I Tested almost all Dimarzio pickups at once (samples + video comparison)

[Belensky]

ok, so recently I went deep into pickup rabbit hole, and bought almost all dimarzio models that I was able to get my hands on(as well as some other pickups)
And spend quite some time comparing them to find my favourites.
So here is comparison with timecodes(in the description) for faster navigation (its very long video, sorry)

same guitar, straight to the tube amp, NO pedals, NO EQ, I even kept pickup height EXACTLY the same.




and for those who want to listen in your own DAW without YouTube compression here is hi-res files

google drive link


I hope it helps for those who is wondering what is the actual difference.


For me personally it's more a "feel" thing: your hands, and the way you pick is much bigger factor.
my vaforites are Transition(unfortunately very overlooked pickup), Illuminator, Dreamcatcher, Titan, Air Zone.


If anybody have some questions let me know.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Thanks for doing all that work. I know from first hand experience that swapping that many pickups is extremely tedious, let alone recording the same riffs over and over with each of them.

 

[Belensky]

Thanks for doing all that work. I know from first hand experience that swapping that many pickups is extremely tedious, let alone recording the same riffs over and over with each of them.

yeah, took me quite some time to record everything, but for test I used pre-wired alligator clips, so swapping pickup was pretty fast, like 10 seconds

 

[BigViolin]

You both are doing the work…of like…really cool people.

Thanks!

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Am I the only one disappointed that "all the pickups at once" didn't mean every pickup installed into one single guitar being played at the same time?

like that season of ATHF where if you press "play all" on the DVD it plays every episode at the same time

 

[Belensky]

Am I the only one disappointed that "all the pickups at once" didn't mean every pickup installed into one single guitar being played at the same time?

like that season of ATHF where if you press "play all" on the DVD it plays every episode at the same time

actually you can do that in you DAW

 

[ArtDecade]

Do they all sound the same? Just say yes.

 

[Emperoff]

Do they all sound the same? Just say yes.

 

[hensh!n]

Many of them sound similar, although not "identical". The actives in particular sounded quite different compared to all of the passive offerings, which likely has to do with their design. The one's that stuck out to me were the Steve Morse model and the PAF 36. What's interesting is that the tonal qualities (or perceived tonal qualities) don't exactly match up with the manufacturer's "tone guide". The PAF 36 had sort of a bright and quacky character to it, but DiMarzio has the High Mids at 5.5 and the Treble as 4.0. Great video overall, very informative. It's nice to see a more scientific and unbiased approach to pickup comparisons.

 

[Masoo2]

Many of them sound similar, although not "identical". The actives in particular sounded quite different compared to all of the passive offerings, which likely has to do with their design. The one's that stuck out to me were the Steve Morse model and the PAF 36. What's interesting is that the tonal qualities (or perceived tonal qualities) don't exactly match up with the manufacturer's "tone guide". The PAF 36 had sort of a bright and quacky character to it, but DiMarzio has the High Mids at 5.5 and the Treble as 4.0. Great video overall, very informative. It's nice to see a more scientific and unbiased approach to pickup comparisons.

the Steve Morse and PAF 36 also stuck out to me...along with the D-Sonic

was surprised how much in this context I disliked the Titan, Mirage and D-Act

 

[Asdrael]

Similar but somewhat different is a good description indeed. Thanks a lot for doing that! You are opening the flood gates for the “how does x feel?” and “is Y dynamic?” though, hope you took notes

 

[Belensky]

Many of them sound similar, although not "identical". The actives in particular sounded quite different compared to all of the passive offerings, which likely has to do with their design. The one's that stuck out to me were the Steve Morse model and the PAF 36. What's interesting is that the tonal qualities (or perceived tonal qualities) don't exactly match up with the manufacturer's "tone guide". The PAF 36 had sort of a bright and quacky character to it, but DiMarzio has the High Mids at 5.5 and the Treble as 4.0. Great video overall, very informative. It's nice to see a more scientific and unbiased approach to pickup comparisons.

