DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

[snowman3000]

Hi..It's my first post here but i read this forum constantly..
Unfortunately i'm a DiMarzio guy =) and i think i need to replace my bridge pickup..
I have an alder strat with '57 maple neck and floyd rose. (250K pots and .09 D'Addario) By now i have a DP103 PAF (bridge position), i play a lot of hard rock - heavy and prog stuff, i know the DP103 is very soft and quiet but it's very balanced and i think also pretty tight! Maybe it's a bit bright and lack of output (203 mV).. I mainly use Mesa Boogie Mark C+ and Bogner Ecstasy with a lot of gain. I don't need BIG output pickup (or i'd have squealing probs) or honky mids (Boogies already have mids).. EVO2? Norton? Virtual HOT PAF? I've had the Steve's Special...it wasn't bad...but a bit 'lifeless'
Keep in mind that i'm trying to track down a sweet, clear-articulate, TIGHT IN THE LOW-END and with a good amount of harmonics pickup..

Thanks ya all for the suggestions...

[Jocelyn]

Fred?

[iekobrid]

Have you considered the PAF Pro? Hotter and a little brighter than what you have now, but with an EQ curve much closer to what you're used to than the Breed or Evo2 or Norton or Fred.

[Jocelyn]

yeah i was gping to mention the PRO too

[Robbiedbee]

Welcome to the forum snowman

I would suggest the Super Distortion. It's got a nice meaty tone, and it can do do the harmonics really well.

[Johtosotku]

So you want a pickup that's a bit darker and has more output and harmonics? A Tone Zone is dark and medium output pup, I don't know if it's too dark but it is Thick with a capital T! Harmonics come out nicely as well. It may be a bit loose to some people's tastes, though. An Air Zone would be a bit more airy and open version of the TZ, but I haven't tried it out myself. I'd use 500k pots with these pups, they may be too dark with 250ks.

If you'd like, I could probably make a quick clip of the Tone Zone, but it's in the bridge of my Gibson SG Standard so it's a bit different guitar.

Btw, if you live in Europe and are letting go of that PAF, I could be interested...

[snowman3000]

I tried the Tone Zone (Axis guitar) on my Mark IIC+...and it didn't sound bad but..for me it's too...mh...boomy and loose in the low-end, not very clear at all. If it had less and TIGHTER bass would be reeally nice.. Keep in mind that the C+ has a lot of mids, the TZ has a lot of them too...!..it's just too much

Never thought about a Paf Pro.. Isn't it too bright in bridge position? I say that because of the tone guide: treble-6 mid-5 bass-5

Didn't like the Fred at all...just not my tone..

DiMarzio PAF but with ceramic magnet? How would be the tone? A little darker with more output? I was thinking to get the EVO2 and swap the ceramic with Alnico V....

Sorry guys, i know i'm picky....but...i really want to get the best p.u. for me. SWEET - TIGHT LOWEND - CLEAR - HARMONICS is this too much for a p.u.? =)

How is this Norton? A very few people has it...really wonder why...is it TIGHT? =)

[ranalli]

So you want a pickup that's a bit darker and has more output and harmonics? A Tone Zone is dark and medium output pup, I don't know if it's too dark but it is Thick with a capital T! Harmonics come out nicely as well. It may be a bit loose to some people's tastes, though. An Air Zone would be a bit more airy and open version of the TZ, but I haven't tried it out myself. I'd use 500k pots with these pups, they may be too dark with 250ks.

If you'd like, I could probably make a quick clip of the Tone Zone, but it's in the bridge of my Gibson SG Standard so it's a bit different guitar.

Btw, if you live in Europe and are letting go of that PAF, I could be interested...

The TZ is the furthest thing from a tight bottom end as there is.

I definitely wouldn't recommend that to this guy.

[Johtosotku]

The TZ is the furthest thing from a tight bottom end as there is.

I definitely wouldn't recommend that to this guy.

Really? I don't find the bottom end that bad for the pickups other qualities like thickness. I did mention it may be loose to some people's tastes, but I've never found it too loose to play some speed/thrash metal for example. Maybe it's the SG that compensates, but I think I mentioned that too. Cheers!

