The way the PAF Pro hits that harmonic at 8:22 is phenomenal! It’s entire demo blew my mind because I generally don’t like low output pickups but this one has such clarity and handles distortion better
Some that stood out for me: the Steve Special is one that I really like because of how differently it's built compared to other pickups, with a very extreme Dual Resonance use. the Super 3 really surprised me! I expected it to be an absolute mud fest but it's actually quite clear. What is a mud fest though to my ears is the Tone Zone, I'm disappointed by how unclear it sounded in this comparison. I've seen in a few sources that the IBZ USA F2 is supposed to be similar to a Tone Zone, but they sound totally different here, the F2 has way more clarity. the Paf Pro had one of my favorite overall tones but I don't really get along with lower output pickups. Seems like I might actually like the Super 2 as the frequency graphs Dimarzio published are very similar between the two. Out of the Steve Vai pickups I liked the original Evolution the most (if the Steve Special doesn't count), but I do think the Evo 2 is a very interesting twist on it. the Gravity Storm sounded weird to my ears and the Breed kinda lacked the brightness of the other two.
Great video! The PAF Pro and the Breed made me raise my eyebrows most. Evo, Evo2, Gravity Storm, Air Norton, and that Illuminator Neck also caught my attention.
PAF Pro for me! Been using them since 1988. I like the articulation, harmonics and presence the Pro has. I have been told the BREED neck in the bridge sounds like a fatter PAF pro but to be honest for my rig that would take away from the clarity,bite and overall cleaness the PAF Pro gives me.
I have..in my main guitar..the D Sonic. It's been ALL the pickup I have ever wanted or need. AWESOME for everything...clean tones to all out metal tones!!!
F^cking AWESOME comparison - thank you! Ibanez with Basswood body and an Edge Trem...gotta be on of the most common RG/Jem combinations and perfect for a Dimarzo p/up shoot out! Chugg CHUGG!.....diggin' the Steve's Special, the Breed, and the OG SD best! Funny that the chugs of the PAF PRO 8:29 and the chugs of the Super Disto 13:16 have a similar low mid timbre - even if the Dimarzio website show the tech spec as totally different (YMMV!) Fusion Edge: @0:53 Steve's Special: @2:13 Crunch Lab: @3:34 F2: @4:57 PAF PRO: 8:18 Breed: @9:00 Gravity Storm: @11:02 TZ: @12:24 Super Disto: @13:05 Super 3: @13:47 -------------------------------- Fusion Edge: 1:02 Steve's Special: 2:23 Crunch Lab: 3:45 F2: 5:07 PAF PRO: 8:29 Breed: 9:11 Gravity Storm: 11:13 TZ: 12:35 Super Disto: 13:16 Super 3: 13:58
Great group of pickups chosen here for rock and metal players. Tones are much more dependent on amp and cabinet combinations than pickups, but this provides a nice look at the differences between them. I think pickups lose some of their individual sound characteristics when you increase gain, so good job on dialing it in. Thanks for the comparison!
@@user-zj4tt2ey9o I guarantee you I can set up my Boogie Mark IV to sound like a Fender Deluxe, compare it side by side with a Deluxe, play one guitar through both with single coils, and then a second guitar through both with P90s. You will hear the difference in the P90s vs. single coils before you will be able to tell which amp is which, going through the same speaker, a EVM-12L.
Not only here, but in another massive series.. I'll have to go with the PAF PRO. Never in my wild dreams did I think a neck pickup in the bridge, and a lower output one at that, would mop the floor with so many others.
Yes, often a lower output neck pickup will have more "Clarity". Important to understand that DCR has little to do with output.Its more the Magnet Strength. A 7.5k Pickup with a Powerful Ceramic pickups will have more power/output than say a 16k Pickup with a weaker Alnico 3 magnet.
All sounded in a very similar ballpark tone-wise. ‘The Breed’ seemed to have some interesting harmonic overtones which differentiated it from the rest IMHO.
great video but I’m kinda surprised how similar they all are and I wonder if it has to do with your setup in some way. When I hear these pickups compared they usually seem more different. Idk why here they all sound quite similar. anyone else agree?
Great demo with a lot of good choices. Man, it's like all my favorite dimarzios sound the same lol. I've had the evo, paf pro, super D, super 3, and steve's special and they all sound nearly identical in this demo. The differences are mainly in the chugs and the secondary harmonics when playing lead. Nowadays I just mostly use the super D, I wanted to try something else lately but the differences are so small that it's hardly worth it.
