10 Best DiMarzio Pickups Compared & Reviewed

 

Best Dimarzio Pickup Review – Top Rated Models with Buying Guide

 

In this article, you will be able to find the best DiMarzio pickups out there. If you are the type of person that doesn’t have all the time in the world to browse through all the DiMarzio pickup reviews, you will be able to find a quick top to base your decision on. We took the time to examine all the greatest products, and we came to the conclusion that the DiMarzio {FEEDTITLE} Electric Guitar Gig Bag (DP100FBK) is the model that you should look at first. It’s one of the most recognizable and popular pickups ever. It’s the kind of pickup that does such a good job when placed in the bridge position. No matter if you’re using it for soloing or anything else, it’s a versatile pickup that will help in every circumstance. If you can’t find it, look for the DiMarzio DP384 Special Chopper Tele Bridge Pickup Black.

 

 

Comparison table

 

 

 

10 Best Dimarzio Pickups (Updated Reviews) in 2021

 

 

Our team did the research for you and took the time to look at some of the most popular models to find the best DiMarzio pickup. That’s why we made a selection of some models that we like. You can find affordable DiMarzio pickups amongst these, but also some top-end models. Let’s see what the reviews say.

 

 

1. DiMarzio {FEEDTITLE} Electric Guitar Gig Bag (DP100FBK)

 

If you want the first original pickup that was able to kick a tube amp into overdrive, this is the choice that you have to make. Before its invention in the early 1970s, replacement pickups didn’t exist, and nowadays this model is a standard for other pickups when it comes to high-output measurements.

It’s the kind of pickup that comes with the ideal blend between power and tone, and no matter if you are playing single notes or chords, the sound will be blasted by the amp and will fill the room. There is a nice balance of tones, with the sound feeling thick, with boosted mids, fat lows and great highs. It’s the sound that you have heard for many hours on classic platinum records.

Finding a more versatile pickup than this one is difficult, and thanks to the 4-conductor wiring, you get instant access to series-parallel and DiMarzio Strat pickups split modes.

 

Pros

Used by many pro players, this is considered one of the most recognizable high-power pickup ever.

Recommended for those that know a thing or two about playing the guitar, it’s the kind of pickup that fits really well in the bridge position on solid-body guitars.

Every style is suited for this pickup, as it’s highly versatile, so no matter if you will be soloing a lot, or you will be the rhythm guitar in the band, it will still do a great job.

It’s one of the oldest models in the market, and it was the first replacement pickup ever – this shows how reliable it is.

 

Cons

Hollow or semi-hollow guitars will have a hard time using it.

While being a flagship of DiMarzio bass pickups, when using this model you will have to put in more treble from your amp if you want those high frequencies to shine.

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2. DiMarzio DP384 Special Chopper Tele Bridge Pickup Black

 

If you had the change to play the Fast Track T, you should know that this one is its louder, punchier, and bigger brother. Sharing the same construction, mainly the same twin-blade design and side-by-side coils, this model also comes with no magnet-pull problems or string alignment issues. There will be no background noise coming out of it.

While it doesn’t have the traditional Telecaster bridge sound that many want, the Chopper Tele Bridge will give less twang and more chunk. Those who know what this means will be pleased to find out that it’s great for blues. The 250k controls will help you produce a warm sound, and not much high-end punctuation, while the 500k controls will make things brighter, opening up the high frequencies and the lower strings too.

You should be able to get the exact sound of classic rock riffs with this pickup in a Telecaster and using a high-gain tube amp.

 

Pros

Combining this pickup with a balanced neck pup you will have a vintage (or even better) sound, where you get louder tones and clear sounds.

Despite having more sound volume than classic vintage pickups, it doesn’t have a muddy sound, even if you put in high amounts of gain or distortion.

When placed near the bridge, this pickup won’t exert too much magnetic drag thanks to the rail configuration, and this means the intonation won’t be affected even if the strings are close to the pickup.

Sounding different depending on the string height adjustment, this pickup is versatile for a variety of styles.

This unit really excels when it comes to noise levels, as it can give you the feeling that the amp is not turned on when it actually is.

 

Cons

It’s a pity that this item doesn’t come with mounting screws to make the installation process an easier one.

