DiMarzio Megadrive

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dunno

Model of guitar or bass: jackson usa kelly: alder body, maple neck, neck thru
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: seymour duncan jb
Other pickups on guitar: seymour duncan jazz
Artists using this pickup: i think kerry king used them
You musical style(s): metal (real metal pantera sepultura ect. not that slipknot poser crap
Reason for pickup change: jb was too harsh and not definied and tight enough

Perceived output level: pretty hot not as hot as emgs but hot enough for crushing metal tones
Tone: this thing is unbelieveable. very clear and tight like emgs but stronger and fatter with a warm lead sound and bone crushing lower strings.
Sonic evaluation: i use a marshall dsl 100 head thru a marshall 1960 cab. first i installed this with the poles to the bridge what made the guitar sound extremely warm... great for vintage rock where you dont have to mute alot but the mutes were too warm for metal and the leads too. then i "flipped" the megadrive with the blade to the bridge... HOLY SHIT... pure fucking metal tone bone crushing tight lows definied mutes and a warm singing leads sound that isnt harsh or too warm think of alexi laihos lead sound on the somthing wild album or michael angelo batios no boundries. perfect

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: its definately a metal pu but can be used for rock and vintage sounds if installed right the cleans are usable too.

Comments: i think ive found my sound this thing is much better than duncan or emgs. the best lead/metal pu ever made

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: output - 350mV, D.C. resistance - 15.03K

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG570
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio PAF Pro (neck), Dimarzio Chopper (middle)
Artists using this pickup: no idea, Dimarzio dont even list it anymore
You musical style(s): classical / neo-classical / prog death metal
Reason for pickup change: Super Distortion was very muddy. sounded poor on leads, but mostly its the mud when trying to do Opeth-like chords.

Perceived output level: hot, but 'cool' as lacks mids
Tone: scooped mids, but very warm on leads
Sonic evaluation: I play through RG570, Washburn Culprit, Custom made guitar (built by me!) All guitars are loaded with different Dimarzios. The RG has lately been my fav axe by far, the com is really awesome - allows for all tones i could desire - neoclassical (paf pro) warm rhythm (ala Black Sabbath) - chopper - and heavy metal chug - Megadrive. like EMGs, but with a soul. I use a rack setup, Metalhead Electronics Elan II pre-amp into Mesa 50/50 power amp into a cab loaded with Celestions.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: progressive death metal - works REALLY well. has so much clarity for full chords, yet enough thrash chug, AND warm lead tone.

Comments: my fav rhythm pick-up yet. Clarity of this thing is amazing. Like EMG, but with so much soul, and not as 'dead' and cold. Pinch harmonics still come off, but sound 'cooler' due to lack of mids. Shame Dimarzio dont list this p-up anymore.... this is MY bridge pick-up, i think :-)

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: No idea.!

Model of guitar or bass: Hodgy G special Wolfhound
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Hodgy G stock bridge humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Hodgy G "super phat" neck humbucker
Artists using this pickup: None currently, but I think Dynamic Chris D of punk band "Ripoff" used to.
You musical style(s): Toilet rock
Reason for pickup change: The wolfhound is a fine British guitar with two adequate humbuckers, but I could never find a sound that I was happy with. I went through a LOT of guitars and amps before I found this pickup. Now its installed (by Carl Bastos of Cradley) I have finally found "My sound". Crystal highs and bowel loosening lows mean that my playing has never sounded better. It wont work for jazz, but I never play that "doo wap" stuff anyway. Its a metal pickup and It means I can lay waste to large areas of open land at any given time.

Perceived output level: Hotter than a napalm vindaloo!
Tone: Balanced but with enhanced trable, middle and bass
Sonic evaluation: I use this pickup in the wolfhound, which has a body made of ply and an okavango neck. My amp is a custom designed Kwakman 200. Its a twin channel 200 watt head. I keep it at an empty warehouse in Smethwick together with an Gimpman 4X12 cabinet.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play toilet rock in the style of bands such as Clothingcarl.

