I'm looking for opinions on the Dimarzio DP420... I have a 404 in an alder body/maple-rosewood neck strat now and I really dig it but I keep reading the 420 is totally an upgrade. Anyone have hands on experience comparing the two? Also, thinkin about one of the Areas for the neck as the pickup in there now is kinda lifeless. Looking for spanky hard rock tones...

You have to be careful with DiMarzio stack designs. If they are really 'over the top' power wise, played clean, they have no dynamics. On the other hand, overdriven they are phenomenal. Conversely, their Area series are phenomenal clean with tremendous dynamics but lacking that 'brutishness' overdriven to the point of where a tube amp really must take over.

Ultimately, it is on you. Try a DP420 under DiMarzio's 30 day exchange policy. The same holds for whichever Area model you have in mind. FYI: In my circles, the Area 67 is by far, the most popular of the group. Personally, I think that for a stacked HB, the Area 67 is without a doubt, the best neck pickup out there.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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