D Sonic, is it too bright sounding for Eb tuning in basswood RG?

[Stygian]

I'm planning on buying a Dimarzio D Sonic for the bridge position of a basswood RG. It has a fixed bridge and the fretboard is rosewood. I would typically be tuning to Eb and maybe as low as C (though likely no lower than that) playing metal obviously. I would like to know if the pickup is typically bright sounding if anyone can share their experience with it.

I have also been considering a Tone Zone, I know it certainly would not be too treble heavy. Will it do for detuning though?

[ELicari]

Depends on how you install it. With the bar magnet towards the bridge it will be brighter and thats what DiMarzio suggests if your doing drop tunings,with the poles towards the bridge a warmer sound.

[fretboardpyro]

I found the d-sonic too bright in my s series but it should be ok in a basswood rg, after all ebmm jp-6 had them in until recently and they sounded great. I have to say i prefer the crunch lab to the d-sonic though, its a bit darker. Tone zone is no where near treble heavy and is a great dark sounding pickup that has unique sounding midrange, it's one of my two fave pup's the other being the steve's special.

[Stygian]

You had the D Sonic in a mahogany S series and it was too bright? Well that's kind of crappy to hear, since mahogany is a warmer and darker tone wood than basswood. I might have to go for a Tone Zone then in my RG, I just want it to handle drop tuning without the bass losing punch and clarity. Will it do that?

The D Sonic is a really unique looking pickup with the shiny bar and individual pole pieces on the opposite coil. But I won't buy it just for the looks.

[ELicari]

Again.......

Depends on how you install it. With the bar magnet towards the bridge it will be brighter and thats what DiMarzio suggests if your doing drop tunings,with the poles towards the bridge a warmer sound.

It should be fine!!!

[fretboardpyro]

Gotta intervene again here, on the s series the bar was towards the neck. The guitar with the d-sonic in ruined an evenings practice as it shrilled like hell, it was beyond even what the eq on my amp and distortion could deal with! My ebmm jp6bfr has the crunchlab in and i like that, but that said its a basswood body with a mahogony toneblock in and a full rosewood neck so it will be a bit deeper. I've used a few ebmm jp6with the d sonic in the bridge on just the basswood body and they sounded fine. However my jpm has an ss in the bridge which is nice and dark, and my rg3120 has a tz in the bridge and thats dark but with a real mid range harmonic punch when you push hard into the strings. If i was you i'd maybe go with either a ss or tz. If you want complete low end sonic destruction then BK warpigs are the way to go!!! Got a set of these in my lp and in open e it sounds drop tuned!!!!

[falkendrift]

My friend Garrett, garwoorg on the forums, has a d sonic and an air norton in a basswood rg. It is set up with the bar towards the neck, and it has a good tone. It's not a bass monster by any means, but in eb it sounds good, but still has clarity. If you want a good, Deep low end with it, switch it too both the neck and bridge settings. When he has both pickups on, It's got a great, deep rhythm tone, but still has enough brightness and clarity to hear individual notes.

[Stygian]

I appreciate the advice and info guys, but I bought a very different pickup for the bridge instead (Tone Zone). It was cheaper and I think I'll be happy once I install it since it's such a tried and true metal pickup. And now I know it won't sound too bright.