DiMarzios are better than Duncans...change my mind

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Shreddy Mercury

Shreddy Mercury

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I finally got the Super Distortion/36th Anniversary PAF installed with the new guts in this Les Paul. I chose these because I'd heard nothing but good things about these pickups, even though I was hesitant to go back with another ceramic, as I didn't think I liked them at all. I can't remember what ceramic pickup turned me off to trying them, but turns out the Evolution in the bridge of a superstrat I've got I LOVE. I can't really stand the X2Ns in a guitar of mine though, but I remember hating ceramic before that. Anywho, I gave the Super Distortion a shot and I absolutely love the pickup so bar.

So, anywho, even though the JB is a good pickup in some cases, I have to say (I have more DiMarzio pups that I absolutely love than I do Duncans), and the 59 can be ok now and then, and I used to like the Custom Custom a lot, I've gotta say, DiMarzio are superior and I defy you to prove me wrong.
 
Least you know what you like!!!

I've only tried a few Duncans; 59n, JB, Custom Custom, Seth Lovers and none of them were very good IME. The JB is kind of cool with the over the top compression but it's not something I would keep in a guitar. The 59n is the most bland PAF type humbucker I've ever tried. I'd rather have an Epi Probucker. The Seth's are highly touted, and expensive, but were always a little shrill on the top end through my Twin and I used them for over a hundred gigs. I even tried them in a dark LP and they were still shrill on top and when I switched to a 57 classic it wasn't too dark, it just wasn't harsh anymore. Maybe they would work better with an old Gibson amp, which are generally pretty dark sounding. If I had my choice of Duncans or just had to take a random set of Gibsons I'd run with the Gibsons every time and I am no fanboy.
 
Everyone’s ears are different. I’ve used a lot of Dimarzio’s and they all have a fat low end and tons of cocked wah mids. Good for “fixing” a bad sounding guitar, but nowhere near the clarity of Duncan’s IMO.

My favorite Dimarzio is the Norton (not Air Norton) but it only worked in one particular superstrat that I no longer have.
 
EyesOfTheSouth! said:
Everyone’s ears are different. I’ve used a lot of Dimarzio’s and they all have a fat low end and tons of cocked wah mids. Good for “fixing” a bad sounding guitar, but nowhere near the clarity of Duncan’s IMO.

My favorite Dimarzio is the Norton (not Air Norton) but it only worked in one particular superstrat that I no longer have.
Click to expand...
I've been dying to try a Norton. Maybe pair it with another 36th PAF, or maybe an Air Norton, Air Classic, or something along those lines.
 
Only DiMarzios I've liked are old school Super Ds. The rest have this 'woofy' low end to my ears. I didn't mind the D activator though, for heavy stuff....Vs Duncans, I can put a Custom in any guitar and I dig it.
But, many other brands have left those two in the rear view for me.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with the super distortion, it's a classic for a reason. The PAF Pro is also great, the X2N is neat but kind of bland. Super 3 I had was very meh in the guitar I bought it for so I sold it. I did buy a Super 2 recently to try out (and megadrive) but haven't installed it anything yet.

Racerxrated said:
Only DiMarzios I've liked are old school Super Ds. The rest have this 'woofy' low end to my ears. I didn't mind the D activator though, for heavy stuff....Vs Duncans, I can put a Custom in any guitar and I dig it.
But, many other brands have left those two in the rear view for me.
Click to expand...
I never tried it any of mine but the Ibanez guitars I tried with the d-activator all were pretty bland sounding even considering the goal of a "passive EMG 81."
 
Last edited:
VonBonfire said:
Plus you can get it in purple with gold pole pieces.
Click to expand...
The Super 3 I had was purple and it did look very good in my ESP Maverick.

supers_bodies.jpg
 
Dimarzio super distortion imo are more reliable than emg. How it pushes the amp, adds to things, flexibility with eq of amp and how it interacts with speakers.

That said. I am looking for another workhorse/go to. Its good but not my end all be all. Neck sentient from duncan are absolutely my favorite metal blues clean pickups no questions.

Bridge I enjoyed some seymour duncan. Have their need. Enjoy emg for a particular sound. Idc if is duncan or dimarzio just want a bit of something else.
 
I like pickups from both companies, just finding the individual pickups work best in different guitars. I have a couple with old Super Distortions with a matching PAF neck in one and the old FS-1's in the other. I like Customs from SD, but generally dislike the JB. The Distortion is fine, but I don't love it.

I also have guitars with EMGs, several with Tom Anderson's - actually the pickups I've had the best across-the-board luck with now that I think about it. I even have a couple of Bardens in them that worked best for their applications. Different flavors.
 
I generally like both equally. All depends on the guitar and the tonal qualities that need to be accentuated. I do generally agree with whoever stated it so colloquially above - Duncan’s for guitars that don’t need as much help sounding full and dimarzios for guitars that need a lot of help sounding full. Just seems to be how things have stacked up in my collection.
 
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