DiMarzio Evolution 7 String

7-string Humbucker, four-conductor wiring.

I installed this in the bridge position on my (Korean) Ibanez RG7321, replacing the poor Ibanez AH series pickup that comes as standard. Just not enough output and not at all tight. The only thing that's really wrong with the guitar. Chose this pickup in particular because it had the best reviews, from both friends and internet reviews. Plus if it was anything like the 6-string version Steve Vai used I knew I'd be in for good tone.

Playing the generally fast, tight sort of metal but also some nice phrasey Vai-style solos, this guitar covers both fields nicely. Average amount of bass, a good serving of mids, sufficient treble though not excessive, whether that is a good thing totally depends on your style, but if you use the right effects this pickup will respond well to it whilst retaining the nice smooth and tight combination which makes this pickup great. No idea how it sounds in any position other than bridge.

The only real hassle was installing the thing, even considering this was my first pickup change. The mounting post holes did not align with the holes in the body made for the original pickup. I don't know whether Dimarzio or Ibanez was at fault regarding any standard spacings, but upon phoning the UK support for Dimarzio, they told me I had to ream out the holes into slots so that the screw could just drop through and align as necessary. I was also told to find washers to go between the screw head and the top of the baseplate to prevent the screw grinding against it. Quite a bit of hassle, would have been even more so if reaming tools weren't at hand.

Pickup features: humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dunno

Model of guitar or bass: ibanez rg1527
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock ibanez v87
Other pickups on guitar: stock ibanez v77
Artists using this pickup: none i know, steve vai uses the 6 string version
You musical style(s): rock, and metal, ( ld school), and some prog
Reason for pickup change: the stock was too poor soundin, it lacked punch an clearness

Perceived output level: not so hot as all say, balnced with the stock neck, maybe a bit more on the hot side
Tone: clear cutting, very full mid, with enough high, not piercing, and the right bass
Sonic evaluation: i was frightened because some friends gave me this as a birthday present, i was worried from the old rewiev on this site.
i had to drill the pickup hole a bit to put this baby in, and when i hit the first chord i fell in love with it, i heard a very balanced sound, with more punch and presence than i expected, on some setting (ie preamp set very high and power amp a bit low)it distort beauifully the clean channel, but it's something you can control, andthis is the true power of this pickup, it gives you control over subtle variation on your tone, if you can play, then it is a valuable ally, but if you can't hold aguitar it wiil wreck your neck with noise and scretchy sound.......is not a forgiving pickup!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play proggish music, metal, rock, satch, vai and a little dream theater, very good sound!.......don't try it in th neck!!!

Comments: i'd like to try the seymour duncan distortion bridge, but i don't need a pickup change for my bridge anymore!!!( neck is on list !!!! )
i've been playing for 12years, and i own an highway strat, with hotrail in bridge, a mesa v-twin and a mesa20/20 poweramp, i love the clearness, and the cutting sound of this new puppy, i miss just a bit of bass, but not so much!i'd like to say that's not a freky pickup monster, it's not out of control..but a very balanced piece of art that will give you a clear edge in your playing!!!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: split coil mode possible. see di marzio website for details

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7421
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez V7-7
Other pickups on guitar: Di Marzio Blaze Neck
Artists using this pickup: Steve Vai and many others
You musical style(s): Metal, and Rock
Reason for pickup change: The Ibanez pickups were too blurry for metal. And I wanted a black guitar with white pickups, and white knobs.

Perceived output level: The output level is more than normal, but the lows on the 7th string stay tight.
Tone: Awesome tone. Lots of harmonic complexity. Fairly balanced, with a slight peak in the mid-highs
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a line 6 am4 amp modeler as a preamp, and from there it goes to any amp available in the practice studio. Usually a Roland Jazz chorus 75. I wanted the RG7421 to sound like my Ibanez Universe, quality-wise.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is suitable for any style, if you crave for rich harmonics, this is it! Don't put it in the neck position until Di Marzio makes a X2N for 7 string, hahaha

Comments: I compared this pickup to EMG's and Seymour Duncans. The European distributor of Seymour Duncan wouldn't take custom color orders, and EMG's sound just a bit too sterile for my taste. My Ibanez Universe has Di Marzio's and I was already familiar with the regular Evolution for 6 string guitars.
My quest for THE sound is over.
Di Marzio delivers excellent service. Michael Altilio at Di Marzio helped me out with taking care of my order (two green humbuckers and a single coil for the Universe, and two white humbuckers for the RG7421)and they did a great job. Coloured Di Marzio's are really hard to get in The Netherlands.
There's one thing that's not entirely correct: for the neck humbucker, the alignment of the pole pieces is a bit off, because the string spacing changes radically from nut to bridge with 7 string Ibanez guitars. But I don't experience any problems with the sound.

