which dimarzio am i looking for here ?

[j.arledge]

well, i think i am going to replace my super distortion and i am having some trouble choosing pickups.

this is what i am going for. I want a brighter cleaner sound, that is smooth and balanced . I play fast steve vai style stuff and so it can't be muddy, but it can't be thin or sharp . I want some output and power behind it to drive the sound and make it not get lost. I'd like it to be bright distorted but also be full and rich at the same time.

AM i wanting too many things out of one pickup or is there a pickup simular to the one i am looking for

i was considering the following
the evo 2
steve's special
mega-drive
possible a breed
paf pro
d-sonic

Now my questions and worries about each pickup.

EVO 2 : I had an original evo, i like the power but not the tight bass. Is the evo different ?

Steve's Special : I could understand how taking out the mids may help keep a pickup clean, but is it smooth and how does the mid scoope affect sound.

Megadrive : from what i understand it is simular to the steve's speical, i can't find much info on it other than harmony-central

the Breed. I dont want a pickup to lack a little briteness or be muddy , how does the breed compare to others

The PAF Pro . I was concerned about the power output of the paf pro. I like the fullness of it in the neck but i'd like to be somewhere around the precived output of like a super distortion

the d-sonic. I am not a nu-metal rock guy, and enjoy solo instrumental playing, however, though i am not a linkin park fan i do like the full distoriton fill out of thier music . Do you think the pickup would cut through and not be muddy.

[AlexBLA]

try the "pickup picker" on the dimarzio website. it might help you out

[ET Guitars]

You could also try a Fred, I have used them in my Jackson and they improved the tone out of sight. Great in the bridge, but I'm looking for something else in the neck for this guitar. Freds have a good balance, but are not huge in the power stakes, though you can boost them with some gain boost device of your choice (eg Boss DS-1).

From your description, it may be a Tonezone that your after, they sound very full with loads of power, but I have no direct experience with it in my guitars. I will be installing an Evo 2 and Breeds in some projects in the next couple of weeks, as I was looking for the same thing as you. Maybe we're both wanting too much from one pick-up! I'll do a write-up when they're installed.

[j.arledge]

Originally Posted by AlexBLA

try the "pickup picker" on the dimarzio website. it might help you out

tried it, i got the evo,evo2,d-sonic,paf pro and virtual paf bridge depending on wether i wanted cleaner/brighter or better harmonics.

i am seriuosly leaning on the evo2 i just dont want as tight of bass as the original evo has

[JM5150]

Tone Zone.


Honestly, I didn't even read the question, I like that model so much!

I'll go back and read it!

[The Dark Wolf]

I like the exact sound you are looking for as well, my friend. I'm coming at this from a 7-string perspective, however, but I think it still applies.

I had a TZ7... it is NOT clear. A nice pickup, but dark, and can get a little muddy. It's alos pretty round, with minimal treble. Not like a SS/Blaze. So I went to a Blaze, and loved it. The Blaze is very, very balanced, smooth, and ultra-clear. But... it can sound JUST a tad thin at times (the SS is basically the Blaze, just 6-string).

On a whim, I tried the Blaze Custom (which is, tonally speaking, a 7-string D-Sonic. They sound ALOT alike) and you get the exact sound you describe. It is everything I love about the Blaze/SS, but with a bit of added warmth and fatness. The D-Sonic/BC sounds like a SS/Blaze that has worked out and ate well, with a nice happpy smile on it's face

I'd say, D-Sonic. Just because Linkin Park uses it, does NOT mean it is a nu-metal only pickup.

[j.arledge]

so the d-sonic is simular to a blaze custom . The regular blaze resembles a steve's special and mega-drive.

well i am actually getting a regular blaze for my 7 string, and should have it soon so i guess if they are that close i will be able to tell if i'd like the steve's special and mega-drive.


the d-sonic does look cool specs wise.How are it's harmonics ? I love to to do natuaral harmonics and pull the bridge back dimebag style and i love pinch harmonics zw style .

If all else fails i can take full advantage of the very nice dimarzio return policy

the choices

[The Dark Wolf]

Again, my experience is with 7-string pups.

That being said, the Blaze Custom smokes for harmonics. It's a got a great, vocal-like mid quality, but it;s subtle, and not overbearing. Makes harmonics rings out, and leads sound real rganic. Rhythms are just brutal, tight, fat, and focused, while still sounding crisp and clear.

So I imagine the D-Sonic is real similar, and harmonics are probably a breeze.

[rty13ibz98]

josh, sounds like you need the steve's special. not my favorite pickup, but it sounds EXACTLY like what you've described. its got a fat bottom end and decent presence in the highs. the scooped mids in it help to "clean" up distortion in lead runs. making lead lines sound more "studio" and a little less raw. i like a litle more dirt in my playing due to the fact of usually being the singular guitar player i have to "flesh out" the rest of the sound. so i use the tone zone, but the steve's special has really good chunk when chording due to the mid scoop and big bottom. and it is like what dimarzio says...like a "hi-fi" quality when using it. that is a pretty articulate pickup.


rich

[Shredcows]

What guitar do you have?

Hmmm... the Breed sounds good for what you need too. PAF-ish tones in a modern package... good power and lots of mids, so you can scoop to your heart's content without worrying about your tone getting thin.

Moreover, Breeds have EXCELLENT cleans. With the Breed set, I can do jazz, funk, rock, metal everything on my S520EX.