16

The Pickup Place / How much variance on DC resistance readings for modern CNC pickups?

« on: October 14, 2015, 12:01:26 AM »

I have a set of the first Strat  vintage replica yickups made by Dimarzio in the 1970's, called the 'VS-1'.  The DC resitance readings on these that I have are; One is 5.98. One is 5.79, and one is Dead. The Dead  was just working fine in the guitar, but i guess something snapped.

 I also have a set of  the next issue Dimarzio Strat vintage replica pickups after the Vs-1's, called the 'Class of '55's'. They are supposed to all be 5.75 as advertised when they were manufactured; One is 5.75, one is 5.79, and one 5.94. Crazy!; is there supposed to be that much variance, and why?

As you can see, like old vintage Fenders, there is considerable variance in the DC resistance measurements  on these old pickups.

 Is there also  that much variance in readings of modern cnc wound  pickups, or are the DC resistance readings all the same now?

17

The Pickup Place / Most Alnico sounding Dimarzio Ceramic pickup

« on: August 26, 2015, 03:56:04 PM »

I'm familiar with the Bill Lawrence ideas of the magnet itself having no tone , at least in theory  , on the pickup, but in general they do, I think everyone could accept that.
If you could pick out the most organic ( which Alnico is famous for that) sound form a Dimarzio, still giving some of the more compressed , and tighter dynamic edge of the Ceramic tone, what would it be?
I'm thinking the Transition, since historically Lukather went for the less dimensional and 'hi- fi'(?) tone of the EMG's, I would guess that the Transition would give him more dimensional richer tone, but with the edge of the ceramic magnet that could still give him some of what he liked about the EMG's at higher gain setting?

18

The Pickup Place / Paf master Vs. Duncan Pearly Gates Bridge

« on: August 07, 2015, 01:07:42 AM »

They seem kind of on par. I am looking at installing it in my Jackson Dinky Floyd Rose equipped guitar.

My first instinct is that the PAF Master would be a more suitable fit for a dedicated  metal /shred axe.
Another voice in my stupid fucking head  is saying to get a Transition.

I have two other Jackson Dinkys I am really please  with. They go the traditional hot output pickups- one has the Air Zone bridge, and the the other  has the Duncan Custom with an a8 magnet. They both murder.

I am looking for somthing more traditional PAF classic output  on this new Dinky i got.

19

The Pickup Place / Neck SC Rails to pair with a Transition Bridge

« on: July 10, 2015, 08:37:30 PM »

I am putting the finishing touches on a jackson Dinky guitar that will be two way  H-S (with a dummy middle pickup cover) .
A transition will be going into the bridge, but what do you think a good match neck rails Dimarzio single coil sized humbucker to sound somewhat similar to the Transition?
If all else fails, I was thinking the venerable Pro Track would be the best overall humbucker sounding SC rails.

20

The Pickup Place / Re: What neck Single Coil to Pair with a Transition Humbucker ?

« on: May 05, 2015, 07:14:45 PM »

Pro Track or Air Norton S perhaps?

Yeah, was thinking Pro Track.
What Duncan?

21

The Pickup Place / What neck Single Coil to Pair with a Transition Humbucker ?

« on: May 05, 2015, 05:05:55 PM »

What neck Single Coil to Pair with a Transition Humbucker in the Bridge  ? Something that would sound similar to the Transition, or have kinda then same vibe? Also would prefer a relatively even volume match.

22

The Pickup Place / Re: Finally Tried a Super Distortion...

« on: May 03, 2013, 09:31:48 PM »

I've noticed that most pickup sounded better age but especially ceramic equipped pickup.

I would agree, and cause a ceramic pickup does not "age"/degauss, its a lot to do with the wire ageing.

BTW..I have a really nice odl set of SuperD/Paf just waiting for the day when i can get me a nice Les Paul Std.!

23

The Pickup Place / Re: Biggest, Fattest, Thickest , Roundest , Darkest Neck Single?

« on: March 22, 2013, 10:28:17 PM »

Be more specific.  Do you just want anything single sized that is as hot and dark as you can get?  If that is the question, the answer is BC-2.  I can't imagine it sounding good in the neck, but it answers your question. 

If you want something that is still "traditional single coil" but is as loud dark as you can get, the answer is Virtual Solo for noiseless, or SDS for non-noiseless single. 

If your question is "something that still sounds like a neck single coil pickup but is high output and warm-ish" then Injector Neck or HB-2.  Injector neck is basically an HB-2 with a more articulate high end, that's why it works better in the neck than an HB-2, which I've found really only works in the neck in very bright guitars/amps and/or with 500k pots.

Great insight, thanks!

24

The Pickup Place / Biggest, Fattest, Thickest , Roundest , Darkest Neck Single?

« on: March 16, 2013, 01:11:05 AM »

 For a Strat Neck  . Single coil sized.  Biggest, Fattest, Thickest , Roundest , Darkest Neck Single?
Willing to put up with a little mud/vield sound. Doesn't matter if its hum canceling or not .