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3. DiMarzio DP155 Tone Zone Humbucker Pickup Black F-Space

 

Those looking for a dramatic tone curve, and one of the most interesting sounds when it comes to modern classic humbuckers, this is the pickup for them. Combining classic sounds from other DiMarzio pickups with some great mid-range and bass frequencies, this pickup really kicks hard.

You will notice that from the lows to the highs, every frequency is boosted, and while using the Tone Zone Humbucker you feel like you are putting in less effort than required for a better sound. This pickup has an interesting sound, as the notes seem to amplify after they are picked and they have a lot more sustain.

It’s a great pup for an aggressive tone, with plenty of drive, given that it sounds great in all frequencies. You will notice that it’s sensitive to pick attacks, and it is a great model for everything from metal to blues.

 

Pros

It’s a versatile model, as it can qualify as a high-output pickup, while still having a wide dynamic range suitable for a multitude of styles.

Players that like hard picking will be pleased with the power this pup is capable of producing, while those that enjoy softer picking will like the cleaner and quieter side of it.

The pickup is capable of expertly combining classic DiMarzio sounds with awesome bass and mid-range frequencies to be able to punch when it needs to.

Great for metal players, thanks to the aggressive tone that it can deliver, the Tone Zone Humbucker is also suitable for something softer like blues.

 

Cons

If you don’t have an amplifier capable of high gain, this pickup is not recommended. It does sound well on a tube amp or an analog device, but otherwise, it might have some issues with newer digital models.

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4. DiMarzio Evolution Bridge Humbucker Electric Guitar Gig Bag (DP159FBK)

 

Designed for one of the most demanding professional players worldwide, Steve Vai, the DiMarzio Evolution pickups have been created to provide maximum power and impact. Compared to its twin sister, the neck pickup, this one made for the bridge is louder, aggressive, and sounds tight. Coming with the brand’s patented dual-resonance configuration, it’s able to produce harmonic overtones in a better fashion than regular humbuckers.

If you are looking for something that sounds warm and fuzzy, this is not the pickup for you, as it is not beginner-friendly and doesn’t do great when playing clean notes. However, it excels at making an amp blast power and be harsh when you need it to. Designed for live gigs, it has a lot of presence, but it’s also good for recording purposes.

This pickup is capable of delivering a good sound even through the densest mix. Soloing is where this humbucker excels.

 

Pros

Because the highs come with a lot of presence and the low frequencies are tight, this pickup will enable you to be head in any situation.

Designed for Steve Vai’s Ibanez, it’s clear that this bridge humbucker suits Ibanez guitars a lot better, but it can also be used on Les Pauls or similar electric guitars.

You will be pleased to hear it at work since the lowest notes will be clearly heard, while the highs don’t lag behind.

Humbuckers aren’t usually capable of providing harmonic overtones, but this one will do that for you.

Hardcore metal players will enjoy the sound of this, thanks to how powerful it is, particularly in live gigs.

 

Cons

Although not as gainy as you would expect, it can offer a good crisp sound when placed on the bridge.

It’s the sort of pickup that you can’t adjust too much, and you will be stuck with its “factory” sound.

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5. DiMarzio DP173 Twang King Tele Bridge Pickup Black

 

When creating this pickup, DiMarzio wanted more than just the sound of classic DiMarzio telecaster pickups, and the end result is one that delivers every good element of the better Teles of the past and many other features. Coming with a great response to pick attack, when you play these pickups light they produce a soft and quiet sound while giving out a hard and loud sound with more dynamics when hard picked.

The single-coil has been created through a combination of controlled-tension coil-winding, hand-calibrated magnets, and a special kind of wire. If you are buying the neck pickup you will be getting it with a chrome cover, while the bridge model comes with a ferrous base plate.

In order to give you squeal-free performances, the pickup is wax-potted twice. Usually, pickups are modeled after a specific previous design, but the Twang King Bridge isn’t. However, it combines the original sound of Broadcaster and DiMarzio Tele pickups from the 50s and 60s.

 

Pros

The aim of this product is to give a good balance between clean and powerful lows, and fat-sounding high notes, and the result is one that should please every kind of ear.

This is a pickup capable of handling wide dynamic ranges, so you get a soft sound that cleans itself when soft picking, but also a hard attack when you pick with more force.

