Your opinions about DiMarzio Area T pickups, please!

I'm thinking about putting a set of DiMarzio Area T pickups in my Tele. Can anyone give some opinions about them? (Preferably if you've owned them or used them personally.) I'm playing mostly through a POD HD 500 these days (for the sake of noise issues and it's ideal for the venues I play). I'm particularly interested to know if these pickups sound like legitimate Tele pickups, considering the "stack" design that makes them noiseless. I actually like a Tele pickup to be a tad hotter than "standard" or "vintage"... Let me know what you all think about them!

Thanks in advance!

No 'noiseless' pickup will sound like a true single coil pickup. All 'noiseless' pickups to some degree, take away the aliveness or pure tone factor.

I have used area Ts and thought they were very good and would use them again. They are quite popular with a lot of players. I am constantly trying pickups and am now trying lots of traditional pickups. But if gigging in a noisey place and needed noiseless pickups, I would get the area Ts. Very inexpensive and they get the job done nicely.

Also in a gig situation, no one would know except you if you were using area Ts. Of course at home at lower volumes when playing clean, you would notice a slight difference and maybe none if using distortion.

I was underwhelmed. A little better than the reg`lar stock fender I changed area t for wilde`s.

I love the neck.
Not so much the bridge.

I'm particularly interested to know if these pickups sound like legitimate Tele pickups, considering the "stack" design that makes them noiseless. I actually like a Tele pickup to be a tad hotter than "standard" or "vintage"... Let me know what you all think about them!


I have a MIM tele with Area T's in them. They are significantly hotter than the stock single coils in my Squier CVC. If you're looking to eliminate noise, they're great! I can't really say if they sound "legitimate..." They don't sound the same as the single coils in my other tele, and they don't sound anything like the alnico V humbuckers in my LP copy.

Here's a clip of my Area T tele through a Pro Junior:
http://airbagtester.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/dull_surrender-backing_music1.mp3

At least one (if not both) of the guitar tracks are on the bridge pickup.

I've used the virtual vintage regular output tele pickup (DP412?)..which was the original noiseless model they discontinued to bring out the AreaT and the Area HotT.

Of the 3 I actually like the original dp412 virtual vintage tele (I think it was called) the most and I complained to Dimarzio when they discontinued it. They replied that they have to keep improving, etc, etc...but when I said that they'd kept the ds1 strat pickup for decades and that the dp412 didn't need improving they didn't reply. Oh well.

The AreaT is OK but I have an Area HotT in my guitar now and I prefer it. Balanced and 'telecasterish'...but with a slightly P90 sort of feel as well, IMO. Quite a bit like the Duncan AlnicoIIpro bridge pickup I used to use.

Anyway, with these pickups height is everything. And being alnico2 you can raise them quite close to the strings.

I'm keeping the Area Hot T in my guitar.

Still on the fence about replacing my stock bridge PU and was looking at the Area t. Here:

Clean...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP3boydSFfQ

Not clean...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS1nO4ltjl8&feature=related

Sound good to me.

peace

I've had an Area T neck pickup for about 3 years now and love it to little bitty bits.

Another clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vze49xositc

Hot Area T

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVizkv-5J2k

peace

Thanks to everyone for the input and the links to the YouTube demo videos. I really appreciate it! I think I am going to go for a set of the Area T pickups after all!

Hot Area T

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVizkv-5J2k

peace

This video is by far the best video I've seen that gives a fast, concise side-by-side comparison that allows you to immediately hear the audible similarities/differences between a set of stock Tele pickups and the Area T pickups. Thanks so much!

This video is by far the best video I've seen that gives a fast, concise side-by-side comparison that allows you to immediately hear the audible similarities/differences between a set of stock Tele pickups and the Area T pickups. Thanks so much!

Mind you... that is the hot bridge.

This is my demo of the bridge pup:

RUGxd6c312Q

I think it's excellent for noiseless but definitely is missing the mojo of a vintage-style true singe coil.

This is my demo of the bridge pup:

RUGxd6c312Q

I think it's excellent for noiseless but definitely is missing the mojo of a vintage-style true singe coil.