[ranalli]

Really? I don't find the bottom end that bad for the pickups other qualities like thickness. I did mention it may be loose to some people's tastes, but I've never found it too loose to play some speed/thrash metal for example. Maybe it's the SG that compensates, but I think I mentioned that too. Cheers!

Well in your setup it might not be that loose....but compared to other pickups...the TZ is one of the loosest and muddy ones I've tried.


It's not a bad pickup....just compared to other pickups the bottom end is just obscene.

[theboatcandream]

Hi..It's my first post here but i read this forum constantly..
Unfortunately i'm a DiMarzio guy =) and i think i need to replace my bridge pickup..
I have an alder strat with '57 maple neck and floyd rose. (250K pots and .09 D'Addario) By now i have a DP103 PAF (bridge position), i play a lot of hard rock - heavy and prog stuff, i know the DP103 is very soft and quiet but it's very balanced and i think also pretty tight! Maybe it's a bit bright and lack of output (203 mV).. I mainly use Mesa Boogie Mark C+ and Bogner Ecstasy with a lot of gain. I don't need BIG output pickup (or i'd have squealing probs) or honky mids (Boogies already have mids).. EVO2? Norton? Virtual HOT PAF? I've had the Steve's Special...it wasn't bad...but a bit 'lifeless'
Keep in mind that i'm trying to track down a sweet, clear-articulate, TIGHT IN THE LOW-END and with a good amount of harmonics pickup..

Thanks ya all for the suggestions...

Stick with the Dimarzio PAF, only switch out the alnico V magnet for a ceramic one. The Duncan shop will do it for $20 I think.

[walt]

I'd recommend the Virtual Hot Paf. It's gotten great reviews by other members here (myself included).

[Reckless Abandon]

fred

[Lake Placid Blues]

The Tone Zone would probably be fine considering the floyd rose and the 57 style maple neck. The extra low end that the TZ has, counteracts the slight loss of lows associated with floyds. It's a big change from a PAF in output though. It has a noticable increased midrange thickness, but in a bright guitar it comes out like a real BIG PAF EQ wise. It will overdive the front end of a high gain amp, but you have the option of rolling back a touch. It seems more sensitive to picking dynamics than most high output pickups.

The Virtual Hot PAF might be nice if you want a little more of what you already have, with more 3D dimension. From the descriptions, it seems to have a warmer top end than the PAF you now use, and the slightly brighter medium ouptup pickups like the PAF Pro.

[Aceman]

I'm seeing PAF Pro, Vitual Hot PAF, and Tone Zone. An Interesting group...Tone zone and VHot are roughly the same level of oomph, but way different sounding, I think. The PAF Pro and the VHot are similar sounding, but way different output...

I have both a PAF Pro and A ToneZone at the moment, and I think I'm kinda leaning PAF Pro...Unless you want monster output and Monster bass. Then I'd say Tone Zone.

Other Options: I'm sure someone will suggest Air Zone as a compromise.

And DiMarzio Players are welcome here! We are all brothers in the battle for ultimate tone!!! DiMarzio Management, however, the Mother *&^%&%^$ who make it a Pain in my @$$ to get double creme pups *&^%*^ big hairy moose (*(*&*!!!

[wixomwhat]

PAF Pro

[aldu74]

I'd reccomend the Virtual Hot PAF or the Breed Neck if you want a bit more. Yes, the Breed Neck model makes a really good bridge pickup.

[Lake Placid Blues]

......Tone zone and VHOT are roughly the same level of oomph...I think... The PAF Pro and the VHot are similar sounding, but way different output....


.......

Stratdeluxer in his review, reported his VHPAF was about the same precieved output as his Fred. Dimarzio lists the VHPAF at 265mv, and the Fred at 305mv. My Fred is noticably lower output than my TZ, but certainly hotter than a typical vintage PAF. The PAF Pro is listed at 300mv. I'm voting VHPAF at this point, based on snowman's later memo.

[wixomwhat]

The PAF Pro is my Favorite pickup. Its got the 80's tone I wanted. Just the Right power for Super Strats and Has great Harmonics.

Snowman- what tuning do you use?

[snowman3000]

Snowman- what tuning do you use?

Regular tuning..

I'm voting VHPAF at this point, based on snowman's later memo.

Yeah maybe the VHPAF would be a good choice