Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

[Iceblade]

Hey gang,

I snagged an EC-256FM in See Through Black around last Christmas. I'm definitely underwhelmed by the stock pickups in this guitar, so I've decided to try upgrading them with one of the following combos that I have laying around the house, unused. If any of you have tried these yourselves, I'd love to hear feedback. My choices are as follows:

Neck
DiMarzio PAF Pro
DiMarzio H3 (Neck Humbucker from 1990 Fender HM Strat) - Described via DiMarzio Tech Support as "somewhat similar to an Evolution neck model (the Evo is a little quieter and brighter)".
Humbucker From Hell


Bridge
DiMarzio Tone Zone
DiMarzio Super 3

Ultimately, I'll be replacing these with a Fishman Fluence Classic Open Core Zebra set, but that's at least a year out since I have crap tons of saving to do for other stuff beforehand.

Yes, I know I can "just pop each one in and see which you like better," but that's a giant pain in the butt to me, so if I can at least get a feel for which set will LIKELY sound better in this LP clone, that would really help out. My gut is telling me the Super 3 and H1 out of the Fender HM Strat would be the best place to start since I THINK that they may be slightly brighter in a darker tone wood like mahogany, but if someone has actually dropped any of these in, I'd love to hear about it. Also, I'm unsure of how much the maple veneer/cap brightens the guitar's tone. In general, I don't know if this is a dark or bright or neutral guitar. I'm concerned that both of my bridge pickup choices may be too dark, but I have to believe either is better than stock.

Thanks,
Jeff in Houston

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

What tones are you trying to get? Amp?
Tuning?

 

[Toejam]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

The Super 3 is a pretty dark and midrangey pickup. It might work for you. I've always loved the Tone Zone, but that's kinda warm and bassy, a tiny bit lower ouput than the Super 3, though.

For the neck, I'd go with the Humbucker From Hell, as that's brighter and sounds a lot like a single coil.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

Welcome to the forum!

Of those listed, I would choose the HFH neck and TZ bridge.

However, what I like may not be what you like.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

H3 neck? Are you sure? As I recall, H3 was a high output bridge pickup

 

[Iceblade]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

Thanks for the replies, gang.

Tone wise, I'm just looking for something that can tide me over until I get the Fluence pickups that will go in here. Ideally, my stopgap DiMarzio would be versatile enough to cover old school DiMeola to '87 era Sykes, but honestly, ANYTHING has to be better than these stock pickups. I run the guitar direct into my ancient Axe-FX Standard and listen through my Yorkville powered studio monitors.

Per DiMarzio tech: "The Fender H1 is a Super 3 (DP152F). The H3 is somewhat similar to an Evolution neck model (the Evo is a little quieter and brighter)."

Thanks again,
Jeff

 

[Adieu]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

Thanks for the replies, gang.

Tone wise, I'm just looking for something that can tide me over until I get the Fluence pickups that will go in here. Ideally, my stopgap DiMarzio would be versatile enough to cover old school DiMeola to '87 era Sykes, but honestly, ANYTHING has to be better than these stock pickups. I run the guitar direct into my ancient Axe-FX Standard and listen through my Yorkville powered studio monitors.

Per DiMarzio tech: "The Fender H1 is a Super 3 (DP152F). The H3 is somewhat similar to an Evolution neck model (the Evo is a little quieter and brighter)."

Thanks again,
Jeff

Yeah, they're talking about the architecture inside

Except afaik Fender used the H3 as a BRIDGE pup, and an FSPACED one at that... Kurt Cobain used em




Use:
Super 3 / PAF Pro --- higher output for high gain, must like mids
Tone Zone / Hell --- somewhat lower output but also for high gain, bassy-middy bridge, trebly neck
PAF Pro / Hell --- overwound vintagey output

PS check for signs of Fspacing, you need regular spaced buckers. Keep the H3 for a strat, it's a decent medium-high output pup

 

[Adieu]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

Then again... DiMarzio recommends Tone Zone/PAF Pro as a set.

However, the bigger output variation between Super3 and Hell MIGHT leave you without a second viable set....except for Fspaced, where H3 and Hell might work

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

I think my first choice would be
Tone Zone bridge/PAF Pro neck.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

Hey gang,

I snagged an EC-256FM in See Through Black around last Christmas. I'm definitely underwhelmed by the stock pickups in this guitar, so I've decided to try upgrading them with one of the following combos that I have laying around the house, unused. If any of you have tried these yourselves, I'd love to hear feedback. My choices are as follows:

Neck
DiMarzio PAF Pro
DiMarzio H3 (Neck Humbucker from 1990 Fender HM Strat) - Described via DiMarzio Tech Support as "somewhat similar to an Evolution neck model (the Evo is a little quieter and brighter)".
Humbucker From Hell


Bridge
DiMarzio Tone Zone
DiMarzio Super 3

Ultimately, I'll be replacing these with a Fishman Fluence Classic Open Core Zebra set, but that's at least a year out since I have crap tons of saving to do for other stuff beforehand.

Yes, I know I can "just pop each one in and see which you like better," but that's a giant pain in the butt to me, so if I can at least get a feel for which set will LIKELY sound better in this LP clone, that would really help out. My gut is telling me the Super 3 and H1 out of the Fender HM Strat would be the best place to start since I THINK that they may be slightly brighter in a darker tone wood like mahogany, but if someone has actually dropped any of these in, I'd love to hear about it. Also, I'm unsure of how much the maple veneer/cap brightens the guitar's tone. In general, I don't know if this is a dark or bright or neutral guitar. I'm concerned that both of my bridge pickup choices may be too dark, but I have to believe either is better than stock.

Thanks,
Jeff in Houston

A friend of mine has the Super 3/PAF Pro combination on his Epiphone Sheraton. They used to be installed on the Fernandes (don't know model) mahogany guitar of my guitar tech and both of them got pro tones, and gigs with those pickups installed in their respective guitars. With your options, I would choose the same for your guitar. I would choose the Tone Zone in the bridge if it was a Strat like guitar.

 

[Cynical]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

I'd go H3 in the bridge/PAF Pro in the neck myself. I hate the TZ, and while the Super 3 is better, it's still darker on the top than I prefer. The PAF Pro is just a great neck pickup, I'd use it for any of these bridge pickup options.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Which DiMarzio Pickups for ESP LTD EC-256FM?

I only have the Super3 of the ones you have listed, and I like mine. Its rolled off, or maybe even truncated in the highs, but its EQ is very friendly to cranking the mids and treble without getting muddy. I bet the HFH would be an interesting combo, dark and super bright could give some interesting middle position sounds