DiMarzio Dual Sound

Pickup features: Humbucking high-output
Impedence or other specs: output: 425 mv

Model of guitar or bass: 2000 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fender DH-1 humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio PAF Pro (neck), Virtual Vintage 2.1 (middle)
Artists using this pickup: Super Distortion used by Vinnie Moore, Iron Maiden, Al DiMeola, KISS many others
You musical style(s): rock, progressive rock, fusion, blues, neo-classical
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more variety and power.

Perceived output level: Hot in series, medium-hot in parallel.
Tone: Series: Thick and meaty, but not too bassy. Parallel: A little crisper, a bit less bottom end. Pristine and glass-like.
Sonic evaluation: I am writing this to let people know that this pickup sounds INCREDIBLE in parallel wiring mode. I had this wired in series, like a standard Super Distortion. This weekend, I added a switch to allow parallel. What an incredible difference! It's still hot, but not quite as "woofy" - sounds incredible clean in the bridge position in parallel, in high-gain applications is a little more articulate and glassy than in series mode.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: rock, progressive rock, fusion, blues, neo-classical. This pickup would work in the neck, but best in bridge.

Comments: If someone stole this I would kill them. This is THE BEST humbucking bridge pickup you can put in your guitar, period. The variety in tone you get from having parallel/series switching and the way that the pickup responds to changes in tone control, volume, and pick attack make it a real winner. There's a reason legends like Iron Maiden and Al DiMeola used the 2-wire version of this pickup. The Dual Sound is a 4-wire version that gives you unparalleled (no pun intended) flexibility and astounding tone. For hard rock, run it in series and you have that classic metal tone. Clean, run it in parallel and you have a SWEET bridge tone, non-grating and musical. Run it parallel high-gain and watch your solos light up the sky. You really need to try this pickup, it's that damn good!!

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 13.8

Model of guitar or bass: Samick Artist Les Paul Copy
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Rio Grande BBQ
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Virtual Paf
Artists using this pickup: Don't Know
You musical style(s): Everything
Reason for pickup change: I had the pickup in a strat copy already so I wanted to try it in the Samick.

Perceived output level: Hot but not overpowering.
Tone: Some would say muddy but I find it to be just right with my gear.
Sonic evaluation: Samick Les Paul, Crate vintage club 30 watt tube amp, (with Celestion vintage 30) straight into the amp. I love the tube amp sound and this amp really sounds good. It is under-rated. At least I know this amp is made in America! Yah.. Yah.. The Rio BBQ sounds good too but I like the warm crunch you can get with the DS plus I can get it to sound good clean. Love the sound!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Everything

Comments: The Samick Artist Paul weighs less than a Gibson Paul but it sounds and plays awesome. Someday I want a Real Les Paul or something similar made in the U.S. If it were stolen I would help the Empire hunt down and defeat the rebel scum who stole it!

Pickup features: 4-conductor wire and mini switch for coil tapping, series/parallel wiring
Impedence or other specs: http://www.dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Dat Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Blues in neck, stock single coil in middle
Artists using this pickup: Not many, though it is identical to the Super Distortion, which has been used by EVERYONE
You musical style(s): Blues, Blues-Rock, Rock, Alternative, Ska, Punk, Funk, Fusion
Reason for pickup change: I wanted something with more guts, and wanted the 4-conducter wiring for versatility.

Perceived output level: Parallel : Enough! Series : More than enough! :-)
Tone: Parallel : VERY Single-coilish tone but still cancels hum! Nice and balance....GREAT chime through a Vox-y, slightly distorted amp! Nice and complex also, great for funky clean riffs. Series : Excellent output, lots of mids....really drives amps hard, gets that great natural overdrive/distortion. Still, a balanced, but bassy-middy tone, that CAN be used for scooped tones with a good amp/EQ. Series is my favourite for punchy, low or medium-gain blues tones!
Sonic evaluation: Using Fender amps mostly, one Roland...and a '64 Gibson GA-15RVT :D. Very versatile, sounds great with every piece of gear I've tried it through...sounds best through tubies, but doesn't everything? :-)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is great for classic rock, blues, funky stuff (a la RHCP), and is also good for heavier tones for heavy rock/alternative and punk. When in parallel, it mixes well with the middle position single coil to get you those quacky "Derek and the Dominos"-esque tones. A GREAT pickup!

