I have always been a DiMarzio user, and I don't even necessarily like every pickup I've bought from them. So, picky? Maybe.

2 years ago I've got a Washburn Parallax which comes with SDs, Distortion in the bridge and Jazz in the neck (neither have metal covers). The bridge pickup squeals like a pig about to become bacon on moderate-high gain and stage volume (my drummer is REALLY loud). Exact same settings and my Ibanez Prestige equipped with a DiMarzio Fred on the bridge doesn't squeal. I also have a Chapman ML1 handy with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, doesn't squeal either. In fact I have yet to find a setting that makes those pickups go microphonic.

I've repotted the SD Distortion bridge pickup to no avail, and was beginning to suspect the culprit was the tremolo springs.

Fast forward to this week when I've got a brand new custom made guitar from what's considered the Suhr custom shop in my country, and it came equipped with Duncans as well (no metal covers either), a JB on the bridge and a 59 on the neck. Guess what? The JB (which I've read somewhere is the exact same pickup as the Distortion with an alnico magnet) ALSO SQUEALS with the settings above!

So I'm not saying the SD JB and Distortion suck, but they probably are (much) more susceptible to microphonic squealing than the DiMarzios I own (Fred, PAF Pro, Blaze, Steve Special, The Breed, Super Distortion), and don't work for my application. Before anyone asks if I'm using a huge amount of gain, I'm not, it's an AX8 and the patch is a plexi with a mild boost in front for some tight hard rock sounds, I play in a Bon Jovi cover band.

Anyone with a similar experience?