Comments: This pickup is a fine match for my guitar and amp combination. If it were stolen I would apprehend the felon and make him chew on glass whilst listening to Max Bygraves and Musical Youth. I think that the pickup retains clarity and depth yet has an immense amount of WOOOAAAARRRGGGGHHHH. (gain). I recommend it.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker, one coil w/ a rail, the other w/ allen wrench poles
Impedence or other specs: Not sure, but VERY hot

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Iceman
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 498T
Other pickups on guitar: Gibson 490R
Artists using this pickup: Kerry King from SLAYER!!!
You musical style(s): Heavy Rock
Reason for pickup change: Not happy with the 498T, kinda muddy in the Iceman

Perceived output level: Holy cow!!! one hot pick up
Tone: Very well balanced tone, just enough high end but not TOO much
Sonic evaluation: I use a 1981 JCM800 100W Master Lead with 2 stock Marshall cabs. I use the natural overdrive in the head (Gain about 8) with a Boss Blues Driver as a clean boost (pedal volume high, distortion low).
When I first bought this pickup (1992), I was getting my crappy Peavey guitar modded to take a humbucker. The store guy asked what pickup I wanted put in, I said "I dunno." They handed me a DiMarzio book and said "Pick one." Picked the Megadrive on a whim, my guitar still sounded like crap. Never heard of anyone using these, or ever seeing them for sale after that, figured it was a crummy pickup that disappeared into obscurtiy. Bought a Paul Stanley Iceman, and didn't even think twice about the pickup languishing in my closet.
When I finally started checking out this Harmony-Central, out of curiosity I looked at the reviews for the Megadrive... everybody RAVED about them!!! Minutes later I was tearing apart my closet to reclaim that pickup from the crappy Peavey guitar. Even on my crummy practice amp I noticed the difference right away--a very high gain pickup. When I first tried it on my Marshall stack, it was definitely a HOLY SHIT experience. I had found THE pickup for my Iceman.
Big, beefy, thick tone. Very impressive sounding. Tons of bass, slightly scooped mids (a phrase which is usually bad news to me) but VERY CLEAR, just enough high end without being shrill, like the Super Distortion. An all-around heavy-sounding pickup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Heavy Rock, like old Black Sabbath. Seems suitable for any (heavy) music.

Comments: I would buy another if I knew where/how to find them. I've been scouring E-Bay for them, and nothing! Completely blows away the Super Distortion (too shrill and high-endy), and with one rail/one allen head coil it is a very distinctive looking--and sounding--pickup. I'm surprised more people don't use them!!! If stolen, I'd be super pissed because I wouldn't know how to find another.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker, 4-conductor cable
Impedence or other specs: 350 mV, slightly scooped mids and recessed treble. treble 6, mids 5 and bass 7

Model of guitar or bass: ESP Horizon Custom
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan SH-6, DiMarzio Tone Zone, Shadow SH-680
Other pickups on guitar: ESP Dual Rail
Artists using this pickup: Kerry King (Slayer)
You musical style(s): Metal, Hardcore, Metalcore
Reason for pickup change: I didn't like the sound of the SH-6 when I bought the ESP used. Clean it had an icepick sound to it. The Horizon is an alder guitar and maple neck-through with a trem, so it's already a bright guitar. The SH-6 made it overly bright. I replaced it with a Tone Zone but the mids on that pup in addition to the mids of the guitar was just too much and it just didn't sound right.

Perceived output level: Seems like it's hotter than a Duncan Custom, but slightly less than a Duncan Distortion. It doesn't distort the clean channel but still drives the amp hard when on distortion channel.
Tone: Very tight sounding pickup. The combination of a rail on one coil and allen-head screws on the other one give it a great clarity. The pup is not muddy at all. It is slightly scooped and has sightly less treble than a Custom or Distortion but it can be dialed back in with the amps settings again.
Sonic evaluation: Like I mentioned earlier this pup is in an ESP Horizon Custom. A guitar from the late 80s/early 90s. It's made from alder and has a maple neck, neck-through construction with maple sides. The Floyd Rose trem takes some of the beefiness too. I tried removing some of the trebleness and bring back some beefyness by putting this pup into the axe and it worked excellent.
I play several amps. A VHT Pittbull Classic, a Peavey 5150 and a moddel Marshall JCM 800 2204. All of them sound fantastic with my guitar and the Mega Drive. Very punchy and a huge sound. Even the 5150 that tends to get muddy with high-gain pups stays relatively clear and articulate.
The construction of the Mega Drive is what makes it a great choice. Slightly scooped for clarity but still enough treble and mids to make it cut through. Very highly recommended for alder guitars. It has lots of low end without getting muddy. Not even in mahogany guitars, I tried it in an ESP Viper as well. I like it much better than the Tone Zone which I find sounds muddy. A friend of mine put a Mega Drive into his guitar as well and was completely blown away. Before he liked the Tone Zone a lot but now thinks that the Mega Drive is far superior.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I mainly play metal, hardcore and metalcore and it's a perfect match for the bridge position.

