X2N for non-metal purposes

[Sirion]

Have anyone tried the DiMarzio X2N outside a extreme metal situation. It seems like that is all the kids that have reviewed it over at Harmony Central does (I suspect that is all they have ever tried to make them do as well), but according to what DiMarzio says about it (even eq that brings out the natural tone of the guitar, excellent split and tap options), it seems like it should be able to do more things. Could someone please give an educated opinion about what the humbucker works for, because I really like the concept, but don't want to base a purchase off an ad on the Internet.

 

[ranalli]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

For what it's worth I thought it was an absolutely fantastic sounding pickup....beefy, clear...everything. The only thing that made me stop using it was too much output. It just distorted every channel I put it through and never balanced with what I had in the neck.


Other than that though, it's a fantastic pickup.....if they made the same pickup but with less output I'd use it again.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Are there any other DiMarzio pickups that you like? If so, I'd go ahead and give it a try. If it turns out that it's too much for you, just exchange it for something that you already like, or another pickup you'd like to try from them. Their exchange policy is 30 days.

I would try sitting it pretty low to help balance the output between it and the neck pickup, and also try to use that as a way of taming the super high output that it has. I think it would be worth giving it a go. I may even try it myself.

 

[kneadmomunny]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

buckethead plays country on his x2n

link

there's 2 of them in the flying v

 

[Neoclassic]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Wire it in parallel for "non metal" use...thank me later...:beerchug:

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

well X2N sounds perfect split ,and the volume pot is a great part of the guitar sound with X2Ns!It has a flat voicing ,so there is no problem with doing everything with it!Just use the Volume pot well.

 

[Aceman]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

I had one in a Kramer for a long time - and it was series/parellel/split wired. first, I'm with daemon - very even pup, but with mad stupid output!

Not the cleanest thing in series. In fact, not clean at all. And while you can use the volume to tame it, without a 50's mod or some such treble preserving volume mod, it will mud up when you volume down.

In parellel, however, it is an awesome and very flexible pup! has a nice air and slice about it for a bucker. I played clean rock/metal/pop, fat blues, etc...This setting mathches easily with mortal buckers and singles.

And...the single is really good! Great highes and lots of power - but not too much.

Wire it that way and maybe you use series only for the lead boost. deinitely more than a one trick pup. Harmony central - bah!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

This sounds like the perfect pup for my SG-X...you guys might've just made a sale for DiMarzio, haha

 

[jarvis]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

I had one on an american explorer back in the 80's ,Yes I admit i played metal at the time. the x2n has too much output and is not dynamic at all, its just straight in your face output.
I wouldn't use it for any application today not even metal, get a "normal" humbucker like a 59 and just drive the amp more with a pedal if u need more gain.

Yaron

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Yeah, jarvis is right about that, if you use hi-gain amps like MESA, ENGL, Soldano, or boosted JCM, low-output pups like noiseless SC's (YJM, anybody?), vintage buckers, like '59, Super V (Lynch nowadays), etc.
Cooler output gives free use of hi-gain amps huge (read: insanely out of your mind) preamp gain, without mudding the tone.

I think Super Distortion handles all equally well, it has a fatter tone and more usable output, though quite still huge (hotter than Evo, for example).

 

[alex1fly]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

I just tried the jazz in my LP the other day. it was the first low output pup i tried through my mesa. it sounds worlds better than the hot rails, custom, and c5 with all that mesa gain.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

But what about for vintage-voiced amps? I think I'm gonna have to try this pup in my rig.

 

[guitarded]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Back in to 80's I slapped one in a plywood special Les Paul copy. It made the guitar sound really loud AND good, and that is when I learned about overdrive vs. distortion, cause with this PUP I was able to just Krank my amp and put the distortion pedal on the shelf. Back then I was playing stuff like AC/DC and Aerosmith, and that is not even close to extreme metal, but this PUP got me in that territory without a pedal. Not sure if any of this will help you, but that is my experience with this PUP. Would I buy one and use it today????? Probably not, but maybe.

Have anyone tried the DiMarzio X2N outside a extreme metal situation. It seems like that is all the kids that have reviewed it over at Harmony Central does (I suspect that is all they have ever tried to make them do as well), but according to what DiMarzio says about it (even eq that brings out the natural tone of the guitar, excellent split and tap options), it seems like it should be able to do more things. Could someone please give an educated opinion about what the humbucker works for, because I really like the concept, but don't want to base a purchase off an ad on the Internet.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

But what about for vintage-voiced amps? I think I'm gonna have to try this pup in my rig.

I think it would be best for that application, since the pickup has a lot of output, it'll really drive the amp and might be a bit too much for a high gain amp because of it. If I get it, I'll be using it with a vintage-voiced amp.

 

[Sirion]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

It's great to see that this thread has gotten a life on it's own. To be honest, I didn't expect a single reply! Anyway, any suggestions for a humbucker like the X2N (very even eq to bring out the guitars natural tone, excellent split-tap-sounds), but with a more controllable amount of gain?

 

[thucydides]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Try the X2N. I used one for years in a Strat, and a Hamer Scarab, just straight ahead series, for hard rock. However, I've split other hot pups (nice!), and earlier posts indicate that splitting and parallel have great sounds. You can get a three way switch that will give you all the options.

 

[Aceman]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

It's great to see that this thread has gotten a life on it's own. To be honest, I didn't expect a single reply! Anyway, any suggestions for a humbucker like the X2N (very even eq to bring out the guitars natural tone, excellent split-tap-sounds), but with a more controllable amount of gain?

Bring out the natural tone is NOT something I'd say it does no matter how it's wired! Better when Parellel, but that isn't something it does.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Hey Sirion ,A X2N is easy to find on e-bay.So it's a no brainer to test!It's a really popular PU ,and if you want less output ,just use it with a EQ infront of your amp.That thing has a nice ,articulate clean sound.The PU height ,the volume pot ,ant the split option is really making it usable for everything!
I don't dig it alot ,but that's a matter of taste ,not a matter of quality!

 

[Aceman]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

Good call man - can't be that expensive. I'm gonna check the bay just to see...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: X2N for non-metal purposes

$20-$70 is not bad for a pup. If you can score a black one for less than $50, and you don't like it, I'll buy it from you FOR $50.