How are Dimarzio Area Tele pickups???

[roknfnrol]

I just installed a DiMarzio Area Hot T into the bridge of my Road Worn Tele. I removed the old bridge pickup and installed the DiMarzio, I put the red wire in the same place where the old bridge pickup was (on the 3 way switch) and I put the green wire to ground (volume pot). It's barely audible... I tried reversing the hot and the ground and it basically does the same thing. Any thoughts?

 

[Supa V]

There's no installation instructions on the Dimarzio site for the Area Hot T Bridge.
*IF* it's similar to the regular Area T Bridge, those install instructions (.pdf) indicate green -and- bare go to ground. Maybe that's the problem?

My regular Area T Bridge works fine installed this way.

If they're not alike, please ignore what I've posted.

 

[JCBurke59]

Has anyone here used the Area's with a 4-way switch?
How did that work out?

 

[loudguitars]

I've tried about 30 different types of telecaster/stratocaster pickup over the past 10 years including at least 10 stacked-noiseless designs.
I found all of the noiseless designs comparatively 'sterile' (I even had an online 'disagreement' with Chris Kinman...) and they were removed fairly quickly....except the Area pickups. I've chosen them for my telecasters and strat over everything else because I don't find them sterile.

In fact, my main gigging tele had a Duncan AlnicoIIPro for about 3 years and when I put a Dimarzio noiseless pickup in it (the Virtual Vintage Tele regular output DP412 which the AreaT replaced) it had exactly the same tone and feel. In all situations. It's alnico2 as well.

Which pickup did you try? Was it really 'noiseless sterility' or the alnico2 treble response that you heard?
Nobody else is reporting the Area pickups as being sterile.

I have tried several stacked pickups, Duncan and DiMarzio. Neck and bridge.
I tried the Area T bridge. It was dead quiet (which I liked), but it was described by my band mates as "having no balls" I played with the height and kept it in for about 6 gigs and then pulled it out and put the stock Fender back in the guitar. My band mates were back smiling after one song.
I ended up with a Don Mare "Sting Ray" and could not be happier. I can see if you use high gain dirt pedals or a high gain amp (Rectifier or Marshall), where the "noiseless design would be mandatory, but "for me" single coils ARE the TELE sound and that is what I want. I would rather tweak my gain structure (guitar-pedals-effect loops-amps) and actively use my volume pedal (between songs and in quiet parts) to control the hum. My tone is the most important thing. The "noiseless design" had less character and seemed too "tame" where the single coils are alive, dynamic and more expressive "in my opinion". To each his tone! No offense intended to anyone.

 

[roknfnrol]

There's no installation instructions on the Dimarzio site for the Area Hot T Bridge.
*IF* it's similar to the regular Area T Bridge, those install instructions (.pdf) indicate green -and- bare go to ground. Maybe that's the problem?

My regular Area T Bridge works fine installed this way.

If they're not alike, please ignore what I've posted.

The installation is similar, however there is no bare wire with the Area Hot T. There is a red, a green, and white/black attached together.

 

[Supa V]

ringmod, ignore my previous post....

I checked under the control plate and my Area T Bridge has red to the switch and green to ground and it works fine. There is no bare wire.

The bare wire I was thinking of was the gray wire on the Area T *Neck* - this is the ground for the pickup cover.

 

[roknfnrol]

ringmod, ignore my previous post....

I checked under the control plate and my Area T Bridge has red to the switch and green to ground and it works fine. There is no bare wire.

The bare wire I was thinking of was the gray wire on the Area T *Neck* - this is the ground for the pickup cover.

Cool. I emailed DiMarzio and they think the pickup might be defective. I will most likely do an exchange with them.

 

[Parma_TeleMon]

I've had excellent results with Dimarizio tech support. Always first rate and quick response to emails.

 

[Groberts]

Kicking this thread to the top. I've become interested in noiseless PU's and the DiMarzio's seem to get rave reviews for the most part. I do use high gain pedals for lead solo's etc and I am hearing some fairly significant hum, even when I am playing. (Not just in between quiet passages or before the tune starts.)

