Duncans and DiMarzios - Sum up the differences

[kill your scene]

I've noticed that both Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio offer an extremely wide variety of quality products to satisfy the needs of many players.

So what's the real difference between Duncan and DiMarzio? Why do you keep playing Duncans? Do you think brand name loyalty is pointless or do you have a distinct favorite? Do you think both companies are too similar to compare or do you see one as superior?

I'm curious as to what people think.

[That90'sGuy]

To be honest, I like both Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan. While they both offer a wide spectrum of products, they still aim to do things different than each other. Dimarzio is lame for that cream bobbins patent, but I will admit that I really like one of their products.

I'm loyal to whatever pup maker gives me the tone I want. I think SD makes some of the best and that's shown through the pros that use them. I don't think any of us would be on this forum if we didn't love their pups to begin with

I think the only pups I hated were EMGs and that was because everything was too sterile to my ears (the Dave Gilmour and Zakk Wylde sets sound like trash). Distortion wise they were great, but I need more versatility.

[I_M_Ken]

Well i agree with Chris about both making really great products.
personally i am a duncan and dimarzio user and i find that they're both doing a great job with the pups.
brand loyalty IS pointless. whatever company gives u a product that u like is wats most important.
i use Lace pups too for my single coils and they're great, better than any dimarzio or duncan i tried IMO.
anywya its pointless to compare duncans and dimarzios coz they're just different. its like comparing apples and oranges and it'll get u nowhere.

and yes i have to admit that dimarzio SUCKS for the cream bobbin patent as well.

[Neeradj]

"So what's the real difference between Duncan and DiMarzio?"
My other two forum bros covered this one. I just wanted to add DiMarzios always seem to be more shreddy or modern, there's always a slight similarity between all DiMarzios. I think that if I would go vintage or want my pick ups to sound more different, I'd go Duncan.

"Why do you keep playing Duncans?"
I like DiMarzios and Bill Lawrences too, but I've never been let down by Duncan. My first experience with DiMarzio (the Tone Zone) was a bit dissapointing, but the Paf Pro really got my attention again. With Duncan I never feel like I'm missing something in versatilly, they almost always seem to hit the spot. The Bill Lawrences are great too, but they're too defined for one musical style which is in your face Metal, that's why I'm keeping the L500XL, but won't ever buy one for another axe because I don't play that much Metal.
I've also tried EMG 81s but they're never to my liking, maybe someday I'll try the EMG 60 or 85 but that day is far far away. Gibsons also almost never hit the spot, although the Dirty Finger bridge did do nicely! Ibanez pick ups never seem that well made, and Fender pick ups are the Gibson story all over again.

"Do you think brand name loyalty is pointless or do you have a distinct favorite? Do you think both companies are too similar to compare or do you see one as superior?"
Only a favorite in sound my friend, I couln't care less whether it said Seymour Duncan on the bobbin or not. Both companies are just different like I M KEN clearly explained

[some_dude]

I like Duncan, DiMarzio and EMG. I'm not a particularily loyal customer, I'll go wherever I feel like it, and I'll get what I think sounds best.

It was a real toss-up for new pickups for my LP. I couldn't decide between a JB/Jazz or EMG 85/81. The deciding factor was that I wanted a metal guitar, and I already had a JB (soon to be adding a Jazz) in another guitar.

[ArtieToo]

For me, its the forum. If I wanted to buy a DiMarzio, it'ld be a shot in the dark.
This forum has allowed me to make a pretty good informed decision as to which Duncan to select.

For that, I reward them with my loyalty. And, I don't think I'm losing out on anything. I can't imagine that DiMarzio makes a pickup that SD doesn't cover.

[ranalli]

I can't imagine that DiMarzio makes a pickup that SD doesn't cover.

They make a whole line of them. They are completely different...I'm serious. I use both Duncans and Dimarzios as well as EMGs and each company has it's own distinct flavors of pickups.

Duncan has no pickup like the Super Distortion or the Super3 but then again, Dimarzio has no pickup like the JB or Pearly Gates either.

[ArtieToo]

Yeah . . . sometimes you don't really realize how dumb something you say is - 'til you see it in print.

[RG 2570]

I prefer dimarzio's because my weapon of choice is the ibanez RG series guitars, and dimarzio just sounds best in these? dont ask me why,but they do?
in a gibson,PRS,or epiphone i would opt for duncans,but for the shred guitars like ibanez, jackson,ESP, to my ears the dimarzios work the best.
everytime i try a duncan in the RG it sounds anemic,flat and wrong?

[LesStrat]

I play SD's in LesStrat, and Dimarzio Designed in the Nitefly (sc's). The Nitefly is one of the most versatile instruments I've ever played. So I won't criticize Dimarzio. However, for aftermarket pups, I'll probably stick with SD because they produce the tones I most prefer.

[Lewguitar]

To me, Duncans are more like vintage Fenders and Gibsons...they have the vintage vibe. Even the hotter pickups like the JB, Custom Custom, etc.

Dimarzios just beg to be plugged into a hot Marshall...right from the get go!
That seems to be the market Dimarzio goes for.

Lew

[Thames]

I keep using Duncan 'cause Evan (Skopp) handles marketing strategies pretty damn well...


I've used some Dimarzios in the past, Super 2 and 3 and some PAF, they were pretty nice and different from Duncans. They are both great products.

[Evan Skopp]

I keep using Duncan 'cause Evan (Skopp) handles marketing strategies pretty damn well

I swear I didn't pay Thames to say that.

But Thames, for your brand loyalty, a truck will be pulling up in front of your house this morning with a bunch of '59 Bursts. Just pick the two or three you like the best and e-Bay the others. Cheers, mate.

[Thames]

I swear I didn't pay Thames to say that.

But Thames, for your brand loyalty, a truck will be pulling up in front of your house this morning with a bunch of '59 Bursts. Just pick the two or three you like the best and e-Bay the others. Cheers, mate.

[I_M_Ken]

I prefer dimarzio's because my weapon of choice is the ibanez RG series guitars, and dimarzio just sounds best in these? dont ask me why,but they do?
in a gibson,PRS,or epiphone i would opt for duncans,but for the shred guitars like ibanez, jackson,ESP, to my ears the dimarzios work the best.
everytime i try a duncan in the RG it sounds anemic,flat and wrong?

well, i beg to differ, heh.
i got a duncan pup in my Ibanez RG550 and that pup sounds a lot better than the few dimarzios i tried in there.
the PATB-2 is in the bridge of my Ibanez Rg550.

[RG 2570]

well, i beg to differ, heh.
i got a duncan pup in my Ibanez RG550 and that pup sounds a lot better than the few dimarzios i tried in there.
the PATB-2 is in the bridge of my Ibanez Rg550.

that duncan line is made for Ibanez and jackson type guitar exclusively
I am refering to the regular pole models, the PATB series is all about making a ibanez or jackson sound better just as is most dimarzio's like the air zone,tone zone,breeds.
I personally cant take the look of the PAtb pups and the limited models,BUT i was highly considering the PAtb-1 original set after talking to a duncan tech on the phone. he said it was a lot like the JB but fatter,warmer and more low end and the neck one is a perfect match
I went with a tone zone which is about the same thing

[mongrollo]

I have pickups from both brands and they both sound very good. From DiMarzio I have the PAF classic and the Blue Velvet (vintage strat) none of them are high output and both of them sound great.

But i don't know most famous DiMarzio models are the high output ones. May be because the artist cover they have: Satriani, Vai, Paul Gilbert... etc.

Anyway any of the Dimarzio models never got such a reputation as the 59 and JB models (and the Pearly Gates)