1

The Pickup Place / Super 2 or D Activator neck

« on: August 17, 2021, 12:55:45 PM »

Been trying to figure out a good neck pup for my Epi Flying V (black w/white pickguard). Managed to find a Super D for the bridge (black uncovered w/nickel poles). Pretty much decided on the Super 2 for the neck, but have only found one in double cream and another in black w/black poles. Both might look a little funny but I'm willing to do it if I really don't have other options.

I managed to find a D Activator neck in black and white, which would definitely be a cool look. Most important is obviously how it sounds. On the DiMarzio website, its specs are very, very similar to the Super 2, almost negligible difference.  I've emailed the company to ask how the two pups compare, and heard nothing back. Also called several times and can't get anyone.  I was told by one shop that they had waited 9 months for just one pickup and that the DiMarzio employees refuse to go back to work. Obviously don't know the whole truth other than something is seriously wrong with them right now.

So...does anybody have experience with the D Activator neck and the Super 2 in the neck? Can you tell me how similar they actually are, and where they differ? Similar tonally or not? I'm really jacked to get this guitar set up, just one last little hurdle to clear...

Thanks!

2

The Pickup Place / Neck pickup to pair with Super Distortion

« on: August 13, 2021, 05:19:22 PM »

New to both the forum and DiMarzio, and am looking for advice on pickups for the Epiphone Flying V that I just picked up. It's a 2020, all mahogany with Indian laurel fretboard, and has stock Epi ProBuckers. All of my guitars have pups that are on the vintage/PAF side...Gibson 57 Classics in a Epi Les Paul and ES-175, Duncan 59 Blues in a Dot, Duncan Slash signature in a PRS SE Custom 24...on the Fender side, Duncan APH1 bridge Humbucker with K Line Signature Strat singles in neck and middle, K Line 60s set (SSS) and Cavalier Pickups in a Warmoth Tele.

Mostly I've been a vintage type pickup guy, like having some good cleans and a nice CRUNCH when I drive...not into the modern, buzzsaw sounds. I decided that I want the V to be unique to me, a bit edgier but still with a nod toward vintage 70s rock, like old KISS and Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, Zep, Boston, etc. I had been looking at Duncan...Saturday Night Special set, Whole Lotta Humbucker set and 59n/sh-14 Custom 5, but was having a hard time listening to online videos and trying to grasp how they each really sound. Then some people recommended T Top clones, and finally, the DiMarzio Super Distortion.

I had long known that a lot of my favorite songs had the Super's stamp all over them...KISS and Ace Frehley were pretty much the soundtrack to my childhood. But I also knew the pup was ceramic and had sworn those off since having a bad, shrill and overhot experience with a set. As such, I was not going anywhere near the Super. I just figured Ace and Al DiMeola and the like have far better hands than I do, so it works for them.

Until yesterday when a friend convinced me to take home and play one of his guitars that had a Super in the bridge. Holy shit, there it is, THE tone! Unlike my last experience, there was warmth, thickness and clarity (no small feat), and I could actually control it. Not only that, my playing approach changed a little. So now that's it, the Super Distortion will go into the bridge slot of my new V.

Which brings up a new problem...the neck.

I've seen the Super 2 as a good possibility, as it is said to have great tone and clarity and articulation, which I'd like in the neck. But I don't want lose the distinct tone that I love in necks either. So having a great powerful tone that doesn't produce mud would be awesome, I just want to make sure I don't lose the neck character (sorry, I'm not at all technical).

Or perhaps I should go to something like the Air Classic, PAF 36 or PAF Pro. Maybe those would give good neck tone with better than usual clarity, but without the power. That would certainly give good balance to the guitar, but it might be good to make this an all-in 70s style rock machine.

Basically, I ended one bit of pickup confusion and started a new one!

Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Thank you in advance and sorry for the long-winded post...lot of circular thought on this project!