The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
What's the specs on it? Ohms, magnet?
What's the specs on it? Ohms, magnet?
bancika
New member
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
Magnet doesn't mean anything either
It's supposed to be the hottest and least "singley" sounding stacked coil single pickup they offer. More midrange and less treble than others, almost like a PAF. That's why it should sing well for solos. Fatter too.
Magnet doesn't mean anything either
It's supposed to be the hottest and least "singley" sounding stacked coil single pickup they offer. More midrange and less treble than others, almost like a PAF. That's why it should sing well for solos. Fatter too.
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
If magnets mean nothing and resistance means nothing, then why do pickup makers and tons of pickup buyers want to know what magnets are in their pickups and what the resistance is?
It's my understanding that Alnico II gives a softer, spongier sound than Alnico V. Isn't that the general perception?
If magnets mean nothing and resistance means nothing, then why do pickup makers and tons of pickup buyers want to know what magnets are in their pickups and what the resistance is?
It's my understanding that Alnico II gives a softer, spongier sound than Alnico V. Isn't that the general perception?
lazyfinger
Member
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
Mags or DCR means nothing when comparing between 2 different pickups perhaps, but it means absolutely everything when comparing between 2 same/similar pups. Case and point: any pup with different mag or slightly over/under wound..
Mags or DCR means nothing when comparing between 2 different pickups perhaps, but it means absolutely everything when comparing between 2 same/similar pups. Case and point: any pup with different mag or slightly over/under wound..
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
Guys, it's not that hard to go to Dimarzio's site and get the specs:
Wiring: 4 Conductor
Magnet: Alnico 5
Output mV: 205
DC Resistance: 11.17 Kohm
Year of Introduction: 2008
Patent: 4,442,749 & 5,908,802
Bass 6.5
Mids 7.5
Treb 5.5
We've combined the best qualities of the Virtual Vintage® Solo and Virtual Vintage® Solo Pro™ — high output and a full, warm sound — and pushed these qualities even further. Treble response is smoother, the lows are tighter, and there is more pick attack. Play hard, and the sound jumps out of the amp. Play softer, and the sound becomes cleaner and quieter. Naturally, there's no hum.
The Virtual Vintage® Solo and Virtual Vintage® Solo Pro™ both have specific qualities we like a lot, but we felt the sound could be even bigger. Making the highs both fatter and louder without any loss of definition on the lows creates a bridge pickup that can sound both warm and intense, and the Virtual Solo™ performs equally well with clean and heavily overdriven amps.
Guys, it's not that hard to go to Dimarzio's site and get the specs:
Wiring: 4 Conductor
Magnet: Alnico 5
Output mV: 205
DC Resistance: 11.17 Kohm
Year of Introduction: 2008
Patent: 4,442,749 & 5,908,802
Bass 6.5
Mids 7.5
Treb 5.5
We've combined the best qualities of the Virtual Vintage® Solo and Virtual Vintage® Solo Pro™ — high output and a full, warm sound — and pushed these qualities even further. Treble response is smoother, the lows are tighter, and there is more pick attack. Play hard, and the sound jumps out of the amp. Play softer, and the sound becomes cleaner and quieter. Naturally, there's no hum.
The Virtual Vintage® Solo and Virtual Vintage® Solo Pro™ both have specific qualities we like a lot, but we felt the sound could be even bigger. Making the highs both fatter and louder without any loss of definition on the lows creates a bridge pickup that can sound both warm and intense, and the Virtual Solo™ performs equally well with clean and heavily overdriven amps.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
Thank you. Mags and windings mean a lot to a PU's tone and output. Some guys here don't like the sharp high end and ample bass of an A5, and prefer the softer highs and added dynamics of an A2 or UOA5. Some of us don't like what a ceramic mag brings to the table outputwise, and particularly their harsher cleans. Everything else being more or less the same, more windings means more mids, with less treble and clarity. That effects compression and 'openness.'
Thank you. Mags and windings mean a lot to a PU's tone and output. Some guys here don't like the sharp high end and ample bass of an A5, and prefer the softer highs and added dynamics of an A2 or UOA5. Some of us don't like what a ceramic mag brings to the table outputwise, and particularly their harsher cleans. Everything else being more or less the same, more windings means more mids, with less treble and clarity. That effects compression and 'openness.'
bancika
New member
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
Of course it means, but it's just an ingredient that doesn't have a sole and final influence.
These params
because the latter are cooked into the former. Not all Ax pickups sound the same, nor do all ceramics the same. It's like saying that V8 cars are fast...some of them yes, but much more important facts about a car is acceleration and top speed than engine construction. It's the same with pickups. You can't tell if a pickup is going to be bright or hot or whatever by reading 11.17KOhm Alnico V...that doesn't mean anything, it's just two parameters out of dozens. And higher resistance doesn't imply more windings, could also be thinner wire.
As mentioned, it can be a factor when comparing two pickups that are equal in every other way. Using resistance and magnets to identity pickups is very imprecise IMO. There are 4 litter V8 pickup trucks, american muscle cars and german hi-tech performance cars. Putting them in the same basket is idiotic. The same goes for guitar pickups.
Of course it means, but it's just an ingredient that doesn't have a sole and final influence.
