DiMarzio DLX- Plus

passive humbucker.

was in a 2001 Gibson SG jr.
bridge position
replacing the stock p-90
the jr. only has one pickup
don't know artists.
i changed the p-90 because it did not have strong enough bass nor bright enough treble, but the DP154 (DLX-plus) was too much in the other direction.

it's a 'hot' pickup for sure, perceived louder than the p-90 & slightly louder than a super distortion, but not perceived as loud as a JB pickup.
i use SG > Boss TU-2 > EH PolyChorus > ZVEX Ooh Wah > Fulltone SupaTrem > Maxon PH350 > Maxon AD900 > Matamp Roadster head > Orange 2x12 or Matamp Green 4x12
the DLX-plus produced bright treble, flat midrange, and crunchy over-empnasized bass when my amp was set clean to mild overdrive. it was pretty good when into full-bore distortion, but i never liked the bass response and prefer a bit more mids. it always sounded too "tight" or "tense" & was not a good match with my amp. i tend to play stuff like Mars Volta, Hella, & even Zeppelin, but love the tone from older High On Fire & such.
this pickup would be unsuitable for the neck, and i think needs to be in a brighter guitar than a Gibson.

i traded it out for a Super Distortion to compare sounds, and have had a JB in there that i really liked. am going to try a TV Jones power'tron.
playing since 1998. have used Ibanez strat copy, Gibson Melody Maker, Fender duo-sonic, Vantage Avenger, Martin acoustic. also play bass with my same amp-setup; OLP MM copy & Englehardt standup.
the DLX-plus suits modern high-gain stuff & modern/sterile clean stuff. modern rockers, shredders, metal, and even jazz players should check it out.

Pickup features: P-90 in humbuckingformat
Impedence or other specs: Medium

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Junior Special
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson P-100
Other pickups on guitar: Gibson P-100
Artists using this pickup: Don't know
You musical style(s): jazzrock with a bit folkrock
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a fuller sound on neckpickup. P-100 was to skinny. I also got a Les Paul Standard, and I wanted some of that sweetnes on my Les Paul Special.

Perceived output level: Ouputlevel the same as P-100. Nearly no difference in humbucking or singlecoilmode on the DLX-plus (or DPX 154, the model number).
Tone: It is very balanced - just perfect. Got rich midtones, good basdefinition and is not to trebly, as the P-100 was.
Sonic evaluation: Playing through Yamaha Digital amp. The DPX154 are so good, that I decided to replace the bridge P-100 in addition to the neckpickupswitch. When you playing with distortion, the DLX154 give you that crunch in humbuckermode. When played clean, the DLX154 give you a Strat-on-steroid-tone in singlecoilsetting. It is so good, that you can't believe, that it is true. But it is. Clean with humbuckermode give you that jazzy tone, I was looking for. And with a perfect baslevel.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Jazzrock and folkrock. This pickup do the job, very good.

Comments: As I mentioned, I'm going to replace the last P-100 with the DLX154. So I get a full DLX154 equiped Les Paul Special. The guitar does after all not sound exactly like my beloved Les Paul Standard with fullsized humbucker (Gibsons), but the Les Paul Special is a different guitar. With the DLX154 it has become a keeper - I have tried to sell the Special without luck - but now I'm glad, that the Special still are in my arsenal. And (that may be a minor detail, but anyway), when you split the DLX154 to singlecoil, you don't get a dropdown in output from humbuckermode. That says, how good the DLX154 is.

Pickup features: Humbucker with 4 conductor cable
Impedence or other specs: 350 give or take

Model of guitar or bass: godin radiator
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: godin radiator stock pup
Other pickups on guitar: seymour duncan alnico pro II
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, covers, alternative
Reason for pickup change: The godin pups had quite a low output and the neck pickup failed to evenly capture the full tone range. It ended up making things to muddle with very little top end.

Perceived output level: It is a little hotter than my SD Alnico Pro II. Use both pickups in single coil and humbucker mode. The DLX in humbucker mode is quite beefy with a full bottom end and fat sounding mids and highs. Sometimes it can be a little muddy but that's the price you pay if you won't the big fat metal distortion sound. In single modes it is quite sweetly and very quite. It is still quite hot and is quite even across the whole tone range.
Tone: Humbucker--bassy and fat Single Coil-even and hot
Sonic evaluation: Used on a godin radiator. I am playing through a behringer V-amp2 as a well as a variety of tube amps. Having the coil tap switch installed means that you have 2 guitars in one. Very nice.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, covers, alternative. It is a good pickup for those who want a fat sounding humbucker capable of many different sounds. In single mode if it is very sweet.

Comments: If the guitar was stolen I think I would just buy a superior instrument with my insurance money. The godin radiator is a very well made instrument and is a dream to play. With new pickups installed it almost rivals a professional instrument. But then again, there is nothing like playing a pro instrument!

