Can't Decide: DiMarzio Pickup Recommendations

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Aristocat

Aristocat

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I'm rolling pups out of my Strat and my Lester and I'm stuck between a couple.

For the Strat, I was thinking an SD in the bridge for classic rock/metal territory but after playing the EBMM JP Signature guitar, I've been thinking about a Crunch Lab/Liquifire combo. The Strat body is Alder and I'm using a Maple neck. My amp has a lot of inherent mids and I'm running a V30/12H30 blend.

For the Les Paul, I'm waiting on a set of MCP Black Iron and Angel Dust pups to try out before I decide. I was thinking of putting in a Transition pup (EBMM Luke III) and a Liquifire in the Neck.

I'm not a flipper so it's hard for me to pick. :lol: :LOL:

Thanks!
 
I have two Startocasters with Suhr Aldrich pickups in them and they are killer.
I have another Strat with a Dimarzio Super Distortion. It sounds great as well.

The Aldrich seems to have a little more low end and harmonics pop off it more. They're both great.
 
Badronald":rqqj775x said:
I have two Startocasters with Suhr Aldrich pickups in them and they are killer.
I have another Strat with a Dimarzio Super Distortion. It sounds great as well.

The Aldrich seems to have a little more low end and harmonics pop off it more. They're both great.
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That's pretty much what I want. More of an emphasis on highs and lows with a slightly scooped mid. Like a 4-7 for mids on a typical tone chart.
 
I've always preferred DiMarzio over Duncan so I'll be happy with whatever I pick. I just wanted to know if anyone's had experience with the Transition or Crunch/Liquifire combos.

While I've tried EBMM guitars loaded with them, it's different when you're home with your own rig, you know?
 
You may want to check out Petrucci's new pickups The Illuminators neck and bridge.The have a little more top end and clarity than the CL/ LF combo.
 
The consensus seems to be that the Liquifire is a great neck pickup, while the Crunch Lab is average
Owning both, I tend to agree with that. The Liquifire is a slightly tweaked Air Norton with more output and a little less bass and more mids, making it less muddy and more cutting, but still warm
The Crunch Lab is kinda flat and cold, it might make fast technical rhythm stand out, but is lacking in other applications.
 
So do you guys think the Super Distortion/Liquifire combo would be cool?

The new JP pups seem really cool too.
 
Super D in the bridge and a Humbucker from Hell in the neck!!!!

Steve
 
I'll chime in here because it's embarrassing how many pups I have rolled through my alder/rosewood American Standard. I kept the 250k volume but added a 500k tone with a PIO cap. Here is the list off the top of my head:

BKP Rebel Yell
BKP Nailbomb
Duncan JB
Duncan Custom RTM Demartini
Dimarzio Super Distortion
Dimarzio AT-1
Dimarzio Norton
Dimarzio Mo Joe
Suhr DSH+
Smits BC-9

My favorites by a longshot are the JB and Mo' Joe (currently in there). Biggest letdowns were the Rebel Yell and Duncan RTM. I usually love the Norton, but it didn't work with the 250k volume. The Mo Joe is really cool because harmonics just fly off the board. It doesn't have as much of that "aww" sound of most Dimarzios. I hate the JB in neck through, mahogany guitars........but for whatever reason, I love it in bolt-ons with a 250k volume. I would have kept the JB, but I wanted to keep the stock Fender Fat 50's singles in the neck/middle........and the Mo Joe balances perfectly.

Hope this helps a bit.
 
A Super Distortion is such a great pickup in a Les Paul. For me, with a Marshall-ish amp, the Super D has really great crunch/clarity going on.
 
EyesOfTheSouth":mv8qgqaz said:
I'll chime in here because it's embarrassing how many pups I have rolled through my alder/rosewood American Standard. I kept the 250k volume but added a 500k tone with a PIO cap. Here is the list off the top of my head:

BKP Rebel Yell
BKP Nailbomb
Duncan JB
Duncan Custom RTM Demartini
Dimarzio Super Distortion
Dimarzio AT-1
Dimarzio Norton
Dimarzio Mo Joe
Suhr DSH+
Smits BC-9

My favorites by a longshot are the JB and Mo' Joe (currently in there). Biggest letdowns were the Rebel Yell and Duncan RTM. I usually love the Norton, but it didn't work with the 250k volume. The Mo Joe is really cool because harmonics just fly off the board. It doesn't have as much of that "aww" sound of most Dimarzios. I hate the JB in neck through, mahogany guitars........but for whatever reason, I love it in bolt-ons with a 250k volume. I would have kept the JB, but I wanted to keep the stock Fender Fat 50's singles in the neck/middle........and the Mo Joe balances perfectly.

Hope this helps a bit.
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I just sold a RY. I absolutely hated it and was more disappointed for buying into the hype associated with it. First boutique pup I've played that I can't stand.

Probably gonna do the SD/Liquifire combo in the Strat. I may even throw an SD in my Les Paul too because it's such a killer pup.

I just love how inexpensive DiMarzio pups are :lol: :LOL:

Waiting to try those MCP pups though. Definitely interested in those too.

I'm going for Cream pups in my Strat and maybe the same in my Paul. Just finished wet sanding the Les Paul and it's a Tangerine Burst. Well, kinda close to the W.H burst.
 
I have a silo special, alder strat style and I put a transition in the bridge...awesome, I have a Duncan distortion in the bridge of my other silo spec and it sounds heavier but brighter, the transition sounds good clean as well and if you roll off the tone a bit its great clean, not sure if that answers ur question....
 
Lampshade1973":2i2ebx3o said:
I have a silo special, alder strat style and I put a transition in the bridge...awesome, I have a Duncan distortion in the bridge of my other silo spec and it sounds heavier but brighter, the transition sounds good clean as well and if you roll off the tone a bit its great clean, not sure if that answers ur question....
Click to expand...

It helps! I'll take any options/recommendations at this point.

I've settled on the SD/Liquifire combo and I'm going to install a couple of DPDT switchs for phase/tap options too.
 
The liquifire is a great neck pickup IMO. It is slightly lower output than the crunchlab to my ears.
The crunchlab is finicky, as I can make it sound great with my mark amps, but with my roadster, it is just too scooped.
 
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