which do you prefer in your IBANEZ? duncan or dimarzio?

Roadstar · #1 09-22-2005, 12:29 PM

My roadstars seem to really like the duncans more?
i tried a few dimarzio's and they sounded good but the RS really shined when i slapped a duncan in it?
i guess if i was to play a RG a dimarzio would be better?(thinner neck,floating trem)

rty13ibz98 · #2 09-22-2005, 01:48 PM

most of us prefer dimarzio's in our ibanez's...probably because for so long ibanez offered them as OEM on some models. plus most ibanez endorsers are also dimarzio endorsers. you know how we like our heros around here. i typically use dimarzios in my ibanez's and duncans in just about everything else. the only deviation i have as far as that goes is my sz520 has an alnico2 and jb in it. my am73 is being prepped to get a 59 and pearly gates as well.

rich

Thrash · #3 09-22-2005, 02:45 PM

Dimarzio, I've never played a Dimarzio that didn't do what it was designed to do.
Just get the right model for you, do your research. If you want warmer sounds get something with an alnico magnet, if your want brighter in your face, get a higher output ceramic.

Dimarzios seem to have more character to me.

mi2tom · #4 09-22-2005, 10:20 PM

Dimarzio is much better pickups than duncan ...... or so I think

j.arledge · #5 09-22-2005, 10:30 PM

i love my dimarzios. I have had a few different models and i was always able to find a good sound out of them all. Some got me closer to the tone and sound i was looking for. They have never been a dissapointment though.

had an evo set
an going to have a blaze neck and bridge.
had and am getting a fred again
had and got another paf pro.
norton and air norton set
super distortion
had a super 3 for a little bit

i think i am going to get a steve's special or d-sonic for my metal guitar. I will have to see when i get it though.

AS for S.D. every pickup i have played from them i didn't like with the exception of the ones they are putting in the sz line. I actually kind of like those a bit, but the jb 59 and pearly gates i hated .

amateur_guitarist · #6 09-22-2005, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

Dimarzio is much better pickups than duncan ...... or so I think

how many Ibanez, dimarzio and duncan pickups you have tried to be able to say that?

mi2tom · #7 09-23-2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amateur_guitarist

how many Ibanez, dimarzio and duncan pickups you have tried to be able to say that?

two strat (not mine, my ex teacher) which fitted with duncans and Yngwie's signature strat

amateur_guitarist · #8 09-23-2005, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

two strat (not mine, my ex teacher) which fitted with duncans and Yngwie's signature strat

So none of it is Ibanez. And look at the question again

Purple Getar · #9 09-23-2005, 02:44 AM

The dimarzios seem to be the better pick, of course it is a personal preference. The duncans do seem to have a little bit tighter of a low end then the dimarzios, but the dimarzios seem to pull ahead in every other department. Remember too that it has alot to do with the guitar itself. I've had a couple ibanez rg's with the same pickups combinations "steve's special/air norton as well as the tone zone/x2n combination" and with the same pickups some of then sounded vastly different. This is of course my opinion and might not be worth all that much.

mi2tom · #10 09-23-2005, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amateur_guitarist

So none of it is Ibanez. And look at the question again

hehehehe ok.....

King Knall · #11 09-23-2005, 03:04 AM

I bet duncans are good pickups, but I had a nasty experience with them. I tried a Godin that day (not sure which one, but it was a mahogany bodied singlecut). The Duncan soapbar just didn't do for me, it was just a bit too bright. Even the pickups on the SE Soapbar was better! I've loved Dimarzios ever since I tried out a guitar that had 'em. Well, maybe the Evos are an exception...

desertdweller · #12 09-23-2005, 04:50 PM

DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan both make amazing pickups.

Over the years, these are the pickups I've used:

Ibanez INF1 & INF2
Ibanez V7 & V8

EMG 81 & 85

DiMarzio Air Norton
DiMarzio Evolution
DiMarzio Tone Zone
DiMarzio Blue Velvet (single coil)

Seymour Duncan BS Parallel Axis Trembucker
Seymour Duncan Custom Custom
Seymour Duncan JB
Seymour Duncan Jazz

For 7 string:

EMG 707 & 81-7
DiMarzio Air Norton 7
DiMarzio Evolution 7
Seymour Duncan JB 7
DiMarzio Blaze II

Of all these pickups, I really love the sound of the Seymour Duncan JB pickups in mahogany guitars. I think for basswood, as many Ibanez guitars are, the DiMarzio pickups are better suited. I own 2 7-strings, and in my basswood RG, I have an Evo 7 in the bridge, and a DiMarzio Blaze in the neck. In my mahogany S-series 7-string, I have a Seymour Duncan JB (bridge) and a DiMarzio Air Norton (neck).

Both guitars with those different pickup arrangements sound absolutely spectacular. They have individual and unique sounds and I really love both configurations.

In my 6-strings, I have Air Nortons in the neck of both my guitars, with my maple guitar having the Duncan BS Parallel Axis trembucker in the bridge, and Air Norton in the neck. In my 6-string S series with a mahogany body, I have a Duncan JB, Air Norton, and the middle coil is the DiMarzio Blue Velvet. Both of these guitars have unique sounds that I wouldn't ever part with, and the pickups I've chosen perfectly compliment the instruments.

So, bottom line, it's all a matter of taste. Buy several pickups and try them out. See which one you like best. Maybe the passives are the way to go for you, maybe you need an EMG for your sound, maybe Duncans and DiMarzios are the way to go, or maybe you want a specialty pickup or a Bill Lawrence or something along those lines. Don't take any of our words for it, go check 'em out on your own. That's my $.02.

Distantshore · #13 09-23-2005, 04:53 PM

Dimarzio

grathan · #14 01-10-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertdweller

Don't take any of our words for it, go check 'em out on your own. That's my $.02.

Is there a good way to try out pickups? Most shops i call say they don't have any dimarzio in their guitars. Even if there was, how can you tell what pickup it is by looking at the guitar? there doesn't seem to be any markings on them. I emailed dimarzio and they said no clinics are planned in the near future.

ivan · #15 01-11-2006, 01:29 PM

Dimarzio on Ibanez are great but Duncans are also great on Washburns N's Series.. so I don't think it's just about which one is better, it's about which PU's fix the guitar you have and the sound you're looking for. BTW I never tried Duncans on my JEM because I love how it sounds and never changed my Duncans on my Washburn for same reason. If your guitar is asking you for Duncans just give her what she/you likes!