dimarzio 36 anniversaries... bright for anyone?

[Kapo_Polenton]

I finally got around to troubleshooting why this pup wasn't working. I had set it aside for a few months but determined the POT was burned out. So I slid the tone pot over to give it a run. First impressions, I like the crunch! Very organic and crunchy. The neck seems well balanced. Bridge for riffing I dig but for leads, I am finding it a bit bright and thin on top. Anyone else experience this? Might just be the guitar in this case? It is a Michael Kelly patriot. I noticed the stock pups were a little muddy for me so I wonder if they were designed for the guitar because it was brighter by nature. From what I understand, the volume pot is the greatest determining factor on brightness. I've tried 250K pots before but found all it really does is tame the gain. Is the only saviour here a tone pot? I was going to just put the dead one in there for looks alla Malmsteen but if it can help smooth out those upper notes just being active and in the circuit, then I'll wire it up.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I put a 36 ani in the neck position of my LP for a better balance with a ToneZone in the bridge and I dig it

 

[ESPImperium]

Got a bridge one in the neck of my PRS Mushok SE Bari and its blooming great, not too boomy and not too bright. Its just right for me in that guitar. Also got a neck version in the neck of my ESP LTD EC-1K, and it is very very like the Gibson Burstbucker #2 i had in the same guitar, however it is wax potted so no microphonic screams or squeals. The Burstbucker went to my Les Paul.

When comparing the BB #2 to the 36th Neck id say the 36th has a little more low end, not much but noticeable, the BB #2 is much more open and organic. The 36th does sound a little more processed to my ear, but it isn't noticeable. The only thing ill say about the 36th is that when it comes to coil tapping, the 36th sounds like a telecaster a little, but also sounds a little strattish as well, which is very good for tonal variation, and can be really help if you need plenty of differing tonal variations from one guitar.

 

[IntenseJim]

Nope. They are great for me: fantastic tone and a down to earth price. I have them in a Les Paul, ES 333, and two Sadowsky superstrats.

However, Dimarzio does state these are modelled after Larry's 59 LP and those pickup are a bit brighter or sharper than average.....or something like that.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I wonder if it is also because I disconnected the tone pot for the bridge? Would that make any diff?I'm thinking I'm probably going to put in a 250 k tone pot. YEs I have heard that vol POT makes greatest difference but I think there has got to be some difference between 500 and 250 k tone pots as well.. Overall though, I like em. Can't imagine splitting them though, I don't need anymore spank!

EDIT: seems no tone POT does give the pickup more spank. Seems early VH had no tone pot and i beleive it because the tone I am getting from this pickup is crunchy and spanky like that old VH sound. Interesting indeed.

 

[RockNRun]

I've been gassing for one of these lately, wondering how a bridge 36th would sound in an Alder US Pro Mod.

 

[IntenseJim]

I wonder if it is also because I disconnected the tone pot for the bridge? Would that make any diff?

Yes. It will be brighter w/o the tone pot wired up.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Got a bridge one in the neck of my PRS Mushok SE Bari and its blooming great, not too boomy and not too bright. Its just right for me in that guitar. Also got a neck version in the neck of my ESP LTD EC-1K, and it is very very like the Gibson Burstbucker #2 i had in the same guitar, however it is wax potted so no microphonic screams or squeals. The Burstbucker went to my Les Paul.

When comparing the BB #2 to the 36th Neck id say the 36th has a little more low end, not much but noticeable, the BB #2 is much more open and organic. The 36th does sound a little more processed to my ear, but it isn't noticeable. The only thing ill say about the 36th is that when it comes to coil tapping, the 36th sounds like a telecaster a little, but also sounds a little strattish as well, which is very good for tonal variation, and can be really help if you need plenty of differing tonal variations from one guitar.

Mine is also the bride version in the neck position. It's a little hotter than the neck version but it works better than the DiMarzio PAF I had in there.

 

[ESPImperium]

Got a bridge one in the neck of my PRS Mushok SE Bari and its blooming great, not too boomy and not too bright. Its just right for me in that guitar. Also got a neck version in the neck of my ESP LTD EC-1K, and it is very very like the Gibson Burstbucker #2 i had in the same guitar, however it is wax potted so no microphonic screams or squeals. The Burstbucker went to my Les Paul.

When comparing the BB #2 to the 36th Neck id say the 36th has a little more low end, not much but noticeable, the BB #2 is much more open and organic. The 36th does sound a little more processed to my ear, but it isn't noticeable. The only thing ill say about the 36th is that when it comes to coil tapping, the 36th sounds like a telecaster a little, but also sounds a little strattish as well, which is very good for tonal variation, and can be really help if you need plenty of differing tonal variations from one guitar.

Mine is also the bride version in the neck position. It's a little hotter than the neck version but it works better than the DiMarzio PAF I had in there.

It does give that extra edge of power that you need sometimes for me. I have had no struggles in the neck pickup area of any guitar as i know i like pickups with a more of a vintage edge to them, anything from a Jazz and a 59 to a Burstbucker and a 36th is what is my safe zone. The Bridge 36th in the neck just feels smoother and hotter, ideal for my Baritone and ideal for a more blusier sound. In that guitar it is just really really balanced with the Air Norton in the bridge.

I have found recently that i have to find a pickup combination that works and not go for one that guitar. Knowing your pickups is an art form for me, now that i have found that a vintage sound in the neck with me needs a moderately hot pickup in the bridge. This is where my tone has evolved the most in the past 2-3 years.