DiMarzio D Activator Pickups?

[rsm]

What are your thoughts, opinions and experiences on DiMarzio D Activators? Anybody use them? If so, what style music? How do these compare to teh D Activator-X?

Looking at a guitar (online) that has a set (D Activator Neck and Bridge) installed.

I know DiMarzio is loved or hated, few in between. And I know pups are easy to change, but wondering how this may sound as-is?

Fighting the GAS for this guitar, and it will delay my Axe-Fx Ultra re-acquisition plans...

 

[MARK1970]

I have some D-Activators in my guitar. I love them. I play Rock, metal, blues. It can do everything. The pickup is pretty hot, but not muddy. It cleans up nicely too. It is very full sounding. The X version is just more hotter.

 

[rsm]

Thanks Mark! I had good experience with DiMarzios back in the day, but then there weren't many choices for aftermarket pickups. I figured with all the new suppliers around, it was worth asking how this good old brand compared.

Still not ready to pull the trigger on this guitar...must...resist...GAS...focus...on...Axe-Fx Ultra.....

 

[Frolid]

I thought about putting d activators in my arbor les paul. After I get a new amp that is.
The D-activators seemed really heavy when I looked them up on youtube.

What you guys think? how do they work all around with most genres?

 

[stefvorcide]

tried 'em on a Xiphos once, didn't like them.

maybe it was just cause its an ibanez guitar tho

 

[rsm]

Well, I pulled the trigger on the guitar loaded with the DiMarzio D Activator set (not a Xiphos, my days of pointy metal guitars are long over!). Once it arrives, I'll do the NGD announcement with pics, followed by my opinion after giving it a go.

I had an X2N back in the day. I emailed DiMarzio asking, "what do you recommend in the neck to match an X2N in the bridge". Their reponse, "Either a D Activator neck model (DP219) or a Super 2 (DP104) offer the best match in terms of output."

The D Activator-X neck has lower output than the D Activator neck, even though the D Activator-X bridge is nearly as hot (500) as the X2N (510), and hotter than the D Activator bridge.

So it turns out, I could easily change out just the bridge to an X2N to get the more classic sound I like, if the D Activator in the bridge doesn't do it.