Pickup features: passive humbucker for 7-string guitars
Impedence or other specs: www.dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: I forgot. 7-string Ibanez 24 fret strat style with tremelo.
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez P.O.S. pickups. (don't make me spell out P.O.S.)
Other pickups on guitar: Air Norton 7 (neck)
Artists using this pickup: www.dimarzio.com
You musical style(s): hard rock -> heavy metal
Reason for pickup change: stock pickups sounded thin and lifeless. No definition!

Perceived output level: One of Dimarzio's hottest pickups.
Tone: Full mids to highs, tight bass.
Sonic evaluation: Before you bother reading any farther, if you are a "guitar straight into amp" kinda guy this pickup is -not- for you.
This pickup's forte' is high mids to high frequencies and will probably sound like a tin roof to you unless you run it through effects...why? The person for whom the six string version was designed loves effects, his name is Steve Vai.
Most pickups get lost in a sea of soup when you run them through tons of effects. The evolution 7 does not, it cuts through like a double edged sword with tons of definition. If you love to effect the heck out of your signal then I strongly suggest you check this pickup out.
My rig: Ibanez 7-string -> Digitech 2101 LE stereo split -> ADA Microtube 200 -> two 4x12 cabinets.
This pickup was made for soloing. It handles rythem as well if you like that 80's style crunch. I can get a great George Lynch rhythm sound with it. If you can't do pinch harmonics with THIS pickup then you need to practice more. The low B string hits hard but with character and NO MUD. I have an air norton 7 in the neck and can acieve great clean tones when I split the coils of both pickups.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I feel that this is the best pickup available for the style of music I play.

Comments: I'm always willing to try something new, but have yet to hear a better combo than what I have for 7-string guitars.
Bridge - Evolution 7
Neck - Air Norton 7

Pickup features: Ceramic Magnet Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 14.09k resistance, 420mv output

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7421
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock V8-7
Other pickups on guitar: Stock V7-7
Artists using this pickup: Nobody I know of, Steve Vai plays the six string version
You musical style(s): Art metal and hard rock
Reason for pickup change: Stock wasn't bad, but I was looking to get something more clear and powerfull.

Perceived output level: Somewhat hotter than stock.
Tone: Huge sounding, with very present midrange, WAY too many overtones.
Sonic evaluation: The Ibanez RG7421 is going into a Digitech Valve FX processor into a BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer into a Carvin DCM150 power amp into a Legion Sound 2x12 cab. I really wanted to like this pickup, it got good reviews on here and most seemed to like it for heavy stuff, which is why I got it. But there is just WAY WAY WAY WAY too many overtones, which it would seem is one purpose. According to the Dimarzio website it has something called a dual resonance design which senses more harmonic overtones than regular pickups. Mission accomplished, but whether or not that's a good thing is subjective. I could not get this thing under control no matter what I did. Playing a single note line on the low B sounded like a train wreck. However, the lead sound was awesome. I guess if I had money to burn I'd get a guitar with an Evo in it just for lead sounds. But I need something to do everything, and unfortunately this wasn't it. I might also add that in split mode the clean sounds were excellent, twangy and present. Ironic that it did everything well except what I primarily got it for which was distorted rhythm playing. But I needed something that was muscular and taught but clear.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play melodic art metal and hard rock, and as I said this pickup was just way too loud and out of control for me. It does have great lead sounds. But most on here seem to like it for high gain stuff, so I guess I'm in the minority.

Comments: I would get this pickup again if I had a guitar dedicated only to lead playing, but I wouldn't use it as my main guitar pickup. I used to be an EMG man, but I like the feel and convenience of passive pickups. After the guitar sound cut out for no reason on an EMG equipped guitar during an audition I swore off EMG's. Lo and behold, I like passive pickups better anyway. I've been playing for about ten years now, and I know what sound I'm after. I read lots of reviews on here to help me know what pickup sounded like what, and decided to try the Evo 7. Other options were the Tone Zone 7 (decided not to get that one on Dimarzio's recommendation), the Air Norton 7, and maybe the Blaze. I didn't want to get the blaze because I don't like heavily scooped sounds, which is ironic because that's what I eventually ended up with after trying the Air Norton 7 on exchange. I'll post those reviews soon if anyone's interested. Hey, just because I didn't like this pickup doesn't mean it won't work for anyone else, tone is so subjective. If you're more into lead playing, it may be the thing for you, but I need a great rhythm sound first and foremost. And I guess that's all I have to say about that. :)

Pickup features: humbucker
Impedence or other specs: no

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7620
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock DiMarzio "blaze II"
Other pickups on guitar: blaze II neck
Artists using this pickup: i dunno
You musical style(s): high gain...
Reason for pickup change: stock pickup lacked definiton..

