Anyone try many of the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage singles?

[carltonh]

I'm curious about the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage single coils. Like most noiseless singles, there are lots of mixed reviews, but I've liked several (Bill Lawrence, Kinmans, Holy Grails, SCN) so I might like the VV as well. However, there are quite a few different Dimarzio models, so has anyone tried many of them and can give a comparative opinion?

 

[carltonh]

I forgot one more question. Are they "tall" pickups like Bill Lawrence and such?

 

[Fuchsaudio]

I had a strat with Kinman Blues (and liked them alot), but I think the VV's are just "more" pickup to me. Higher output, stupid low noise (in some cases quiter than real humbuckers in the same environment), and excellent tone. Is it an authentic Strat vintage tone ? (whatever that is) I can't say definatively, as different vintage strats sound vastly different. Depends on what your looking for. I will say they certainly make any of the Strat tones I like. An excellent match to the G+L Bass/Treble pot arrangement btw.

I'm thinking of building a Tele with 3-V V-P-90's next...oh-boy can't wait.

 

[Bonedance]

I've used the VV tele models ( and continue with the VV Hot T in my #1 tele mated with a VV PAF in the neck. Killer combo btw ) and really, really like them. This coming from an avowed "noiseless " single coil hater! I'm setting up a Giggliotti strat for a buddy and he has the VV strat pups in it. Fantastic sounding guitar as is, but I believe the VV's really excel in this guitar. I do like the Kinmans, ( never used noisless sc Lawrence other than the ones on the new Fenders ) but the Dimarzio VV's are hard to beat ( imo of course ) for the cost.

 

[HHB]

I'm very happy w/ the Virtual P-90

 

[carltonh]

Andy, so which VV models have you played? Per Dimarzio, there are eight humcancelling single coil models for Strat alone! The VV 2 Bridge, 2 Middle, 2 Neck, 2.1, 2.2, 54 Bridge, 54 Neck, Blues, Heavy Blues, Solo, and Solo Pro.

So many choices! I've already got a Bill Lawrence L280 for a neck pickup, a Fender SCN middle, and trying to decide on a bridge, at least slightly hotter than standard, but how hot I'm not sure.

 

[Fuchsaudio]

Two DP-407 (Virtual 2 neck) and one DP-414 (Virtual Vintage Solo pro) in the bridge. This was as suggested by Steve Blucher at DiMarzio.

 

[slowburn]

had some in my grosh for like 6-7 yrs. sound great. i think they're the 401.

 

[Vince]

We use the Virtual Hot T in the bridge of the stock Legato and have had nothing but positive comments.

 

[Vince]

By the way, as far as human beings are concerned, Blucher is the shiz nit.

If anyone ever tells him I said this, I will deny it.

 

[carltonh]

Vince, are you a guitar maker or work for one? What's the Legato?

 

[fatback]

Vince, I'm with you on the Virtual Hot T in the bridge of my Legato. It spanks. It screams, but best of all, no hum.

carltonh, check out this link:

http://www.vinettoguitars.com/

 

[HarryJ]

I am a Dimarzio endorser, I no longer sing their praise... I just let them sing 'fer themselves

Here are some clips I recorded using:

Neck pickup is DP 410
Middle is DP407
Bridge is DP404

In my Warmoth chambered swamp ash "strat" with steel frets, Gotoh 1088 trem and Callaham block
http://www.harryj.net/strat_body.JPG
--------------------------------------------------------
Overdriven Tones:
Neck and middle in parallel:
http://www.harryj.net/s_n_m_p_s.mp3

Neck, Neck/Middle, Neck/Bridge, Bridge/Middle, Bridge:
http://www.harryj.net/all dirt1.mp3

Clean combos first parallel mode then a thicker series mode:
http://www.harryj.net/S_parallel_series.mp3

Clean semi-jazzy
http://www.harryj.net/s_all_warm.mp3

---------------
A super cool partial out of phase ton that kills!
http://www.harryj.net/phase1.mp3

Tons more on my site

Harry Jacobson
www.harryj.net

 

[Vince]

Carlton,

Builder. Check out fatback's link above.

 

[FredW]

I have two in a Tyler and they sound great. I actually like them better than the kinman blues. The have a more traditional sound and are absolutely silent.

 

[fr8_trane]

So many choices! I've already got a Bill Lawrence L280 for a neck pickup, a Fender SCN middle, and trying to decide on a bridge, at least slightly hotter than standard, but how hot I'm not sure.

Carltonh, why not try a BL 290 or the newer, hotter 298 in the bridge? It'll only set you back $50. I have 3 BL PUPs on order - 2 L200 and a 290. The 200's are very similar to the SCN apparently but use alnico. Anyway I used to have 280's in the neck and middle but the combination tones were dull and lacked that great strat quack. So does the 280/SCN combination produce suitable "quack" ? I know that the Fenders with SCN's do the neck/middle middle/brdg tones well but the neck SCN by itself sounds a little thin. Is that why you have the 280 in the neck? Just curious.

 

[carltonh]

I don't think anyone replied whether these are tall pickups or standard single coil size. Though I have one DP402 VV Blues coming, so I'll find out. I also ended up ordering a Bill Lawrence L290 and a Lace Hot Gold 13.2K Bridge to compare all these. (Though it will take me awhile, I don't break out the soldering iron and switch pickups often.)

I ask about height because I need a short noiseless pickup for the neck of my HM Strat because the tall ones are too close to the strings, and I'm certainly not going to put the 13.2 Hot Gold in the neck. Though a hotter noiseless may work best with the TBX controls in the HM Strat. Any opinions on what pickups would be best for TBX controls?

 

[HarryJ]

The VV's are not tall pichups

HJ

 

[NuSkoolTone]

Since dimarzio got kinman banned from selling in the U.S. due to a patent infringement (right?), how similar are they?

How do they compare?

 

[HarryJ]

I posted audio clips of the virtual vintages earlier in this thread.

Perhaps someone can post clips of kinman's?

Although, they would be different guitars and amps... Not the best way to compare, but a start

Harr Jacobson
www.harryj.net