Recent Posts

1

The Pickup Place / Re: Best sounding Dimarzio single coil closest to humbucker sounding!

« Last post by darkbluemurder on Today at 05:57:19 am »

The closest single coil sized DiMarzio pickups sounding like a full size humbucker that I used so far were dual rails: the Super Distortion S and the Chopper. Chopper sounds PAF-ish, Super Distortion S is more like a medium output humbucker with more midrange and low end to it. There are more but these are the ones I used.

If you do not want dual rail pickups the next closest would be the SDS-1 which has a bit of P90 flavor but it is not humcancelling. Virtual Solo would be good for the bridge but that is an overwound single coil tone, still very stratty and humbucker-unlike. No idea how it would work in the other positions. Injector neck for neck and middle would also be quite quacky and stratty, especially with a 500k volume pot.

Cheers Stephan

2

The Pickup Place / Re: Best sounding Dimarzio single coil closest to humbucker sounding

« Last post by marcwormjim on Today at 12:32:09 am »

Do you have a particular recording or other manufacturer’s pickup as a point of reference?

The SDS-1, Seymour Duncan SSL-4, and some choices from BKP are beefy singles. If you want no “quack” at all, then the hotter the better.

3

The Pickup Place / Best sounding Dimarzio single coil closest to humbucker sounding!

« Last post by longshot on February 20, 2019, 06:51:46 pm »

Hi Everyone,
Been away for awhile but need some help or recommendations on the best sounding single coil size Dimarzio pickups that are closest to humbucker sound.
For all positions for my strat,(not twin blades either).
Just a nice fat,full sounding not thin,hollow,quacky like most single coils.
Wanna stick with Dimarzio to,had some in mind but want to see what others are using.
Thanx alot for help.

4

The Pickup Place / Re: Talk me out of the PAF Master neck

« Last post by Dave J on February 20, 2019, 12:14:08 pm »

I worked more with this pickup. Height and pole screws, amp settings clean and dirty.  Bass notes still a little too muffled for me. Gonna change out the strings this weekend. Unplugged they don't sound all that dead so not sure what could be in play that would make them sound more undefined  ( wound strings)  amplified but we'll see.
PAF Pro.  This has been a very popular go to pickup for the neck with either a Fred or another PAF Pro in the bridge based on many reviews and posts I have read. I know this was Satch's early neck with the Fred. Somehow I got the impression that based on Dimarzio's advertised output levels that  the Pro in neck might be too strong for the Fred. Yet many swear by it as a neck , even for the same pickup also in the bridge.  This will be my next tryout if new strings don't do the trick. 
thanks!

5

The Pickup Place / Re: Any chance of a stickied DiMarzio Mods post?

« Last post by darkbluemurder on February 20, 2019, 10:03:34 am »

OK I put the screws back in but screwed them as low as they would go, and that was the ticket. Beautiful cleans with the tone control up, a biting but not harsh overdriven tone with the tone control up and a smooth tone with the tone control down. Even though it is not exactly like a P90 it sounds great in its own right. Experiment finished with success.

Cheers Stephan

6

The Pickup Place / Re: Pair Steve Morse Neck with...? (not Steve Morse bridge!)

« Last post by darkbluemurder on February 20, 2019, 09:40:07 am »

Cool, thanks for sharing.

Interestingly I used the Steve Morse bridge (in the bridge) with the Breed neck (in the neck) at one time, and that is a good combination as well. Now I have a Duncan Full Shred neck which I like even better but I may switch to the DP-240 mini humbucker as the neck is still not quite as tight as I would like it to be.

Cheers Stephan

7

The Pickup Place / Re: Pickups for a custom Steinberger GL Mahogany Body, Graphite Neck.

« Last post by phantomofalfred on February 20, 2019, 09:12:17 am »

I purchased the set of D Activators, ordered them with black bobbins and black hex pole pieces.  Should look killer, the body has been sprayed metallic grey.  I will do some test recordings as soon as they are in. I spoke to a Dimarzio rep and he said if it turns out to be not bright enough for me, i could always return the Bridge pickup and trade it for a Dominion Neck,
In case it turns out too dark, he suggested,
D Actvator Neck in the Bridge,
Dominion Neck in the neck.
but first of course I will try the set as it is intended,
will report back.
Looking forward to seeing what these pickups can do.   

8

The Pickup Place / Re: Pair Steve Morse Neck with...? (not Steve Morse bridge!)

« Last post by Schneidas on February 20, 2019, 05:25:02 am »

Many thanks for all the suggestions!

Just to report back that for my taste and style - the ticket was the Breed Neck model (DP165).
I'm running the neck Steve Morse with a 500k volume and disconnected tone pot and it has become a lot brighter without losing the singing quality.
The Breed neck with 500k and connected 500k tone pot blends in superbly, output- and tone-wise!
In fact, the DP165 is the best bridge pickup I ever had in this superstrat by itself... couldn't stop playing this for the past 3 days now. Looks like the DP165 is a hidden gem.

9

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Re: 1000!

« Last post by darkbluemurder on February 20, 2019, 04:24:48 am »

Thanks guys. Well - then it's on to the next 1000.

10

The Pickup Place / Re: The NORTON in the Neck or stick to a AIR NORTON?

« Last post by darkbluemurder on February 20, 2019, 04:23:51 am »

"Bridge" and "Neck" are no more than what the manufacturer suggests where the pickup could be used. The player chooses where he wants to use it so if you like a bridge model in the neck spot, fine.

That said, I do not like most full size humbuckers in the neck, even those designed for that position as I find most too muddy on the low end.

Cheers Stephan