DiMarzio D Activator

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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

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How is the bridge model? I'm talking about the non-X.

I'm curious about it. Thinking about dropping one in a guitar to replace a Duncan Distortion. I like the Distortion, but I want to try other stuff out. FWIW, I really like the EMG 81 and Black Winter. The Distortion, while it's great, isn't quite as aggro as the Black Winter.

Will it be what I expect? Or should I go with an X2N rather?

:)
 
I liked the one I had, but it was the 7 string version so I’m hesitant to compare it to the six string version as DiMarzios 6 & 7 string counterparts are often quite different from each other. I would describe the 7 string version as a thicker EMG 81 with more dynamics. It had less high end than the Black Winter and the Distortion in my experience, but was still plenty aggressive.
 
Interesting... how about the output? Is it as hot as the Black Winter or is it more along the lines of the Distortion?
 
I felt like the output of the D-Activator was a bit higher than both. I’ve played the Distortion and the Black Winter and felt like the output was about the same. Duncan measures both at the same DCR of 16.6.
 
Each to his own. I do find the BW a bit hotter than the Distortion. It has the same DCR, but it has a three magnets rather than one, and I do think it shows... but it's interesting that you find the D Activator hotter. I'm really curious about giving it a try!
 
I did not dig it. It was too much of everything and no character for my taste. Wasnt muddy or anything like that, but lots of output created a wall of fizzy tone without much articulation or definition. Not sure I can say that about any other pickup I tried through an xtc.
 
I had a Charvel Pointy reissue from 06, it had the D Activator in the bridge. It sounded big and mean, and had good articulation. The tone was more SD like than DiMarzio if that makes sense. It sounded a bit scooped in the mids but seemed perfect for a modern rock thing. I don't usually like DiMarzios other than the Super D and 36th anni, I would add this to that same mix. I can't stand the Tone Zone, I think I have 4 of them in my box of extra stuff.
 
Thank you, guys! Wonder how hot you guys found it? Anything you can compare it to?
 
I had one briefly. Didn't like it at all. I had a DD in the same guitar and liked it much much more. All personal opinions though so...The D' Activator just seemed bland and lifeless to my beat old ears. This was the 6 string version FWIW. The Painkiller might be something you may dig. It's pretty damn unforgiving but hyper aggressive with a shite ton upper mids if your into that.
 
Just put one in my kiesel 7 string and love it... Doesnt sound lifeless at all very agressive with a good clean tone i like it alot
 
Rex Rocker":l3nzm5f8 said:
Thank you, guys! Wonder how hot you guys found it? Anything you can compare it to?
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It was a hot pup for sure, at the time my other Charvel had an MCP Afwayu and the D activator was at least that hot if not more.

Edit: It's listed at 11.40, while the MCP is around 17 from what I remember, it sure seemed high output to me..
 
Yeah, but DCR doesn't tell the whole story. The DiMarzio X2N is like 15K, and the Duncan JB is 16, yet the X2N pretty much annihilates the JB in terms of output.

Thank you guys for the replies.

The Painkiller does seem interesting for sure!
 
I have the Painkiller in one of my guitars and I love it. However it is not over the top output wise. It does have a very aggressive voicing but I would say the output is about the same or a tad less than a JB.
 
I have the DActivator 8 in the bridge of my guitar, really dig it.

I prefer my pickups to be fairly neutral and it does that well. Hot enough for my uses.
 
Filter500":2fwe1l8d said:
Boring pickup IMO. I love the X2N, however.
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Anything you can compare the X2N to? How is it against the Duncan Distortion or Black Winter?
 
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