DiMarzio pickups

[Matt Parsons]

I've had pretty limited experience with DiMarzio pickups. I had an Agile 7 with DiMarzio Blaze 7s, and they had a really nice smooth lead tone. The rhythm was a little... well, smooth and I didn't like it too much ( though that might have been because of the basswood body + being far from the bridge ).

Aside from that, I tried a D-Sonic in the bridge of my F-50 and it actually sounded pretty good. A unique, odd flavor but pretty cool nonetheless.

I'm getting a Parker P-42 pretty soon and I plan on upgrading the stock pickups with DiMarzio. I was considering an Air Norton in the neck and a Breed or Evo 2 in the bridge. The P-42 is mahogany with maple bolt on neck, and ebony fretboard.

Any suggestions?

[KH Guitar Freak]

What woods are on the Parker???

Evo2/Evo neck would be nice, I like me Tone Zone and Air Norton, but this depends on what tone you want to get and what woods are in your guitar...

[Matt Parsons]

It's mahogany body, maple bolt on neck, and ebony fretboard. I've heard the Tone Zone is very dark and not suited for mahogany guitars, so I was going to avoid it. Plus I already have a bright guitar with a fat/dark pickup, so I thought a dark guitar with a bright/cutting pickup would be nice.

[Rex Rocker]

I like the Tone Zone and Super III, but since you want a brighter pickup in there, why not try the X2N/PAF pro combo?

[KH Guitar Freak]

It's mahogany body, maple bolt on neck, and ebony fretboard. I've heard the Tone Zone is very dark and not suited for mahogany guitars, so I was going to avoid it. Plus I already have a bright guitar with a fat/dark pickup, so I thought a dark guitar with a bright/cutting pickup would be nice.

Evo2/Evo it is then... :p

[Matt Parsons]

I don't like super high output pickups. The PAF pro is another pickup I have been considering for the neck position.

[Piney Hills Music]

evo is pretty bright pup...

but it does have a lot of output... not X2N output but still its considered a high output pickup i believe.

[Matt Parsons]

High output is good ( I do play metal after all! ) But the X2N is "too much" I think. Any more than my 89/89 set would be a problem

[D-EJ915]

X2N is much higher output than any EMG

[Robotsatemygrandma]

It's mahogany body, maple bolt on neck, and ebony fretboard. I've heard the Tone Zone is very dark and not suited for mahogany guitars, so I was going to avoid it. Plus I already have a bright guitar with a fat/dark pickup, so I thought a dark guitar with a bright/cutting pickup would be nice.

Dude whatever you do don't go with DiMarzio with a mahogany guitar. I put in an EVO in my MH-300 and hated it. For the longest time I couldn't figure out why I didn't like it then it dawned on me... it lacks sensitivity. No matter how hard or soft I picked it sounded the same until I started drilling my strings hard. They're great pickups if you use an ASS LOAD of effects but if you're a guitar to the amp kinda guy you'll find it "teh suckz".

[Matt Parsons]

What else were you running at the time?

[Robotsatemygrandma]

Well for awhile I was running a Sonic Maximizer + EQ Pedal... then I ran just guitar and amp, then just recently I picked up an EH Small Clone.

MH-300 Mahogany neck through
ENGL Thunder
Marshall 1960A (1993)

[Matt Parsons]

And the Evo didn't have the sensitivity through any of that? That is good to know, as I do value sensitivity in my pickups.

[D-EJ915]

they are Vai's pickups and he uses more effects than there are people on the earth, so that might say something...I didn't like the tone from the white JEM but I'm not a big fan of alder.

I really like the X2N in my V-250 though.

[KH Guitar Freak]

No, the Evos do have sensitivity, you must be using yours wrong, unless you want to prove Steve Vai and me wrong... :p

Alder is good, I've found the Evo2 to be less harsh sounding than the Evo, and better control and sensitivity, so there you go...

In fact, someone on the forum has an Ibanez with the Evo2/Evo neck set, he loves it, maybe ask him for his opinion as well??? 8o

And the Evo range of pups cut thru the mix like a hot knife thru butter...

[Robotsatemygrandma]

The whole reason I tried out an EVO was because I was digging the tone of the white JEM. But the conclusion I came to is that an EVO works better in an Alder body versus Mahogany, and that I just prefer Seymour Duncans.

Maybe I had it put in wrong maybe I had a bunk P/U or maybe it's just a shitty P/U in general. EVO+Me=Anti Buano

[Nikopapp]

Keep in mind that while mahogany is a warm wood tone, the ebony fretboard is the brightest of all fretboard woods.
The combo gives the perfect blend IMo.
But you have to keep that in mind when selecting pickups.
Dimarzio's are btter suited for rosewood fretboards IMO, wheras EMG's and Seymour's are better for ebony.
Have you looked at the Seymour screamin' demon for the bridge?
Sounds just like what you're looking for.
I'd combine that with a JB or SH-2 Jazz in the neck position.

[Rex Rocker]

Dimarzio's are btter suited for rosewood fretboards IMO, wheras EMG's and Seymour's are better for ebony.
I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't think I find the logic in that statement.

[KH Guitar Freak]

And if you don't like the midboostness from pups, you could always get a Steve Special, done...

[sirsloop]

I just dropped a super distortion in my hello kitty strat and I had an X2N in my old RG470. the X2N was a little muddy I think but the Super Distortion has a nice fat chunky tone to it.

[Nikopapp]

I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't think I find the logic in that statement.

There isn't much logic, just personal taste.

[maxdgad]

Try a D Activator or a D Activator X, they're both pretty nice. The set I have in my xiphos (Neck through Maple/Walnut and Mahogany) is really responsive and the harmonic response is great. The cleans are really nice for being high output and I think there's a ton more clarity than my X2N guitars.

Besides, DiMarzio offers a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like your particular pickup, you can send it back and try a different one

[TheDevilHimself]

EVO's make my playing sound like shit. :p I personally would go for warmer pickups like the Breed or ToneZone.