Gibson Dirty Fingers - how do you like them?

ALMuti

So, just recently I was thinking "maybe after years of having mid- to high-output humbuckers in my guitars, I'm learning to enjoy a less hot pickup". 

I'm in the market for a new guitar and lo and behold, something pops up that I've had my eyes on for a while - those funky Gibson Memphis 339 "studio" with no f-holes and a single pickup at the bridge. Said pickup is a Dirty Finger, which I've never tried really. 

What do you think? What's the experience on Dirty Fingers, do you like them? I Play stoner/grunge/alt-rock, I like a high gain sound but it tends to be thick fuzz wall rather than tight modern high gain. 

guitars4you

They sound like they would suit you - They are mean kick arse pick up - Not my cuppa tea - But think you’ll like them 

ICBM

I love them - or at least the originals, I'm not sure I've tried a new one - despite not being the most obvious target market for them. The name sums them up perfectly, for me - as a usually fingers-only player - they're aggressive and dirty-sounding, but dynamic and complex, not compressed or smooth. Probably my favourite Gibson bridge pickup.

ALMuti

ICBM said:

I love them - or at least the originals, I'm not sure I've tried a new one - despite not being the most obvious target market for them. The name sums them up perfectly, for me - as a usually fingers-only player - they're aggressive and dirty-sounding, but dynamic and complex, not compressed or smooth. Probably my favourite Gibson bridge pickup.

you're making them sound even better than expected  

Let's see if I can get to an agreement with the shop for a Parts Ex.

MattP

I have an original in the bridge of my LP and I really like it - ICBMs comments are echoed. 

Their sound is due in part to their construction; it has two or three (three, i think, but ive never taken one apart) ceramic magnets and two rows of adjustable screws, rather than one row of screws and the other of slugs like a 'normal' humbucker. The new ones (I'm told, I've never tried one) sound different as they have a single ceramic magnet. I also don't like that the new ones have 'Dirty Fingers' written on them, but that's just personal. 

So yeah, get an original one if you can - they are great and not OTT expensive for a vintage pickup.  

ALMuti

MattP said:

I have an original in the bridge of my LP and I really like it - ICBMs comments are echoed. 

Their sound is due in part to their construction; it has two or three (three, i think, but ive never taken one apart) ceramic magnets and two rows of adjustable screws, rather than one row of screws and the other of slugs like a 'normal' humbucker. The new ones (I'm told, I've never tried one) sound different as they have a single ceramic magnet. I also don't like that the new ones have 'Dirty Fingers' written on them, but that's just personal. 

So yeah, get an original one if you can - they are great and not OTT expensive for a vintage pickup.  

good to know! I'm looking at a guitar that comes with them stock so it'd be a newer one - actually I'm seeing marked as "Dirty Fingers Plus".

Schnozz

suspiciousminds

About 10-12 years ago i bought a gibson sg minus any pickups (the owner had fitted an expensive set which he wanted to put in another guitar) and i bought a pair of dirty fingers pickups to put in - i thought they sounded superb.
I eventually sold the SG though because i couldnt get on with the neck dive but really wish i had kept the pickups.

OilCityPickups

ICBM said:

I love them - or at least the originals, I'm not sure I've tried a new one - despite not being the most obvious target market for them. The name sums them up perfectly, for me - as a usually fingers-only player - they're aggressive and dirty-sounding, but dynamic and complex, not compressed or smooth. Probably my favourite Gibson bridge pickup.

What he says ... 
a classic case of getting the power from lots of magnet mass (triple ceramic bars) rather than just overwinding. The other 'classic hot pickup' next to the Super Distortion. 
 The new Dirty Fingers are a usual case of Gibson knowing how to make a great pickup ... and then reissuing a poorer version. 

jeztone2

It’s the John Sykes pickup. That’s what he used on his main LP. I actually really liked the 500T ceramics Gibson did years ago. But not the guitar they were attached too.