Thinking DiMarzio's or Kinman's. Maybe Barden's. Not sure. I've read the threads, but looking for current suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Chrismo]

Groberts - you will get some sort of hum regardless of the pickup if you're using a ton of gain.

With that said, the Dimarzios are far more versatile to my ears than the Bardens. Never tried Kinman.

 

[randysmojo]

I put the Area T in the bridge of my main guitar recently and love it! IT doesn't seem to come up short on the Tele tone at all to me, and definitely cut down on the hum with gain! To my ears, it sounds closer to a modern Tele tone than vintage sounding, but can cover both well enough. I don't have a problem playing Merle Haggard, and then go to a Brad Paisley type sound with a little gain.

 

[clapointe]

The Area T sounds great with overdrive! To my ears the Area T has touch of vintage tone but lends more to modern tones ! It sounds alot like the Fralin Blues Special !

 

[norumba]

Has anyone here used the Area's with a 4-way switch?
How did that work out?

id be very interested in this too; anyone done this?

 

[Ignatius]

Kicking this thread to the top. I've become interested in noiseless PU's and the DiMarzio's seem to get rave reviews for the most part. I do use high gain pedals for lead solo's etc and I am hearing some fairly significant hum, even when I am playing. (Not just in between quiet passages or before the tune starts.)

Thinking DiMarzio's or Kinman's. Maybe Barden's. Not sure. I've read the threads, but looking for current suggestions. Thanks!

I've owned Bardens, Kinmans, and Dimarzios. I like the Dimarzios, and they're the cheapest of all the ones I've tried. None of 'em are exactly like a true single coil, but I do like being able to play in a club and not have to deal with the noise.

 

[Groberts]

Thanks Guys. When I say I use a high gain pedal, I am not using stupid amounts of gain. But certainly a bit more 'marshall-ish', only for some leads when called for. Mostly, I keep my overdrive for moderate amp-like crunch so I still hear the purity of the guitar and if I play lightly, it cleans up.

The Dimarzio Hot T Bridge might be the ticket. Certainly not too expensive to try.

 

[randysmojo]

I'm using the regular Area T with a late 70's MXR Distortion + for Marshall like overdrives, and it sounds really good! No where near the hum I got with a single coil and I figure any of the hum I get is probably because of cables. I just bought two Monster Cables to eliminate the cheaper cables I was running from guitar to pedals and pedals to amp. I'll see what happens with them this weekend, but like I said, the hum was barely there compared to almost unbearable with the single coil. If I turn on the Distortion +, my OCD, and My AC Booster all at the same time, it still has very low hum. The single coil had more hum with just the OCD set for a low-medium drive. You will probably be very happy with either the Hot or Regular Area T, but if you are more for heavier sounds, I would go for the Hot Area T.

 

[eleT]

Anyone have an idea how the Area T works with a neck humbucker? got a Fralin in the neck and I'm looking for a fatter bridge pup that will blend but still retain something of the Tele bit and shimmer
Thx Jim

 

[Stratburst]

Groberts - you will get some sort of hum regardless of the pickup if you're using a ton of gain.

With that said, the Dimarzios are far more versatile to my ears than the Bardens. Never tried Kinman.

I've tried the Kinmans against the DiMarzios and the Kinmans sounded more present and warmer to my ears. More mids. Personally, I'd pay the extra $$$ to get the Kinmans.

 

[Elliott]

This thread is exactly what I was looking for! My current build is to be aa "AC/DC" Malcom/Angus - sounding tele. Getting the Rockett Flex pedal to run thru my ampas well...for that Plexi tone But, I'm really struggling for an answer between Area T's and Chopper T's.......not looking for Satriani sounds, just rough crunch. Chpper is starting to sound good....dangit..I don't know!

 

[Stylemaster]

This thread is exactly what I was looking for! My current build is to be aa "AC/DC" Malcom/Angus - sounding tele. Getting the Rockett Flex pedal to run thru my ampas well...for that Plexi tone But, I'm really struggling for an answer between Area T's and Chopper T's.......not looking for Satriani sounds, just rough crunch. Chpper is starting to sound good....dangit..I don't know!

I'm thinking the Chopper might not have enough high end. But I can't really tell from the clips on the DiMarzio site.