Can you tell me what wiring schematic from RS Guitarworks you used for that Esquire? I'm thinking about setting up my Tele as an Esquire, and I really like the tones you gut from your guitar--especially the "cocked wah" tone (instead of the muffled bass tone).

I like the DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Hot Tele bridge pickup DP413 way more than the Area Hot T which I sold soon after installing it. The Virtual Vintage Hot Tele is an amazing pickup, one of the best pickups I've ever played in a Tele. It's like a very high output, ballsy Nocaster pickup and it is totally hum cancelling. It's very Rock 'N' Roll full on but can get twangy country tones when you lower the volume (but you need 500K pots, a .022uf cap and a treble bleed to make everything sound as I've described). I can't believe they discontinued it in favor of the Area pickups.

Can you tell me what wiring schematic from RS Guitarworks you used for that Esquire? I'm thinking about setting up my Tele as an Esquire, and I really like the tones you gut from your guitar--especially the "cocked wah" tone (instead of the muffled bass tone).

Thanks. It's their "Modern Esquire" kit. Front position is with the cap to give a cocked wah, middle is pup with tone control, rear is pup wide open. Very sweet and incredibly versatile.

I don't like areaT. Not enough presence. I sold them after 1 month of playing.

I don't like humcancelling pups in fact...

I'm getting the Area T 615 for a little more output (but not as much as the hot) in the bridge paired up with the neck version. I have the Pod Pro HD. I want noiseless pickups for the same reasons you do. I do not have it yet or installed.

Here is the one that I am looking at, it's in between the stock bridge and hot version.
DiMarzio Area T 615 Tele Bridge DP 424 (http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/tele/hum-canceling/area-t-615)

I'm getting the Area T 615 for a little more output (but not as much as the hot) in the bridge paired up with the neck version. I have the Pod Pro HD. I want noiseless pickups for the same reasons you do. I do not have it yet or installed.

Here is the one that I am looking at, it's in between the stock bridge and hot version.
DiMarzio Area T 615 Tele Bridge DP 424 (http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/tele/hum-canceling/area-t-615)

It's a very good set. Take them for what they are - while you can hear some differences between Areas and true single coils, I find a lot of the Areas characteristics work great live.

I had the 418 but switched out to the 615 a couple of weeks ago and really like the extra little zip and output. Wire them up with a 4-way switch - the series sound is great.

Hot Area T

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVizkv-5J2k

peace

I would like to hear the DiMarzios against a traditional twangy set of tele pickups. The American Standard, like the ones I have had, are very dark and hot sounding and a lot like the stacked hot tele pickups anyway.

The single coil pickups from older teles and tele reissues have a certain twang to them that the stacked ones in the videos lack. In the hands of the right player, they would be able to make a vintage tele pickup or darker American Standard or stacked hot pickups all sing quite well.

I have noticed a lot of great country players actually like the darker/hotter compressed tone in the lead pickup as evidenced by all the Bardens and similar pickups out there right now. In a way, the trend towards this direction has actually changed what the standard is for a "tele" in country music. A little more output and a more generous dose of distortion is quite the standard these days and a lot of players do great work with it.

Thanks for the tip Durango!

The DiMarzio Area T 615 is a great sounding twangy pickup. Played through a Vox or a DDRI it has the vintage single coil characteristics without the hum and is hotter than the Twang King and with a slight mid boost over the same. DiMarzio claims it gives you the "modern country" sound whatever that means. All I know is I love it!

The DiMarzio Area T 615 is a great sounding twangy pickup. Played through a Vox or a DDRI it has the vintage single coil characteristics without the hum and is hotter than the Twang King and with a slight mid boost over the same. DiMarzio claims it gives you the "modern country" sound whatever that means. All I know is I love it!

Agree - I like 'em too!

Had the hot T and didn't like it. Sounded very tinny on the plain strings particularly. I read a lot of glowing reviews, so not sure why. But to my ear it wasn't good at all.

Well finally got the Area T Bridge 615 pickup and Area T Neck pickup in today.

I came from a very balanced sounding set of Seymour Duncan Five-Twos. I loved the Five-Twos. They had Alnico V magnets on the bass side of the pickups, and Alnico II on the trebles. The treble strings were never too bright and the bass always had punch.