Coming with simple wiring instructions, this is one of the easiest DiMarzio pickups out there when it comes to the installation process.

The pickup is capable of capturing the greatest elements of Telecasters and Broadcasters together and then adds a bit of extra on top.

All that sound is achieved with the help of a special wire in combination with controlled-tension coil-winding, and some precise hand-calibrated magnets.

 

Cons

When used by itself the pickup will feel weak when it comes to harsh volumes.

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6. DIMARZIO DP184/The Chopper Single-Coil Humbucker

 

Being the louder and punchier bigger brother of the Fast Track, this pickup concentrates more power in the mids and low frequencies to be able to give you a crunchier and bigger sound. Compared to the Fast Track 1 model, it has the twin-blade construction and the side-by-side coils that help when the poles are misaligned, and prevent most string-pull problems.

Originally designed to be a bridge pickup that workes great with DiMarzio’s Cruiser and Fast Track 1, this is also a great neck pickup, if you’ve got another hot and awesome humbucker in the bridge position.

When listening to the sound of The Chopper single-coil you will notice that it’s a beautiful cross between a full-size humbucker and an actual single-coil, giving more body than the first, and more clarity than the second. If you’re otherwise using DiMarzio Stratocaster pickups, it’s an excellent choice for a fat tone and more power in the bridge position.

 

Pros

You won’t be having any string-pull issues or bad sound because of misaligned poles, and that is thanks to the side-by-side coils and twin-blade construction.

If you are looking for a crunchy sound that focuses a lot on mids and low frequencies, this pickup will be a great choice.

Even if you’re not using a Telecaster, you can still get a fat tone and a lot of power in a bridge position if you’re using a Stratocaster or any type of guitar shape.

Designed primarily to be a bridge pickup, it can also work as a neck pup, if you’re using another powerful humbucker in the bridge position.

The sound that this pickup gives out is a sweet combination between a full-sized humbucker and a classic single-coil.

 

Cons

There aren’t many bad things that can be said about this pickup, however, the odd design can put some people off from purchasing it.

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7. DiMarzio DP416 Area ’61 Pickup White

 

After an intense work of twelve years, DiMarzio has managed to create one of the most interesting vintage single-coil designs, one that produces no hum in the form of this pickup. When creating this model, the brand’s purpose was to recreate the sound of the 1950s and early 60s.

When playing on guitars from that period you can notice their unique tonality, as they sound more like steel combined with wood. Of course, this sound had a lot of hum and magnet-pull, a thing that doesn’t happen with the Area ‘61 pickup. For that reason, it’s the ideal bridge position pickup if you are using an Area 58 on the neck position.

Centered on single-coil pickups, in the 1960s the Texas blues sound was very popular. This pickup is here to bring that sound to those that have been requesting it for years.

 

Pros

Although the classic blues sound of the 1960s also relies on one’s hands and strings, this pickup will be able to deliver everything else needed for that tone.

Much like other performant DiMarzio pickups, this model is a good one when it comes to responding differently to pick attacks – if you play it hard it will sound loud and though, and when you use it softer, rolling down the volume control it cleans up nicely.

Superior to full-sized humbuckers when it comes to canceling humming noises, it’s the kind of pickup you can use for clean solos.

Thanks to its multivalent potential, it can be used in all positions, from neck to bridge.

You will notice no magnet pull with this single-coil, despite it being capable of giving you an original sound of the past.

 

Cons

It’s a jack of all trades – while good in every position, it doesn’t really excel in any particular aspect.

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8. DiMarzio DP417 Area T Tele Neck Pickup Chrome

 

With the two models coming in the Area T Tele Neck Pickup, DiMarzio paved the way for high-performance hum-canceling Telecaster replacement pickups like this one. The technology used there is excellent for Strat purposes, but with some advancements, the brand managed to adjust them for this model to work on Telecasters.

Teles are known for their warm sound and clarity, and the T Tele comes with that, while the new technology allows for a classic Tele cover that doesn’t affect the sound quality or the power. This model has a smooth tone and a great ability to remain clear even when used with heavy overdrive.

Designed to work with 250k controls, you can increase the output and treble response of this pickup if you use 500k controls. If you want to play some high-gain sounds, traditional pickups are problematic, but this one, even though it’s not a humbucker, does well enough there.

