DSD First impressions!

[motrock]

Ok guys, this week I picked up a black Dimarzio Super Distortion from Guitar Center. I wait till today to install it; because I got CTS 550K SuperPots; Low Friction. So, I had to rewire the whole guitar. Wasn't too bad, with the exception of not having long enough screws for the DSD. The legs are shorter in the DSD then the other custom pickups that I have owned. Took me over an hour and a half to find the correct screws. None of the hardware stores were open this afternoon. I live in the middle of redneckville USA, so it doesn't surprise me.

Well, my first impression was pure shock to be honest. I was shocked by the results. I felt like was playing a completely different guitar. I love this pickup! This IS the Van Halen sound. Hands down... I couldn't believe how close this thing gets. Its like someone took a blanket off my amp. You guys were right about the DSD! Its amazing how the harmonics just roll off the fretboard. This is the first pickup that I can honestly say NAILS it. Another thing I noticed was the punchy bass. I hit the Low E string and its a swift kick in the nuts! Another HUGE thing is the loudness. Once again, it was like taking a blanket off my amp. This pickup is so OPEN and loud.

My only complaint is that the highs do need to be tamed a little. Not by much... just a little! Does anyone use caps with theres? Is it really necessary?

[rgorke]

Glad you like it. Love to hear some clips. Are you mounting it straight to the body?

[JimiJames]

Does anyone use caps with theres? Is it really necessary?

Yes, I do. A .05, but it depends on the guitar
The .05 is real smooth.

[efraser68]

Very cool Kurt - I felt the same way too after moving away from the SD59. But of course it depends on the amp voicing the the speakers, etc. And I really liked it in the YMI5150? Model A guitar. And it seems like the current DP100 will get most of us there without having to pay extra $$ for a vintage model.

[motrock]

Glad you like it. Love to hear some clips. Are you mounting it straight to the body?

Buddy, you WILL hear some clips. I plan on doing a few initial ones... HOPEFULLY next weekend. I am mounting it to the body. I had to put a couple of thick nuts under it... mainly because the legs are shorter then the other pickups I have used!

[motrock]

Very cool Kurt - I felt the same way too after moving away from the SD59. But of course it depends on the amp voicing the the speakers, etc. And I really liked it in the YMI5150? Model A guitar. And it seems like the current DP100 will get most of us there without having to pay extra $$ for a vintage model.

You know... I am thinking I need to change my preamp tubes. Dont think the tubes I am using are going to work very well. The Sylvania 12AX7 I am using is kinda bright and not sure if I am getting enough out of it. I have 4 Sylvania 12AX7s that were given to me, and only one of them works. I may swap out all of them! Any suggestions?

[jnewlyn]

Play with the distance from the strings as these pickups seem to
be finicky about this. This will also vary from one guitar to another
if you put this PU in another axe.

Not sure about 550K pots but single coils in strats can be real
bright. 250K pots help this a lot. Might also be worth a look. Or
even a 300K.

[MrBeasty]

A 550k volume pot may not be the right choice, then. I tend to like mine between 300k and 500k.

[motrock]

You could be right on the POT. I love the 550k though. When you roll it on slowly, its so smooth and the transition is perfect. I can go from crazy aggressive gain to silky smooth clean with this POT. But, I may have to put in a different one. I will try a couple of different things. I think at this point I am at the refining stage!

[dirtycooter]

I thought NO WAY is this pickup gonna sound good-but it was someone actually using it and their experimental clips that made me try it anyway

Ceramic mag-totally the last thing that was debated here for months/years between a2, a5, a7
BUKU OUTPUT
Overwound like a mofo-thought it would be a mud bomb

I had e-mailed a certain person whom is not allowed on this board anymore about Randy Rhoades Tribute tone and him using the DSD-the similar honk and craziness he acheived on that live record. It was just over the top wild sounding with tons of overtones and harmonics.

Well-it has a voice very similar to a PAF yet way more ballzzzzzzzz
It even cleans up with the volume very similar while stayin spanky

If you got an amp that just is "almost there" gain wise but can't seem to get hairy enough-this bad boy is what kicks it up a notch or fifty

But man-the #1 thing I hate about it is the squealin feedback Thats my only complaint-other than that it makes a huge difference to my ears in a lower gain circuit. Maybe the feedback issue is why Ed was messin with potting and talking about that and maybe why he moved away from it-who knows?? But I do think this or the mighty mite is whats on VH1 for certain-no more pickup quest really-it all makes sense

[motrock]

I am willing to say this is what Eddie used on WACF and/or Fair Warning. This tone is so much closer to anything early Van Halen then I have ever been!

[somethin'else]

MAN, I'm gonna have to drop for one, my A5 8.8k mutt isnt quite takin it to the edge.

If you're drilling it to the wood... I've got a nickel under the treble side and a dime under the bass side

[Star*Guitar]

I didn't know you could do impressions. I do a pretty convincing Clint Eastwood.

[stef]

I like the bourns gtr 500K pot with the dsd
china 12ax7 (a and b) for V1 and V1 - something old in V3 (tunsgram, tesla, mullard..)

[T.L.]

I'm glad you're getting the tone you want, but I just don't like pickups that loud, and the feedback problem is unacceptable to me. 'Seems that anything hotter than a Duncan JB is prone to squealing. It's also nice to be able to back off the volume control and have it clean up a little...