DiMarzio YJM

To me, the normal output level YJM set is intended to sound like a well used Fender '69 pickups. YJM set seems to be reverse wound for better options in positions 2 and 4. I used Sprague Orange Drop capactors.

I was restoring a MIJ 59 RI Stratocaster in the style of a MIA 25 Aniversary model. Fender '69 replacements were back ordered for a very long time when I was working on this project. I think this problem no longer exists.

These pickups sound darker and slightly less scouped then the orginals. This probably makes them better for everything other than Hendrix impresssions.

For me, these pickups in this guitar, along with the closets possible strings, picks, and cable, pretty much capture my '70s sound.

An unboosted Divided by 13 Treble booster with certain settings can help these pickups sound more like the unburned in orginals if needed. I've found one of the new Digitech metal pedal, a Red Witch flanger, and a Roland Boss Echoplex really take me back. (Sometimes, I just run these into a power amp and a Marshall cabinet.)

I have a Marshall VM 50.

I'm really pleased. DiMarizo's products have really expanded and improved since the old days.

I'm still tempted to pick up some Fender sixty-nines for grins or the re-issue guitar just for fun.

I'm not sure restoring most guitars makes financial sense, but it's actually better now than when new and the pickups are part of it. The original repairman was very slow, very expensive, and I had to redo part of his work. The rumor was he was playing this guitar and another one of mine around town! Yep, that store is out of business...

Single Coil pickup. Check the Dimarzio website for the details.

It is in a Fender Mexican Strat in the Neck posisition. Replaced Stock pickup. I wanted to sound as much like Malmsteen as I could.

Do not worry about the low output of this pickup. I did and it made no difference. As long as you have have a tube amp driven with a OD pedal infront. This pickup will sing. You can get that brilliant vintage strat sound like Hendrix, or if you are a bit of fancy player you can whip up to neo-classical licks and get very close to the Malmsteen sound. I am bold over with this pickup. It is awesome. If you are worried about low output, don't be, but do what I did. Just replace the neck pickup and leave a hotter output on the bridge. This means you get the best of both worlds .

I would put this pickup in any other Fender if I had more than one. I will eventually put the HS-3 in the bridge as they are fantastic. I disconnected the ton pots too, and I will also get a Brass Nut fitted in the end to get as close to the malmsteen sound as possible. But for now, along with my TSL100, YJM308 OD pedal, this thing screams! Get it! Don't worry about the low output. It really makes no difference. It's what gives it the amazing tone.

Humbucking .

I installed this in my custom guitar in the bridge , i use the HS-3 in the neck .
Malmsteen uses it .
The reason i changed the pickup was that i was using the Dim Evo , although it was excellent i was looking for a slightly diffrent sound.

The YJM is a fantastic pickup, ive been using it for about a year and a half along with the HS-3 , these pickups are very versatile , i play everything from Deep Purple , Blackmores Night , Rainbow, Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai , Steve Morse , Joe Walsh , Brian May , the YJM works well for all of those desired tones for me personally .
Alot of ppl complain about the low output saying its hard to drive them hard , i can't say i know what its like driving them through a amp but i don't have that problem with the podxt , infact its a blessing having the low output for what i use it for, you can drive them hard for some mean metal , rock tones , or you can have them backed of and sounding beautifully clean.
I actually use the YJM in the bridge , most ppl say that you should only use it in the middle or neck position, personally i think it sounds better in the bridge then the HS-3, it has a lovely bite to it but its not thin sounding by any means, however it does sound great in the neck position aswell, although with distortion it does muffle agood bit which is perfect if you want to play Malmsteen, if you want it cleaner then less distortion is the way to go , like i say tho thats through a podxt .
Overall i would say if you want Malmsteen's tone or if you want something that has a decent balance with abit of bite , this pickup is for you .