Lavabug You’re right it’s subtle, and I also find the biggest difference in the chugness and harmonics. It’s impossible to get the feel of the pickups in a video and you might want to tweak the amp a bit depending on which pickup you use.
Lavabug it’s no doubt that you get way more difference with changing speakers in your cabinet, or experiment with different microphones. But nowadays people play digital amps and the difference in pickups are way less than a tube amp.
@@tonykareid1825 yep totally right, I still play analog SS and tube. Nowadays I only use dimarzio super d's and the x2n-bass version in different guitars. The main difference is where I have to set the gain knob on my amp. When I had the evo I would have to dial back treble, and when I had an invader I needed to boost it, but those pickups are polar opposites.
The F2 is like a Tone Zone with a ceramic magnet. It’s a great pickup. For some years ago people tend to more or less give them away for free not knowing that they usually sound better than what they replaced them with.
They all sound so similar that this whole thing just illustrates to me how the whole thing with pickups is mainly marketing. Obvs a weak strat single-coil is never gonna sound quite like a mega-output humbucker, but one hot humbucker will sound pretty much like another hot humbucker, and any difference can be tweaked at the amp/eq. I think people should probably get over obsessing about pickups and really focus on their technique and creativity. Your favourite guitarists will sound just how you like them to sound on pretty much any guitar.
i would get mad if a had to choose one 🙉🙉🙉 . Like the Super distortion a lot (it sounded creamy like a Lespaul to me or am i mad? ) also the crispy paf pro (and the rewounded was different but great too ) . But all PUs here have they charm they did change the sound of the guitar in my modest opinion. I have an Evolution Bridge in PArallel mode and it is one of my favourite pickups . I think it would be great another video with clean sounds 🤔🤔 .Great work and great video 😃👍👍
I listened to that for a couple of rounds, I just bought and had installed Dimarzio Sonic Ecstasy's and just the preliminary test is WOW. I see why John Petrucci put those and the Illuninator in his guitars. they sound awesome and dynamic! The Illuminatos for me on this test sounds the best. Just solid tone through your progression. thanks for sharing!
Very cool man. This must have taken you quite a bit of time and effort to do. This is the only way to accurately demo pickups, same guitar, same amp, no effects.
I have a Ibanez RG470 that I got in 1993. Recently been playing it and the bridge pickup (standard V8) just sounds thin to me. Been looking at my options.
Lol, no they're not. Huge difference between them. You seriously think the Evo 1 or 2 and the Tone Zone sound nearly the same? It sounds like a completely different guitar
They were in the Vinnie Moore signature Ibanez in the '80's. I don't believe they're available any longer, but DiMarzio (I've heard) will still make them as a custom order.
@@tonykareid Yeah. And I like Duncans, and Bare Knuckle etc.. I have a Tone Zone, I've had Super Distortion, SD3, and PAF. Got a Duncan SH6 in two others currently, and a Duncan Alpha/Omega set in my PRS SE Mark Holcomb. I also have a Bare knuckle Juggernaut setup in my Jackson Juggernaut HT-6 Pro. Really cool to do so many Dimarzio pups though. Sound is totally subjective though, and you can see that in the comments. Keep on rockin
I LIKE THE SUPER 3 AND THE SUPER DISTORTION. THIS WOULD BE A MONSTER COMBO. SUPER 3 HAS THAT LOW MID BEEF AND THE SUPER DISTORTION HAS.........WELL,IT'S A SUPER DISTORTION! IT'S LEGENDARY!
Wish there was a clean jazz DAddario pickup test. Pickup Picker chooses Liquifire-227 as my 1st choice when I say that the most important consideration is warmer and fatter.- Charles
Anyone else have (or had) the fusion edges and finds the low notes muddy and higher notes harsh? With vids like this each pickup sounds the same so I can't tell if I'll get much improvement spend £150 on new pickups.
Nice. We all have our taste for tone. Anyway, the "no air gap" was just that the solid poles of a Air Norton was switched to the non recessed ends which is called an air gap by DiMarzio. So it probably sounds like a Norton, but I can't say 100% since I don't have an original Norton.
Your video leaves me some kind of disillusioned... In a blind test or in a mix i would have no chance to separate any of the models. I think its all about the feel (and the cult factor...). Just my 2 cents.
