Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

[357mag]

Thinking of putting my Super Distortion back in my Les Paul and doing some experimenting with trying to mellow it out a bit. One thing I noticed when I was using it was that I would play just one string (like my A string) and the sound was clear but when I added say the D string to it the sound became kinda fat and woofy, kinda distorted. Kinda muddy, wierd cuz when I just played one string a few seconds earlier, it sounded clearer.

Also, I'd like to maybe make the pickup sound a little smoother, more like the Duncan Custom. Try to tame the bite of it.

I probably should use a low gain amp in my POD like the Plexi. I feel that would be a good amp to use with the Super Distortion.

But if you can give some tips on how I might tame the pickup a bit, please post.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

Lower the height of SuperD & maybe try 300k pots with it. It sounds clearer with less preamp gain & higher volume, preferably marshall based low gain amp.

 

[daenius]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

Yup, if you find the bass side to be overwhelming, lower it on the bass side a bit. The pickup doesn't need to be flat and level, so you pretty much only need to adjust it on the side that needs the adjustment.

Lowering the input gain on the amp certainly helps the most too.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

2 things I did to my high output bridge humbucker to tame it and make it clearer were change the mag and add a partial split to it. Both had a huge effect. It was shrill with A5 and I added a roughcast A8 and that tamed the high end and made it a lot fuller. You mentioned you want it chiller but less boomy too. A3 and A4 do that. Also you could spin a split or partial split which really remove the gain from its natural sound.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

I probably should use a low gain amp in my POD like the Plexi. I feel that would be a good amp to use with the Super Distortion.

What kind of amp you're using? POD doesn't sound like something that would pair up well with pickup like Super Distortion...

But if it indeed sounds too fat and woofy with good amp, that partial split would definitely work.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

I don't know, I did the mod where you put the split on a 500k pot, for infinitely variable split, and the only differences I personally heard were that it seemed to get a little bit louder with the volume just slightly dropped (like, 9) and then when it was all the way down to zero. Everything in between sounded almost the same.

On one hand, I'd say lower the pickup first and then try raising the pole pieces but I'd also say maybe you have the wrong pickup. It sounds like you want the Super Distortion to be less...super distorted? Thick and snotty is kind of what that pickup does.

If it's an F-space I will trade you for a Carvin C22B, which is a nice hard rock pickup but does not have the big bottom boom ("mud") of the Super Distortion. I'll throw in $20 because the used value is higher on the Dimarzio. I like the "mud" (what I call "boom") of the SD.

And for what it's worth, I once put an A5 into one, trying to mellow it a bit. Instead it made it sound thinner, weaker, and more shrill. I say let the Super Distortion be a Super Distortion and if it's not for you then change it out for something more inline with what you're seeking.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

Going from ceramic to A3 or 4 will have a huge effect in making it nicer.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

I don't know, I did the mod where you put the split on a 500k pot, for infinitely variable split, and the only differences I personally heard were that it seemed to get a little bit louder with the volume just slightly dropped (like, 9) and then when it was all the way down to zero. Everything in between sounded almost the same.

That's good to know because I recently did just a partial split with a switch.

 

[357mag]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

It is sounding better. I'm using some lower gain amps. This should be called The Change Your Magnet Forum. It's easier just to buy a different pickup. And safer too.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

I don't know, I did the mod where you put the split on a 500k pot, for infinitely variable split, and the only differences I personally heard were that it seemed to get a little bit louder with the volume just slightly dropped (like, 9) and then when it was all the way down to zero. Everything in between sounded almost the same.

On one hand, I'd say lower the pickup first and then try raising the pole pieces but I'd also say maybe you have the wrong pickup. It sounds like you want the Super Distortion to be less...super distorted? Thick and snotty is kind of what that pickup does.

If it's an F-space I will trade you for a Carvin C22B, which is a nice hard rock pickup but does not have the big bottom boom ("mud") of the Super Distortion. I'll throw in $20 because the used value is higher on the Dimarzio. I like the "mud" (what I call "boom") of the SD.

And for what it's worth, I once put an A5 into one, trying to mellow it a bit. Instead it made it sound thinner, weaker, and more shrill. I say let the Super Distortion be a Super Distortion and if it's not for you then change it out for something more inline with what you're seeking.

I'll wager that an A8 would sound good in one. Still as bassy, but the top would probably be smoother.

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[Clint 55]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

This should be called The Change Your Magnet Forum. It's easier just to buy a different pickup. And safer too.

WAT!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

It is sounding better. I'm using some lower gain amps. This should be called The Change Your Magnet Forum. It's easier just to buy a different pickup. And safer too.

If you think so. I've swapped plenty of magnets with no problems. But certainly, there are plenty of other pickups out there for those that choose not to do so.

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[EDX]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

ummmm what pod you have? some units are famous for their horrible tone when paired with hot or extreme eq pickups

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

I'll wager that an A8 would sound good in one. Still as bassy, but the top would probably be smoother.

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Maybe. I've never played a guitar with an A8 pickup. I just know the A5 was horrible for my rig.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Trying to tame the nastiness of the Dimarzio Super Distortion

The Super Distortion has a ceramic magnet. The Alnico 8 magnet is similar in strength, but with the character of the anico magnets.

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