Comments: If it went bad on me or would get stolen (then I would have to get the same guitar again as well) I'd get it again right away. For this guitar it is THE perfect pup. I tried lots of other pups, also in other guitars, but in this axe it flat out kills.
I've been playing for 10 years now and own several guitars and amps. I haven't found such a perfect guitar/pup combination with my other guitars like I've found it with this one. I'm still trying to find the perfect match for mahogany. I think the recessed treble on the Mega Drive makes mahogany guitars a little dark. But not overly, and definitely not muddy. Maybe I'll try to change that by soldering a different cap to the volume pot. Remember, if you have a different guitar you will get a different result, of course.
The Mega Drive is a pup with a lot of roar. It's has the aggressiveness of the Duncan Distortion but is smoother sounding. I think the bass on the Distortion is too chunky and seems to be flubby. The Mega Drive has that same feel but is a lot tighter and less trebly.
I chose the Mega Drive after someone mentioning it on the message boards and reading the reviews on here. All in all the reviews on this pup are rather positive and that made me very curious.
The Mega Drive is not listed on the DiMarzio site anymore but it HAS NOT BEEN discontinued. I ordered mine brand new from a store.
I have another Horizon (a deluxe) and I'll probably put another Mega Drive into that one as well.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1979 Gibson Flying V, 1980 Dean Z Standard, 1999 Dean V Select
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Whatever was in there previously - I'm always swapping pickups around
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio DP-104 Super 2, DiMarzio DP-153 Fred, Gibson 496-R
Artists using this pickup: Me, and probably many others who have a good ear for superior tone
You musical style(s): Melodic Metal & Hard Rock, Modern Blues ala Gary Moore, Michael Schenker Rules!
Reason for pickup change: I'm quite satisfied with my sound, but always looking to improve it. Trial & Error is the only way to find out which pickups sound best in any given guitar.

Perceived output level: Plenty - Only a few passive pickups have higher output
Tone: Loud, Open, and balanced with great harmonics. Tight low end & silky highs that cut. Smooth mids that never sound muddy.
Sonic evaluation: I play high quality USA Mahogany & Korina set neck guitars - Gibsons & Deans. My amp rig consists of Marhall 50w Plexi heads and Hiwatt DR-504 (mid 70s) 50w heads. Various 4x12, 4x10, and 2x12 cabs loaded with Celestion 65s, 75s, G12H30s, Vintage 30s, and Fanes (The Best!) I use a pedalboard (Custom built by moi) that is all AC powered, with a total of 15 stompboxes on it - Mostly older BOSS pedals, with a Dunlop 535Q Wah, MXR Micro Amp, and a couple of Guyatones. I set my amps clean, and the pedals do the rest. My primary source of distortion/gain comes from a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone. Many people have badmouthed this pedal, but I've tried everything else available, and nothing else comes close - You have to know how to use it. The Megadrive works great with this pedal, and my amp rig - I can get any sound I want. Remember that a pickup is just one small element toward the front of your signal chain that effects your overall sound. I match pickups to the specific guitar that they're going in, and for high quality Hondras Mahogany set neck guitars, this pickup is the ticket. Its EQ curve is slightly scooped in the mids, which offsets the naturally mid rich sound of the guitars I play and the amps I use. Think of early - mid 80's Maiden, Priest, Scorpions, etc. And I can nail Michael Schenker's tone perfectly - Not easy to do, & what more could you ask for?