Hello! I'm giving a new upgraded life to my first guitar (Ibanez GRG270), so I got just one question: What Single Coil to pair with DiMarzio Tone Zone (Neck) & DiMarzio X2N (Bridge) in HSH configuration? Cheers
Super 3, X2n - not shown here and Super Distortion are the only Dimarzio bridge pickups i care much for. However their neck pickups i like a lot. Funny thing is i prefer Duncan bridge pups by far, but i don't like their neck pickups at all lol. Last Dimarzio full set i ran was Super 3 and Liquidfire in a hard ash super strat with maple neck to tame the brightness a bit. Loud, punchy and crunchy, and the Liquidfire was amazing and fluid in the neck of that thing.
Tony Kåreid Thanks! I’ve been using a Norton for quite a few years now and it’s actually on of my favorite Dimarzio’s. I don’t know why it’s not more popular. I also really like the Mo Joe. It can sound heavier than people may think it would from just looking at the specs.
@@xXEmbracetheMetalXxIn my opinion Norton is one of the best sounding bridge pickups! And it's probably the most versatile DiMarzio most ever produced. It work well with all types of wood and with all shapes of guitars.
@@Siam_Thai. The clean tone on the Norton is FANTASTIC! 👌🏻 Yes… extremely versatile. I did find it a bit too far on the treble (or mid?) side with modern metal, like metalcore and the likes, but it’ll play it. Handles chugs just fine! 👍🏻
I like the Super 3. It toes the line between the 70's and today, not as shrill as the Super Dist but not as smooth, smeary, metallic and modern as the Evo and all the others that are even more so. My second choice would be Evo. Evo 2 is too bright, like SD2. The harmonics of some get weird and fall apart as the screaming high notes are held.
For me just based on your clips here it goes Illuminator >= Evo 2 > Super 3 > Evo 1 > Steve Special >= Gravity Storm > Titan > Crunch Lab > Tone Zone > D Sonic > Super Disto > Fusion Edge => the Ibanez PAFs (generally not great) > Air Norton
Nice work. But I think that the same amp settings for all are the wrong way to decide. Amp settings will fit some pickups better than others. I am aware that it would be impossible to do it that way, it would take a year.
The 1st IBanez IBZ pickup you played blew the Rewound PAF Pro away! I thought that the D Sonic was a just a tad warmer than the Crunch Lab. Going up listen again. Illuminator was nicer than the Steve’s Special.
DiMarzio/IBZ 0:08
Fusion Edge 0:46
JP Custom 1:27
Steve's Special 2:07
D_sonic 2:48
Crunch Lab 3:28
Illuminator (B) 4:09
IBZUSA F2 4:51
IBZUSA F1 5:31
IBZUSA 6:10
Double whammy 6:51
PafPro Rewind 7:31
Paf pro 8:13
Breed B 8:54
Evolution 9:36
Evo 2 10:16
Gravity Storm 10:56
Titan 11:36
Tone Zone 12:18
Super Distortion 12:59
Super 3 13:40
NonAir Norton 14:22
Illuminator N 15:04
Air Norton 15:46
Tony Kåreid what’s you favorite pickup and also which one would you choose for metal lead and rythem between the tone zone and evolution
@@michael.p18 i've had both and the super distortion is the best all around pickup
I always liked the Paf Pro tones.
I like the super distortion and the pad pro. Also the Steve’s special which I believed replaced the Megadrive but not totally sure.
Hard to beat the old dp100...sigh...
DiMarzio should pay you for this video!
The way the PAF Pro hits that harmonic at 8:22 is phenomenal! It’s entire demo blew my mind because I generally don’t like low output pickups but this one has such clarity and handles distortion better
I am so glad it is such a sleeper Bridge pu. I have been using the Pro's since the 80's. Love em!
One of the best Dimarzio pickup that I owned is a hybrid of d-sonic and super distortion which I built once. I called it "supersonic"
Some that stood out for me:
the Steve Special is one that I really like because of how differently it's built compared to other pickups, with a very extreme Dual Resonance use.
the Super 3 really surprised me! I expected it to be an absolute mud fest but it's actually quite clear.
What is a mud fest though to my ears is the Tone Zone, I'm disappointed by how unclear it sounded in this comparison.
