DiMarzio Steve's Special

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: www.dimarzio.com please.....

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez 540S
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: DiMarzio Evolution
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan 59
Artists using this pickup: John Petrucci
You musical style(s): from blues to metal and everything in between
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a clearer pickup to balance out with the middy chatacter of the mahogany body.

Perceived output level: Fairly high. A bit less than the Evolution but barely noticeable.
Tone: Bassy and trebly with scooped mids. I definitely love it.
Sonic evaluation: I use this guitar with the following amps:
1) Mesa/Boogie TriAxis - Mesa/Boogie 20/20
2) Marshall Valvestate 8100 head
3) Rexx 602 - Marshall VS8008
All of them are hooked up to a Marshall 8412 4x12 cabwith Celestion speakers.
I think this pickup is perfect with mahogany bodied guitars. I have another one installed in an Ibanez RG (basswood) and there it sounds too trebly.
With the S series (mahogany) this pickup sounds warm and present, very well balanced on all the frequencies. The tone is definitely ideal for rock, crunch is raw and lead sounds are spatial and very definite even with higher gain settings (and Lord knows how HIGH a MESA/BOOGIE amp can go in the gain dept ^_^), maybe a little bit thin on the higher notes, but not that bad though.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I'm a rocker mainly and this pickup does the job!! I have used it in the bridge position (perfect match), dunno how it would do in the neck but I'd bet it has too much output for that application

Comments: This is MY pickup, this is THE tone i've always been looking for. I have had a DiMarzio Evolution installed in the same spot but it had to go... Middy pickup on a middy body and sounded like sh*t, undefined on the lower notes and weak on the higher.

Pickup features: Humbucking - 4 conductor
Impedence or other specs: ??

Model of guitar or bass: US MASTERS SUPER T
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Other pickups on guitar: PAF Pro
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): variety - rock / hard rock
Reason for pickup change: the super distortion pickups just don't cut it for me. while they work well for power chords everything else sounds like mud

Perceived output level: high output
Tone: drive with balance and articulation
Sonic evaluation: this is the closest thing you can buy over the counter that will sound like the pickup used in the music man petrucci model. i had this pickup in the guitar and changed it out with a super distortion. what a mistake that was. the steves special has about as much gain but with alot more drive than the super dist. hot and fairly balanced with pretty good note definition - all the thing the super dist in my opinion don't have

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: rock to hard rock - works real well - cleans up well too

Comments: i would buy another if i needed a good hard rock pickup that was versitle as well. i am pleased with the pickup and will keep this one.
highly recommended - this is a sleeper pup that no one talks about that is great

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: PAF PRO
Other pickups on guitar: PAF Pro in Neck
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Progressive Rock
Reason for pickup change: Wanted open high output pickup

Perceived output level: Louder than Duncan Custom 5
Tone: pretty well balanced
Sonic evaluation: POD PRo, BBE 882, Carvin Stereo Power Amp

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

Comments: I started with a Duncan Custom 5. I like it for it's raw tone, but I wanted something with a little more output. I researched this for about 5 months before this purchase and I'm completely satisfied!! This pickup is raw with a very usable bass and treble, I wish that I had bought it before the duncan c5. I've played for over 34 yrs and this is the sound that I've heard in my head. I would buy another one in a heartbeat!!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: check www.dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG570EX
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez V8
Other pickups on guitar: V7 Humbucker in neck, S1 in middle
Artists using this pickup: Steve Vai, John Petrucci
You musical style(s): Prog Death Metal
Reason for pickup change: After flaying through the V8 for around half an hour it started to lose power and the volume started to swell up and down by itself (i know, wtf?) And i wanted a more scooped sound.

Perceived output level: Higher than the V8 but not by a HUGE amount. Fairly high output
Tone: Mids are scooped but not by that much, Boosted treble and bass. Very warm clean sound
Sonic evaluation: RG570EX(standard tuning)--> Digitech RP200 --> Laney HCM60R
This pickup is perfect for lead, even though it has scooped mids. It plays very smoothly and higher strings and has good clarity. It is good for rythm as well and can be very crunchy if you want it too. Sounds excellent if you turn the mids on your amp + pedals completely down, you get a sound similar to that of Dimebag Darrel. The mids need to be boosted on you amp/pedal to get that buttery smooth lead sound but that isn't a problem. Notes are VERY clear even on low notes with heavy distortion.
The clean sound isn't excellent but it is still good. The clean sound is very warm and the lower notes tend to drown out the higher. This isn't really a problem for me because i can adjust the equalizer on my RP200 or i can just use my single coil or bridge pickup. Lead tone sounds alot like the tone on "For the love of god" by Steve Vai

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You can probably play anything from rock to death with this pickup. It is a very good match for my style.

