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Anyone have any experience with Dimarzios Strat hum-cancelling blade pu's on their shortscale? I'm (also) considering them for my '66 Duo Sonic.

Thanks.

Which pickup do you mean?

If you mean ones that look like this


They are humbuckers, the mini versions at that (same idea behind Duncan lil '59s/JB Jrs). There are a bunch of different models like the Choppers, Air Nortons, Tone Zones, Cruiser, Fast Tracks, Billy Corgan's BC-1 (modified Air Norton for neck position for pronounced low-end without getting muddy on high gain settings) and BC-2 (modified Tone Zone for same reasons but in bridge position).

They're all a bit different, YouTube demos might be about the best judgement you can make before buying, especially given that you're going to put them in such an idiosyncratic guitar compared to Strats which is what they're going in the vast majority of the time. I'm pretty sure a few people here have tried them in Mustangs or Jaguars.

I'd consider it very important to remember to change to 500k pots when you install one of these, or else it will probably be muddy as hell. Most times I've tried a bucker with 250k pots it's been unusably dark even in the bridge position (especially if it's a 2-or-more pickup guitar with single coils still elsewhere in it).

For a lower-risk/cost punt with these types of pickups you might look into the GFS "lil killers" rails, which come highly reccomended (and I've loved every GFS pickup I've bought, though not always in the application I've used it for). Again, don't forget to change your pots if you have 250ks.

Paul,

Thanks for the reply and the 500k pot change. Yea that's the pu I'm refering to. I've also considered Lace Sensors. Hell, I've considered alot of things. I'm wanting a warm (non-thin) sound from the neck pickup when played clean. I've even considered Bartolinis PBF-55 full size humbucker for the neck. It's reviews are very intriguing.

It might be ok to use some of those DiMarzios or Laces with 250ks since they're so high output (especially if you use a lot of gain), that's a personal preference thing. With a less hot/vintage output bucker I'd say too muddy. The obvious route would be to change the pickup, and if it's too dark sounding to you, try a pot change before writing off the pickup.

dregsfan wrote:Anyone have any experience with Dimarzios Strat hum-cancelling blade pu's on their shortscale? I'm (also) considering them for my '66 Duo Sonic.

Thanks.

I have on all of my shortscales. Theyre great pickups and no mods needed.