Comments: I've been palying for 6 years now...I'm a classical guitarist, but dabble in EVERYTHING on electric! I play or have played in just about every type of band, and this pickup works well with them all...it's got great tone, period. Great output, but you can always lower it if it's too hot for your taste.
I love the fat, punchy blues tones I get with it, it's also great for heavy overdriven stuff. I'm always trying out new gear, but this pickup is staying put for good!
One thing I also really like about it is that it has TWO rows of allen-adjustable pole pieces. That way, you can really tailor the "accent" of the pickup...i.e. if you raise the inner coil's polepieces on the treble strings, they will sound a bit warmer, you could raise the outer coil's polepieces on the bass side to give the bass more clarity...or vice-versa! Just a great pickup.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker w/ 4 conductor wiring
Impedence or other specs: Equal to that of a Super Distortion

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG320
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez Powersound (stock)
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan JB (neck model)
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Metal, emo, hardcore
Reason for pickup change: The Ibanez powersounds didn't have the balls I wanted and sounded poor through my amp. I am used to high output pickups and I dislike the majority of stock pickups anyway.

Perceived output level: Equal to a Super Distortion...hot, but can still get a spanky clean when the volume's backed down...
Tone: Very balanced. Midrangy, but in all the right frequencies. Sounds good with the mids scooped or not. Enough treble to cut through, and a solid bottom end. Not muddy at all, very crunchy and bright.
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez RG320 into a Peavey 5150 head and cabinet with a Boss GE-7 and DD-5, both running in the effects loop. I scoop the mids with the equalizer somewhat then boost the amplifier's mids to 10.
The pickup sounded great. It's not quite as hot as some people might want (IE: Pantera saturated, which is ridiculous unless you can't control your tone with your hands.) It's very toneful, one might say. A very balanced midrange sound, and a very crunchy pickup indeed. Sounds good when I palm mute, and it can handle staccato riffing and fast lead runs without getting muddy at all. Back off the volume (even with the gain on-this a a 5150 we're talking about folks) and there's a very spanky clean on the coil tapped setting. I like it, it's very trebly without being overly so, and it's very clangy. Like a Jazzmaster clean, but fatter and with less treble. I can't give you an exact example, but for a good idea of the clean sound I'm talking about, go download Converge - "Flowers And Razorwire". Very delicious indeed. The pickup combined with a good high gain preamp (preferably a Marshall or a 5150,) combined with a delay and possibly a flanger, NAILS the "brown sound".

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play metal. I play hardcore sometimes, old school and new school. It's great for anything that needs good distorted tone without being muddy. Works especially great for classic rock, stuff like Boston, AC/DC, Kiss, etc....but it slays for thrash like Slayer, Dekapitator, and metalcore like Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, and Coalesce. I wouldn't reccomend this pickup if you de-tune lower than C or C# however, because you might find the amount of gain and bottom end lacking. Death metal artists, unless you prefer the tone that this pickup achieves, might want to look into an EMG 81 or a Seymour Duncan Invader. Both are great pickups. I think this pickup would probably sound great in the neck for Santana-type creamy leads and rhythm guitar, if your equipment is properly set up. This isn't a jazz pickup, look into a Dimarzio Fred, a Dimarzio PAF (MAYBE...), a Seymour Duncan Jazz, or a Seymour Duncan JB. All for the neck position.

Comments: I'd probably replace this pickup with itself if it crapped out on me for some reason. It's a damn good pickup, and this is my first axe with 5 way switching. The tone speaks for itself.
Been playing for about 4 years now. I've got a '62 Fender Jazzmaster reissue, an old modified Squier that I use for de-tuned stuff (that has a Seymour Duncan Invader in it-very muddy pickup, but good for Hatebreed, Crowbar, Pantera type metal...sludgy stuff.) I have a Peavey 5150 head and cab, just got the tubes in the 5150 switched to Sovtek preamp and Groove Tube power tubes. Love it. Got the two stompboxes too. If you don't have an equalizer and you're bitching about how your tone sounds like shit, invest in one. I guarantee you'll solve it in one way or another. Of course, doesn't help much if you suck.
It was either this pickup or the Seymour Duncan JB. I got a JB, but only in the neck. This one is a lot hotter, and to my ears, a lot more midrangy and lifelike. Dimarzio pickups have a warmer, more lifelike sound than Seymour Duncan. Seymour Duncans are extremely good too, however. They've got a good combination between a the life of Dimarzios and the brutal gain and authority of EMG's higher gain stuff. Can't comment much on Duncan's stuff like the Pearly Gates, '59, etc...because I don't use them. I don't really play blues. I'm sure that they'd suit most people though. Bottom line: if you're using stock, get SOMETHING besides them unless your guitar is Paul Reed Smith or Gibson.
I'm pretty content with my tone until I find something better that comes along. Great pickup.