I'd say that pickups is more a "feel" rather that "hear" thing. Microphone or cabinet has much more impact one the final sound.
Interestingly enough when I was comparing pickups I found that subconsciously I'm trying to adapt my picking technique compensate whatever differences pickup has, just to get that "sound I'm hearing in my head".
meaning if pickup lacks output – I subconsciously dig a little harder, If pickup is muddy – I'm trying to be more arctuquitate with my pick, if pickup lacks bass, I palm-mute a little harder etc.
So, for me, when pickup it right, you don't have to fight guitar so much.



As far as Dimarzio EQ charts, after testing so many of their pickups, Id say that their EQ chart and description are spot on, at least when you play pickups in person.

 

[ExMachina]

Damn dude that's nuts, thanks for this. I've always felt pickups fit better in families, like you're splitting hairs past like 4 types of pickups. What was your perception after this test?

 

[Belensky]

Damn dude that's nuts, thanks for this. I've always felt pickups fit better in families, like you're splitting hairs past like 4 types of pickups. What was your perception after this test?

For me I prefer cleaner sounding but loud pickups.

Transition – has a lot of PAF vibe and dynamics, but fairly high output, and it's very very tight, I'm talking EMG81 levels of tightness.. Really sleeper among pickups. I have it in guitar tuned to drop C and it sound really raw and angry. It has mismatched coils(like some old PAF) so for some people it might sound a little honky, but with right amp(darker amps like Diezel Bogner etc) it's really good crossover between modern and vintage pickups.

Illuminator – perfect modern metal pickup, tight & bright thing in spades... I'd say it has slightly less dynamics than Dimarzio Transition, but more even sounding. If played alone Illuminator might seem a bit too bright but in a mix with drums, bass, vocals, that extra brightness disappears.

Dreamcatcher – similar to Illuminator but much more refined like a well produced record, imagine being in a studio where you made perfect guitar sound and then Bob Rock walks in and makes some minor EQ tweaks to make everything sound even better. for some people it might be a little too produced sounding (especially if you play modeller)

Titan – Somewhat its mix between Super Distortion and Illuminator, sort of Super Distortion of 21st century. Titan has a lot of texture, works well if you have "plain" sounding guitar and what to add some grain to the sound. although I found titan could be a little picky with different guitars and sound a little off.


I also like all EMG's, for "EMG thing", Hetfield set is particularly good

 

[lost_horizon]

For me personally it's more a "feel" thing: your hands, and the way you pick is much bigger factor.

I agree, when you play with distortion or palm mutes you pick harder and harder until you get the sound. So PAF 36th Bridge when you dig in with distortion can sound badass. Early In Flames, early 2000s metal type sound.

my vaforites are Transition(unfortunately very overlooked pickup), Illuminator, Dreamcatcher, Titan, Air Zone.

Only one I haven't tried there is the Dreamcatcher, have an illuminator pickguard going in my strat. Titan is a go to for down-tuned metal for me and sounds like The Darkness and hot classic Rock through a Marshall Plexi.

Air Zone is MASSIVELY loud really clean, great bass, tried it in the neck and bridge. Loved it, in a Les Paul type guitar it would kick ass. I have only tried the Air Zone in a trem equipped guitar with an Alder body and the sustain was one of the best.

Plus split sound is loud and volume dynamics are really good.

If anybody have some questions let me know.

Is the quest over? I have a Virtual Hot PAF and if you can try the Al Di Meola, you can flip them pretty easy if you decide to sell.

One of my guitars is Bareknuckle Aftermath bridge and Steve Morse Neck.

I'm suprised you didn't like the PAT, my test mule guitar is PAT-B3, Dimarzio VIrtual Solo and Duncan Seymourized mini humbucker neck...

 

[lattjeful]

For me I prefer cleaner sounding but loud pickups.

Transition – has a lot of PAF vibe and dynamics, but fairly high output, and it's very very tight, I'm talking EMG81 levels of tightness.. Really sleeper among pickups. I have it in guitar tuned to drop C and it sound really raw and angry. It has mismatched coils(like some old PAF) so for some people it might sound a little honky, but with right amp(darker amps like Diezel Bogner etc) it's really good crossover between modern and vintage pickups.