First impressions coming from there, is that the bass is a little rounder sounding, but that's the only difference. They do fight noise and hum quite well, and they were punchy with my maple neck tele. They sound great. I was planning for a compromise on tone for the pickups, and I don't feel like I'm compromising - just a different voicing on the pickups.

Ran through part of my setlist of tunes, and they were great! Tunes by Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, and Jason Aldean - they were great and quiet. And really the only hum was the Dr Z that I tried them out through. I didn't remember all of that buzz since I've been using a Pod HD.

I was apprehensive about switching - but knowing that they were Alnico II magnets is what pushed me over the edge with them. Can't wait to try them out with the band later this week.

That's all I got.

Thanks for the thoughtful review, Kevin! I'm still toying with replacing my ToneZone T bridge pickup with one of th e615s. What are you using for pots and cap?

Well finally got the Area T Bridge 615 pickup and Area T Neck pickup in today.

I came from a very balanced sounding set of Seymour Duncan Five-Twos. I loved the Five-Twos. They had Alnico V magnets on the bass side of the pickups, and Alnico II on the trebles. The treble strings were never too bright and the bass always had punch.

First impressions coming from there, is that the bass is a little rounder sounding, but that's the only difference. They do fight noise and hum quite well, and they were punchy with my maple neck tele. They sound great. I was planning for a compromise on tone for the pickups, and I don't feel like I'm compromising - just a different voicing on the pickups.

Ran through part of my setlist of tunes, and they were great! Tunes by Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, and Jason Aldean - they were great and quiet. And really the only hum was the Dr Z that I tried them out through. I didn't remember all of that buzz since I've been using a Pod HD.

I was apprehensive about switching - but knowing that they were Alnico II magnets is what pushed me over the edge with them. Can't wait to try them out with the band later this week.

That's all I got.

Yeah, I listened to clips of my old band and my tele sounded just like a tele, maybe even sat a little better in the mix.

What kind of bridge are you using? If you use something non-magnetic, like stainless, the pickup is absolutely silent. Ferrous materials can interfere with the lower coil and give you a little noise - at least per my conversation with Dimarzio. I've tried a stainless and titanium Glendale bridges and both work great.

I think because I have a silver metal flake finish, that it's buzzing a bit due to the glitter. Seriously. Going to shield the cavities a bit this weekend and see if that helps. It's really quiet. This amp hummed either way though. It was terrible with regular strat pickups.

I have a set for sale in the classifieds, minty.

Parma - I'm using 250k pots, and whatever cap was in there before. It sounds good.

I'm using a Barden bridge, so I don't think it is magnetic, but it's fine. With my Pod Pro it's dead quiet unless I'm doing something noisy.

I'm very happy with the neck pickup sound, which is good, since that's what brought about the change.

Just go all-in vintage... What the hell... JMHO :mrgreen:

Love the Hot T bridge. Mine is in a parts Faux-Squire - one pickup: Mighty Mite satin finish neck from CEG Hardtails, Grover vintage tuners, '00s (?) poly finish MIM Body, '90s MIM six saddle bridge, and 500 k pots with a .047 cap. Despite this mongrel assemblage the guitar plays sweetly, has twang in spades, and can come very close to the Roy Buchanan or Robbie Robertson sound. Heaven with a compressor and a liitle OD.

I got a question bout'em. Right now I'm rockin the Area Hot T in the bridge position on a temporarily Esquire'd Tele (neck PU taken out) The stock neck PU was so low-output and muddy, especially compared to the Hot T that it never got used.

As we all know DiMarzio doesn't make a "hot" Area pickup for the neck position on a Tele. I'm looking for a stratty type sound, kinda like Twisted Tele, Was considering routing for an Area 61 or Injector strat pickup in the neck slot, but am also considering the Area T neck pickup...my concern is that there will be too much of a volume drop from the Area Hot T bridge PU, though I read somewhere somebody said the Hot T isn't much "hotter" than the regular Area T...