Pickup features: both single coil and humbucking
Impedence or other specs: output 425mV per dimarzio spec sheet

Model of guitar or bass: 1972 Gibson SG
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: black single-coil Gibson pickups
Other pickups on guitar: not needed
Artists using this pickup: me and...uh, Ace Frehley, I guess...Kiss Alive was my first album, but I put this axe together in 1979...
You musical style(s): jazz blues rock country soul thrash meatal
Reason for pickup change: First, I bought some lame-o Ibanez humbucker pickups (remeber, this was 1979...)...they squealed like a stuck pig on acid...you couldn't turn my amp up past 2 without those crummy Jap pickups feeding back some godaweful sqeauls...

Perceived output level: With two Dual Sound pick-up's, and the two mini-switches they come with, you have about 16 different tone combinations to choose from...I've never had a more versatile axe...
Tone: you get ballsy overdrive with tube amps, and a combo of so many tones, you put ol' Jeff Beck to shame...ooo-la-la
Sonic evaluation: Right now, I am using an Evans Custom Amplication JE-120 (www.evansamps.com)...this amp is crystal clean and I use a variety of stomp boxes for extra added fun...I've did the Marshall thing...it blew up, I did the Mesa Boogie thing...it hurt my hand to carry the heavy monster...the Evans is the best I've ever played in 25 years...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I do blues...I put all the other stuff above because I have roots in playing all those styles, and influences from them all, but blues is my bag...I believe in a "less is more" philosophy...turn down the distortion and get more tone...the Dual Sound keeps coming back for more, and does so many different things...I love them both...so much for Dimarzios's recommendation for "bridge only"...never listen to the manufacturer...what do they know...play your stuff your way, that's what I say...

Comments: I've been playing for 25 years...this 1972 SG is one that I let go at a pawn shop in 1980 when I bought my first Les Paul...I am in the process of building another SG with Dual Sounds today...I love how many options of tone you can come up with with the Dual Sound...I know you can coil tap any pick-up...I wonder what a P.A.F. style pick-up would sound like tapped...and with two, you'd have that vintage sound, plus single coil sizzle...I think when I get my SG body (I just bought an Aria SG copy off of this web site for $50...), I'm going to look into placing a 5-way switch on the guitar like a Strat...that way, what I'm looking for, is humbuckers, with coil tap, and the number 2 and 4 positions on the switch to be wired out-of-phase like the regular Strat...even more tones...I can't count that high...will give my Gibson Blueshawk and my Fender nashville Tele a run for the money for tone options...

Pickup features: Passive hummbucker
Impedence or other specs: Visit the Dimarzio webite

Model of guitar or bass: Gibsom Les Paul Custom
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro II
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Super Distortion in bridge (will add middle pickup shortly)
Artists using this pickup: ACE FREHLEY, Paul Gilbert, others also, get a Dimarzio catalog
You musical style(s): KISS, AC/DC, etc
Reason for pickup change: Wanted that KISS (aka ACE FREHLEY) sound.

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Depends upon the song; very responsive to volume control and coil tapping for THAT sound
Sonic evaluation: Crate G60-GT w/ Zoom GFX-707 at home.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good for KISS, ACDC, etc

Comments: I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Great for distorting sound. C'mon now, don't be slammin' ACE as a musician (see above). Sure there are many great musicians out there but how many stand/sit there and how many are active on stage.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Equal to Super Distortion but with series/parallel switching oriented wiring and a mini-switch bundled.

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Lame stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: Di'Marzio Evolution Neck
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Heavier styles mostly.
Reason for pickup change: I said, lame stock pickups

Perceived output level: Hot, tends to distort on clean sound.
Tone: crunchy
Sonic evaluation: I have a custom made guitar - poplar body, maple/rosewood bolt-on neck - with a resonate (bass guitar quality) low end. Tried a lot of combos - Marshall G215RCD at the moment.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy stuff, and this one is made for it. It's an obviously bridge-only model.