 

Pros

This model finds inspiration in two previously successful other models from DiMarzio, and this means it will have the quality you need for your Telecaster style guitars.

It has some improvements over previous models and it all works together towards providing a great sound.

Known for their warm sound and clarity, Telecasters need to be powerful and clear, and this model doesn’t affect that at all, despite coming with the newly-designed cover on top.

Even when used with heavy overdrive, the pickup has the ability to remain clear and provide a smooth tone.

It works well with 250k controls but it can also employ 500k controls if you feel the need for more gain and power.

 

Cons

The main con of this pickup is the fact that it comes with mounting springs that are too short – the neck is tall and this means that the short springs leave no room for adjustments.

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9. DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion Pickup Black Regular

 

Before the invention of this Super Distortion Pickup, there were no other pickups made specifically to put such power into an amp and kick it into overdrive. This is why it’s a model still regarded as standard in the industry when it comes to high-output devices. It’s the pickup that comes with the ideal combination of tone and power. Single notes will sound amazing on it, while the chords will fill the room and jump out of the amplifier with volume.

Great highs, boosted mids, and powerful lows describe this beast. The sound of this pup has been heard for over 3 decades in the hands of players like Al Di Meola, Paul Gilbert, and many others, on platinum records.

It’s a versatile piece of equipment, and thanks to the 4-conductor wiring, you get access to the Strat-like split and series-parallel modes. For those reasons, this is one of the most powerful high-gain pickups out there.

 

Pros

Evolving from a 1-conductor pickup to a 4-conductor pickup, the Super Distortion became a very popular and versatile pickup capable of delivering much more.

Thanks to the coil-splitting technology, the model is capable of delivering Strat-like sounds, when it comes to tone and power.

It’s rare that you find a pickup with so much power when it comes to the lows and mids – this thing can really pack a punch.

With the parallel wiring that is similar to splitting, this is still a humbucker, but still capable of sounding hollower where needed.

Created especially for solid-bodied guitars, it can work well with semi-hollow or hollow guitars if needed, despite its high output.

It is one of the oldest such models in the market and its quality has been proven across the years.

 

Cons

You will need to add some more treble in the amp, as this humbucker excels in the lows and seems to forget about the solos.

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10. DiMarzio DP155 Tone Zone Humbucker Pickup Black Regular

 

This pickup prides itself on being the choice for those guitarists that have always suffered because of bridge pickups that made their guitars sound like mosquitoes. Hot enough to get the definition of a high-output pickup, it’s got such a wide dynamic range. If you hard pick it, you will be able to produce plenty of power, while soft picking will provide a clean and quieter sound.

The bass response and the low-mid frequencies are phenomenal – all in all, this pickup is one that makes the overall sound bigger. Even the higher single notes have enough depth, while the chords once played will sound great. There are more overtones produced thanks to the dual-resonance patented coils, and this is surprising for such a fat-sounding pickup.

When using the split-coil mode you get awesome single-coil sounds. While capable of doing a decent job in neck positions, the pickup is mainly made for bridge use.

 

Pros

It’s one pickup that has enough power to be placed in the high-output category and that’s why it will blast your amp with sound volume.

Being so powerful its surprising how much of a dynamic range it has, allowing you to pick it in different styles.

You can get a clean and quiet sound out of it, but you can also go heavy-metal and blast the stage with high gain and strength.

It really shines when it comes to the low frequencies and the mids, and that makes it portray a much heavier and bigger sound.

The played chords will sound great while picking single notes will bring out clean tones.

 

Cons

There are some genres that require you to tune down your guitar, and for that purpose, unfortunately, this pickup doesn’t cut it – when tuned down it sounds too dark and heavy.

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Our Comprehensive Buying Guide

 

When looking at a DiMarzio pickup review you don’t always get the full picture. You need to know a bit about the brand, and to experience the sound of each model before you make a purchase. Here are some things to look for when searching for the ideal pickup for you, be it a cheap DiMarzio pickup or a more expensive one.

Two types of pickups

Experienced players know that in the guitar world there are 2 different types of pickups – the single coils and the humbuckers. You need to know what each of them does to have a better understanding of their capabilities.