Pickup features: humbucking soapbar, passive
Impedence or other specs: check dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les paul Jr. Lite
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock gibson P-100
Other pickups on guitar: Gibson P-100
Artists using this pickup: none besides me that I know
You musical style(s): pop punk, emo, classic rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock P-100 didn't have the full sound I was looking for. I know it was a soapbar and supposed to a single coil, but I loved the guitar so much I knew i could get "my" sound by changing the bridge pickup.

Perceived output level: medium
Tone: trebly
Sonic evaluation: I am using my Les paul Jr. Lite through a Crate Blue Voodoo Half-stack w/ Celestion vintage 30's with no effects. I hate effects, i jump around alot on stage and if i have to keep hitting button I lose my energy, so effect are not worth it if you can get your sound from a good tube amp. The sound is great but i had to really tweak the EQ to get the sound I was looking for. It didn't take too long. Then I found "my" sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play in a pop punk band and this pickup fits our style perfectly.

Comments: If it were stolen, I'd cry because the guitar would be gone too and it is a discontinued model and I searched all over the country til I found a black one. In Idaho!!! I strongly recommend this pickup if you are looking for a good solid humbucking replacement for any standard soapbar style pickup. You can play anything but hardcore death metal on it. But I am sure if you use like a Metal Zone pedal you can get there. As I said before I HATE EFFECTS!

Pickup features: Humbucking pickup in a P-90 size housing
Impedence or other specs: See DiMarzio site

Model of guitar or bass: 1997 Gibson Les Paul Special (in classic TV yellow)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock P-90s
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: Me (not sure who else)
You musical style(s): Metal, punk and a little mellower rock and country.
Reason for pickup change: Hum from the P-90s was intolerable with any real gain on the amp.

Perceived output level: Hot...quite a bit hotter than a PAF humbucker (check the specs if you don't believe me)
Tone: Quite nice with the mahogany body (although I imagine it would be great with alder). The mids are scooped a bit, but there's still plenty of midrange. Nively boosted highs and lows give the bottom end some "thud" and the top end some "sparkle."
Sonic evaluation: I play through a Marshall TSL 100 head running into a Marshall 2x12 1936 cabinet. I have a Digitech RP12, but only use it directly into the board with my polka band (I'm not kidding) when I don't want to take my baby (Marshall) because of lack of space or extreme weather. I can get any sound I need. These pickups do a great job of clean tones...the bridge is nice and crisp, and the neck is full, but not muddy (as opposed to regular PAFs). Distortion with these things is fantastic. These things can totally do Pantera or Metallica (as well as anything with a lighter guitar tone - from Guns 'n Roses to Creedence Clearwater Revival). Very diverse, very clean, great harmonics, boosted output...kicks the hell out of P-90s if you want to be able to do it all. If all you play is country and rock without much distortion, then P-90s will be good enough, but if you need a silent (I mean silent...these things generate no hum wven when my Marshall is cranked with the gain at 10!!) pickup that will cover all styles well (not sure about jazz), then this is it!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Everything, I'm sure.

Comments: I had a DiMarzio PAF Pro in my previous guitar (a great pickup as well, but with less output) and am impressed with the quality and musicality of their pickups. I wanted to try Seymour Duncan, but they didn't have anything that would give me the sound I wanted. EMG said that they could not custom make me a humbucker in a P-90 sized housing. DiMarzio had the perfect pickup. I am getting rid of my Les Paul Special (not because of the pickups, but because I don't particularly love the guitar anymore). I'm planning to get an Ernie Ball Music Man Axis (which also has DiMarzios). Needless to say, I am a fan of Dimarzio pickups. If I ever get another P-90-equipped guitar, I will definitely get another set of DLX-Pluses...no question!

Pickup features: P-90 style Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: .....

Model of guitar or bass: Warmoth Jazzmaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fralin P-90
Other pickups on guitar: Lindy Fralin P-90
Artists using this pickup: ............
You musical style(s): rock, blues, jazz, metal, "alternative", etc., etc. ad infinitum
Reason for pickup change: The Fralin P-90 sounds gorgeous in the neck position, but was a bit dinky in the bridge. Very little bass, mids, or treble. Basically, just weak sounding. This pickup was a nice improvement on those shortcomings.

Perceived output level: Low-medium output. Kind of a cross between a strat bridge and a PAF.
Tone: Very balanced. The mids are right in the middle. Not too bassy or trebly either.
Sonic evaluation: Excellent pickup. Sounds decent with clean and very good with distortion. It sounds similar to my previous evaluation that this is sonically between a strat bridge and PAF. I use this guitar with a Voodoo Amps modded 1969 JMP-50 and Twin Reverb. It sounds quite nice, if not a little low-output with both.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: already discussed my styles. It works best with rock. I use it in the bridge position. Dont know about the neck.

