DiMarzio EJ Custom Humbucker

[eggman]

Howdy,

Has anyone tried DiMarzio's Eric Johnson Custom Humbucker? According to DiMarzio, they're modeled after the p/u's found in an old Country Gent; lots of treble, but with enough body so as not to be "Thin" sounding. My tastes are Beatles, 'Stones and Chuck Berry.

I've got SD 59's in my ES-335, but am curious since thier Twang Kings are so good. I know they also make more traditional PAFs, too. Anyone have experience with the EJ Custom or other DiMarzio PAFs?

Eggman

PS: Asking folks at the TDPRI about HBers ..maybe this isn't the place to find the most responses, but ya'll have similar tastes to me when it comes to p/u's.

[11 Gauge]

I've tried a few DiMarzio humbuckers, and they aren't for everyone.

The only 2 I really like are the Fred, and the Humbucker from Hell.

The Fred works great for when you have a Gibson-esque axe that needs a bit more midrange fat. Awesome for slide. Plus, the output is not out of this world.

The H from H is for nice bright neck tones. It sounds similar to a single coil. Great for when you want super clarity out of your neck humbucker, but don't want to go to a single coil design.

I've tried the Evolutions/Pros/Nortons/Super Dist./X2N, etc. and was not thrilled with any of these.

Like the Twang Kings, my fave DiMarzios have been the single coils. The FS1 is great in the bridge position of a Strat (Gilmour had this setup for a few years), and I used HS2s and HS1s for years. I also have a Fast Track T that sounds great, too.

EJ used a HS2 (coils split) in the bridge position for years.

[Vibrolux]

I’ve had an EJ Custom ‘bucker in the bridge slot of a Fender Tex Mex Strat for a few years now. I love it. With a little bit of height tweaking, it’s a good match for the output of the stock Tex Mex pickup in the neck and a slightly-overwound Fralin Vintage Hot in the middle. I wouldn’t say that it completely nails the Filtertron sound, but it is quite Gretsch-like: it has chime and clarity when played clean (although it still has a lot of humbucker body to the sound), and crunches like “Who’s Next” era Pete Townshend when played through a cranked tweed amp.

I haven’t liked the two or three other Dimarizio humbuckers I’ve played over the years--but this one’s a keeper for me.

[Vibrolux]

I forgot to add that one of the Dimarzios I specifically DID NOT like was their PAF. In the guitar I tried it in, I found it to be very modern sounding and missing the organic vibe that a good PAF has.

I'm sure others may disagree . . .

[rand z]

i had dimarzio air norton and tone zone buckers in and out of a few different guitars... fenders, and although they didnt sound bad (im a single coil guy and have to get use to hb sounds), to my ear they were a little muddy on the low mid end, and a little short on clarity. i especially noticed this after i installed 2 john moore buckers in a 335 epi and heard the clarity/no mud sonic quality of his hb.

i think if i was a heavy metal/thrasher kinda guy the dimarzios would have been ok. i do have a set of alnico 2 strat pups (stacked hb) that are quite nice in a squier 51. and, twang kings in a tele that i really like a lot. they do seem to make better single coil stlyed pups.

depends on what you want.

imho.


rand z tropicalsoul.net

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by Vibrolux

I forgot to add that one of the Dimarzios I specifically DID NOT like was their PAF. In the guitar I tried it in, I found it to be very modern sounding and missing the organic vibe that a good PAF has.

I'm sure others may disagree . . .

I agree about the DiMarzio PAF sounding bad, but all the ones I've owned weren't modern sounding at all - they nailed the average PAF tone exactly - muddy. It's rare that you'll get an old Gibson PAF that's crisp. Most of 'em have been snatched up already.

The PAF Pro has a bit more clarity, but doesn't measure up to the Duncan (classic styled) 'buckers, IMO. Don't know about the GFS 'buckers, but for great, affordable 'buckers, the SDs are hard to beat, and come in so many different flavors.

[Vibrolux]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

I agree about the DiMarzio PAF sounding bad, but all the ones I've owned weren't modern sounding at all - they nailed the average PAF tone exactly - muddy. It's rare that you'll get an old Gibson PAF that's crisp. Most of 'em have been snatched up already.

It may have been the guitar I had it in, or it may be that Dimarzio has changed their PAF recipe during the 20 years since I tried it. All I know is that I also really prefer Seymour Duncans for PAF tone. I do really like the Dimarzio EJ Custom though.

[eggman]

Howdy,

Thanks for the replies. I'm gonna put the DiMarzio EJ Custom on my "Gear list" for this Summer.

Eggman