I've seen in a few sources that the IBZ USA F2 is supposed to be similar to a Tone Zone, but they sound totally different here, the F2 has way more clarity.
the Paf Pro had one of my favorite overall tones but I don't really get along with lower output pickups. Seems like I might actually like the Super 2 as the frequency graphs Dimarzio published are very similar between the two.
Out of the Steve Vai pickups I liked the original Evolution the most (if the Steve Special doesn't count), but I do think the Evo 2 is a very interesting twist on it. the Gravity Storm sounded weird to my ears and the Breed kinda lacked the brightness of the other two.
I'm a paf pro guy for 25 years . love them in bridge and neck. so sweet clean up perfectly
Excellent review! No talking. Just sounds one after the other.
Great video! The PAF Pro and the Breed made me raise my eyebrows most. Evo, Evo2, Gravity Storm, Air Norton, and that Illuminator Neck also caught my attention.
Excellent video. Thank you for playing the same thing across all pickups. Really helps in hearing differences.
I like the clarity of Steve’s Specials. The Mark II seems to like the Super Distortions. Really tight bottom end, cutting mids.
Thank you so much for the time and effort to do this - Super D for the win
Outstanding, thank you for doing this. This is a great reference.
Amazing video!
Crunch Lab is old news now but man, how can a pickup be that tight and have that much dimension? Wonderful.
I think pickups is a "feel" thing... you feel the difference , the way it resonates
In large part I would agree on that sentiment - and that goes for tone in general, I find. Not so much a matter of volume either but dynamics.
and IMO DiMarzio's always "feel" the best!!!
Tone zone for my ears.. mellow but not muddled, easy listening with the much needed clarity..
It has that thump low end that will hit u in chest when playing a power cord .
Tone zones in two of my guitars and have not let me down since installed!
What type of music you play...i was told by dimarzio to try the tone zone
Thanks for the info. The Transition neck pup sounds killer in the bridge
PAF Pro for me! Been using them since 1988. I like the articulation, harmonics and presence the Pro has.
I have been told the BREED neck in the bridge sounds like a fatter PAF pro but to be honest for my rig that would take away
from the clarity,bite and overall cleaness the PAF Pro gives me.
I have..in my main guitar..the D Sonic. It's been ALL the pickup I have ever wanted or need. AWESOME for everything...clean tones to all out metal tones!!!
any chance you've compared it with Crunch Lab?
@@ibzmav I have not..but I would love to. The crunch lab seems to be an awesome pickup from what have heard of them.
Awesome and super helpful video! Thank you for creating this! :)
Very enjoyable to listen to! Thank you!!!
Awesome, I guess you’re pretty tired of the riff now 😜
I have an X2n in a Rg and a SD3 in a Jem jr. and I think the SD3 is more brutal, but cleans up nicer too. I love it..
F^cking AWESOME comparison - thank you! Ibanez with Basswood body and an Edge Trem...gotta be on of the most common RG/Jem combinations and perfect for a Dimarzo p/up shoot out!
Chugg CHUGG!.....diggin' the Steve's Special, the Breed, and the OG SD best! Funny that the chugs of the PAF PRO 8:29 and the chugs of the Super Disto 13:16 have a similar low mid timbre - even if the Dimarzio website show the tech spec as totally different (YMMV!)
Fusion Edge: @0:53
Steve's Special: @2:13
Crunch Lab: @3:34
F2: @4:57
PAF PRO: 8:18
Breed: @9:00
Gravity Storm: @11:02
TZ: @12:24
Super Disto: @13:05
Super 3: @13:47
--------------------------------
Fusion Edge: 1:02
Steve's Special: 2:23
Crunch Lab: 3:45
F2: 5:07
PAF PRO: 8:29
Breed: 9:11
Gravity Storm: 11:13
TZ: 12:35
Super Disto: 13:16
Super 3: 13:58
The double whammy is quite smooth.
Great group of pickups chosen here for rock and metal players. Tones are much more dependent on amp and cabinet combinations than pickups, but this provides a nice look at the differences between them. I think pickups lose some of their individual sound characteristics when you increase gain, so good job on dialing it in. Thanks for the comparison!
Totally agree, When people ask me what pickups to choose, I always ask if they have their favorite amp. That's much more important.
Pickups have a bigger impact than amp, second only to speakers.
@@jsullivan2112you’re literally smoking crack
In a double blind test? I doubt it.
And all those amps depend on the speaker making the difference when all else is relatively equal.
