Dimarzio "Area" pups ... questions

doveman · May 22nd, 2008, 05:57 AM

I'm considering trying either the Area Ts on my Tele or Area 58-58-61 on my Strat. A couple of questions:

Are the pickups a bit taller? Does the extra coil add a bit of height? I could use a bit more height on my Legacy anyway (strings are further from the pickguard than Strat by design.

Has anyone split the pups with a single switch knocking out the hum cancelling? I've had good luck with a set of Seymour Duncan tele vintage noiseless ... a bit of a bump when in single coil mode that is a bit more original sounding when needed (but has noise) ... but with one click, totally noiseless and still really good.

Been considering a Virtual Vintage bridge instead of the '61 on the Strat ... I like a bit heavier bridge pickup (VV '54 or VV Blues for example). Anyone done this?

doveman · May 23rd, 2008, 08:23 AM

guitarzan13 · May 23rd, 2008, 08:33 AM

The best noiseless/ useful combo (Strat) that I have found is a SD Little 59 in the bridge and two Fender Vintage Noiseless in mid and neck. Sweet in ALL positions and very vintage in the bridge/mid combo. The SD matches well and sounds very ballsy overdriven.

Twanginator · May 23rd, 2008, 08:49 AM

I've got an Area T in my Esquire and it came with only two long wires. There are two short leads that are taped together. You might be able to use them to switch between humbucking and single coil mode. I would email Dimarzio directly about this issue because the instructions they include with this pickup are pretty generic.

LarryR · May 23rd, 2008, 12:07 PM

My experince to date:
there is no problem with height or fitting them in. You need to special order a RWRP from Dimarzio for the middle if you want to split them to true single coil in 2 & 4 and retain hum cancel. I played a 61/61/VV Heavy Blues combo and I like the Heavey Blues, but that would be at volume and with some dirt. For cleaner tones, I preferred the 58/58/61 setup. I also tried the 61/58/54 setup but did not like the interaction between the 54 & the 58. The 58/61 sounds more authentic in pos. 4. Having said all that, I pulled the Areas cause there was somethng I hear that does not sit well compared to true singles. It is in the initial attack, a sharpness to the tone that could just be due to the way I attack the strings and my touch. Others have been much more favorable about them. I must say that when playing at softer volumes, they do sound really good and authentic and work well when recording, but live (when I turn into a meathook) they did not work for me.

ttl100 · May 23rd, 2008, 07:50 PM

I dropped my Area T into the neck pup pocket of my Squier Tele and it fits great. I need to widen the width of the pup gap on the pickguard though. It came with 2 long wires and the other 2 soldered together. Sounds great indeed.

doveman · June 1st, 2008, 08:14 PM

I have received two Area '58s and have an Area '61 bridge on order. The '58s have some good and bad points. I'm going to give them a couple of weeks of playing after all three are installed.

May 22nd, 2008, 05:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
doveman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Carolina Age: 52 Posts: 219	Dimarzio "Area" pups ... questions I'm considering trying either the Area Ts on my Tele or Area 58-58-61 on my Strat. A couple of questions: Are the pickups a bit taller? Does the extra coil add a bit of height? I could use a bit more height on my Legacy anyway (strings are further from the pickguard than Strat by design. Has anyone split the pups with a single switch knocking out the hum cancelling? I've had good luck with a set of Seymour Duncan tele vintage noiseless ... a bit of a bump when in single coil mode that is a bit more original sounding when needed (but has noise) ... but with one click, totally noiseless and still really good. Been considering a Virtual Vintage bridge instead of the '61 on the Strat ... I like a bit heavier bridge pickup (VV '54 or VV Blues for example). Anyone done this?

May 23rd, 2008, 08:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
guitarzan13 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LaGrange, GA Age: 43 Posts: 1,004 8 Photos	The best noiseless/ useful combo (Strat) that I have found is a SD Little 59 in the bridge and two Fender Vintage Noiseless in mid and neck. Sweet in ALL positions and very vintage in the bridge/mid combo. The SD matches well and sounds very ballsy overdriven. __________________ Practice make permanent!!!!....Perfect practice makes perfect!!! Chris B. Current Band www.productoffaith.net Last band as a bass player www.neonjones.com

May 23rd, 2008, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
LarryR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 616	Area Strats My experince to date: there is no problem with height or fitting them in. You need to special order a RWRP from Dimarzio for the middle if you want to split them to true single coil in 2 & 4 and retain hum cancel. I played a 61/61/VV Heavy Blues combo and I like the Heavey Blues, but that would be at volume and with some dirt. For cleaner tones, I preferred the 58/58/61 setup. I also tried the 61/58/54 setup but did not like the interaction between the 54 & the 58. The 58/61 sounds more authentic in pos. 4. Having said all that, I pulled the Areas cause there was somethng I hear that does not sit well compared to true singles. It is in the initial attack, a sharpness to the tone that could just be due to the way I attack the strings and my touch. Others have been much more favorable about them. I must say that when playing at softer volumes, they do sound really good and authentic and work well when recording, but live (when I turn into a meathook) they did not work for me. __________________ http://cdbaby.com/cd/dratrd

May 23rd, 2008, 08:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
doveman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Carolina Age: 52 Posts: 219	bump

May 23rd, 2008, 08:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Twanginator Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 176	I've got an Area T in my Esquire and it came with only two long wires. There are two short leads that are taped together. You might be able to use them to switch between humbucking and single coil mode. I would email Dimarzio directly about this issue because the instructions they include with this pickup are pretty generic.

May 23rd, 2008, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
ttl100 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Malaysia Age: 32 Posts: 50	I dropped my Area T into the neck pup pocket of my Squier Tele and it fits great. I need to widen the width of the pup gap on the pickguard though. It came with 2 long wires and the other 2 soldered together. Sounds great indeed.

June 1st, 2008, 08:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
doveman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Carolina Age: 52 Posts: 219	I have received two Area '58s and have an Area '61 bridge on order. The '58s have some good and bad points. I'm going to give them a couple of weeks of playing after all three are installed.