Comments: This is a fairly good pickup, though a tad low in output and clarity in comparison to my Fralin P-90 at the neck. The two make a good combo otherwise.

Pickup features: Humbucking pickup in a P-90 configuration.
Impedence or other specs: 400 mv output. 17.28k resistance.

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez TC-620 Talman
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Kent Armstrong P-90
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan SSL 1
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, rock, hard rock
Reason for pickup change: Often play with high gain and high volume so I wanted something that would combat the 60 cycle hum.

Perceived output level: It is hotter than stock P-90's and single coils. Rivals a lot of humbuckers. Even though it has a high output, it has a good clarity when played with overdrive. Notes in chords are audible, even with 6 note chords.
Tone: Balanced, with a slight emphasis on mids.
Sonic evaluation: My current setup is an Ibanez Talman with this pickup, a Dunlop Crybaby wah pedal, Ibanez tubescreamer, Marshall Guvnor, Arion equalizer, Danelectro Dan-Echo to a Sovtek Mig 50H non master volume head and a Carvin Bel Air 2x12 cabinet. This pickup is excellent for everything from old school blues to Hendrix to Guns N'Roses to even some Metallica. This amp and guitar setup excels at good old fashioned rock and roll. The Ibanez is the guitar I use for this type of music and I absolutely have found my sound. The Sovtek amp factors in heavily as well.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is a great match for rock music, blues and even punk. Metalheads should probably stay away, but I can get some palm muted type stuff with enough gain and volume.

Comments: I wasn't sure of this pickup for a while but the Sovtek all tube amplifier, which is modeled after a Marshall JTM-45 makes it shine through and makes me no longer need effects like chorus or compression or excessive amounts of delay.

Pickup features: Humbucking P90/Mini Humbucker replacement
Impedence or other specs: See DiMarzio site

Model of guitar or bass: Hand made LP Junior , Mahogany body, Rosewood neck
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: Both DLX90's
Artists using this pickup: Not aware of any
You musical style(s): Blues, Folk Rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Higher than Gibson Blues90, approximates to PAF Humbucker
Tone: Balanced, good clarity
Sonic evaluation: Guitar is as decscribed above. I play this through a Peavey Ultra 212 combo, usually with a pair of THD yellow jackets fitted with EL84's in the place of the usual 6L6GC's. Any sound from sparkly clean to infinite sustain.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I try to play blues but I like to noodle around in Pagesque folky styles

Comments: These pickups are absolutely brilliant. If this guitar was stolen I would make another with identical pickups. I had tried various guitars with Seymour Duncan P90's and found them to be raunchy but unrefined, generally lacking in top end and clarity. These pickups are extremely transparent and let the the guitar construction shine through. The high level of clarity lends itself to straty noodling, snappy blues (but with bags of sustain) and venturing into Jazz teritory.
Overdriven sounds have plenty of muscle and don't mush out, the clarity sticks and crunch sounds cover a spectrum of juicy blues tones.
I fitted push pull pots to provide series/parallel coils on each pickup and both positons provide ace tones. With both pickups on there are some excellent rhythm sounds and with s bit of crunch dialled in, some cool blues voicings.
I cant find anything bad to say about them. Rock on DiMarzio.

Pickup features: Humbucking passive
Impedence or other specs: Output: 400mv DC resistance: 17.28K

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Special Double Cutaway
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: neck
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a hotter sound than the stock pickup offered.

Perceived output level: The output of this pickup compared to an EMG 89: A little more attack, slightly less sustain
Tone: The tone is tight, with alot of attack but with alot of sustain also with sucked out mids
Sonic evaluation: The guitar is an Epiphone Special Double cutaway and my amp is a Sovtek Mig 100H, cabinets are Laney 4X12's. I've always played with humbuckers(Gibsons les pauls) and was looking for a type of pickup that had the sustain of a humbucker but one that also had the attack close to that of a single coil. This is the pickup that did it for me and I now hardly ever play my other more expensive guitars! This cheap little Epiphone with the DLX plus just sounds so tight and responsive: has great harmonics and sounds real big while cutting out some of the midrange. Most of my other guitars have EMG's (which I also love a lot) and when switching the guitar cable back and forth from them to my Double cutaway, surprisingly, the double cutaway(with the DLX plus) is slightly quieter than the EMG's!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a lot of KISS and other hard rock. This pickup "accents" my music better because of the attack and definition.

Comments: I'd HAVE to buy it again. Been playing 7 years. I own 6 guitars(mostly gibsons) and I've been stuck on playing this cheap Epiphone for over 2 years now, I hardly ever play the others now. I did'nt do a lot of sound comparisons but did do a lot of article research. I am satisfied with this combo, it has a real articulate sound. Try it, but try it in a guitar made of a warm sounding wood such as mahogany as I think it gives it just the right amount of fatness to the sound.