My DiMarzio Bro'ness is somewhat being tested

[Shreddy Mercury]

Ever since I got this 3rd Power Citizen Gain amp and have been playing a very high quality, real tube head again, I've been hearing subtle frequencies, flavors, sonic goodness that I have never heard before, or haven't heard in a very long time. I've played one Warrior (neck/bridge PAF 36ths) and still dig those pups, more so on lower gain than I did on my Katana with a hoteodded Marshall patch. The other Warrior with the dual X2Ns with wooden covers on them I absolutely cannot stand. I didn't like them a ton before, but absolutely can't stand them on this amp. Too much flubby loose low end that I can't get into. However...one of my USA Washburns with a JB/59 is realllllly growing on me. I can't get a bad sound on that guitar with the switch in any of the 5 positions.

I may go ahead and pull those X2Ns and save them in the case and put in a Norton/Air Norton or something and give DiMarzios another shot. I haven't tried my other guitars with DiMarzios in them on it yet, but the 2 I have don't sound quiiiite as good as I recall, and I really dig those Duncans in the Washburn.

 

[ChurchHill]

Nortons might be a good bet, but maybe it's just time for something else. If you like the JB, might be a couple of SDs you'd like.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Nortons might be a good bet, but maybe it's just time for something else. If you like the JB, might be a couple of SDs you'd like.

I've got a couple other axes with Duncans, mostly JBs though. I do have another Washburn with a Custom Custom, which at one time was my fav pickup.

 

[ChurchHill]

Yeah, the Custom Custom is one of my favs. Doesn't work in everything, but when it does, it's hard to beat. I've been wanting to try an RTM, sounds like somewhere between a CC and a JB, maybe, but haven't found a good excuse, yet.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

My favorite DiMarzio set is D Activators, try those! No flab and although rated hot, they don't feel overly hot.

 

[VonBonfire]

However...one of my USA Washburns with a JB/59 is realllllly growing on me.

I'm reporting this to the dUbbeL kReeM police. Your bro-ness has hereby been revoked.

 

[DanTravis62]

Jesus take that shit out and put an ironman in the bridge, god damn brother i'm getting nauseated thinking about those poor warriors

 

[Techdeth]

JBs rule

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Jesus take that shit out and put an ironman in the bridge, god damn brother i'm getting nauseated thinking about those poor warriors

I'm not referring to Jackson Warriors. Those guitars need heavy ass metal pickups.

 

[GuitarBilly]

I'm not referring to Jackson Warriors. Those guitars need heavy ass metal pickups.

Not really, since you have a high quality, modern high gain head. Focus on tone instead of output, the amp can handle the gain. I think you are on the right track with the Custom Custom, it's a great sounding pickup. The regular Custom is also great and slightly more aggressive (due to the ceramic magnets.

 

[EGW-Eric]

Custom Hybrid 59 is exceedingly good. As are the Black Winter and Pegasus. There's some other small builders that have great stuff like Planet Tone and some expensive as shit ones like Bare Knuckle that have great options, too. These are all my go-to's right now.

 

[SoooRad]

Conversion therapy still works it seems.

 

[Deleted member 8175]

DiMarzio EVO 2 (DP215)

 

[Music&Chaos]

Ever since I got this 3rd Power Citizen Gain amp and have been playing a very high quality, real tube head again, I've been hearing subtle frequencies, flavors, sonic goodness that I have never heard before, or haven't heard in a very long time. I've played one Warrior (neck/bridge PAF 36ths) and still dig those pups, more so on lower gain than I did on my Katana with a hoteodded Marshall patch. The other Warrior with the dual X2Ns with wooden covers on them I absolutely cannot stand. I didn't like them a ton before, but absolutely can't stand them on this amp. Too much flubby loose low end that I can't get into. However...one of my USA Washburns with a JB/59 is realllllly growing on me. I can't get a bad sound on that guitar with the switch in any of the 5 positions.

I may go ahead and pull those X2Ns and save them in the case and put in a Norton/Air Norton or something and give DiMarzios another shot. I haven't tried my other guitars with DiMarzios in them on it yet, but the 2 I have don't sound quiiiite as good as I recall, and I really dig those Duncans in the Washburn.

Yep, the subtle differences presented in a good tube amp makes you really want to start tweaking things. I also recommend Planet Tone pickups. They seem to just nail it for me. I would recommend trying something with A4 magnets from whatever manufacturer if you can, they are a really sweet magnet for fluid lead playing, and have a tight low end that lends itself well to chugging and riffing. At least they do in the 2 sets I have from PT with them.

 

[Music&Chaos]

DiMarzio EVO 2 (DP215)

I have an Evo 2 in my Jem. It is a fun pickup. Will eventually swap it but its been a stable classic for shredding on for me for a good while.

 

[Deleted member 8175]

I have an Evo 2 in my Jem. It is a fun pickup. Will eventually swap it but its been a stable classic for shredding on for me for a good while.

I'm very impressed with that pickup. It does a great job going from clean to mean and all points in between. I had one in an old BC Rich ST3.