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: As previously stated, I play predominantly 80s style melodic metal/hard rock, and modern blues ala Gary Moore on his early 90s blues albums. This is a bridge pickup - Never tried it in the neck, and know enough about pickups to know that there are much better choices for the neck position. This pickup is no longer listed as a regular production model by DiMarzio, but is still available. They claim that the "Steve's Special" fills the same niche, but I've tried them both in the same guitars through the same rig, and there's no comparison. The Megadrive was the clear winner in this A/B experiment. IMO, the Megadrive is one of only about five truly outstanding bridge position pickups ever made.

Comments: In the right application, this pickup is just about as good as it gets. I wouldn't put it in a maple neck bolt on Superstrat type of axe, unless you're looking for that (IMO) annoying scooped mid speed/death metal sound. I've been playing professionally for over 30 years, and am a professional luthier/business owner as well. If you play a Les Paul, Explorer, or Flyng V etc, through an old school Marshall or similar amp, and want that huge, smooth 80's metal sound with harmonics galore, Sustain that enables you to hang a note indefinitely, and a tight focused low end with silky highs, the Megadrive just might be the missing link in your chain. I hope that DiMarzio never stops making them. Highly recommended!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Prs Ce 22
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Prs Dragon treble
Other pickups on guitar: Prs Dragon Bass
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Hardcore Punk and Metal
Reason for pickup change: Bridge pick up sounded hollow and did not have enough gain

Perceived output level: Very high but not grainy or to hard to control
Tone: Very clear great big low end sound with clear highs and lower mids
Sonic evaluation: I've tried it thru a Marshall jcm 800 and a 900, also through a mesa trem o verb rectifier, vox and a super reverb. While it can't do completely clean it does moderately clean, cruchy but not distorted well. And at high gain it it unreal, Powerful and hot but still clear. It cobines with the prs dragon bass beautiful. When it is split it is still powerful but almost like a very hot tele although with much more low end but it gets those tele like higs in single coil mode

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

Comments: I would put these in all my guitars. I have been playing for 12 years
Supposedly they are not made any more but I called Dimarzio and they said they still make tham but they just don't list them becasue the are similar to the Steves special. However I compared the two and the Mega Drive Is far superior. If you can I highly recomend these pickups

Pickup features: humbucking rail/adjustable pole pieces split
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Rich Ironbird
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: origonal
Other pickups on guitar: paf
Artists using this pickup: Morgan Bucks from the Coinmen (me)
You musical style(s): Hard and pop rock
Reason for pickup change: I just bought a Raven PRS copy and was going to drop a PRS pick-up in it, But decided to do some research to see what this is in my Rich that everyone always says what are you playing that rocks so great is. Well this is a Megadrive

Perceived output level: Makes EVH sound sound like crap, A muck ballsier way to get all the harmonics you want with out sounding like mud
Tone: Clear
Sonic evaluation: JCM marshall and 150R Pignose crossmix

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup makes pop songs rock and rock songs roll

Comments: I've been playing for 20 years and this pickup is the bomb, I want more

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: MegaDrive specs are: output-350mv., treble-6, midrange-5, bass-7, & D.C. resistance-15.03K.

Model of guitar or bass: USA Jackson Kelly Marty Friedman with fixed bridge
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymor Duncan I think
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Thrash and Death Metal
Reason for pickup change: Needed a hotter pickup with better harmonics and bass

Perceived output level: very loud with good response
Tone: see below
Sonic evaluation: USA Jackson Kelly Marty Friedman with fixed bridge, Marshall JCM2000 TSL122.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: There is not a better match for Thrash and Death Metal in a passive design.

Comments: Although we don't show the MegaDrive (DP107) in our current literature, it is still available. However, it is simliar in output and overall tone to the Steve's Special, which is the main reason we no longer advertise it. The major difference is that the MegaDrive has a little more bass and midrange response, and the Steve's Special is a little more open-sounding. MegaDrive specs are: output-350mv., treble-6, midrange-5, bass-7, & D.C. resistance-15.03K.
Standard series wiring is red hot, green and bare ground, black and white soldered together and taped off. Phase can be reversed by wirng the green hot and the red to ground. If you need a copy of the complete instructions, please give us a mailing address or fax no.

