Dimarzio Super Distortion

[tepidy]

Hey does anyone remember the Original Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups. Back in the 70's this was a favorite pickup to swap out with.

[cvansickle]

I've used it a few times over the past 30 years. When you hear it today, it's all sizzle and no meat when compared to almost everything else that has that much output.

[RichCI]

I have a Guild solidbody that came stock with one in the bridge. The guitar is close to 30 years old so the pickup might have changed a bit over time but I find it pretty funky sounding (funky in a good way).

[Thundergod]

I love Guild guitars... which model is it Rich?

[RichCI]

It's a late 70's S300D in black like the one on the right (and not in as shiny condition) complete with a phase switch which was all the rage back then:

 

 

I picked it up used in the mid 90's for $400 and it still has the original sales receipt from the first owner in the case.

[Zaphod B]

Hey does anyone remember the Original Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups. Back in the 70's this was a favorite pickup to swap out with.

I have one from that era. It is installed in the bridge position of a '76-manufactured 1960 LP Special reissue. (P-90 cavity enlarged to accomodate it.) It's a kick-*** pickup, and that Special really sings with it.

[bobv]

Sure. Super Distortions with the twelve adjustable hex-head socket screws for polepieces. Not only were they bright from being un-covered, but they were very hot, high output. Ceramic magnets if I'm not mistaken. Sizzle is a good way to describe it, pun aside. They also had a "Dual Sound" model that was basically a Super Distortion with a third conductor so you could shunt one of the coils. People started calling them "tapped" although technically that's not what's going on. Get those suckers too close to the strings and they get all kinds of nonmusical wolf tones, the magnets pull so hard it saps the sustain and maybe even pulls them out of tune! Not the Holy Grail PAF sound that the Jimmy Page chasers are after, but definitely a tasty set of pickups.