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Crazy how passionate people get about certain guitar topics.
New video: DiMarzio Area's vs Lindy Fralins
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bagman67
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The DiMarzio bridge pickup definitely lacks some high-end "zhuzh" as compared to the Fralin. Not surprising for a humbucking pickup, but that was the clearest difference I could hear via the YouTube compressed audio. I wonder what you would get if you stuck a copper base plate on the Area pickup. Maybe nothing, maybe something. As I looked into it, I discovered - unsurprisingly - that there is not unity of opinion on the utility of pickup baseplates.
Thanks for another chapter in your guitar adventures, Aaron.
Thanks for another chapter in your guitar adventures, Aaron.
JohnnyHardtail
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To me it seems a bit strange to install the hot version bridge pickup, then report the output levels don’t match and the clean tone lacks brightness. It would be better to compare like-for-like IMO.
Rick
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I've owned the DiMarzios and also perceived the thickness, but I liked it!, they're not bad, just different from the standard tele sound. The best I found, if you're going pure tele sparkle are the Bill Lawrences in the bridge, and the Frailins for both.
If you're looking for an interesting neck pickup for a tele, from DiMarzio, though, I can recommend the DiMarzio DP240's, not a single coil, it's a mini humbucker with tele neck like properties, but with more balls. It's not a tele though!
If you're looking for an interesting neck pickup for a tele, from DiMarzio, though, I can recommend the DiMarzio DP240's, not a single coil, it's a mini humbucker with tele neck like properties, but with more balls. It's not a tele though!
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Are you talking about only the DiMarzio pickups? They make three Area T bridge pickups, but only one neck pickup, so there isn't another option for a neck pickup that matches the bridge better. I made a point to say that one of the other bridge pickups might be a better match.
Or when you say "like-for-like" are you taking about between the Fralin and the DiMarzio? I felt like it was fair to pit the Hot T against the Fralin because it was a Blues Special, which is his hotter option.
Maybe I'm not understanding what you mean.
JohnnyHardtail
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Fralin blues pickups aren't really high output, they are still a vintage sounding pickup IMO. If you are after that type of tone, you are more likely to find a "Vintage style" stacked single coil. When you go to Dimarzio product that specified as "Hot", then it's like a different category.
When I use Dimazio Area 58 and Area 67 pickups, I exclusively use 500k volume and 500k tone control pots so they are closer to vintage-like Strat tone. I wonder if Dimarzio Tech support would offer similar advice about how to get closer to vintage tone for a Telecaster.
When I use Dimazio Area 58 and Area 67 pickups, I exclusively use 500k volume and 500k tone control pots so they are closer to vintage-like Strat tone. I wonder if Dimarzio Tech support would offer similar advice about how to get closer to vintage tone for a Telecaster.
Strat Avenger
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Would have liked to hear a comparison of the regular Area T since that's what I have.
Strat Avenger
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Yes, or even a "no-load" tone control. I have a Tele style guitar that is wired so that in the neck position the Tone control is completely out of the circuit (Amalfitano pickups). My Warmoth Tele will be wired the same way with the Area T pickups.
rauchman
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Great video. I am far from a Tele expert. My only experience, is building the Warmoth in my avatar, but I must say, I love that guitar and love the sound. I'm using Bill Lawrence (wildepickups) L48T (b) and L45 (
, and also have a set of their Microcoils if I ever build another (@aarontunes , you Tele/Strat hybrid is very interesting).
From the vid, for the cleans, the Fralin's were fantastic and Areas kind of dull comparatively. However, with some gain, thought the Area sounded a lot better.
, and also have a set of their Microcoils if I ever build another (@aarontunes , you Tele/Strat hybrid is very interesting).From the vid, for the cleans, the Fralin's were fantastic and Areas kind of dull comparatively. However, with some gain, thought the Area sounded a lot better.
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I see what you're saying now.
Lots of people have been suggesting 500k in the YouTube comments, but on the DiMarzio site is states that 250k is the recommended pot value, so I figured the best methodology for the test would be to use the same pots for both pickups. The D site does go on to say that using 500k can bring out more twang, so maybe that is the solution.