In making the single-coil pickups, insulated wire is used to wrap around six magnets. Once the guitar string is plucked, that magnet that was created gets disturbed, the signal is captured by the wire and sent to the amplifier. Because of this single coils sound clear, snappy, jangly, and bell-like.

On the other hand, humbuckers work differently. Made of two coils and not one, each of its magnets has a different orientation (the north is positioned differently). This results in the hum that was present in the single-coil pickup to get canceled. Also, thanks to this, the humbuckers will sound fuller, thicker (or hot as some say), loud and smooth.

 

More about the single coils

These pickups will sound great when used with un-distorted settings. Usually placed on top of such a pickup, a cover will protect the wire. The main drawback of single-coil pickups is that they have a humming to them, a buzz. This excess noise is annoying for some, but others like it because it brings a vintage sound.

There are some cheap DiMarzio pickups that still buzz when in use, but high-end models will be able to hide that noise. The single-coil models are great for blues, country, indie, or similar styles.

 

What about the humbucker?

Using more magnets oriented in different ways, the humbucker cancels that noise (that is where the name comes from – hum and bucker. Always great for heavier music styles such as classic rock, metal, or anything similar, they can also bring raunch and toughness in blues songs too. They are also the choice for some jazz bands.

There are many brands that produce humbuckers, and while DiMarzio is not known as a brand that excels at producing them (because it focuses on making high-quality single-coil models), you can still find some heavy sounding DiMarzio guitar pickups in the form of humbuckers.

You will sometimes see a combination of a humbucker and a single-coil, and depending on your style, you would usually want the humbucker to be in the bridge position, while the single coils sitting in the neck spot and the middle.

Active and passive models

While the passive affordable DiMarzio pickup is most often the more popular option, nowadays you can find plenty of active pickups too. Active pickups are wound weaker than their counterparts, and that causes a weak initial signal, however, that signal gets amplified, most often via a battery. The advantage of such a pickup is the output, which is usually more powerful, the sustain, and the tonal consistency offered, no matter the cable length.

There is a myth that active pickups are only available in the humbucker form, but that is not true. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q: How to install DiMarzio pickups?

To change the pickups you will need the necessary tools – soldering iron and solder, Philips head screwdrivers, a knife, wire cutters, and a large cloth to protect the guitar. After you find a good workspace, make sure to take photos of your guitar previous to working on it, and make notes. Proceed by removing the strings, and after that clean your guitar.

One important thing to do next is to desolder the existing pickup wirings. You will need a bit of knowledge for that and you should seek help at least online for that purpose. Next, remove the pickups.

The next step is to mount the new pickups using the screwdriver, and placing them in their place precisely. Make sure to figure out the wiring correctly – again, search the web for wiring instructions if you don’t have them. Create a wiring diagram once you know how everything works, and after you’ve done that, connect the new wires.

Q: Does the direction I install my pickup matter?

When installing a humbucker, it doesn’t really matter the direction you’re installing it, even if you’re installing them backward. While some of them have a really different sound when installed the other way around, they still work. It is ultimately a choice of preference because most humbuckers will sound brighter when installed differently.

Furthermore, when it comes to single-coil models, they are even less sensitive to installation direction. Their magnets are so close together that reversing their direction has no sensitive effect over the sound. Of course, there are some that argue so much that coils should be installed in a certain way, but that’s not true.

On top of it all, there are certain guitars where you can’t really fit the humbucker or the single-coil as you would want and you need to reverse its direction. This could lead to a severe decrease in the sound quality if the direction had any effect, but that’s not the case.

 

Q: How far should my pickups be from the strings?

Many pickups, no matter the brand, have a high output regardless of their position if you don’t go crazy low with their placement. In any case, you can always turn up the amp or turn it down if you feel that the level of sound doesn’t suit your needs. You can test the limits of your pickup by yourself.

To start testing, lower the pickup further into the body than what you would consider being standard. This should give the strings enough room to vibrate in, and you will have an idea of how well everything sounds. You might have a bit less output because the strings act like a microphone that’s further away, but you will have a clear sound.

The only problem with pickup placement would be if you mounted your pickups too close to the strings, so that, when the strings vibrate, they would touch or almost touch the pickups.