F4 - neck RG pickup?

[dmz62]

Hey folks - anyone know anything about the Dimarzio 'F4' pickup. as far as I can tell it was used in some RGs...wondering what Dimarzio model it corresponded to. thanks!

[giannifive]

If you read the Ibanez catalogs from back in the day it's similar to a PAF Pro of that era but with "slightly increased" output.

[dmz62]

thank you!

[slugman]

Not to hijack your thread, but what about the other F pickups and the C pickups? F1, F2, C1... I remember reading somewhere that the F2 is supposed to be like the Tone Zone...

[dmz62]

OK checked out the old catalogs (1993) at gianni's direction & found that the F4 is like the F1 (classic paf) but more "Output, midrange punch & harmonics"

C1 - C3 are described there as well.

[psychoshredder]

for better explaination, Dimarzio web site has the description on the FAQ .

check 'em out...

[dmz62]

Hm, not clear..the dimarzio faq talks about the RG2120 and RG2570EX, and their pickups as high output monsters (Super2/SuperD type)...the last mention I see of the 'F' series is in the 1993 catalog which lists the RG 770 as having the F2/F4 combo. By '94 they'd introduced the USRG series, using dimarzio PPro & fred, and the other RGs were using INF humbuckers.

I'm basing the fact that they paired the F2 in the bridge with a F1 in the neck, and F4 in neck with F2 bridge (RG770) that the F4 is not way overwound a la Super2

[slugman]

I played a circa '91 RG770 at Guitar Center and it had an F2 in the bridge and F4 in the neck. My RG760 has an F2 in the bridge and C2 in mid and neck. The RG770 sounded great, by the way. Very smooth in the neck position.

[dmz62]

Hey Slugman, what's the F2 like? Tone zonish or Paf Pro-ish? Or somewhere in between? Thanks for the report on the F2, BTW.

[psychoshredder]

Originally Posted by dmz62

Hm, not clear..the dimarzio faq talks about the RG2120 and RG2570EX, and their pickups as high output monsters (Super2/SuperD type)...the last mention I see of the 'F' series is in the 1993 catalog which lists the RG 770 as having the F2/F4 combo. By '94 they'd introduced the USRG series, using dimarzio PPro & fred, and the other RGs were using INF humbuckers.

I'm basing the fact that they paired the F2 in the bridge with a F1 in the neck, and F4 in neck with F2 bridge (RG770) that the F4 is not way overwound a la Super2

oh yeah , I just checked the dimarzio faq, there is no more IBZ-USA F and C series explanation anymore. it used to be there.

[slugman]

Originally Posted by dmz62

Hey Slugman, what's the F2 like? Tone zonish or Paf Pro-ish? Or somewhere in between? Thanks for the report on the F2, BTW.

I'd have to hear sound clips to tell you. I bought a Paf Pro off **** about a week ago so I will be able to compare fairly soon. I also have some sound clips, but my friend was hosting all of them and lost everything... I'll try uploading again.

The F2 does have a wall of sound quality to it. It was really great for plugging into a so-so amp and sounding great. I got a Mesa .22 though and switched to the Steve's Special because the F2 wasn't clear enough for my taste. On my POD 2.0 I couldn't turn the gain past 6 or so if I wanted to hear each note in the chord. It also has what I thought of as a 'spongey' quality to it... couldn't get it to be 'punchy.' I put it in my swamp ash RG (took out the Steve's Special) and it sounds great. Lots of highs and mids.

C2 sounds pretty flatly eq'd. Has a jazzy sound to it in my alder strat. Replaced the neck C2 with a hot rails; sounds more Strat like now.

[dmz62]

Thanks slugman - from your description, that's not what I'm looking for in the F2. I think I'll go with a FRED, which I've tried & liked (was interested in something with a tad more beef but Fred will do.)