Super 2 in the bridge - who's tried it?

[appar111]

Looking for a tighter, brighter Super Distortion sound-- would the Super 2 in the bridge do the trick?

For those that have tried it, how did it work out? What did it sound like?

Guitar in question is a maple/rosewood neck, alder body, strat hardtail, 10-46's tuned down 1/2 step, single 500K volume knob.

[Grenade]

My Tele copy was like yours except for 9's and Super 2 really brought it to life.Very nice.

[LatsMcGee]

If you want a tighter and brighter super you want the 3.....

[appar111]

nope, I tried the Super 3 and it's got more mids than the Super D but the highs are chopped.

[LatsMcGee]

I don't know if you'll dig the 2 than, have you thought about the Duncan Distortion??? The DDN in the bridge would certainly be tighter and brighter than an super D, at least to me.....

[JeffB]

The 3 is way thicker and darker than the original SD.

The 2 is definitely brighter, but it's also not as thick meaty. I think it makes a good neck pup to match a super, but I don't think I'd want one in the bridge.

If you want brighter, and don't mind the output, go with a X2N

[appar111]

I've had the X2n on the radar for a while. Wonder if that one would sound best w/ a 1 meg volume pot?

Also, on the Super 3, I wonder if I turned up the presence and treble on my amp, if it would get me where I need to be? They say it's tuned so that you can do that and not have things mush out.

[JeffB]

I've had the X2n on the radar for a while. Wonder if that one would sound best w/ a 1 meg volume pot?

Also, on the Super 3, I wonder if I turned up the presence and treble on my amp, if it would get me where I need to be? They say it's tuned so that you can do that and not have things mush out.

IME it's just a thick, really thick pickup (super 3 that is)- if your guitar is bright and has lots of string to string clarity it would probably be OK. The best thing to do would probably be cruise yootoob for more recent clips of Phill Collen with Def Leppard, he's about the only "big name" I know of who uses them.


However, My perosnal feeling is it's pretty much like the Custom Custom-no matter what you do to it, it's going to sound thick/darker just buy it's nature and never have the string to string clarity of say the Custom5. Trying to compensate with an amp or EQ pedal for a fundamental "lack of " something in a guitar or pickup has cost me LOTS of money over the years and never been all that successful.

As for the X2N, I'd stick with 500K, I suspect it would get VERY abrasive with a 1 meg pot.

[formula73]

IME it's just a thick, really thick pickup (super 3 that is)- if your guitar is bright and has lots of string to string clarity it would probably be OK. The best thing to do would probably be cruise yootoob for more recent clips of Phill Collen with Def Leppard, he's about the only "big name" I know of who uses them.


However, My perosnal feeling is it's pretty much like the Custom Custom-no matter what you do to it, it's going to sound thick/darker just buy it's nature and never have the string to string clarity of say the Custom5. Trying to compensate with an amp or EQ pedal for a fundamental "lack of " something in a guitar or pickup has cost me LOTS of money over the years and never been all that successful.

As for the X2N, I'd stick with 500K, I suspect it would get VERY abrasive with a 1 meg pot.

I don't know about the pot value. The newer X2Ns, to my ears, aren't nearly as bright as the older X2N Power Plus, and I think the only difference is the baseplates. I've been through a couple of the newer ones and they've all moved on. If I want massive power, thick mids, and lots of bass, I'll get an Invader. If I want massive power, more balanced mids with lots of highs, I get an X2N.

[JeffB]

I don't know about the pot value. The newer X2Ns, to my ears, aren't nearly as bright as the older X2N Power Plus, and I think the only difference is the baseplates. I've been through a couple of the newer ones and they've all moved on. If I want massive power, thick mids, and lots of bass, I'll get an Invader. If I want massive power, more balanced mids with lots of highs, I get an X2N.

Hmm.. wasn't aware Dimarzio had changed them in recent years, I was definitely referencing older X2Ns.

IDK why they would eff with a good thing.

[formula73]

Hmm.. wasn't aware Dimarzio had changed them in recent years, I was definitely referencing older X2Ns.

IDK why they would eff with a good thing.

Probably to keep manufacturing costs down. I bet those brass baseplates, combined with no longer using that plastic clip to hold the wire (remember that?), save them $.15 per unit.

[appar111]

I don't know about the pot value. The newer X2Ns, to my ears, aren't nearly as bright as the older X2N Power Plus, and I think the only difference is the baseplates. I've been through a couple of the newer ones and they've all moved on. If I want massive power, thick mids, and lots of bass, I'll get an Invader. If I want massive power, more balanced mids with lots of highs, I get an X2N.

What were the baseplates made out of on the old X2Ns?

[King IzzO)))]

I like the Super3, but I like dark pickups. If you want something that hot, but brighter, a Duncan Distortion, X2N, and 500T should be on your list.

I've heard that the Super2 is a PAFPro with a big ceramic, which sounds about right. I don't think that would make a bridge pickup I'd ever want to use.

[WGTP]

I'm not a Super Distortion fan, but I liked the Super 2 in the bridge and neck of an old Melody Maker and Dean.

[whatshisname]

I had one, in the bridge of a Strat. I absolutely HATED it, and this is from a guy that loves the Super Distortion. On paper, it seemed like it would be great, but in practice, it just didn't work for me. I found it too stiff, and lifeless.

Now, this was about 20 years ago, so I might feel different about it, now. I wish I would have tried it as a neck pickup, or in a Gibson. Maybe one day, I'll grab one, and try it again.

[75lespaul]

Put one in my friend's taco bell strat when we thought it was a Super Distortion. Sounded absolutely killer. Through his rig and mine, it sounded great. We then changed the magnet on the stock humbucker with an UOA5, and it opened up the guitar even more. The original pickup sounded like it had a wet blanket over it, but after the mag swap, it roared.

[Ludwigvan]

Super 2s are quite bright but personally I think they work best with a lot of distortion from an American amp, so it depends on what you're playing.

PAF Pros are quite similar to Super Distortions but a lot brighter and slightly less output. They are very bright though, maybe too bright if you intend it for a bridge pickup.

I think a Tonezone would fit the bill nicely. They have plenty of top end but aren't shrill. They have a good dose of mids which makes them very clear, even a little unforgiving but if you're playing a British type amp they're great. Especially with alder. And if the output is too high you can use an Airzone, it's basically the same as a Tonezone just a little more vintage sounding.

[appar111]

Wow, all kinds of info I wouldnt have expected... Tone Zone unforgiving? Super 2 sounds great, Super 2 sounds awful. X2N's don't sound the same as the old ones....

All over the map! I suppose if I get a new Super 2 and dont like it I can always exchange under Dimarzio's exchange policy.

500T is on the radar too-- sounded great in this guitar when it had an all maple neck on it instead of the rosewood board that's on it now. Should be able to find a used one for about 50 bucks, too...

So 500T or a Super 2 depending on what I can find used for the best price.

Thanks guys!

[whatshisname]

I figured I'd let you guys know the rig I was using, when I had the Super 2. I was using a rack, with an ADA MP-1, BBE, Digitech effects, and a MosValve 500 power amp(that's all I remember right now).

It sounded great, with my Gibsons, and other guitars, but that Strat/Super 2 combo just didn't work with it.

[Ludwigvan]

Tone Zone unforgiving?

I meant as in it's such a clear and articulate pickup it can really highlight bad technique, like if you're bad at muting or your dynamics aren't consistent. Some pickups have a really compressed kind of sound that's flattering to your playing although it means you sacrifice control.

The 500T is a great pickup, I have one in an old Gibson of mine. Some people think it can be too shrill but I've never found that to be the case.