Comments: Honestly I was looking for a Super Distortion, but guy at my local store convinced me to by this one (the had no SD's at the moment) saying it has the same features and the same price. Then I thought that as long as I have series/parallel switching option I'd use it so mini-switch was installed at my axe. Now I see that I was lucky to get DS instead of SD. My axe is very bassy. It's good for Sabbat'esque stuff but not for fast gallops, and switching on parallel gives more tight and dry sound making my guitar more versalite.

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: <shrug> I just play 'em, I don't wire 'em. Probably should...

Model of guitar or bass: 1996 Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epi 'bucker
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio PAF in neck
Artists using this pickup: Ace Frehlely, Al Di Meola, me
You musical style(s): Sorta trippy prog-rock/alternative stuff, reminiscent of Pumpkins and Radiohead. Also some classic rock covers (Zepplin and Floyd)
Reason for pickup change: Epiphone pickups were microphonic, and the bridge hard far too little output, and sounded painfully thin and brittle. Literally _could_not_ use treble position on switch.

Perceived output level: Considerably hotter than a PAF, enough to just barely start driving my amp clean.
Tone: Much thicker than stock. Good balance, gets a really nice classic Les Paul tone.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using my Epi (which is the standard maple/mahogany, no alder filler), into a Danelectro Daddy-O, then into my 30-watt solid state Crate GX-30M. EQ is set for a good Jimmy Page tone on the Dano (all three bands about half between 1:00 and 2:00), amp EQ is dimed out.
This thing sounds absolutely great. It definitly nails the tone I was looking for in a bridge pickup for what I play. I admit, I did buy this mostly because Ace uses it, even though I hate KISS. Hey, the guy couldn't play his way out of a paper bag, but he's got good tone. The output level on this is great, it blends perfectly with the neck for rythym, and absolutely screams by itself, though with a definite 70s vibe, rather than the crappy 80s sounds that most of DiMarzio's, nay, most all aftermarket bridge pickups create. Very Zepplin, very Sabbath. And yes, though I'm ashamed of it, very KISS.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's good for the above mentioned styles, as well as Chicago blues (!), and maybe even a little metal (not what it's for, though).

Comments: This thing is perfect for what I play, be it Page-ish solos, or banging away like Radiohead. Hell, I can even play jazz and blues with it! If stolen, I'd first cry my eyes out, 'cause my beloved Les Paul would be gone too. Then I'd replace it. As for the 4-conductor wiring, I'm not really sure it's worth it.

Pickup features: Fill-Sized, Standard Spacing, 4-Conductor, Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 425mv output

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha RGX 821D
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Yamaha Stock Humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio X2N (Bridge)
Artists using this pickup: Many use the Super Distortion, which this is similar to.
You musical style(s): Late 70s/Early 80s Hard Rock & Metal
Reason for pickup change: The Yamaha humbuckers are thin sounding with little output,
bass & midrange.

Perceived output level: Quite Hot, perhaps just short of Twice a PAF's output.
Tone: Bassy with a strong midrange and enough trebble to add crispness to the tone - Exactly the same as a Super Distortion
Sonic evaluation: This pickup smokes! The output is great, but doesn't overly distort
my clean channel (Peavey Bandit 112). The tone is great for Black
Sabbath (say from 1972-1981). You can turn down the volume on your
guitar and go clean with the distortion on. Tone-wise, it's quite
muddy in the neck (where I have it and how I like it). I also tried
it in the bridge - it sounded really good here, like a PAF with a
boosted EQ in favour of the lower midrange. You can do coil-switching
with this one (the Super Distortion can't). As a single coil, it gets
more trebble, but lacks the "quacky", "glassy" sound that good single
coils have. Wired In-Parallel, it sounds nondescript.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's great for Black Sabbath, but might be too muddy in the neck for some people.

Comments: Get it for the bridge since it may be too muddy in the neck. The nice
thing is that it costs the same as a Super Distortion, sounds the same
as a Super Distortion, but lets you do coil-splitting. It even comes
with a 3W/DPDT switch. Just keep in mind that it doesn't sound like a
true Fender Single Coil when split, so sound versitility isn't the
selling point of the pickup.
I'd definately buy it again (the value is incredible), though I won't
bother installing the coil-splitting features next time around.