Choosing a pickup.

[Xypher]

Hi all.

I have been surfing the Dimarzio site lately.. I noticed there are 2 things, DC Resistance and Output, that i dun understand. I dont know how they affect the sound of the pickup..

For example, the YJM pickup has a output of 93 but a DC Resistance of 23K.. But another pickup, say the Chopper, has an output of 260 but an DC Resistance of 9K..

I thought that a higher output means a higher resistance and vice versa, but the YJM has a low output but high res

Anyone able to explain?

Thank you

 

[Marksman]

The reason YJM/HS-3/HS-2 are that way is because from what I remember reading, is due to the other coil, which enables the pickup to cancel hum. That coil is of high inductance/DC resistance by nature.

Otherwise:

Less DC resistance = Less output, brighter tone
More DC resistance = More output, fatter tone

Alnico magnet = warmer/smoother sound (Note: I did not state the nature for different Alnico magnets e.g. Alnico 2, Alnico 5.)
Ceramic = Higher output than Alnico, brighter sound


P.S. correct anything that I wrote wrongly, thanks. lol.

 

[Xypher]

thx marksman..

So now im lookin for a single coil sized p/up for my strats' bridge position
Im lookin for iron maiden(i know they use Hotrails), metallica, PG, and classic rock kind of sounds.. Quite a variety, so something versatile shd be good..

In my list i have:

Dimarzio Chopper, fast track 2, tonezone S, super distortion S, YJM and HS-3.

Duncans are the Hotrails and JB.jr.

Im new to pickup buying so any help wud be appreciated..

 

[Marksman]

Those you listed should work, but I'll let the more experienced players out there explain/advise. Hehe...

Dunno if Pro Track will work for you.

 

[le_Doucereux]

Something you gotta bear in mind when buying pickups is that pickups will sound different in different guitars. The pickup will definitely have its own character but you've got to take into account the rest of the guitar as well. (One of the reasons you tend to see a lot of fairly new pickups up for sale in the classifieds..)

Now, my own personal opinion (emphasis on 'personal'). I've always found that DiMarzio pickups tend to be more modern sounding while Seymour Duncan leans towards the vintage sound. Don't be afraid to experiment. In my experience, I've found the SD JB (the full sized humbucker) to be a little too sterile for my tastes. I'm assuming the single-coil sized one sounds similar. I had it in a mahogany/maple topped guitar. I've tried the Tone Zone in a cheap Ibanez before and I'd say it sounds pretty good. Hot and well defined. I'd try either the Tone Zone S or the Hotrails (Dave Murray :twisted: ) if I were you.

 

[edder]

if you ask bill lawrence about resistance vs tone.... you'll get an earful and more. DC resistance is just a convenient MARKETING SPECS that users like to see. 1000W PMPO anyone? :twisted:


visit www.billlawrence.com and do some reading. too much info.

 

[subversion]

many people would be enticed to judge a pickup based on the manufacturer's specs, but under real applications, it's the actual performance that counts.

Dimarzio's PAF model for instance, is touted to be a restrained performer but having swallowed some pride & installing one in my Ibanez, it takes high gain/ drive very well. my take on pickup selection is: be wary of the comments from the manufacturers/ players who have heard/ use it, but let this not be the final determinant of your acquisition. if it's within your means, hear it in action personally 8)

 

[Xypher]

I wud love to hear the pickups in person, but i cant think of any way that i can. Its not as easy as testing a guitar, where u can go to the shop and just play on it. I have to find someone with those pickups installed in their guitar.

 

[deathism]

finding a person using the pickups you want is one thing..


but finding a person using the SAME pickups on the SAME guitar as you is a totally different story. :lol:

 

[Marksman]

you can arrange to go to some softie's place to test it out (at the same time, you make more friends. =)

 

[Xypher]

Deathism, i mean that too. Same pup same guitar..

Anyone got a strat with a stacked HB/ double blade rail pickup?
PM me!

I shall try searching the SHARE thread in the meantime.

 

[Xypher]

I've narrowed my choices to the Tonezone S, Super Dist S, JBjr, lil' 59 and the hotrails..

Anyone using those abovementioned pickups on their strat?

Pls give me your opinions, thx!

If you think i missed out any awesome pickups, pls point it out also!

 

[subversion]

i only have experiences with Lil'59 + Hotrails:

Lil' 59:
*resident in my Ibanez RG (basswood)
*has more output/ midrange than its full humbucker sized sibling
*superb neck pickup both clean * driven

Hotrails:
*was in my Affinity Strat (Squier), bridge position
*more bass in this pickup but balances well with the guitars alder voicing
*had it in the neck intitially but ill-definition under high gain/ drive settings
*also own the Tele version, still resident there...

 

[Xypher]

Im looking for one to place in the bridge position, and preferably sounding as close to a humbucker as possible. Do the Hot rails or Lil' 59 sound like humbuckers?

 

[subversion]

they are humbuckers but they sound different from the full-sized version (refering to the '59)- the manufacturer specified it as such.

 

[Xypher]

Im gonna put the lil' 59 in the neck pos, somtime in the future..

For bridge, i am leaning towards the dimarzio Tonezone S or Super Dist S.
I think they suit wat i want..

Anyone knows roughly how much the dimarzios cost?