Pickup features: humbucking, front coil has a blade, lead coil has allan srew pole pieces
Impedence or other specs: 15.5k Ohm. highoutput

Model of guitar or bass: Grubisa custom made 58'98' Flying V (modernised version of a '58 gibson V, but with 24 fretts and reverse scimitar headstock, all black hardware and sperzals
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan Custom, JB, Dunacan Distortion (I have been going back and forwards between these for four years. I even did our first album with the Duncan Distortion( DARK ORDER: 5000 YEARS OF VIOLENCE, check out our website:http:// dark-order.tripod.com ,for more info
Other pickups on guitar: currently has a Gibson 496 in the neck(very nice gibson sound)
Artists using this pickup: Kerry King(SLAYER) used to use it as his fulltime pickup, he now uses EMG 81's(though he still has the megadrive on his older B.C Rich Guitars)
You musical style(s): METAL, REAL METAL(all the different styles combined in one,I truly love them all, from Manowar to Slayer to Morbid Angel etc), non of this tune down, 7 string pussy slow ,thin soundingKORN , SLIPNOT etc...shit!
Reason for pickup change: I needed the BROADEST sound possible, without resorting to active's, as they are o.k. but too sterile at the end of the day.(like the sound in"DIABOLUS IN MUSICA"-SLAYER-its fucking great!)

Perceived output level: The Megadrive has the same output as JB, a tad less than the Duncan distortion, and a tad more than the Duncan Custom.
Tone: the Megadrive has an enlarged bass and low mids, nice growly, but broad mids( less growly than the D. Distortion,but on par with the D. Custom, but much broader sounding), nice smooth highend without being harsh. Overall, incredebly clear!
Sonic evaluation: The Grubisa flying V is an all mahogany,glued in neck(goes down to the bridge p.u., just like an original '58 Gibson V)guitar. it has 24 fretts(24'3/4" scale)with tune-o-matic bridge and V ancore plate,strings strung through the body.
My amp is a Marshall JCM 900 Dual reverb 100w,model 4100,loaded with Svetlana EL-34 powertubes & GT12ax7's.It runs through a Marshall 1960B cabinet,that has been hard wired(the switchable ohm plugs removed, because they provide an unstable OHM-age) with the regular celestion t-75's. I NO effects exept just one original first issue boss GE-10 E.Q.(nice)I also use rapco leads with switchcraft jacks.My sound has alot of mids, not your regular typicle gutless, wimpy "scooped mids" sound. My E.Q. is as follows:gain-20,master volume-6-7,presence-7,bass-10,mids-8,treble-7-8.Graphic E.Q.-62hz+2Db,82hz+2.5Hz,125hz+2DB,220hz+2Db,the rest of the E.Q.is flat, including the master volume.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play all styles of Metal,e.g.thrash,death,power,progressive,traditional Metal-REAL METAL!!!not poofta Korn shit.This pick up is exellent for the bridge, and for Metal,and rock in general, if you don't like the PAF(you are crazy if you do'nt, for rock, PAF's are great!)

Comments: This is a pickup that I would hunt the world over for(I am on the look out for more, since they were deleted,shame!)
I have been playing for 10 years, and I also own two other Explorers, one a gibson,the other a Grubisa(strings strung through the body).I also own a Marshall 100W master volume MK-111,which sounds even fatter and clearer than my dual reverb.
I eventually want to own a fender twin for clean and use the Marshall 2100 soley for overdrive, running through TWO bottom quads.
I also want more Flying V's, either Grubisa's or B.C. Rich's.
I am very happy With my sound now, but I am always refining it!
AS FOR ALL THESE OTHER PUSSY'S WHO PLAY SHIT GUITARS(BOLT ON NECK JACKSONS AND ESPECIALLY IBANEZ'S), AND SHIT RIGS,E.G.PEAVEY'S,LINE SIX, POOFTA SOLID STATE AMP'S,RACK MOUNT DIGITAL SHIT, PEDALS UPON PEDALS,WHO SCOOP THEIR MIDS TO THE POINT OF MOSQUITOISM------YOU FUCKWITS DO NOT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT TRUE TONE AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT.YOU HAVE ALOT TO LEARN. SO NEXT TIME YOU SUBMIT A REVIEW, USE DECENT GEAR!
---------AND JUST REMEMBER, JUST AS-DARK ORDER-SAYS"IF IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT...GO FUCK YOURSELF!" check out our first album,"5000 years of violence", to see what a Duncan Distortion sounds like through 50w JCM900 Dual reverb( for curiosity sake).