Anyone able to help identify this pickup?

Cirrus

About 13 years ago, I bought a Dimarzio pickup really cheap at a second hand music shop in Filey near Scarborough thinking I might upgrade my cheapo Vintage SG. I didn't, and forgot about. Just found it in a box of stuff my parents handed me which had been in storage for about a decade.

Anyone able to give me any clues as to what it might be? Came in a "Don Lace" box but I think that's just the box the shop owner had spare.



Stamped text on the back says "Dimarzio Pickups Made in USA"

ESchap

A resistance meter reading would help.

Jack_

Super Distortion maybe?

Cirrus

ESchap said:

A resistance meter reading would help.

Cool, can do - will check tonight.

bloodandtears

I was gonna post a similar thread.. I have one in black that I just pulled out of a Charvel model 4.. again no evident model number stamp on the underside. I'll check the resistance of mine too...

guitarfishbay

The Dimarzio website has year of introduction on each pickup page, so between a resistance reading and cross referencing dates you should be able to find out.

But my guess is also Super Distortion. Common pickup and commonly in that colour scheme

Sassafras

Looks like some sort of humbucker to me.

usedtobe

I've got a couple of old di marzios knocking about somewhere too. I ought to give them a whirl at some point..

WezV

guitarfishbay said:

The Dimarzio website has year of introduction on each pickup page, so between a resistance reading and cross referencing dates you should be able to find out.

But my guess is also Super Distortion. Common pickup and commonly in that colour scheme

And always has those pole pieces.

Jack_

Plus most guitar shops will only ever stock the popular ones like Air Norton, Tone Zone and Super Distortion.

ICBM

Back in the days this was most likely made, there were only about three models anyway - PAF Pro, Super Distortion and X2N… and it's not a PAF Pro or an X2N.

Cirrus

Jack_ said:

Plus most guitar shops will only ever stock the popular ones like Air Norton, Tone Zone and Super Distortion.

It's 2nd hand, which probably opens it out a little more. Google image search definitely seems to be supporting the Super Distortion theory, of course I'll measure the resistance to see if that's in the right ballpark.

I guess my next question would be, does anyone have any experience with those? Any sound references?

ICBM

Old Super Distortions are fantastic pickups, noticeably different to the more modern ones I think. The first and still one of the best aftermarket 'hot' pickups - they're not as high-output as the name implies either, although they are still quite a loud pickup.

@TheGuitarWeasel will have more info on why the old ones are different.

guitarfishbay

Cirrus said:

I guess my next question would be, does anyone have any experience with those? Any sound references?

I think a lot of Iron Maiden has super distortion on it - Murray and Smith are both still listed as artists and I'm sure they came up a lot while researching this pickup (I went for a bright green Evo in the end, as you do).

I also think The Offspring used them, definitely Dexter Holland.

guitarfishbay

ICBM said:

Back in the days this was most likely made, there were only about three models anyway - PAF Pro, Super Distortion and X2N… and it's not a PAF Pro or an X2N.

It could also be a Super 2, though that's less likely than the Super Distortion.

Jack_

Always thought the biggest problem with the Super Distortion was its name.

Cirrus

guitarfishbay said:

ICBM said:

Back in the days this was most likely made, there were only about three models anyway - PAF Pro, Super Distortion and X2N… and it's not a PAF Pro or an X2N.

It could also be a Super 2, though that's less likely than the Super Distortion.

*googles it*

That probably helps answer my next question, then - so with the Super Distortion there's no dedicated neck+bridge versions, the Super 2 is the neck version of the Super Distortion?

WezV

ICBM said:

Back in the days this was most likely made, there were only about three models anyway - PAF Pro, Super Distortion and X2N… and it's not a PAF Pro or an X2N.

Dude... sorry to point it out but 13 years ago was 2004    Dimarzio's range was pretty big by then. Okay, if it was second hand in 2004, but there is no suggestion its much older

Square feet disappeared in  1980 - so its a Dimarzio from sometime between 1980 and 2004

I agree its mostly likely an SD, but just to give an idea of the number of hex poled DiMarzios available "about 13 years ago"

Breed -  1997
Dual sound -  1974
Evo -  1993
Evo 2 - 2004
Steve Morse - 1983
Steves special - 1995
SD - 1972
SD2 - 1977
SD3 - 1994

ICBM

WezV said:

Dude... sorry to point it out but 13 years ago was 2004    Dimarzio's range was pretty big by then. Okay, if it was second hand in 2004, but there is no suggestion its much older

Square feet disappeared in  1980 - so its a Dimarzio from sometime between 1980 and 2004

Sure - but it has slot screws in the bottom not Philips, and 2-conductor cable not 4-conductor. I don't know the exact changeover date for either of these and there's nothing I can find online, but I would say it puts it much closer to 1980 than to 2004.

WezV

The 2 conductor wiring does tell you it's not a dual sound.  Although I always find it surprising they even have that one in the range given all SD's are 4 conductor these days, but I would put that change down as much more recent... not sure when but I had new 2-conductor SD's in the 90's although potentially old stock

good spot on the screws though, that should be a dateable feature change.

FX_Munkee

Didn't all the other dimarzio's have the model number stamped on them? The super distortion being the exception?
My late 80's Paf Pros (pink, obviously) definitely have the DP151 stamps