Dimarzio D-Activator pickups?

[MrDan666]

So i was checking out the D-Activator pickups and notice they offer both the original D-Activator and also the D-Activator X..

From what i understood, the original D-Activator was meant to be like a passive version of an EMG-81. Anybody know if the D-Activator X is designed to be similar to an EMG-85?

Looking at the specs on Dimarzio's site, it appears to be a hotter pickup than the original D-Activator model and also seems to be voiced to sound a bit thicker too.

Anyone here using the D-Activators or the X version? If so, how do you like them?

 

[JakeAC5253]

I just sold off my D-Activator set, non X versions. They sounded alright, I mean they're not bad sounding pickups in the slightest, but they have that typical "DiMarzio" pickup tone, which I guess I just don't jive with on the whole.

 

[university81]

that ibanez still tempting you ?

only had experience with the d-activator, felt it had that emg kind of vibe, while not quite as compressed, they didn't super impress me but worked well in that guitar, i have an X2N in another guitar that clips/distorts the clean channel but sounds absolutely killer with gain which i preferred

hot pickups but still quite well behaved from what i remember

 

[MrDan666]

that ibanez still tempting you ?

only had experience with the d-activator, felt it had that emg kind of vibe, while not quite as compressed, they didn't super impress me but worked well in that guitar, i have an X2N in another guitar that clips/distorts the clean channel but sounds absolutely killer with gain which i preferred

hot pickups but still quite well behaved from what i remember

Hey Paul!

Actually, i was thinking about them for my GMW Strat because i wanted to load that guitar with a thick beefy sounding high output pickup When i used the 'Pickup Picker' on Dimarzio's site and gave them the info on what i use and tones i go for, they recommended the D-Activator X.

I heard the D-Activator X has some characteristics of the X2N, so i guess it could be pretty cool!

 

[MrDan666]

I just sold off my D-Activator set, non X versions. They sounded alright, I mean they're not bad sounding pickups in the slightest, but they have that typical "DiMarzio" pickup tone, which I guess I just don't jive with on the whole.

Thanks for the info! I know what you mean about that 'Dimarzio' tone which many of their pickups have. For my tastes, i do like them but i can see where it might not be suited for others

 

[university81]

that ibanez still tempting you ?

only had experience with the d-activator, felt it had that emg kind of vibe, while not quite as compressed, they didn't super impress me but worked well in that guitar, i have an X2N in another guitar that clips/distorts the clean channel but sounds absolutely killer with gain which i preferred

hot pickups but still quite well behaved from what i remember

Hey Paul!

Actually, i was thinking about them for my GMW Strat because i wanted to load that guitar with a thick beefy sounding high output pickup When i used the 'Pickup Picker' on Dimarzio's site and gave them the info on what i use and tones i go for, they recommended the D-Activator X.

I heard the D-Activator X has some characteristics of the X2N, so i guess it could be pretty cool!

ah fair enough, changed your mind about it selling it then? =)

the sound of the bridge pickup in this, starts around 3min .. kent armstrong OTT - zommgggg

not made anymore it seems, sounds killer in the vid though, the single coil is super nice too but i digress, you've got a ton of options in any case Dan,

 

[scottkahn]

I put the D-Activator into my Music Man JP6 that had a D-Sonic in the bridge. The tonal change is very minor. The new pickup is a hair hotter, a touch cleaner with note separation through high-gain tones, and is easier to excite harmonics on. Outside of my studio where we A/Bed it with another JP6 that still has the D-Sonic, you'd never really notice much of a difference unless you like to play harmonics.

 

[MrDan666]

I put the D-Activator into my Music Man JP6 that had a D-Sonic in the bridge. The tonal change is very minor. The new pickup is a hair hotter, a touch cleaner with note separation through high-gain tones, and is easier to excite harmonics on. Outside of my studio where we A/Bed it with another JP6 that still has the D-Sonic, you'd never really notice much of a difference unless you like to play harmonics.

Thanks for that info man, very good to know! Would you say the D-Sonic was at all thicker/fatter sounding than the D-Activator?

The guitar i would be putting using it with is already a very articulate guitar, so even a thicker sounding pickup would have more than enough clarity/articulation and note separation anyway.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

I have a set in neck through ibanez that I keep tuned at c standard

It has been the bestset that I have found for that guitar n superfat but without loosing rticulation

Lottsnof balls

Just got another set that I am going to put into d standard guitar hope it works there as well

Mega deth Chris Broderick loves those pickups to

 

[MrDan666]

I have a set in neck through ibanez that I keep tuned at c standard

It has been the bestset that I have found for that guitar n superfat but without loosing rticulation

Lottsnof balls

Just got another set that I am going to put into d standard guitar hope it works there as well

Mega deth Chris Broderick loves those pickups to

Nice!! Is that the regular D-Activators or the X versions?

 

[scottkahn]

I put the D-Activator into my Music Man JP6 that had a D-Sonic in the bridge. The tonal change is very minor. The new pickup is a hair hotter, a touch cleaner with note separation through high-gain tones, and is easier to excite harmonics on. Outside of my studio where we A/Bed it with another JP6 that still has the D-Sonic, you'd never really notice much of a difference unless you like to play harmonics.

Thanks for that info man, very good to know! Would you say the D-Sonic was at all thicker/fatter sounding than the D-Activator?

The guitar i would be putting using it with is already a very articulate guitar, so even a thicker sounding pickup would have more than enough clarity/articulation and note separation anyway.

It's no thicker sounding in the JP6 than the D-Sonic. I specifically wanted something similar but with a little more articulation or note definition than the D-Sonic, and my friend at DiMarzio suggested I try this one. If you want "thicker" DiMarzio tone, maybe try a Tone Zone?

 

[MrDan666]

It's no thicker sounding in the JP6 than the D-Sonic. I specifically wanted something similar but with a little more articulation or note definition than the D-Sonic, and my friend at DiMarzio suggested I try this one. If you want "thicker" DiMarzio tone, maybe try a Tone Zone?

That's cool, well it sounds like the D-Activator must be a pretty rippin pickup for tight/articulate gainy tones!

I like the Tone Zone, but even though it has the bigger low end, i find it still has kind of a sharp treble response. I don't necessarily find that pickup to be typically thick/fat sounding due to it's top end...

 

[scottkahn]

I haven't personally played a Tone Zone in many years. My favorite DiMarzio bridge pup is the Steve's Special. If you want to switch teams, the Duncan JB is a classic that definitely has thickness and detail. I LOVE this bridge pickup and it's in my boutique Gary Kramer Guitars Cathedral Deluxe (hand made super-Strat type guitar). But I just got a Music Man JPXI which has the Crunch Lab in the bridge. Working on the formal, in-depth review, but too soon for me to have a real opinion on the new pickups.

Style-wise, I play prog rock, with tones that are as heavy as Dream Theater or Porcupine Tree, but not as shreddy as DT. We're more like the melodic sense of Rush and Spock's Beard but with the heavy guitars of Porcupine Tree and DT, minus the insane instrumental breaks (though we do have our moments in our new material to be released this winter).

 

[mightywarlock]

In this video I was playing a Dimarzio De-Activator loaded in an Ibanez Ziphos through my old Recto.
I like the clarity of the tone, and i have to admit, it has made me wonder about trying other Dimarzio pickups.

 

[shredi knight]

Marco Sfogli has D-Activators (don't know if they are "X" or not) in the bridge & neck of his Ibanez in these videos: