Need Dimarzio Hum-canceling Single Coil Recommendations....

[Crow]

Hi Everyone,

I just recently put some Dimarzio Area pickups in my strat - '58 (neck), '67 (middle) and '61 (bridge).

I really like the '58 and '67 in the neck and middle but the '61 is a bit bright. Any recommendations?

I was actually thinking of the Paul Gilbert Injector pickup. It's kind of billed as a shredder-type pickup but its specs lead me to believe it sounds like a fatter single coil.

Any suggestions appreciated.

[Burruss]

Sounds to me like you need the Virtual Vintage: Blues. If you want more output, you could go with the heavy blues version.

[atquinn]

I recommend the Dimarzio Heavy Blues 2. Higher output and beefier than the 61, but still sounds like a singlecoil (more so than the Virtual Solo or, I'd guess, the injector). Assuming you want something that still sounds like a single coil of course.
-
Austin

[11justin22]

depends how beefy u want... either the heavy blues or the virtual solo(my favorite bridge single coil) if u want to get into p90 territory

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by Crow

I really like the '58 and '67 in the neck and middle but the '61 is a bit bright. Any recommendations?

Have you tried adjusting the pickup height?

[Ouchz]

I'm actually using a 67 in the middle and an injector bridge. It kind of compliments each other well in the 4th position and the "quack" is pronounce. However, it can get a little bright at times to me, I usually lower my tone knobs and it still is useable at max. It does sound fatter than the standard stock fender american pickups, however it is nowhere near as fat as a Duncan JB. The response in capturing quick pick attack is there and it has good dynamics and also capture harmonics relatively well. The biggest plus point is it's dead quiet. It captures the classic, hard rock and 80's metal real well. YMMV. Hope it helps.

[mr_dj07]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

Have you tried adjusting the pickup height?

That did it for me, I didn't know before that the pickup height had suck a big impact on single coils !!

[6Tones]

I think the injector wont sound very singlecoilish so Id stay away from that one.
The VV blues,heavyblues,solo, all are excellent bridge position for a beefier sound.

[wizard333]

Heavy Blues 2 or the Virtual Solo are the beefy ones. They still sound like single coils, albeit overwound single coils.

[brianr0131]

Virtual Solo is really nice. It's a tad bright with clean sounds though. I don't play clean on bridge pup though. Sounds incredible with dirt.

[shane88]

Originally Posted by mr_dj07

That did it for me, I didn't know before that the pickup height had suck a big impact on single coils !!

it's an easy trap to set them too high

[boldaslove1977]

do you have the bottom tone knob wired to your bridge pickup?

a strat is useless to me without that. the first 2 strats i bought already had it done... so i didn't realize it wasn't standard until i bought my next one... and when i realized the standard setup does NOT include that mod... i brought it right to the shop!

i have a strat with a 61 in the bridge and 67s in the middle and neck... sounds great! and i normally have the tone rolled off to about 5 or 6 on the bridge...

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by shane88

it's an easy trap to set them too high

I first used the height setting from Fender but that is actually too far for the Areas. Dimarzio's recommends these setting for Areas which are Alnico 2 pickups.

They can all be adjusted relatively close to the strings. At the highest fret the closest recommended distances from the top of the magnet to the bottom of the string are:

Neck and middle pickups
low E 3/32" (2.4mm)
high E 1/16" (1.6mm)

Bridge pickup
low E 1/16" (1.6mm)
high E 3/64" (1.2mm)

These settings will provide a lot of presence and attack. For a more open 1950s sound, try adjusting the pickups 1/32" (0.8mm) further from the strings.

[McStrats]

I have Area 61 in N & M and an Air Norton S in the Bridge. I can now switch from my PRS to My G&L and I don't have to touch my amp settings. The Air Norton S is a fantastic bridge pu for a Strat. My advice is to shoot an email to DMZ tech support and describe the sound you are looking for. That's what i did and was very skeptical when Steve B recommended a Air Norton S...but I have to say he was right though. As far as pu heights go, I just eyeball it and see how it sounds and adjust on the fly. There are too many variables such as string gauge, your amp, settings, etc, for a one size fits all approach.