@@user-zj4tt2ey9o I guarantee you I can set up my Boogie Mark IV to sound like a Fender Deluxe, compare it side by side with a Deluxe, play one guitar through both with single coils, and then a second guitar through both with P90s.
You will hear the difference in the P90s vs. single coils before you will be able to tell which amp is which, going through the same speaker, a EVM-12L.
Be careful you don’t stop playing guitar, and start listening to sound of the pickups, it’s a dangerous path
Haha, yes. Curiosity of the tone searchers never ends huh? Well most of the pickups are now sold.
@@tonykareid yup..i also have a box full of pickups...i dont even bother changing stock pups anymore
They sound very close one to each others... But I still go for Super Distortion...
Awesome comparison......super 3 is my favorite
Not only here, but in another massive series.. I'll have to go with the PAF PRO. Never in my wild dreams did I think a neck pickup in the bridge, and a lower output one at that, would mop the floor with so many others.
Yes, often a lower output neck pickup will have more "Clarity".
Important to understand that DCR has little to do with output.Its more the Magnet Strength. A 7.5k Pickup with a Powerful Ceramic pickups will have more power/output than say a 16k Pickup with a weaker Alnico 3 magnet.
Idk...there’s just something “pure” sounding about those Steve’s Specials
All sounded in a very similar ballpark tone-wise. ‘The Breed’ seemed to have some interesting harmonic overtones which differentiated it from the rest IMHO.
great video but I’m kinda surprised how similar they all are and I wonder if it has to do with your setup in some way. When I hear these pickups compared they usually seem more different. Idk why here they all sound quite similar. anyone else agree?
Awesome work
Great demo with a lot of good choices. Man, it's like all my favorite dimarzios sound the same lol. I've had the evo, paf pro, super D, super 3, and steve's special and they all sound nearly identical in this demo. The differences are mainly in the chugs and the secondary harmonics when playing lead. Nowadays I just mostly use the super D, I wanted to try something else lately but the differences are so small that it's hardly worth it.
Lavabug You’re right it’s subtle, and I also find the biggest difference in the chugness and harmonics. It’s impossible to get the feel of the pickups in a video and you might want to tweak the amp a bit depending on which pickup you use.
Lavabug it’s no doubt that you get way more difference with changing speakers in your cabinet, or experiment with different microphones. But nowadays people play digital amps and the difference in pickups are way less than a tube amp.
@@tonykareid1825 yep totally right, I still play analog SS and tube. Nowadays I only use dimarzio super d's and the x2n-bass version in different guitars. The main difference is where I have to set the gain knob on my amp. When I had the evo I would have to dial back treble, and when I had an invader I needed to boost it, but those pickups are polar opposites.
Super Distortion…..
Just so good…
I have them on all my guitars
I've got them in 4 of mine, can't go wrong!
I think I liked the first one the best - the Diamrzio/IBZ.
There’s just something about the Paf Pro’s and the Evo’s that make them sound otherworldly
paf's are my go to pickups . never looked back I'm happy
They all sounded the same to me but the PAF has clearly more harmonics
IBZ USA F2 sounded very creamy in many of those riffs. Nice surprise, really like it.
The F2 is like a Tone Zone with a ceramic magnet. It’s a great pickup. For some years ago people tend to more or less give them away for free not knowing that they usually sound better than what they replaced them with.
That rewound PAF Pro sounded great!
It does, and I modded it even more with a magnet from a broken evolution bridge. That pickup is now ultra awesome.
They all sound so similar that this whole thing just illustrates to me how the whole thing with pickups is mainly marketing. Obvs a weak strat single-coil is never gonna sound quite like a mega-output humbucker, but one hot humbucker will sound pretty much like another hot humbucker, and any difference can be tweaked at the amp/eq. I think people should probably get over obsessing about pickups and really focus on their technique and creativity. Your favourite guitarists will sound just how you like them to sound on pretty much any guitar.
Very true.The super distortion and tone zone pups in this video sound best when eyes closed and listen to each one.
