• Virtuoso Tone!

  

  As reviewed by SpiritOfRadio21690 on 10/20/2006

  It comes as no surprise to me that so many guitar heroes chooses Dimarzio pickups. Vai, Satriani, Rhoads, Yngwie, the list goes on. This pup is definitely has the tone to satisfy me, seeing as it's good enough for Yngwie. I use this pup in the neck of my Jackson DK2, into a Vox Valvetronix half stack on the UK 80's channel. This pickup has such a low output that no matter how much distortion I use, it remains articulate. Sweeps are easy because it doesn't pick up tiny mistakes as easy as say, an Evolution bridge pickup. I pair this pickup with a Super Distortion in the bridge, and yes I know you're not supposed to mix high and low output pickups, but there are three pickups and using the 5 way switch, the YJM and Super can't be used at the same time anyway. The leads have great definition, and when I roll back the volume knob, even on a very dirty channel (think Randy Rhoads distorted) I get nearly crystal clear clean tone. This makes for great clean arpeggios between distorted chords or leads just by switching pickups. On the clean channel, I couldn't even get this thing to get dirty if I wanted to without an OD pedal in front, so it's super clean if you are not into metal. With a little overdrive, this pickups has great blues tone, if that's your style. Overall, I can definitely see why Yngwie endorses and uses this pickup on all his new albums and tours, it's a tone machine.

  16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

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• By Far the Clearest and Most Versatale PU

  

  As reviewed by John on 11/8/2006

  This pickup is amazing, it has the absolute clearest sound I've ever heard. I have two of these on my '89 Charvel (Mid, Neck). These are so quiet and the note defintion is perfect. I never thought such a low output PU could sound so good. The best part about these are that I love putting in complicated circuits into all of my guitars and these have stacked coils so you can split, or have a 'bucking single coil. Highly reccomend this, don't miss out.

  13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

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• Great Strat Tone, No Noise! Great For Recording!

  

  As reviewed by Mike on 3/25/2011

  First of all, in spite of the fact that many people only use this pickup for the neck and middle positions (while opting for an HS-3 in the bridge), it works equally well in the bridge position. The only difference between this and the HS-3 is that the HS-4 has a different magnet staggering. The sound is the same to my ears. Second, these, as well as the HS-3s, are LOW-OUTPUT pickups. Be ready for that. Lots of guitarists are dismayed at the low output, but that's the secret to Yngwie's tone - use a good sounding clean pickup and distort the signal after it leaves the guitar. If you start with a high-output pickup that distorts on its own, there is no way it will ever sound good. Also, make sure you're using a 500K pot with these (the instructions say that, but for some reason people ignore it and then complain about the tone). If you follow the instructions, what you will end up with is the most awesome strat tone you have ever heard. The highs are less pronounced and the mids are boosted somewhat in comparison to a normal strat pickup. Also note that if your playing sucks, and you install this pickup, you're still going to suck. But you'll suck with amazing tone. Everything, including your mistakes, will come screaming out of your amp loud and clear. I keep the stock middle pickup in my strats and lower it flush with the pickguard to compensate for the low volume of the DiMarzios. Couldn't be happier with my tone.

  1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

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