I'm wondering if I should take a shot with the Area Tele Neck PU, hoping it's got the clarity and strattiness I'm lookin for, or if I should just go ahead and route the body and expand the pickguard hole. Routing is not problem, just was thinkin about keeping stock appearance/chome cover.

Is the Area neck PU for Tele an ok match for the Area T bridge? I don't like mixing brands. It's gonna be another DiMarzio either way. Got Duncans in the other Tele.

And BTW my review of the Area hot T...I love it...it's fatter for sure, not exactly traditional by any means. Kind of has a similar EQ to a lower output humbucker, like a classic PAF, but the transients/attack of the notes is very single-coil-like. This works for me since I play humbucker guitars through the same rig and don't have to adjust very much. With a treble bleed cab, backing off the volume thins it up to be even more twangy. I dig it for what I do. It can even cover some harder rock/metal tones if ya want. Not quite as scorching as a side-by side bucker, not quite as much harmonics...but it's not thin or icepicky...it's kinda P-90's as people have said.

I have a set for sale in the classifieds, minty.

Oops, make that just the bridge.

As we all know DiMarzio doesn't make a "hot" Area pickup for the neck position on a Tele. I'm looking for a stratty type sound, kinda like Twisted Tele, Was considering routing for an Area 61 or Injector strat pickup in the neck slot, but am also considering the Area T neck pickup...my concern is that there will be too much of a volume drop from the Area Hot T bridge PU, though I read somewhere somebody said the Hot T isn't much "hotter" than the regular Area T...


Pickup impedance ("Hotness") does not always equate to louder. Pickup height comes into play as well. I had to adjust the height on my Area T neck pickup and the Tone Zone T that it's paired with to get a good balance. The middle position is absolutely lovely.

Dimarzio makes the Area T series specifically to play nice with each other. My vote it give it a shot.

BTW - thanks for your thoughtful review of the Hot T.

I've been using the Area T's for a little while now. I checked them out based on some recommendations from this site. I'm very happy with them. They sound pretty authentic to my ears, very effective at hum cancelling. (had to do something because our home base pub has some kinda dirty power issues and regular sc pups were unusable). I do find that I usually play with the tone knob at about 3/4 up now to take a little bit of edge off.
But I add my recommendation to the rest. go for it!

Flem are you using both neck and bridge Areas? How's the volume balance between pickups?

I started out with just the Area T neck and was quite happy with it. In fact it sounded so close to the original (which I loved save for the noise), I hardly had to adjust any of my amp settings. I then threw in a Tone Zone T in the bridge but I could not warm up to it unless I was using pedals and really driving the amp. I finally swapped the TZ out for the Area Hot and haven't looked back. They are a perfect match and I couldn't be happier. There is plenty of authenticity in both those pickups, and even a touch of strattyness to the neck....which I am a big fan of

Hey James - yeah, both neck and bridge. The volume balance is great, and they sound really good together, very bell-like. I have the neck pickup around .030" closer to the strings than the bridge pup. But I may mess around with that a bit, just to if it makes much difference.

of course that should read "just to SEE if it makes much difference"

cool cool, yeah weather it's Henries, Impedance, Magnet strength, what have you, I do believe the Area Hot T is designed to be perceived as "louder" than the Area T (non-"hot"). I'll give it a tray though, after all there's no other noise free option from DiMarzio unless I route. THe only thing that concerns me is reports of the Area T neck PU sounding "authentic" because the stock neck PU on my genuine Fender Tele was muddy! (and no there was no vintage tone roll-off circuit on the switch) But it could just be that particular pickup, it's an MIJ Fender....

I'm gonna try it out!

Right now I got the stock 250k's in there...haven't switch the volume seems fine, the tone however is nice between 2 or 3 and 10, a usable range, then it totally sweeps to mud between 2 and 0. (I have the amp style knobs on there numbered 1 thru 10). SO I'm not sure if I should just get a 250k pot with a different taper, or a 500k pot or what...I don't need any more brightness,maybe I should taking a reading of the pot's resistance at "2" and solder in a resistor of that value in series, which would permanently put that much resistance between the cap and ground...though this may brighten it up some, not as much as a 500k pot I would assume...i dunno...

Great for noiseless. Tried only the neck pu - very warm sound, if that's helping.