Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

[pstarove]

Here is the link:
http://www.guitarworld.com/article/dimarzio_d_activator_dp220_and_dp219_pickups

I am not an active pickup sound fan, so I'm just posting this thread to help the guys who were interested in them. I used to have two EMGs (89 and 89R), and they were decent, but still had that "on-off" active feel that I didn't like. Now I have a Shadow SH-EQ5 in one of my guitars, and it is the most organic sounding active pickup I've heard to date.

Now you guys follow the link and tell me if you like them. I know that most of you will tell that the Blackouts sound better But the absence of the battery is a big plus for some.

 

[JWKnight]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

the guy on the vid sounds gay: popworm:

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

Whoa man, thanks for posting that vid! Now I don't hafta keep on envisioning what they sound like. They sound like good ol' DiMarzio's - don't know quite how to explain that though. I like the way Blackout's sound, but they also have that overall Seymour-ized sound, old-school sound that I just can't appreciate. I had EMG's loaded into a guitar once, and I gotta tell ya, batteries were never an issue. Change it every 4 months (regular use), what's so hard about that? Carry spares, just like you do with your pedals and whatnot.

I personally wouldn't use the D Activator's though, cuz I've already found my sound pickup's wise, but I did look into the D Activator's though. The vid helped round that out. Thanks.

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

Too much treble. In that clip, they have no body to their sound.

Don't like them personally, but I've never been an active pickups fan either.

Pete

 

[Mephis]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

They sounded good to me. The bridge reminds me of my EMG 81 with less compression.

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

actually sounded pretty good!
pretty trebley
but they sound good!!!

ah at the end with the "alot of gain pumped into them"
they sounded ok
very trebley
but the other tones kicked ass!

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

Sounded pretty good aside from the huge amount of delay he was using.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

Way too much treble on the amp. I tried the Ibanez Xiphos with a D-Activator set and they had more body to them than the sound in the vid.
Imo they are like a 81/85 set crossed with Evos. Killer pups imo.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

are they tight like emgs? do they stay clear with a lot of gain?

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

are they tight like emgs? do they stay clear with a lot of gain?

Did you not see the video?

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

i did see the video. my question was directed more at loserchief and others who have used them with better amp settings than those used on the video.

 

[Martian]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

I was always interested in what they sounded like, what a let down! I think they sounded just plain awful and certainly not like any EMG I've ever used. As a matter of fact, I think that's the worst sound I've ever heard out of "premium" pickups. Of course, YMMV.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

I liked the neck pup with alot of gain,,would sound good with my crazy8 in my LP

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

are they tight like emgs? do they stay clear with a lot of gain?

as clear and tight as any EMG just with a different tone and more dynamics to them.

 

[Toner]

Re: Video review of DiMarzio D-Activators

They are NOT active pickups!

DiMarzio's pickup is passive with a lot of headroom, and it responds quickly and accurately to changes in pick attack. A hard pick attack doesn't cause the signal to flatten out, and picking more softly or rolling the volume control down lets the sound clean up naturally. Like all passive pickups, D Activators require controls with a minimum value of 250Kohms. 500K is the standard all around value, and DiMarzio's 1Megohm tone control is best for long cable runs.

Taken from http://www.zzounds.com/item--DIMDACT

they are basicially making fun of actives by calling them d-active.....