Ive been playing for nearly 15 yrs , i have to say the YJM is a very versatile pickup even on my simple setup.
I use my custom guitar with the YJM in the bridge and the HS-3 on the neck into a podxt via the line in straight to my comp, as im more of a living room musician then a out on stage one, so my setup although simple is great for what i need it for.
If it was stolen or destroyed i would definetly replace it , im a big Blackmore fan and these sound perfect for his style , so they are like my perfect pickup .
Another thing i forgot to mention was the silence of the YJM, ive never used such a silent sounding pickup, you can distort the balls of it and still it will remain silent , definetly another one of its positive points.
I did replace my Evo for the YJM simply cos i wanted to get closer to a Blackmore/Malmsteen sound , there is actually nothing wrong with the Evo, infact its a fantastic pickup but the YJM is focused more on a overall balance where as i found the Evo was more of a mid based pickup.
Well i won't lie, i think we as guitarists are always searching for the holy grail lol (tone wise) , but for me personally this definetly got my tones closer to my guitar heros.
I will have to write a updated review soon as im getting a Zoom G9.2TT , im very interested how it will sound on one of these .

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Yngwie Malmsteen Americian Strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: this is stock!
Other pickups on guitar: Another YJM in the Middle and (as of today) a Fast Track 2 in the bridge
Artists using this pickup: The mistro himself!
You musical style(s): Neoclassical shred and prog and cuntry blues
Reason for pickup change: like I said its stock!

Perceived output level: the output is at a 93. Thats fuckin low man!
Tone: Bassy but NOT muddy has great mids and treb is cool too.
Sonic evaluation: I have an Engl E530 preamp and a Peavey Rockmaster (on the way) and a Crate VTX 212 and a Crate GLX 60 and a Roland Cube 60.
Celestion vin 30s in my cabs

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: shreddy shit. this is great for me. If you are a sloppy ass player you will hate it.

Comments: THIS IS THE BEST SINGLE COIL NECK PICKUP EVER MADE!!!!!!

Pickup features: humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 93mv

Model of guitar or bass: strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: neck texas special
Other pickups on guitar: hs3
Artists using this pickup: malmsteen
You musical style(s): shred
Reason for pickup change: stocks were muddy and shit.

Perceived output level: not hot
Tone: balanced with good harmonics but not over the top like most others
Sonic evaluation: strat to a dod 250 o/d, to my jcm 900

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this is a good match for fast leads and arpeggios

Comments: dont use this in your bridge position, this pickup is great in the neck! its nice and bassy, just make sure your gear is up to scratch or it wont sound all that good, cany say i hate anything about this one, i,d buy it again if i had another guitar

Pickup features: HUMBUCKER
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: mexican-ala-yngwie cream strat scalloped , jumbo frets, and brass nut
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: neck and bridge , middle disconected
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Yngwie J. Malmsteen
You musical style(s): Neo-Classical , Heavy Metal
Reason for pickup change: wanted YJM sound

Perceived output level: low output - for distortion in the amp not the guitar
Tone: listen to Yngwie - violin ( paganini ) lead only - cutting
Sonic evaluation: Marshall AVT150H and Vintage 412 cab(greenbacks). DOD overdrive 250. With low output pickups the DOD is the trick (just like Yngwie).If you want his sound this is it. YJM strat on Marshall. I use the AVT -to play a lower level and still get it to break up.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: neo-classical neck pickup for sweep and melodic leads, bridge for sustain and bite

Comments: This is it. Try many set-ups from Crate to Soldano. Try many guitars Jacksons, EVH , Les Paul , G & L. But the YJM strat is it. Love the tone. You MUST try a YJM strat. Scallops-once you try you'll never go back. Tone comes from the brass nut, jumbo frets and the YJM pickups.

Pickup features: I dunno
Impedence or other specs: what???!!!!

Model of guitar or bass: Squier Strato Made in Korea
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: stock pickups
Artists using this pickup: Me and Y.J. Malmsteen
You musical style(s): Neo-Classic speed-metal
Reason for pickup change: squier stocks pickups stinks, I want to try Malsmteen's tone

Perceived output level: low output, this means CRYSTAL CLEAR SOUND, beautiful
Tone: to my ears it is absolutly middy, but if you have an equalizer you can change it at your own taste
Sonic evaluation: I am using a Marshal Valvestate 8080 and Digitech rp100, in the neck position this pickup is perfect, I am into SWEEP PICKING tecnique and this pickup fits me like a globe

