1

The Pickup Place / Re: Help me select a neck pickup

« on: September 08, 2019, 12:04:08 AM »

I love the PAF Pro. I just decided to leave it long-term in the neck position of my latest guitar, which has an early 80s Super D in the bridge. Sometimes tried-and-true is where it's at, and the PAF Pro goes perfectly with the Super D. HOWEVER, since you are going with the AN in the bridge, I think you'll be happier with something lower output in the neck.

HFH is a pretty good idea, but I think an Air Classic might be even better for you. The AC is another tried-and-true pickup that isn't getting pushed by marketing dollars anymore, but it will give you exactly what you're looking for. Full yet clear and just enough bite.

If you want to hear the Air Classic in action, listen to Paul Gilbert's Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar album. The bulk of it was recorded with an Ibanez PGM401 with dual Air Classics, which has a neck pickup placement probably identical to your JP100D. Oh look, the instructional video for SFBDR is on Youtube now. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHdqwN_2Ga0

2

The Pickup Place / Re: Turning Dimarzio Mud Lab into real Crunch Lab 7

« on: July 26, 2019, 07:06:18 PM »

Did you change the strings when you changed your baseplates? That probably accounts for the difference you noticed.

3

Guitar Lounge / Re: So….what would you put in this?

« on: September 20, 2018, 10:32:14 AM »

Is it the flat top or the carved top version? I can't tell from the photo.

The carved top version is sonically a Les Paul. The Cadillac I had was an import but it had a real 3/4" maple top and a fairly chunky neck and the big Les Paul neck heel. I wish I still had it. I tried a lot of pickup combos in it. It was killer with either a Super Distortion/PAF combo (any of the PAF-style pickups would be great... Virtual PAF, 36th, or Air Classic), or for a more modern sound, a Crunch Lab/Breed Neck combo.

Oh never mind, I can tell from the photo it's the bolt-on version. It's probably basswood and hit-or-miss on how solid the neck joint is. I say go nuts with it, go for the X2N, D-Activator X, or D-Activator. If you go the X2N route, try a Tone Zone in the neck.

Oh, and I just realized the OP is from 2.5 years ago. Bwahahaha. This is the kind of day I'm gonna have today.

 

4

The Pickup Place / Re: Norton vs D'Activator

« on: August 28, 2018, 09:36:09 AM »

D-Activator has great harmonics like the Norton, but it is very crisp, clear, and "precise" if that makes sense. Much higher output. It won't forgive sloppy playing. If you have a highly refined picking technique, and you want crisp, high output, then you will love the D-Activator.

Norton is more laid back, much warmer sounding, higher harmonic to output ratio. If you want something warmer and a little older-school without being too old school, and you like to get nasty and squealy, then you will love the Norton.

Norton is a very dynamic pickup, but the D-Activator may be the one pickup in Dimarzio's stable that is even more dynamic. That is where the primary similarities lie.

5

The Trading Post / Re: Awesome Traders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

« on: August 28, 2018, 09:25:57 AM »

Shout out to mononoaware who just executed a flawless trade with me initiated here. He's a regular over at the SD forums. Don't let his low post count scare you. He's legit.

6

The Pickup Place / Re: "GIFMEN" pickups?

« on: May 13, 2017, 09:52:55 PM »

Wrong section.

7

The Pickup Place / Re: Need a Dimarzio neck humbucker with bite under gain

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:42:30 AM »

Switch to 500k pots and get a Breed Neck. Stays crunchy even in milk. You will thank me.

8

The Pickup Place / Re: What is the PAF Pro like in a Les Paul?

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:41:39 AM »

I'm on the search for some better sounding neck pickups in my Les Paul. Currently I'm using the Duncan '59 which sounds good underneath the treble, but crappy under the bass because it's way too bassy and woofy.

I ordered a Dimarzio PAF Pro since I read very favorable things about it.

I'm gonna try a few others too like maybe the Humbucker From Hell, and perhaps the Full Shred or Duncan Distortion.

Anyone here have any experience with the PAF Pro in the neck?

Yes, in a Les Paul, even. Up high it is clear and open sounding, but down low it is definitely woofy. If you are having this problem with a 59, PAF Pro is not the answer.

Fortunately Dimarzio has another great pickup that is very similar to the PP and solves this problem -- the Breed Neck. The specs are deceptive. The Breed Neck has the same basic tone as the PP except with a bright edge that really works well in the neck and keeps it from getting woofy. It is a great pickup for getting both vintage and modern sounds, but not modern in the vein of Air Norton or Liquifire (which I don't care for). More like it stays crunchy in milk by still getting PAF sounds at any level of gain (clean to insane).

It's on my short list of favorite neck buckers.

9

The Pickup Place / Re: Pickup for stoner doom

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:36:36 AM »

+1 on the Super D. It will nail what you are looking for.

10

The Pickup Place / Re: Difference between VV '54 Pro & VV Blues

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:36:06 AM »

Want to replace the single coil in my '87 Ibanez 550. When I use the middle pickup I use it split quite a bit so I want something that splits well. I have a couple of the VV Heavy Blues 2 & I love them but I hate getting the same pickup. Kind of defeats the purpose of having multiple guitars. Needs to be high enough output to partner with the humbuckers. I don't like the glassy really bright typical single coils. Thoughts?

Both of them are warm. With 500k pots, the 54 will sound about as bright as a typical single coil would with 250k pots. The Blues is probably the warmest single that still sounds like a single. Based on what you said, I would recommend the Blues. It should have enough output -- I think the Heavy Blues could be overkill and maybe too dark, but YMMV.

11

The Pickup Place / Re: Medium-output buckers that split well?

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:33:30 AM »

One of my favorite guitars has an Air Zone and Bluesbucker, both set up for split switching. They both split incredibly. Particularly the Air Zone. Probably the best split sound Dimarzio has.

12

The Pickup Place / Re: How does the Chopper fair when split?

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:32:03 AM »

I've got Choppers in the neck position of a couple guitars and before I go replacing volume pots and rewiring them I was hoping some folks could chime in with their experiences on how they sound when split.

Lower output, but not really much brighter, if at all. I had a guitar with a Chopper in the neck and series/parallel/split switching. Every sound was useful and distinct.

13

The Pickup Place / Re: New bridge pickup for Ibanez SZ520

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:30:10 AM »

As per the subject. It's a set-neck, mahogany body.
I want the fattest, bassiest pickup that DiMarzio has to offer. My initial reaction is always to go Tone Zone but I don't want to go there in this guitar so I'm thinking Breed.
Music is doomy metal in the Sabbath vein.

Any thoughts or other recommendations?

What you're looking for is the Tone Zone, absolutely.

Breed Bridge is very similar to the Tone Zone except with the EQ hump moved up into the mids.

14

The Pickup Place / Re: RG 560 and Norton

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:28:06 AM »

PAF 36th Bridge. One of Dimarzio's best. You will love it.

15

The Pickup Place / Re: Stacked Humbucker to pair with Crunchlab

« on: March 21, 2017, 01:26:33 AM »

What about the chopper clean / light overdrive tone?

It's crisp but not sterile. Listen to "Shadow" off that Bumblefoot album.