CTN]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

well... ok.. yeah Dimarzio's have that kinda feel to them. but I was talking more about the difference between Ceramic and A5. Ceramic is noticeably more clinical sounding, whereas the Alnico mags have a tendency to breathe a bit, have a bit of give and a squishy, organic feel to them.

I still quite like the Super Distortion, but I'm just wondering if it'll be worth the effort to change the mag or not.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

Being 13k, it will still be scooped in the mids, kinda like a C5. I stuck an A2 in mine and tried it in one of my father-in-law's guitars and it was really nice and "vintagy" compared to the ceramic version. But the Super D is a very magic pickup as it is and really isn't a "shred" pickup in my opinion. It CAN be in the right guitar and amp, but keep in mind that Al DiMeola, Jerry Garcia and Frank Zappa used them, in addition to the hordes of rock guys in that period. It's pretty darn versatile. If anything, I'd try an A8 in it, so it keeps the lows and mids but rounds the top off and gives it that "organic" feel you want. Of course, you'll need some kind of a spacer since Alnico mags are generally thinner than the ceramic in the Super D. I just used a glob of hot glue on the bottom of the magnet, set it against the underside of the bobbin and put her together. The magnet might stay put without but you really don't want it moving around in there.

 

[CTN]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

ahhh scooped mids and me do not get along. Probably gonna leave it stock then.

Also, Dave Murray, Randy Rhoads and scores of metal guys used them too they can rip if you let them.

I think it'll sound pretty nice in my strat. It still retains a lot of it's vintagey kinda sound despite all my efforts to get rid of that high-end sizzle (humbucker in the bridge, graphtech saddles, two screws instead of 6 in the bridge)

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

Scoped mids, really big bottom. Honestly, the SuperD is perfect the way it is and really behaves more like an alnico than ceramic anyway. Its very good sounding.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Super Distortion w/ A5? and other Dimarzio questions

the super distortion has a brass baseplate and 12 really thick screws that don't protrude, so it has more low end, a little less 'cut' and IMO hits the amp a bit harder than a custom 5 or full shred

you'll need a team of hand-tools and several stout alnico magnets if you're going to mag swap in there; she's a bit tall