I don't know if dimarzios sound the best , but they def are the quietest when it comes to any hum
Good job Tony, thanks!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
i would get mad if a had to choose one 🙉🙉🙉 . Like the Super distortion a lot (it sounded creamy like a Lespaul to me or am i mad? ) also the crispy paf pro (and the rewounded was different but great too ) . But all PUs here have they charm they did change the sound of the guitar in my modest opinion. I have an Evolution Bridge in PArallel mode and it is one of my favourite pickups . I think it would be great another video with clean sounds 🤔🤔 .Great work and great video 😃👍👍
I listened to that for a couple of rounds, I just bought and had installed Dimarzio Sonic Ecstasy's and just the preliminary test is WOW. I see why John Petrucci put those and the Illuninator in his guitars. they sound awesome and dynamic! The Illuminatos for me on this test sounds the best. Just solid tone through your progression. thanks for sharing!
I liked the tone zone and norton
Very cool man. This must have taken you quite a bit of time and effort to do. This is the only way to accurately demo pickups, same guitar, same amp, no effects.
With those riffs, to my ears...JP custom and suprisingly, ilumminator neck sound the best..thanks for the hard work
Super 3 sounds Massive!! Steve's Special is a clean sounding high output pickup. Good Job, brother!
I have a Ibanez RG470 that I got in 1993. Recently been playing it and the bridge pickup (standard V8) just sounds thin to me. Been looking at my options.
The differences are extremely small..
Lol, no they're not. Huge difference between them. You seriously think the Evo 1 or 2 and the Tone Zone sound nearly the same? It sounds like a completely different guitar
As distortion/gain increases, differences decrease.
So much work👍
Super Distortion DP100 & The Tone Zone DP155, The Best Pickup..
i'd add the super3, but yes.
I like the D Sonic. Great vid
Never heard of “double whammies” but that sound sure did surprise me (in the best way possible).
They were in the Vinnie Moore signature Ibanez in the '80's. I don't believe they're available any longer, but DiMarzio (I've heard) will still make them as a custom order.
Jake, from allstate, Titan pup sounded so nice 👌
The fun thing about all the comments is everyone has their own favorite and taste, which is one of the reason I never gave out my favorites.
@@tonykareid Yeah. And I like Duncans, and Bare Knuckle etc..
I have a Tone Zone, I've had Super Distortion, SD3, and PAF.
Got a Duncan SH6 in two others currently, and a Duncan Alpha/Omega set in my PRS SE Mark Holcomb.
I also have a Bare knuckle Juggernaut setup in my Jackson Juggernaut HT-6 Pro.
Really cool to do so many Dimarzio pups though.
Sound is totally subjective though, and you can see that in the comments.
Keep on rockin
they all sound identical
Paf pro and super distortion... amazing
The breed caught my attention
thanks for this!!! saved bucks, time & effort!!!
Doing gods work
Paf Pro, Tone Zone, Illuminator Neck stood out a bit for me. But they're all more or less great.
You are a hero
great work, man! thank you!
Great video! Thanks!
I LIKE THE SUPER 3 AND THE SUPER DISTORTION. THIS WOULD BE A MONSTER COMBO. SUPER 3 HAS THAT LOW MID BEEF AND THE SUPER DISTORTION HAS.........WELL,IT'S A SUPER DISTORTION! IT'S LEGENDARY!
i love fusion edge !
I think they’re way too underrated. The fusion edges sounds and feels great.
been rocking tone zone/paf pro in my s series for 10 years now :D
I totally understand, they’re great.
Wish there was a clean jazz DAddario pickup test. Pickup Picker chooses Liquifire-227 as my 1st choice when I say that the most important consideration is warmer and fatter.- Charles
Paf pro, titan, then gravity storm are the best for my ear
Anyone else have (or had) the fusion edges and finds the low notes muddy and higher notes harsh? With vids like this each pickup sounds the same so I can't tell if I'll get much improvement spend £150 on new pickups.
Thanks for the effort. Which ones your favourite?
I haven’t reveled my favorite so people can make up their own without me guiding towards anything.
Thank you friend !
Great job, big effor
Does the deep was engaged on the 2c+?
Many Thanks. Great test.
this amp will sound you like John no matter what pickup installed
Thanks, I love John P.
Illuminator neck, PAF Pro, Super Distortion, and Air Norton no air gap all stood out to me. What does the “no air gap” part mean?
Nice. We all have our taste for tone. Anyway, the "no air gap" was just that the solid poles of a Air Norton was switched to the non recessed ends which is called an air gap by DiMarzio. So it probably sounds like a Norton, but I can't say 100% since I don't have an original Norton.
Damn dude... thats a lot of soldering.. very cool tho. Nice work.👍
The Seymour Duncan Liberator is your friend. Once finished soldering, Pickupchange goes without soldering.