Illuminator – perfect modern metal pickup, tight & bright thing in spades... I'd say it has slightly less dynamics than Dimarzio Transition, but more even sounding. If played alone Illuminator might seem a bit too bright but in a mix with drums, bass, vocals, that extra brightness disappears.

Dreamcatcher – similar to Illuminator but much more refined like a well produced record, imagine being in a studio where you made perfect guitar sound and then Bob Rock walks in and makes some minor EQ tweaks to make everything sound even better. for some people it might be a little too produced sounding (especially if you play modeller)

Titan – Somewhat its mix between Super Distortion and Illuminator, sort of Super Distortion of 21st century. Titan has a lot of texture, works well if you have "plain" sounding guitar and what to add some grain to the sound. although I found titan could be a little picky with different guitars and sound a little off.


I also like all EMG's, for "EMG thing", Hetfield set is particularly good

I've always wanted to try the Transition. Apparently it's the closest thing DiMarzio has to a 6 string Ionizer and I like how those sound in my buddy's 8 string.

 

[Belensky]

Is the quest over? I have a Virtual Hot PAF and if you can try the Al Di Meola, you can flip them pretty easy if you decide to sell.

One of my guitars is Bareknuckle Aftermath bridge and Steve Morse Neck.

I'm suprised you didn't like the PAT, my test mule guitar is PAT-B3, Dimarzio VIrtual Solo and Duncan Seymourized mini humbucker neck...

Yeah, I found couple Dimarzio models that work for me, so I'll probably stick to them.

I use to have Duncan PATB-1 in one of my guitar for a 5 years, and I liked that pickup a lot, but after comparing it side by side with dimarzio offerings, I feel that dimarzio stuff works a bit better for my rig. I do believe that both companies tend to have a bit their own "brand sound" probably due to different materials & manufacturing techniques. But it's very subtle difference, and more like a "feel thing"

Dimarzio tends to have more highs, bigger low end (but very controllable), same about of mids, and they fairly easy pickups to play(with some exceptions like Evolution, Morse, Crucnch Lab, Mega Drive)
Duncans that I tried (JB, JBJ, PATB-1, Distortion, Custom, Dimebucker, 59, Jazz ), have less open top end, more raspy voice, and for me personally more difficult to play, every time I try duncan, I feel need for some type for tube screamer to tighten up lows.

 

[AwakenTheSkies]

Jeez that’s like what, 3k in pickups? What are you going to do with all those pickups now??
Anyway I’ll check this out because I always wanted to do something like this with the same precision and obsession that you’ve done. But like you said it’s more of a feel thing so just listening to audio you’re not getting the full picture.

I have Titans and D-Activator+Liquifire in some of my guitars, I chose them because they felt like a safe bet for what I do. But I tune those guitars in Drop C# so I’m not sure I’m getting the best out of those pickups. But I’m liking the sounds anyway.

Changing pickups is definitely worth it, but only as long as you choose the right pickup…

 

[Belensky]

I've always wanted to try the Transition. Apparently it's the closest thing DiMarzio has to a 6 string Ionizer and I like how those sound in my buddy's 8 string.

I have Dimarzio Transition in guitar tuned in drop C and it works really well. raw, angry, and quite unconventional sound, with some hint of vintage PAF.

 

[Belensky]

Jeez that’s like what, 3k in pickups? What are you going to do with all those pickups now??
Anyway I’ll check this out because I always wanted to do something like this with the same precision and obsession that you’ve done. But like you said it’s more of a feel thing so just listening to audio you’re not getting the full picture.

Some of them I already had, some I borrowed from friends, some I bought/sold/traded or returned back to the store.


the best would be to download samples from google drive(link in first message), and compare them in your DAW. YouTube makes it a bit more compressed and the same.
but honestly to play them through your own rig, and listen from some guy form YouTube is a big difference.

well, at least I kept guitar the same. because nothing pisses me of more as some YouTube "guitar influencers" who compare different pickups in completely different guitars.... why bother, lets spend more time on catchy title I guess.