Your Favorite DiMarzio

[Demanic]

The original X2N Power Plus. These have nickel silver baseplates that make them very clear while also being powerful. The newer X2Ns have brass baseplates and sound muffled and dead, like the amp is sitting behind a big pillow.

Is it possible to swap the baseplate on one of the newer ones without much hassle?

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[formula73]

Not sure, man. I’ve never tried, but Dimarzio is pretty infamous for mags and pickups glued together. The old ones are pretty easy to find, used.

 

[Demanic]

Not sure, man. I’ve never tried, but Dimarzio is pretty infamous for mags and pickups glued together. The old ones are pretty easy to find, used.

That's what I figured. It's not a deal breaker to have the brass plate so I'm just going to leave it be. If I wanted to I could always replace it with a D-Activator bridge.

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[idsnowdog]

Is it possible to swap the baseplate on one of the newer ones without much hassle?

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The magnets are glued to the baseplate but you can replace the baseplate's without much trouble. You need to go around the perimeter of the magnet with an xacto knife and then you can slip a mini screwdriver blade underneath and pry them loose. Many people try to grab the magnet with a pliers and that's the wrong approach because the ceramic magnets are brittle and too much surface is glued to the baseplate for that to work. The glue that's used is strong but it's brittle easy to pry off without damaging the magnet.

 

[Demanic]

The magnets are glued to the baseplate but you can replace the baseplate's without much trouble. You need to go around the perimeter of the magnet with an xacto knife and then you can slip a mini screwdriver blade underneath and pry them loose. Many people try to grab the magnet with a pliers and that's the wrong approach because the ceramic magnets are brittle and too much surface is glued to the baseplate for that to work. The glue that's used is strong but it's brittle easy to pry off without damaging the magnet.

Ok, that sounds reasonable. Any particular vendors for the baseplate? Does Dimarzio sell them?

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[idsnowdog]

Ok, that sounds reasonable. Any particular vendors for the baseplate? Does Dimarzio sell them?

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I have bought my nickle steel plates from Mojotone or Philadelphia Luthier Supply.

 

[Demanic]

Ok, cool.

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[alex1fly]

Virtual PAF (now discontinued) and Virtual P90s are my two faves. Lots of mojo in there. The Vp90 has been in 3 guitars (2 PRS and a Fender Strat) and sounded basically the same. Almost like it has its flavor and tone no matter what. I haven't done enough A\B to know for sure. The Virtual PAF, I still have dreams about my Epi LP with that thing and the neck clean tone I recorded back in 2009. Just gorgeous.

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[Demanic]

I just recalled, I really love the Fast 2 in the bridge of a Strat if I'm looking for it to really kick you in the pants.

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[formula73]

I have bought my nickle steel plates from Mojotone or Philadelphia Luthier Supply.

Yep. I’ve gotten them from PLS, too.

It’s been a while since I looked and I didn’t realize people were asking $125ish for the old X2N PP. Hell yeah, buy a new baseplate and just be careful with the mag.

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

The original X2N Power Plus. These have nickel silver baseplates that make them very clear while also being powerful. The newer X2Ns have brass baseplates and sound muffled and dead, like the amp is sitting behind a big pillow.

The newer X2N doesn't sound that way to me in my Viper. It sounds huge, but lacks bass. But if nickel makes them sound even better, then I'm going to be trying it out for sure.

 

[Demanic]

That's what I thought. I have an X-acto knife.

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[formula73]

Give it a shot. I’ve A/B’d these in several geets and came to the same conclusion every time. The only newer X2N I liked was in a Hondo setneck LP copy with a maple neck and ash body, that was already very bright to start with.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I don't really love any. Have tried a few, but not a lot. I always kinda like them, but never love them.

PAF Pro in the bridge: Cool attack, but way too weak.
PAF Pro in the neck: Way to oscratchy/chirpy and slightly weak to match with the bridge pickups I like.
PAF 36th Anniversary: Almost perfect EQ curve for the neck, but excessively anemic output matched with the bridge pickups I like.
Crunch Lab: Too muffled and stuffy in the low mids.
Dominion: Super tight and fast with a killer attack, but kinda nasal mids.
Super Distortion: Way too long since I had it, but I remember it being VERY bassy.

I would still very much like to try the X2N and the D Activators, tho.