These params
are much more important than these
because the latter are cooked into the former. Not all Ax pickups sound the same, nor do all ceramics the same. It's like saying that V8 cars are fast...some of them yes, but much more important facts about a car is acceleration and top speed than engine construction. It's the same with pickups. You can't tell if a pickup is going to be bright or hot or whatever by reading 11.17KOhm Alnico V...that doesn't mean anything, it's just two parameters out of dozens. And higher resistance doesn't imply more windings, could also be thinner wire.
As mentioned, it can be a factor when comparing two pickups that are equal in every other way. Using resistance and magnets to identity pickups is very imprecise IMO. There are 4 litter V8 pickup trucks, american muscle cars and german hi-tech performance cars. Putting them in the same basket is idiotic. The same goes for guitar pickups.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
I think you have it backwards what the most important qualities of a PU are. There's a lot of us that don't completely agree with the EQ's given for PU's. Plus, there's one set of EQ's for a bridge and neck PU, which makes me highly suspicious. I just don't take those published EQ's into consideration when looking at PU's. They mean nothing to me. I can move the EQ in any direction with magnets, pots, and resistors. EQ's vary depending on the guitar design and wood. Any given PU has more audible low end in an LP than a Strat, and that'll change with the amp. A '59N may have a nice low end in an LP, but often is overkill in an LP. What guitar and amp were used as the EQ reference? If it's nothing like what I have, the EQ I get from that PU may be totally different. We have the same problem with the sound clips...what's the reference instrument and amp? One-size-fits-all doesn't really work.
What I can't change is the wind and resistance. That's why they're much more important to us than published EQ's. Most of us here select PU's that are where we want them to be with the wind and resistance, and then move the EQ and output around to fit the wood and our rig. When we want to give an A5 PU a warmer tone and change it's feel, we can use an A2, UOA5, A4, or A8; all have different dynamics and output. Or if we put an UOA5 in a Custom; output drops and the sound has much more texture. With a little tweaking, the manufacturer's published EQ and output of any HB or P-90 can easily get thrown out the window. Put all your faith in those if you want, but they're transient qualities.
You said that not all ceramics sound the same; right, because of the wind, the variable we can't change (at lest not easily). Each magnet brings certain qualities to the party. Some of us prefer what alnicos do, other like ceramics. Depends on the style of muisic and how much distortion and effects used. An A2 PU may be all mud in a metal context, but perfect for jazz or blues. Every HB and P-90 has multiple personalities, depending on the magnet in it. We open those doors and see what they have to offer.
I think you have it backwards what the most important qualities of a PU are. There's a lot of us that don't completely agree with the EQ's given for PU's. Plus, there's one set of EQ's for a bridge and neck PU, which makes me highly suspicious. I just don't take those published EQ's into consideration when looking at PU's. They mean nothing to me. I can move the EQ in any direction with magnets, pots, and resistors. EQ's vary depending on the guitar design and wood. Any given PU has more audible low end in an LP than a Strat, and that'll change with the amp. A '59N may have a nice low end in an LP, but often is overkill in an LP. What guitar and amp were used as the EQ reference? If it's nothing like what I have, the EQ I get from that PU may be totally different. We have the same problem with the sound clips...what's the reference instrument and amp? One-size-fits-all doesn't really work.
What I can't change is the wind and resistance. That's why they're much more important to us than published EQ's. Most of us here select PU's that are where we want them to be with the wind and resistance, and then move the EQ and output around to fit the wood and our rig. When we want to give an A5 PU a warmer tone and change it's feel, we can use an A2, UOA5, A4, or A8; all have different dynamics and output. Or if we put an UOA5 in a Custom; output drops and the sound has much more texture. With a little tweaking, the manufacturer's published EQ and output of any HB or P-90 can easily get thrown out the window. Put all your faith in those if you want, but they're transient qualities.
You said that not all ceramics sound the same; right, because of the wind, the variable we can't change (at lest not easily). Each magnet brings certain qualities to the party. Some of us prefer what alnicos do, other like ceramics. Depends on the style of muisic and how much distortion and effects used. An A2 PU may be all mud in a metal context, but perfect for jazz or blues. Every HB and P-90 has multiple personalities, depending on the magnet in it. We open those doors and see what they have to offer.
bancika
New member
Re: The Dimarzio Virtual Solo
I agree that changing any of those will affect the sound, no question about it. I'm just questioning the way pickups are identified. The fact that it's alnico 5 only means that if I stick different magnet it will sound differently in some way...but what do I care, I care how the pickup itself sounds. Also Ohms alone mean nothing. Take the good ol' HS2 for example. It's got around 40% more ohms than Virtual Solo, yet it has 60% less output and a lot more highs. And both are alnico 5. So if you said
Virtual Solo = Alnico 5 @ 11K
HS2 = Alnico 5 @ 15K
What kind of conclusion can I draw from this?
I agree that changing any of those will affect the sound, no question about it. I'm just questioning the way pickups are identified. The fact that it's alnico 5 only means that if I stick different magnet it will sound differently in some way...but what do I care, I care how the pickup itself sounds. Also Ohms alone mean nothing. Take the good ol' HS2 for example. It's got around 40% more ohms than Virtual Solo, yet it has 60% less output and a lot more highs. And both are alnico 5. So if you said
Virtual Solo = Alnico 5 @ 11K
HS2 = Alnico 5 @ 15K
What kind of conclusion can I draw from this?
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