 

[Deleted member 8175]

Yep, the subtle differences presented in a good tube amp makes you really want to start tweaking things. I also recommend Planet Tone pickups. They seem to just nail it for me. I would recommend trying something with A4 magnets from whatever manufacturer if you can, they are a really sweet magnet for fluid lead playing, and have a tight low end that lends itself well to chugging and riffing. At least they do in the 2 sets I have from PT with them.

How would you describe the sonic characteristics overall?

 

[Music&Chaos]

How would you describe the sonic characteristics overall?

Of A4 magnets or the various PT sets I have? Those all vary, of course, but the overall theme of the ones I have liked best is that they have a more vintage characteristic I would say with a modern edge, because they are very open and clear, but they have a certain dimension to the soundstage I have struggled to find in other pickups, and also can push and bark, bite, and scream when needed. They are all super dynamic to pick attack and extremely responsive.

I run a lot of the pickups directly connected or with lower value caps and higher value pots because they capture so much harmonic content and I don't want anything dampening any of them out. There is definitely a modern edge to them, at least I use them to play a very wide variety of music, and a lot of it is pretty damn heavy and modern/prog but again, some sets are more vintage than others and some more modern.

A4 magnets have a grind to them that is clear and present/forward with nice highs that are never ice-picky or scratchy/thin. You know how you hear a sound and think it is almost like the guitar is sitting in the back of the room or soundstage, as it were, and the gain and everything is on top of it? The A4 help push that mid body of the note forward, which thickens up the high end, and helps the low end stay nice and tight. This pushes the guitar and the body of that note forward on the soundstage I do enjoy my A5 and A2 mixed sets as well, don't get me wrong, but something about the A4 magnets are just really where I want them to be. I can play chords and each note falls into it's own place, nothing is fighting one another.

The P90 set I spec'd from them is just perfection in the current guitar I have them in. The builder said they normally use 250-300k pots and standard .047 caps, but I like these with 500k pots and no tones. Absolute magic!

If I replace the sets in my Jem (Breed +Evo 2) more than likely I will use a Session pro IV in the neck, and a Road pro IV in the bridge. Should thicken it up in all the right places while remaining tight and vocal for shredding.

If there is a specific sound you are interested in, I may have experience with a set that matches it.

 

[Deleted member 8175]

Of A4 magnets or the various PT sets I have? Those all vary, of course, but the overall theme of the ones I have liked best is that they have a more vintage characteristic I would say with a modern edge, because they are very open and clear, but they have a certain dimension to the soundstage I have struggled to find in other pickups, and also can push and bark, bite, and scream when needed. They are all super dynamic to pick attack and extremely responsive.

I run a lot of the pickups directly connected or with lower value caps and higher value pots because they capture so much harmonic content and I don't want anything dampening any of them out. There is definitely a modern edge to them, at least I use them to play a very wide variety of music, and a lot of it is pretty damn heavy and modern/prog but again, some sets are more vintage than others and some more modern.

A4 magnets have a grind to them that is clear and present/forward with nice highs that are never ice-picky or scratchy/thin. You know how you hear a sound and think it is almost like the guitar is sitting in the back of the room or soundstage, as it were, and the gain and everything is on top of it? The A4 help push that mid body of the note forward, which thickens up the high end, and helps the low end stay nice and tight. This pushes the guitar and the body of that note forward on the soundstage I do enjoy my A5 and A2 mixed sets as well, don't get me wrong, but something about the A4 magnets are just really where I want them to be. I can play chords and each note falls into it's own place, nothing is fighting one another.

The P90 set I spec'd from them is just perfection in the current guitar I have them in. The builder said they normally use 250-300k pots and standard .047 caps, but I like these with 500k pots and no tones. Absolute magic!

If I replace the sets in my Jem (Breed +Evo 2) more than likely I will use a Session pro IV in the neck, and a Road pro IV in the bridge. Should thicken it up in all the right places while remaining tight and vocal for shredding.

If there is a specific sound you are interested in, I may have experience with a set that matches it.

Thanks for that fantastic writeup!

I've got a JB/Jazz set that I'd like to start experimenting on with magnet swaps. Any thoughts on this combo or suggestions for other pickups to try?

 

[Music&Chaos]

Thanks for that fantastic writeup!

I've got a JB/Jazz set that I'd like to start experimenting on with magnet swaps. Any thoughts on this combo or suggestions for other pickups to try?

JB/Jazz are a classic. I have a friend who has them and really digs em, though I think they sound like the complete opposite of his old rock/blues style. I have found that I personally prefer pickups that let me take the lead, if that makes sense. If a pickup has it's own foot on the gas pedal 100% of the time, it doesn't leave room for me to play around with, ya know?

As far as magnets and their different/general EQ differences - this video by Joe Perkins gives you a good representation I feel, because he uses the exact same set of pickups, and the only thing that changes is the magnet, along with the general EQ shift you should expect.

Be aware that this testing is only with Alnico, and Ceramic are not included.

This helped me to understand and spec out different pickups with different magnets, with pretty decent success so far (3 for 3!).