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Post subject: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:15 pm
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Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:08 pm
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Hi guys!
I have a Fender American Deluxe plus and I want to install a Dimarzio area 61 on the neck position. I've read from many sources that it's usually matched with a Dimarzio area 58 on the middle position or with the same pickup on the middle position.
In the bridge position I have a Suhr SSV.
My question is: is it viable to have an area 61 on the neck and a Fender n3 in the middle position? or do you think the output difference will hurt my tone?, what do you think?
Thanks a lot!


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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:53 am
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Sorry mate, that's just about impossible to answer! You might install that setup and love it; I might not like it at all! For instance, I like Texas Specials but many on this forum don't.

Furthermore (and I've done this many times), exactly the same p/up set, adjusted to identical height, may sound quite different on another Strat - you just can't tell until you get them on there and plug in. I have Custom '69's on a CS Strat and they're great, but I wasn't impressed with them on an American Special and reinstated the TS's. The CS Strat weighs more than the Special, and I'm assuming body woods have something to do with it.

I feel you'll have buy what you think/hope will work for you, and be prepared to take the hit if it doesn't!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 am
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Peter S wrote:
Sorry mate, that's just about impossible to answer! You might install that setup and love it; I might not like it at all! For instance, I like Texas Specials but many on this forum don't.

Furthermore (and I've done this many times), exactly the same p/up set, adjusted to identical height, may sound quite different on another Strat - you just can't tell until you get them on there and plug in. I have Custom '69's on a CS Strat and they're great, but I wasn't impressed with them on an American Special and reinstated the TS's. The CS Strat weighs more than the Special, and I'm assuming body woods have something to do with it.

I feel you'll have buy what you think/hope will work for you, and be prepared to take the hit if it doesn't!


+1

Basically, that's it. There are so many variables that comprise a guitar's overall tone that it's nigh impossible to predict with certainty how a specific set of pickups is going to perform. But bear in mind, a Strat has only one set of volume and tone controls and each of the pickups you choose must be simpatico with the values of those pots, be they 250KΩ, 500KΩ, or 1MΩ. DiMarzios and traditional single-coils are both happy with 250K's but I'm not so sure about the N3. You should check your guitar's existing wiring for compatibility.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 7:35 am
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I'd love to know why pickups are still generally wired into the guitar cavity. Can't we have a universal connector by now, so you can snap pickups in and out of your guitar to try them? I know that kind of thing is out there, but the big guitar companies aren't buying. Why??

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Want to add a hard drive to your computer? Plug it in to a free SATA connector! Want to add a new pickup to your guitar? Better get out the wire strippers. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:05 pm
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I haven't checked the Fender parts site recently. They tried plug and play PUPs, perhaps driven by the Strat Plus configuration, but stupidity didn't provide line sockets for people to convert their traditionally wired Strats to Plug n Play. I think the whole concept died a death as most just cut the plugs off. Considering the tiny voltages in PUP circuits I'm not convinced it was a sound concept any way.

Back to the OP. As others have said, you can only suck it and see. The issue with juggling Strat PUPs is they need to work together. You might have great sounding bridge and neck PUPs but, if you can't get a middle PUP that sounds good with both you have greatly compromised your tone options.

I'd probably go so far as to say don't bother. PUP manufacturers spend years juggling configurations to get sets that work as sets. The probability of you hitting a sweet spot through luck is pretty remote. Stick with manufacturers recommendations and sets. They don't come about because they think the names sound cool.

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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:54 pm
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John Sims wrote:
I haven't checked the Fender parts site recently. They tried plug and play PUPs, perhaps driven by the Strat Plus configuration, but stupidity didn't provide line sockets for people to convert their traditionally wired Strats to Plug n Play. I think the whole concept died a death as most just cut the plugs off. Considering the tiny voltages in PUP circuits I'm not convinced it was a sound concept any way.


I think the original intent was to favor those who were simply not gifted enough to master the art of soldering. After all, it's such a complex procedure......

:lol:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Pickup combination, Dimarzio area 61 and Fender N3
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:33 pm
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Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
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I'm waiting on "Smart Pups" you know the ones that can figure out what I'm trying to play and self adjust to make me sound like a real player. :lol:

Mixing pups is always the expensive route vs a designed set, maybe try a full on set of DiMarzio's w/ a
N-61
M-58
B-? whatever you determine is closest to your Suhr SSV


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