What's a FRED like?

[Rich_S]

I'm thinking about buying a LP clone that the previous owner put 2 DiMarzio Freds in. Does anybody have any experience with these pickups? What Duncan models do they compare to?

I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to need to change them right away prior to negotiating. I'm looking at this guitar for a classic rock kinda sound, Page, Kossoff, Angus, etc. Though I need to do more listening to the clips, if I was going to put Duncan HB's in a LP today, I'd probably put in a pair of 59's or maybe a JB/59 combo.

Comments?

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: What's a FRED like?

Closest Duncan would be a Demon.

I don't know about those for Classic Rock though. Stick PAF models or a Custom for classic rock.

 

[FretFire]

Re: What's a FRED like?

Closest Duncan would be a Demon.

Wow really? I would have assumed a JB with that mid-spike. Very cool.

 

[nuntius]

Re: What's a FRED like?

I've a FRED in the neck which I really like. It's quite hot and fat for a neck pup, so I have it set pretty low. It gets very nice split tones too.

It hasn't got that much treble in the neck spot though, and I have it in a basswood strat type. I'd imagine it'd be pretty dark in a Les Paul...

 

[shreder75]

Re: What's a FRED like?

I don't own one but I've played an ibanez JS model with the fred in it and it's a really cool pup..very ballsy....great harmonics.....I think it's higher output than a demon....dunno how you would copmare it to a duncan..but of all the dimarzios I've played through, the fred's the only one I like

 

[Majestic]

Re: What's a FRED like?

The FRED is only about 10 or 11k, I believe.

I think of it as a more modern, less vintage Pearly Gates, but with more "boost", and an A5 magnet. It obviously has Dual Resonance, and cool harmonics up the wazoo. The Demon probably is a fair comparison, only the FRED was designed from the gound-up to have those great natural harmonics and smart mids, and aide in rolling legato lines.

I bet you'll love the d*mn thing in the bridge.

 

[Hellion]

Re: What's a FRED like?

I don't believe that FREDs are a terribly high output pup. I was going to suggest a hotrodded '59, but I agree with korovamilkdud that a Demon is probably pretty close.