Your Favorite DiMarzio

[UnderTheFlame83]

I haven't tried many DiMarzio pickups. I'm more into Duncans personally. But if I could pick a favorite of the ones I've tried, I would go with the X2N. Some say the X2N is over the top. It can be if not set properly in height. Once set and amp settings dailed in, its glorious. Followed closely behind would be the D Activator and Super Distortion, then FRED.

Next up to try (if I can find them at a good price) I want to try the DiMarzio/ Ibanez F2 and F3 humbuckers from the 90s in an Ibanez RG. All the DiMarzio pickups I've used were installed in an RG.

 

[Liam1963]

Like you, I also prefer Duncans, but I did experiment with an old Fat Strat, took out the neck and middle pickups, and replaced the bridge pickup with an X2N, it does quite well in that configuration, one humbucker, one volume knob, simple and effective...

 

[Aceman]

I love so many DiMarzio's. I really think Duncan and DiMarzio are equal in terms of great tone bricks. I prefer Duncan because that's just my ears. But If went away forever - I could find DiMarzios to make me happy no problem.

#1 Super Distortion - its an Iconic pickup, with an Iconic sound. As the high gain offering in the world expand - I find it an even better pickup for more and more things.

#2 X2N - I read the blurb about trying it series/split/parallel; OMG what a great pickup. Of course I love it for my trademark "Stupid Hot. It's the pickup to use if you want to pimp-slap your preamp tubes into next week." Seriously - series is like Texas hot Strat and parallel is a clean but loud enough sound for great rhythm.

#3 Tone Zone - just different enough from a super D IMO to be a little thicker, a little more hard hitting, a little more thus,p and a little more scream. It's like a Super D built for the 80's.

#5 Choppers! Man, those things are just a great single/double tone balance in a single position.

#6 PAF - whatever flavor they are building. I think PGs are my favorite PAF style period. But I prefer a DMZ PAF to a Duncan 59

I've had others, PAF Pro is cool, Fast track, I currently have a Fast Track 2 doing split single/HB duty in a Strat. YJM's (Or HS 2's for old school YJM fans)

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

#2 X2N - I read the blurb about trying it series/split/parallel; OMG what a great pickup. Of course I love it for my trademark "Stupid Hot. It's the pickup to use if you want to pimp-slap your preamp tubes into next week." Seriously - series is like Texas hot Strat and parallel is a clean but loud enough sound for great rhythm.

Oh yeah it sounds awesome in series/split/parallel. That is how I have it in one of my RGs. Even with the stock Infinity sounds great together.

 

[Reee]

I find dimarzios to be too compressed, even the lower output ones

 

[Artie]

This might sound silly, but I won't use DMZ's for ideological reasons. I think their trademark of double-cream is stupid. (Like if Chevy trademarked red.) I'm fairly certain there was double-cream prior art before their trademark. If they ever give it up, I'll go buy a set in their honor.

 

[nexion218]

I'm sure I played some, as my guitar teacher from some 20 years ago had a thing for custom Yamaha guitars with DiMarzio pickups, but I can't recall a single thing about them. The only one I have experience with is the Imperium set, which is mighty fine, I must say. If I couldn't use Duncans, than I'd sure go with these before EMG or anything else.

 

[Lewguitar]

I prefer Duncans because I grew up with what are now vintage Gibson and Fender guitars and I think Duncan does those tones better than Dimarzio.

Only Dimarzios I love are those in my Ernie Ball Axis. Same pickups EVH used and which he had a hand in tweaking and was bummed when he couldn't take them with him when he went to Peavey.

They're great pickups and unavailable as an aftermarket pickup.

 

[ErikH]

Super Distortion, Air Zone, the original DP103 PAF (not the redesign), Air Norton, Air Classics. I've used a bunch of DiMarzios but those are my favorites.

 

[superpete]

the twang king neck, paf pro, and the axis humbuckers are probably my favorites. i have an AT-1 im gonna use in a build im currently finishing, so hopefully i'll like that one a lot too.

 

[EmiAba]

Super distortion and AT-1 among the others. I am digging the 36th anniversary neck lately

 

[Guitarmusic]

I like the Steve Special, The FRED, the AT-1 and the Norton. I had a Norton in a Epiphone Les Paul and it was awesome. I tried it in another guitar and didn't like it as much but it is cool.

I also like the Breed and the Gravity Storm. Both Pickup companies are great and I'm glad we can have different options to choose from. Long live Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio!

 

[marcello252]

FS-1, best hot bridge SC for strat I've ever used in my guitars, much more than SSL5 (sorry guys). Combined with a normal mid strat single coil (a good SSL-1 for example) is THE sound of The Edge to name the first who comes in mind or, alone, is THE Gilmour bridge sound of late 70s

 

[idsnowdog]

The Fastrack II is the best sounding single coil sized humbucker I have used. The Super Distortion is great as is the Evolution.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I like The Breed. A lot. Years ago, somebody at DiMarzio recommended it as closest to the Axis bridge in tone and feel.
Breed necks make wonderful bridge pickups too, moderate output and a little leaner.
VPAF/VHPAF set is marvelous, with both delicacy and attitude. Nice balance of detail & body.

All of the above are now discontinued, but IMO the 36th Anni set isn't too far from the VPAFs, maybe a bit less refined.
I have a 36th Anni bridge and its slightly fuller & more aggressive character is quite well-suited to the guitar it's in.
Also have fond memories of early DiMarzio PAFs in a '75 LP Custom, though that guitar is long gone now.

In current production models, I like the AT-1 and Air Norton. Tone Zone for Tele kicks ass too.
Super D is a rock classic of course.

 

[Securb]

I love the Gen 2s in my Parker I am also a sucker for a Super D.

 

[ItsaBass]

I like many DiMarzios. With Duncan, I can easily say my favorite is the Seth; it stands far above anything else in their lineup. With DiMarzio, it's hard to say whether it's the EJ Custom, Bluesbucker, PAF Master, PAF, '59, Red Velvet...etc. And as someone who isn't really into high output (or even medium output) pickups, I even find the Super Distortion to be an excellent pickup, as well as the Super 2 and the Humbucker from Hell. Their single coil sized rails are outstanding, and numerous...and they actually look "normal," unlike the Duncan rails with those goofy looking little "cartoon character butts" on the ends (wouldn't use 'em even if they sounded amazing). They all sound great, and they are each unique, both within the DiMarzio lineup and among pickups in general. I also think their descriptions are better, as are their tonal and output comparisons, so it's a lot easier to pick one based on what you read on the Website, and a lot more likely you'll get what you think you're gonna get.

I like me my Duncans too. The standouts among them (e.g. Seth neck, low output P Rail, PATB-1n, Broadcaster, Vintage Mini Humbucker, i.e. classic Firebird pickup) are real standouts. But DiMarzio has a lot more that appeals to me, across the board, and they present it in a more organized and accurate fashion IME/IMO. Also, special orders are exceptionally easy, and the options almost innumerable.

 

[elelpe]

1) Pre-B1, a hot tele bridge pickup that isn't overly hot like QP to match a P+90/hb in the neck.

2) Twang King, a clear sounding tele neck pickup. I prefer a tele with P-90/hb in the neck. But when I want a vintage looking tele neck pickup, I won't go with any of Duncan's.

3) Air Zone, Dimarzio's PAF on steroids. This is the pickup when you want A2-like sounding pickup with solid low end.

 

[Archer250]

Of the ones I've tried/used, I liked the Chopper, Cruiser, Norton... I think that's about it.

I really prefer other brands tbh. Duncan, BKP, Lollar, EMG...

 

[formula73]

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.