What are the characteristics of the different Dimarzio pup eras?

[Hamer Dave]

Trying to understand the timeline on the earlier Dimarzio pickups. Like what years they used the braided ground wrap, when the mounting ear shape changed from being square, bobbin colors, flat head/hex, posts, etc.? Hoping someone here has the smarts on these. Or if this has been nicely illustrated on a website? I ask so I can better determine correct pickups in guitars of the late 70's, early 80's, etc. Thanks!

Dave

[jaberwock]

I bought this in the UK in 1977, 7.3K, very bright, microphonic, so I'm assuming its unpotted; sounds almost like a Tele in the bridge position of a Les Paul.

They can be very bright in some guitars. Changing the mags to A2 works miracles in such cases. They sound heavenly then.

edit: Just save the original mags so you can put them back to stock. Old Dimarzio's are worth taking care of.

So the originals had Alnico 5 magnets.......... this pickup sounds great in the neck position; I hadn't used it in thirty years, I don't remember it being that bright before...........some natural weakening of the magnets perhaps ?

[Disturber]

I bought this in the UK in 1977, 7.3K, very bright, microphonic, so I'm assuming its unpotted; sounds almost like a Tele in the bridge position of a Les Paul.

They can be very bright in some guitars. Changing the mags to A2 works miracles in such cases. They sound heavenly then.

edit: Just save the original mags so you can put them back to stock. Old Dimarzio's are worth taking care of.

So the originals had Alnico 5 magnets.......... this pickup sounds great in the neck position; I hadn't used it in thirty years, I don't remember it being that bright before...........some natural weakening of the magnets perhaps ?

Originals have A5's. Kinda half polished. One side usually is very rough, the other more polished. Some magnets are very black, some more brown-ish. They used very good magnets in the 70's and (up to mid/late?) 80's. I don't know what they are using now. Not from the same source for sure, but them might still be good....

Dimarzio PAF's have had a rumour, at least among LP players, to be bright. I think the maple top makes the difference compared to the old Hamer's.

10-15 years ago your could buy these old Dimarzio for next to nothing. But I think it has cought up some on how great they can sound in the right guitar. Prices have gone up a lot on ebay.

I have the older ones in most of my humbucker guitars. They sound killer for the most part, but they are always on the bright side, lots of bite. They can be hard to dial in right - height adjustment and screw pole height - each mm difference can make a change in how trebly they are.

On some guitars the neck needs the screw poles set high, to give it more bite and treble. And on most bridge pups I keep the screw poled in line with the bobbin. But on one guitar I've had to keep the bass side close to the strings, screw poles down, and the treble side lower, screw poles up, to get the right balance. Screws are kinda in line, but the bobbin is lower on the treble side.

It's all in the interaction with how the guitar sounds and resonates, and the pickup. As these are now +-30 years old, and un-potted, they can be slightly microphonic and very sensetive to what they pick up. That is why they take some tweaking to get right.

They are night and day compared modern over potted Duncans that gives much less response when you tweak the screw pole height.

And in two guitars, one with a thick maple cap, they were very ice picky and impossible to get a good sound out of. Weak, no omph through the amp etc. I then changed the mags to A2's, and it's like night and day. These two guitars now sound totally awesome.

The good thing with Seymour Duncan is that you can order almost anything. You want an un-potted '59. They'll make it for you. Dimarzio, very different company. I tried to order a set of un-potted 36 Anniversarys. They totally refused to make them for me. It's a shame, I would love to try a pair.

[jaberwock]

I was considering buying a pair of Wolfetone, or WCR humbuckers, as they seem to get so much love on this forum, but I'll try some A2 magnets in the DMZ first; will that drop the output ? because it's a pretty low as it is.

Thanks Jaberwock

[Disturber]

I was considering buying a pair of Wolfetone, or WCR humbuckers, as they seem to get so much love on this forum, but I'll try some A2 magnets in the DMZ first; will that drop the output ? because it's a pretty low as it is.

Thanks Jaberwock

Don't think you'll perceive it as that they drop the output, even if they do. The pup will response in a more compressed way, so it might just feel like the output has increased. It will most probably sound tighter, and a little more "rude". Try it. It's easily reversable. Takes 5 minutes to swap a mag.

[Ting Ho Dung]

I was considering buying a pair of Wolfetone, or WCR humbuckers, as they seem to get so much love on this forum, but I'll try some A2 magnets in the DMZ first; will that drop the output ? because it's a pretty low as it is.

Thanks Jaberwock

Don't think you'll perceive it as that they drop the output, even if they do. The pup will response in a more compressed way, so it might just feel like the output has increased. It will most probably sound tighter, and a little more "rude". Try it. It's easily reversable. Takes 5 minutes to swap a mag.

Where does one get good magnets?

[jaberwock]

I was considering buying a pair of Wolfetone, or WCR humbuckers, as they seem to get so much love on this forum, but I'll try some A2 magnets in the DMZ first; will that drop the output ? because it's a pretty low as it is.

Thanks Jaberwock

Don't think you'll perceive it as that they drop the output, even if they do. The pup will response in a more compressed way, so it might just feel like the output has increased. It will most probably sound tighter, and a little more "rude". Try it. It's easily reversable. Takes 5 minutes to swap a mag.

Where does one get good magnets?

Good question.

[Disturber]

I was considering buying a pair of Wolfetone, or WCR humbuckers, as they seem to get so much love on this forum, but I'll try some A2 magnets in the DMZ first; will that drop the output ? because it's a pretty low as it is.

Thanks Jaberwock

Don't think you'll perceive it as that they drop the output, even if they do. The pup will response in a more compressed way, so it might just feel like the output has increased. It will most probably sound tighter, and a little more "rude". Try it. It's easily reversable. Takes 5 minutes to swap a mag.

Where does one get good magnets?

Sheptone sells magnets. At least he did a couple of years ago when I bought two from him.

This guy has a god rep on the Duncan forum for supplying good magnets.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/addiction-fx/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

And there is a guy in Italy who calls himself Kojak, on the Duncan forum, who sells very good magnets. Makes sense to buy from him if you are in Europe.