Perceived output level: hight
Tone: well ballanced, nice highs, tight lows. good harmonix
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez rg7620 (Basswood) > VHT pittbull.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: high gain styles, yes yes

Comments: its doopee

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Ceramic magnet, 420mv of output, 14.09Kohms of Impedance

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez uv777
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: blaze II dp702
Other pickups on guitar: blaze II dp700 dp701
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Christian melodic metal/worship
Reason for pickup change: The blaze II is very muddy and lacks any clarity, focus, harmonics, usable tone, and it is in my opinion an utterly useless pickup. Seems to be highly recommended for numetal though.

Perceived output level: Hot enough to distort the clean channel
Tone: great mids and over all well balanced
Sonic evaluation: I am using an Ibanez uv777 basswood with push pull pots > dbx 1231 Ch1 > proco r2du > Boss MT2 > dbx 1231 Ch2 > Crate gx30. The evolution dp704 is a great seven string bridge pickup. The upper mids sing, the highs cut through with out being harsh, and lows are deep and very tight. Notes stay clear and defined when run through extreme amounts of gain. It is similar to the six string version but with more low end. As with the six string evolution all notes played come through on the seven string version as well.
Clean all notes of chords really come through well and is hot enough to distort the clean channel if desired. This pickup is very versatile in the metal/rock arena. With all eqs flat medal zone eq settings at twelve o?clock and distortion maxed you get an nice heavy sound. Boost around 80Hz and you get a death metal with very tight lows and great clarity. Boost around 1.25MHz and you get a screaming leads. Cut all the lows and you get that black metal sound. With an eq and a metal zone I can get most sounds I am looking for. Boost the eq preamp 12db and the sound is supersaturated but the notes are still reasonably clear even with all the gain.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: great for most types of metal and rock not for grindcore and new metal

Comments: I was looking for a pickup with clarity that excelled at metal. The main choices for the criteria were the Evolution, JB Player, and the Duncan Distortion. The evolution had the most clarity, output, and incredible versatility. DiMarzio sound samples at there website Duncan sound samples http://pages.tca.net/scott_f/hummer.htm

Pickup features: Passive, Humbucking, 7string..
Impedence or other specs: http://www.dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7620
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock 'new7'
Other pickups on guitar: Air Norton 7
Artists using this pickup: ?? None that I know of, Vai uses the 6-string version..
You musical style(s): Melodic Thrash/Death Metal, and Instrumental metal..
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups, while being Dimarzios, were muddy and just nasty.. Guitar sounded like sludge, with a lack of harmonics..

Perceived output level: Hot, lot more than what I'm used to..
Tone: Trebly, and middy, with a huge spike in the high mids..
Sonic evaluation: RG7620 with 1meg volume pot through: Johnson J-Station, BBE 422 Sonic Maximizer, ADA MircoTube 200, 2-12 with Eminence speakers..
This thing, IMO, is the best 7 string bridge pickup for a basswood guitar.. It screams, has a lot of presence and mids, and sounds clear even with a ton of gain.. Even sounds tight playing fast('Kreator'-style) on the low B..

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play old school Thrash, and Death Metal.. It sounds great for these, but would be too much output for clean playing.. It distorts on clean through my setup.. I wouldn't put this in the neck position, bridge only..

Comments: Would I buy it again? Yes.
I've been playing for 12 years, most of my gear is listed above.. I also have two other guitars, an '88 Ibanez RG750, and a '97 RG570.. What can I say, I love RGs..
I love the over all tone of this pickup, and the boosted mids.. I don't really like the huge output, wish it was more medium output..
I chose this over ever other 7 string pickup because of the boosted mids.. Nothing else on the market had lots of mids, without a ton of bass to go with them..
THis is the 7 string bridge pickup for me. ^_^

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 14.23K Ohms

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Universe UV777 PBK
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Blaze
Other pickups on guitar: Stock middle and neck
Artists using this pickup: My collegue with the other review
You musical style(s): Hard rock 70:s style with todays touch
Reason for pickup change: The original was too dark sounding even if it was loud enough.

Perceived output level: Slightly hotter than stock
Tone: Much better balance. More low mid and high end. Still moving air on 7-string
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez Universe and Engl"Ritchie Blackmore" head into Peavey 5150 slant cabinet.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy rock (Mucho Black Sabbath) with modern sound

Comments: It's a good pick-up without special coloring. I got an older Universe and that pick-up is stock. It's much brighter than the Blaze on this guitar.
I have been playing for more than 20 years and when several years have gone you think there must be away to get a better sound.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez UV777bk
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Blaze 2 Bridge
Other pickups on guitar: Blaze 2 Single and Neck
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): DEath Metal
Reason for pickup change: I changed pickups because I felt that the Blaze 2 was too clean sounding and since I am use to playing with EMG 81's I felt like the Blaze 2 just didnt have that oomph I was looking for. This new pickup really did the trick.

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez Universe VHT Pittbull

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Death Metal. Killer Match

Comments: All I can say is that this is a much better pickup for the music that I like to play than the Blaze 2. I would defineately replace this pickup