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: neck is the best position neoclasic speed metal

Comments: Yeah I would buy it again, I have been playing for 8 years, try stacatto technique in highest frets obviosly with neck position and you'll get a 100% helloween sound, if you are locking a pickup for solos this is your pickup, if you are a sweep picker this is your pickup

Pickup features: Single Coil Sized Stack Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Output : 93mV . Impedance : 23.50K

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mexican Stratocaster
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: HS-3 bridge and Stock middle
Artists using this pickup: Myself and Yngwie J. Malmsteen
You musical style(s): Alot
Reason for pickup change: The noise from the original stock fender pickups are killing me.

Perceived output level: very low output (compared to the stock pickups). There is quite a volume drop when i switch from the middle (stock) pickup to the neck (YJM) pickup.
Tone: Middy, Bassy, Flutey, Crystal Clear. Each note played can be heard clearly (this also means all your mistakes are heard clearly too)
Sonic evaluation: Strat > Boss Metalzone MT-2 > Boss GE-7 EQ > Laney 80watt Amp

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is definately a good pickup replacement for strats especially if u play speed metal stuffs. Most importantly, NO MORE FUCKING HUM !!

Comments: If this was stolen, i will find that bastard... make him swallow my original fender stock pickups (trash) and shove the pointy end of a ESP Flying V into his ass.

Pickup features: Stacked Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: American Standard Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Virtual Vintage (Neck) Stock middle (disengaged)
Artists using this pickup: Malmsteen, Various others
You musical style(s): the Heavyer shit
Reason for pickup change: Noise reduction, Lower output

Perceived output level: Very low. In fact it's one of the lowest output pickups Dimarzio makes. Its like half that of a stock single coil, but there's a beatiful reason for this!
Tone: Flutey, very well balanced. Less treble and more mid.
Sonic evaluation: I got this pickup put on my strat. I liked the HS-3 (this pickup is essentially an HS-3 with a vintage magnet stagger) on my other strat, so I figured this would be just as good. I played it through my old Marshall Valvestae and it sounded terrible. The output was way to low. Recently I purchased a 5150. I played it through the 5150 gain monster and i nearly had an orgasm. Wonderful harmonics! I read later that the whole concept of the HS-3/YJM was to provide a lower output to the amp. This allows the sound coming from the guitar to be very clean and un-distorted. This pickup does't "drive the amp" like a super dist. does. It provides a clean unblemished sound and allows the amp to do all the distorting. What you get is a bell like clarity, Smooth leads and every single note can be heard in a chord.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Anything heavy, this pickup sounds kinda when played through a clean channel

Comments: I plan to order lots of these. I love strats but hate the hum. I have a strat with a paf pro on it and I have to say that a stacked humbucker seems to match a strats natural sound better than a normal one. I think of this pickup as a single coil rather than a humbucker. This is a very well designed pickup

Pickup features: Humbucking Stacked (Passive)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Standard Stratocaster (USA)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Yngwie J. Malmsteen
You musical style(s): Neo-classic rock and others (Deep Purple, Yngwie, etc)
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a more melodic tone for soloing, and a little fatter rhythm tone.

Perceived output level: Less than stock pickups
Tone: More bass and less treble than stock.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using an American Standard Stratocaster thru a Boss DS-1 Distortion (ocassionally), and a Starfield VT-50 Combo. I think the lead channel of the amp is better for soloing than the DS-1, but I found the lead channel too poor for rhythm.
Well, this pickup have a great DC resistance, but is a Humbucking Stacked pick-up. Then, you must consider the output level is less than a Stock pick-up by this spec (the internal resistance). The attack edge is softher than Stock pick-ups and is a good choice to get the Yngwie tone. If you look for a very trash sounds avoid this pick-up. If you like a good blues tone, avoid this pick-up.
Another observation is the need of use soft distortions with this pick-up. Strong distortions need a good edge-attack or will be sound pasted.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good for Deep Purple, Yngwie and Helloween stuff.

Comments: Maybe the actual tendencies in metal sound make this pick-up a limited option for a lot of guitarrists, but if you love Neo-classic rock, this pick-up is for you.