25

Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: The Air Norton

« on: March 09, 2013, 08:26:24 PM »

I know there are many reviews here but this pup deserves yet another. I have this pickup in an RG and in my Gibson Explorer. I love how fat and smooth this pickup is. I play classic metal, rock, blues, instrumental, and the pup does each well. One of the coolest things about the pickup is how well it splits into single coil mode. I get close to a strat sound from my Gibson making it very versitile.

I liked the split so much that I split the 36th Ann Paf in the neck of my Gibson V. I did not get the same results. The volume drop on the 36th Paf is way to much and the tone is nowhere near as good as the Air Norton's split sound. I'm considering putting an Air Norton in the neck of the V as well.

Air Norton gets a great high gain lead tone or Fat old school Gibson tones. Can't say enough about the pup; if you like smooth, fat, and sweet, it's a great pup, split it and get a great single coil tone as well.

This is extremely encouraging! On paper, I chose the Air Norton to fatten up the bridge of my cheap Squire Start ( yes, I have lots of Strats, and some expensive ones), and my main concern is that it still be able to perform blues/Blues based Rock.' Rude' is okay for that 'ol skool nasty blues sound for my application.
I had tried a 36th Annv., but it didn't fill out the guitar, although to be fair, I had 250K pots, so I'm going to fatten the highs of the Air Norton with 250K tone and 500K volume.
I also am going change out the overwound Van Zandt blues  I have in the neck and switch in a Fat Start pickup in the neck.
This and a swap to a Rosewood neck ought to add some thickness to the sound I hope.

26

The Pickup Place / Re: Pickups that have left you less than impressed?

« on: August 04, 2012, 04:46:47 AM »

Jazz Neck is one pickup I didnt like. Can't remember why.
I might dry the D-sonic. Right now I have the Crunch Lab in my Jackson  Soloist. Not sure more organic is really what I want in that particular guitar.
I do have an Invader laying around. Is it still the "mud Bomb" even in the bridge of a tremolo.
I don't think a JB is what I like either, even with 250K pots to roll off some of that brittle high end, its missing low end .Good pickup for live mix, but otherwise I'm going to try Ed'd Breed with pickup swap idea.
Dimebucker is great Alder brass block floyd rose  bridge jackson explorer, but can really cut your head off with the treble in other guitars.
Duncan classic stacks were good classic  sounding noiseless strat pickups, but the bottom fell off on one I had paid 75 bucks for, so I ditched the other two quick like.
Much prefer the line of Dimarzio high output singles and humbucker pickups in general..Duncans , with a few exceptions, can really tend to be too bright I think.

27

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Re: Just waht IS the Relationshio between Seymour Duncan and Larry Dimarzio?

« on: April 30, 2012, 03:33:12 PM »

Steve Blucher is the designer.  Larry is the name.  I don't think Larry has designed a pickup in at least 2 decades, if not 3.

Interesting, I Didn't kniow that. I'd give anything for Larry Dimarzio to custom wind me a set of Strat pickups or a vintage PAF though!
Speaking of which, every now and again comes a "Pre-factory" Dimarzio for sale ( usually at ridiculuous absurd prices).
Anyone know if Larry Dimarzio was personally  custom winding some of those early pickups? This isn't something i wouldnt ask directly of Dimarzio Tech assistance.

I think for his 40th, Larry Dimarzio should make 100 sets of the original Handwound PAf and VS-1 Strat pickups to spec in a limited edition boxed set. Hello L.D...ya listenin??

28

The Pickup Place / Re: help me ID a pickup - maybe Dimarzio?

« on: April 16, 2012, 03:55:16 AM »

Hi. Im also trying to Identify the Vs-1. Very sketchy info. On the web..almost no existent and not definitive. I have a pickup that looks the same as the guys here, thats supposed to be an old Dimarzio single coil..hoping its a Vs-1. Mine is also 5.5K.
The only pic I could find of one, the tooling looks different. Could a pickup have different tooling holes or whatever you call them?

Here is the Vs-1 made for Caparison by Dimarzio ;



Now THESE are supposed to be Pickups that Tokai used on some of their 80's Strats.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=113367&sid=64b3448e858d68d26f038d37fafdba1a

Note the different tooling holes;

29

Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: Dimarzio Area Pickups for Telecaster

« on: August 14, 2011, 12:17:08 PM »

I believe you. I personally use a ChopperT  in my bridge, and its got a synergy with an Ash Tele thats very deep and expressive.
Im just loking for a Hot Tele Dimarzio Mini  to put in the neck.
I havent hear the areat's, but the Area Strat set is amazing from the clips Ive heard..so much so I'm thinking of selling my Classic Stacks.

30

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Just waht IS the Relationshio between Seymour Duncan and Larry Dimarzio?

« on: April 15, 2011, 08:55:18 PM »

As a member of the Duncan forums also, I wasn't quite brave enough to post this  there. i was always curious though. These are the two great pioneers of pickup technology

I sense theres no love lost between them, only because of the lack of any previous real mention of any correspondence  or collaboration of the two camps. Plus the fact that they  have conflicts with different artists endorsements (   for example Yngwie) .Thats just my percepton.

I'd love to see Larry and Seymour get together on a pickup, It'd be a blockbuster , and a win win for evryone, including Dimarzio and Duncan.. but that might be asking for some kind of pie in the sky.