As far as the Hot T being in a completely different category than the Blues Special, I can agree with that as far as one being a humbucker and one a true single coil. But when I look at the Tele bridge offerings on the D site they range in output according to DiMarzio's scale from 170 to 215. The Area T's range from 175 to 238, so they aren't wildly different in output range. It would be interesting to try to two lower output Area T bridge pickups to see if they 1) match the Area T neck pickup better, 2) sound closer to a true single coil.
Nevertheless, all the Area pickups are specifically marketed as sounding like single coils without the hum, so I feel like comparing one with a true single coil is valid.
EDIT: After posting this I went to D's site and re-read the description for this pickup and saw this line:
"What would a Tele® bridge pickup sound like if it had the same EQ as a vintage PAF®?"
That explains a lot. I swear this line is new, as I had read the description several times before doing this video and don't remember seeing it. I know that DiMarzio can be very quick to update their website in response to certain things, so maybe this was added in response to this video. Another clue that this is a new line is the "R" mark after PAF. I am pretty sure that is something they just started doing recently due to the current legal wrangling with Gibson over the term "PAF".
Anyway, I would still love to test the Area T and the 615 at some point.
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One more post to add that I'm generally a fan of DiMarzio. I am one of the few people who hopes they successfully defend their trademark for double cream humbuckers.
And I'll keep rocking a Super Distortion until the day I die!
And I'll keep rocking a Super Distortion until the day I die!
BroccoliRob
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whoa whoa whoa, i'm the one whos supposed to say ridiculous things and even i know that only unhinged maniacs defend that trademark claim lol. if they wanna trademark a specific shade of cream (aka "creme") like UPS brown, OK, but defending the concept of two side by side creams, regardless of shade, is like arguing that fender gets to take back and ™ (tm) the concept of a guitar body with a pickguard
edit: and this is coming from somebody who believes the tone zone is basically a perfect pickup
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My head is bloody, but unbowed.
No matter the outcome, watching the legal maneuverings between Gibson®™© and DiMarzio®™© is an-edge-of-the-seat, white knuckle thrill ride!
Wizard of Wailing
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I lost my passion for pickups around partscaster #11 or so. Now I just use DiMarzios when I need color (or EMGs because they’re easy to spray paint), and Manlius when I need a black or white pickups. Couldn’t even tell you what specific model of each I have. The only other color option I know of is Bare Knuckles, and their price is too much for me. Just reached a point where I figured if it sounds bad, it’s probably my playing.
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Strat Avenger
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You did the right thing by using the same pots to get an accurate comparison. I was just suggesting different pots if you want more sparkle out of the Dimarzios. My position on the subject is that: 1) I hate hum, and 2) yeah, the hum-cancelling pickups have slightly less high-end, but the additional brightness of a true single coil is usually a bit too bright and needs to be slightly rolled back with a Tone control anyway, at least for the bridge position. 250k pots still attenuate some high frequencies even when wide open, which is good with true single coils but not so much with the hum-canceling type.
Strat Avenger
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Well it didn't work for me. I replaced it with a Duncan JB which although not the "holy grail", was a noticable improvement.
JohnnyHardtail
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I look forward to hearing Aarons experience with the 500k control pots and whether it can breath some life into the Area T pickups.
I like Rick’s suggestion of the DP240 neck pickup. When using 500k controls, it would be interesting in combination with the “Hot” Area T bridge p/u. However it’s likely to be more of a blues rock guitar sound than a vintage Tele.
I like Rick’s suggestion of the DP240 neck pickup. When using 500k controls, it would be interesting in combination with the “Hot” Area T bridge p/u. However it’s likely to be more of a blues rock guitar sound than a vintage Tele.
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BroccoliRob
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must be cold out there. so far outside the zone, like that.
idk the JB is fine, but it's got that squirrelly upper mid zing . maybe thats why the invader is my favorite Duncan, cause its the most like a tone zone, or an x2n. the x2n is hot, hot like skeletor with the skin back on. but don't take my #word for it. as I always say, taste is nothing more than the jagged outline of one person's incomplete perspective
TBurst Std
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Rob. That was well said about taste.
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