Comments: If it was stolen etc. i would try out some other pickups like the X2N or the dimebucker. This is the first pickup i've bought so i don't really know what everything else on the market is like. The only problem with this is that the clean sound is too warm. People who use stomp boxes will need an equalizer pedal to lower the bass. Apart from that, no other complaints, especially since this pickups was quite cheap compared to some of the other di marzios

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 390 mV output, 17.89 resistance

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG470
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Air Zone in neck, DiMarzio The Cruiser in middle
Artists using this pickup: Steve Vai, John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
You musical style(s): Progressive Alternative
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: A bit loud for a humbucker, but not extremely loud. Doesn't break up much for a pickup of its volume
Tone: Extended treble and bass response, without actually having the frequency boosted. So, heavy on the treble and bass, but still clear and not muddy.
Sonic evaluation: I use this guitar with a Digitech processor and a Peavy amp.
This pickup is full and wide open in all conditions. Clean, it produces a full, dry sound. It produces a notable bridge position "quack", but less so than most pickups. It doesn't break up quickly. When it does, it produces, an open ("Aw") sound that is thick and crunchy. It is sharp, thanks to it's clear treble, but not thin or brittle, thanks to it's heavy bass response that just doesn't get muddy. It's heavy on the harmonics.
Clean, this pickup is good for a full, dry sound. You won't get much bell-like or jangly tone out of this one. Chords sound full and individual notes played stand out well when playing with a band.
Distorted, it lends a very open sound to chords. You can also get a good "chunk" sound out of it. For lead, it produces an open tone that cuts through without being thin or overly sharp. The sound of individual notes really comes through, and it really picks up on the subtle aspects of how you play.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play in a style ranging from Smashing Pumpkins to Tool to Dream Theater. I have found it to be a most versatile pickup. It may not work well if you never like to use open, dry tones and prefer soft, bell-like, jangly tones.

Comments: I knew what I wanted out of a bridge pickup. A pickup without the piercing, brittle edge that many pickups get in the bridge position. A pickup with a full response that isn't brittle or muddy and with good harmonics. This really fit the bill. I could conceive of finding something better, but I haven't heard it yet.

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: www.dimarzio.com

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio PAF Pro
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): Varied
Reason for pickup change: I needed to reduce an old muddy, microphonic Super Distortion

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Balanced but in order to not make it thin, you may have to turn your amp treble DOWN!!
Sonic evaluation: Through a Fender Concert, the sound is so wonderfully clean that I can't say enough about it. Even with a Tube Driver/Les Paul I can't make it muddy. The peaky mids on the Fender are toned down a bit with this pickup. "Big" distortion tones are clean, all the way up the neck, even on the low strings. Roll off the tone on the guitar for some nice mellow sounds (not muffled). This pickup retains the highs with the volume down on the guitar, not like a Stupor Distortion. This is a perfect pickup for a Les Paul. It takes out the mud while retaining body and even adds some brightness.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a good straight ahead rock pickup because of it's clarity. Metal Heads/Death Rockers need not apply.

Comments: I would buy another one in a second should something happen to this one. This pickup balances well with a PAF Pro in the neck. With both pickups on, there is a delightful shimmer in the sound.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Performer PS2
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock Jackson pickup
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio HS3 in neck position, and stock single coil in middle
Artists using this pickup: John Petrucci
You musical style(s): metal/prog metal
Reason for pickup change: Original Jackson humbucker was too muddy... wanted a "real"
pickup.

Perceived output level: Pretty hot... hotter than my other pickups at least, but I don't think it's extremely hot
Tone: I think the tone is well balanced... the mid-scoop makes for a very cool sound... it really helps the Crate GX-130 that I play through most of the time.
Sonic evaluation: As I said before, I'm using a Crate GX-130C, with the pickup in my bridge position on the Jackson Performer. Very good metal sound, exactly what I was looking for in a pickup, not muddy at all.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play metal/progressive, and this is a great pickup for that style.

Comments: I would probably buy this again were it lost or stolen, I just love the sound it gives me, a hell of alot better than the stock Jackson pickups.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Sorry... couldn't tell you...