Do you have any clean clips? Just pickups or pickups into a super clean amp?
No. I didn't do that.
Anyone know what one has a bit more bass than the D Activator regular but not more mids?
The d-activator and the IBZUSA F3 isn’t in the video because I couldn’t get them at the time. Both are super great though.
Which one is youre favorite? I like to know youre opinion
I decided to not reveal my favorite to avoid pointing to any of them.
Your video leaves me some kind of disillusioned... In a blind test or in a mix i would have no chance to separate any of the models. I think its all about the feel (and the cult factor...). Just my 2 cents.
I agree, it points towards what makes you happy and sounds best for you and then you play your best.
It takes practice, just like learning arpeggios or alternate picking.
Hello! I'm giving a new upgraded life to my first guitar (Ibanez GRG270), so I got just one question: What Single Coil to pair with DiMarzio Tone Zone (Neck) & DiMarzio X2N (Bridge) in HSH configuration? Cheers
I'd probably go with a single-coil sized humbucker like The Chopper considering the high output of the TZ and X2N.
Your video editing is godlike. :)
👍🇺🇸❤Dimarzio/ IBZ 👍 IBZUSA👍SUPER DISTORTION
Super 3, X2n - not shown here and Super Distortion are the only Dimarzio bridge pickups i care much for. However their neck pickups i like a lot. Funny thing is i prefer Duncan bridge pups by far, but i don't like their neck pickups at all lol. Last Dimarzio full set i ran was Super 3 and Liquidfire in a hard ash super strat with maple neck to tame the brightness a bit. Loud, punchy and crunchy, and the Liquidfire was amazing and fluid in the neck of that thing.
great job !!! thanks
Just curious. By making an Air Norton a “Non Air gap” Norton, wouldn’t that be just like a regular Norton? Awesome video by the way.
Yeah, probably, but I didn't have a Norton to A/B test so I decided to "name" it that way.
Tony Kåreid Thanks! I’ve been using a Norton for quite a few years now and it’s actually on of my favorite Dimarzio’s. I don’t know why it’s not more popular. I also really like the Mo Joe. It can sound heavier than people may think it would from just looking at the specs.
TheAxe4Ever I really like the Norton as well.
I also dont know why its not more popular.
It is a damn versatile pickup!
@@xXEmbracetheMetalXxIn my opinion Norton is one of the best sounding bridge pickups! And it's probably the most versatile DiMarzio most ever produced. It work well with all types of wood and with all shapes of guitars.
@@Siam_Thai.
The clean tone on the Norton is FANTASTIC! 👌🏻
Yes… extremely versatile. I did find it a bit too far on the treble (or mid?) side with modern metal, like metalcore and the likes, but it’ll play it. Handles chugs just fine! 👍🏻
I like the Super 3. It toes the line between the 70's and today, not as shrill as the Super Dist but not as smooth, smeary, metallic and modern as the Evo and all the others that are even more so. My second choice would be Evo. Evo 2 is too bright, like SD2. The harmonics of some get weird and fall apart as the screaming high notes are held.
What song is this riff from?
It’s just a shitty riff I came up with to cover chug, melody and lead. It’s not even well played.
Name of the player?
For me just based on your clips here it goes Illuminator >= Evo 2 > Super 3 > Evo 1 > Steve Special >= Gravity Storm > Titan > Crunch Lab > Tone Zone > D Sonic > Super Disto > Fusion Edge => the Ibanez PAFs (generally not great) > Air Norton
Nice work.
But I think that the same amp settings for all are the wrong way to decide. Amp settings will fit some pickups better than others.
I am aware that it would be impossible to do it that way, it would take a year.
Yeah. The test is with my style of music. I would probably suck dialing in an AC/DC tone because I don't play that way.
Tony Kåreid It is not at all what I meant. But never mind.
Super distortion and tone zone
👍🇺🇸❤SUPER DISTORTION
Try Utopia vs Evo!!!
The 1st IBanez IBZ pickup you played blew the Rewound PAF Pro away! I thought that the D Sonic was a just a
tad warmer than the Crunch Lab. Going up listen again. Illuminator was nicer than the Steve’s Special.
Paf Pro
2:14 1:35 3:35 13:06
Dp 100 súper distorsión forever
This shows that the amp (or pedals) is way more important than the pickups...guitar makes a difference too...especially fretboard and body wood...