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez JPM100/4
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None. This is the OEM pickup.
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Air Norton
Artists using this pickup: John Petrucci
You musical style(s): Progressive/Heavy Progressive Rock & other eclectic things
Reason for pickup change: This is the OEM pickup. There has been no change.

Perceived output level: This is a medium/hot pickup. It's surprising because it is built on a ceramic magnet, yet the pickup us not terribly hot and still captures a lot of my nuances.
Tone: The tone is very trebly, but not harsh. It is bassy, but not like a Seymour Duncan AlnicoII Pro humbucker. This doesn't have too much bass. There are very little to no mids with this pickup, which is a problem to me. More on that later.
Sonic evaluation: I am using this pickup in an Ibanez JPM100/4 and it is the stock pickup (basswood body, pickups are mounted directly to the wood). My amp and cabinet are Peavey 5150's.
I'm comparing this pickup to how my EVH Wolfgang's sound through my gear. This pickup, when I first played the guitar, left me feeling empty. There was something missing. It doesn't sound harsh or terribly bassy, but the lack of midrange response leaves a bit of a hole in my sound. There is definately something missing. It didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy compared to my Wolfgangs, which have a high-midrange trend.
Also, the pickup didn't sound terribly full, possibly because of the lack of mids. They sound decent when listening to my cabinet at home, however I do a lot of recording on my Roland 880EX. When listening to tracks with my Wolfgangs, the sounds is very nice and full. My Ibanez with the Steve's Special sounds thin and clanky. The pick attack almost sounds like I record direct. Just FYI, I mike with a Shure SM57 and have it pointed directly at 2:00 on the speaker.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You would think this pickup to be a perfect match for my style. It only goes to show how we're all individuals. I can't see this pickup really being useful, except in an amp which is extremely mid-heavy.

Comments: I already plan on replacing this pickup, however I am not sure what I'll get. I want something a little more full and with more mids. This, as I said, was compared to my EVH Wolfgangs. I have also played the same guitar with Seymour Duncan AlncioII Pro humbuckers. Although I do prefer the stock Dimarzio to those, neither one make me really happy.

Pickup features: humbucker, passive
Impedence or other specs: not sure, direct mounted on my JPM 100 P2

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez JPM 100 P2
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none, it came stock
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Air Norton, neck-direct mounted
Artists using this pickup: John Petrucci
You musical style(s): heavy rock, instrumental - Vai, Satch, jazz (i'm trying to learn it), classic rock
Reason for pickup change: Didn't change it, it came stock with the guitar

Perceived output level: Pretty hot, but not insanely hot. Around the same level as a Dimarzio Evolution but a very different tone.
Tone: This pickup has scooped mids, and increased treble and bass response. I think there is a little extra treble due to direct mounting.
Sonic evaluation: Its a great pickup, very different than the Evolution in my RG 550. The SS is a bit more versatile, with lots of cut, it does well at both rhythm play (heavy chord playing) and it cuts thru nicely for leads. I'd say its meant more for heavy stuff, its clean tone isn't too great. However on this guitar, you can split the 2 humbuckers in the middle position for an awesome sparkiling clean tone. Its great for Dream Theater stuff, especially when using my POD on the Dual Recto settings. I suppose you could use it for extreme metal stuff but that's not really what I dig.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For rock, progressive rock, even some bluesier stuff its pretty good

Comments: Personally I think its a great sound. Lots of power and cut and sounds great in the guitar. Its not as in-your-face as an Evolution and also not quite as trebly. More of a modern sounding pickup, atleast in my opinion. For heavier rock situations, its a great choice.

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG 470
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: DiMarzio Tone Zone
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Duel Tone (Neck)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, jazz, funk, metal......
Reason for pickup change: The quest for the god tone.

Perceived output level: mid to high output
Tone: Nice highs and lows, mid rangs scoop. NICELY ballance sound!
Sonic evaluation: Like I said, I put this bad boy in my RG 470. I play through a Mesa/Boogie Studio Pre, and a mono block 60 watt tube power section. This will be the last bridge pickup that I buy for this guitar! It kicks that much ass! The string balance is wonderful. I can hit a minor 7th chord with full on distortion and still hear every note in the chord!!! I love this pickup!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I don't see a style that you can't do with this thing.

Comments: I will be buying another one to go in my RG 570 as soon as I get paid again! Now all I want is an Air Norton to go in the neck position!