D Sonic in JP6/JP7/Baritone

[73h Nils]

This is something I've always wanted to know. Consider it a curiosity if you must.

The JP6 has the D Sonic blade to neck, whereas the JP7 has it blade to bridge.

Now, where I would assume this has something to do with the note definition being poorer for lower notes on the JP7, thus incurring the switch of the blade's position.

Then why is the blade to the neck on the Baritone, where the notes are one step lower than the JP7? Am I missing something? Is it for something other than note definition? Personal preference?

 

[lumberjack]

This is from the Dimarzio site:

Tech Talk: Those of you familiar with DiMarzio® history will note the visual resemblance to our old MegaDrive™, but the design is completely different. Installation direction makes a noticeable difference in the sound, particularly with overdriven amps. With the solid bar toward the bridge, the sound is a little brighter and better-defined, and this is the direction we recommend for heavy strings and low tunings. With the adjustable polepieces toward the bridge, the sound is warmer and a touch louder, and we think this works best for standard tuning and more solo-oriented playing. Each coil has a unique tonal character, so the two split sounds are different, and parallel humbucking produces a third clean and bright sound.

Do a forum search as well. There should be a lot on the d-sonics.

Scott

 

[Dizzy]

^^^
That theory has been discussed in depth, but doesn't answer his question.

And a very valid question at that - the Bari config for the D-sonic contradicts the Dimarzio theory and EBMM practice for the JP7, no ?

 

[73h Nils]

Exactly!

 

[lumberjack]

^^^
That theory has been discussed in depth, but doesn't answer his question.

Fine, I'm taking my ball and going home. Here's the easy answer......It's the way Mr. Petrucci like it. So there.

 

[eegor]

Maybe the fact that it's baritone? The extra tension may produce a different sound than a standard scale length and he might like the bar facing the neck in that particular scenario. If this theory is correct, than it might be safe to assume that if his 7-string model was 27" scale length (which I wish it was) he would have the bar facing the neck.

Only a theory, though.

 

[73h Nils]

Any official input on this? Pretty please!?

 

[whitestrat]

This is something I've always wanted to know. Consider it a curiosity if you must.

The JP6 has the D Sonic blade to neck, whereas the JP7 has it blade to bridge.

Now, where I would assume this has something to do with the note definition being poorer for lower notes on the JP7, thus incurring the switch of the blade's position.

Then why is the blade to the neck on the Baritone, where the notes are one step lower than the JP7? Am I missing something? Is it for something other than note definition? Personal preference?

I'd attribute this to magnet strength and wind DC resistance. I think the D Sonics were originally built on the age old principle of the Seth Lover assymetrically wound pups (something discovered by accident) of the old Gibsons. They found that the old PAFs were unevenly wound, and therefore gave a very different organic tone to that compared to a symetrically wound pup. So, taking that idea to the very extreme, they not only used different number of winds, I think they played with different magnet strengths, design (obviously), and possibly different wires.

So what you get is a very directional pup which is an entirely different animal, depending on which direction you face it to be.

Now, assuming the blade is the hotter coil (and I believe it is), having it farther away from the bridge means it picks up a wider amplitude of string vibration at that physical point, which translates to a bigger, warmer tone. However, this direction might not be suitable for 7 strings mainly because of the low B. The low B is thick, muddy and floppy. You need a stronger magnet nearer to the bridge to pick up the smaller amplitudes which would be tighter, and probably more defined in tone. Does this mean a sacrifice for the warmth of the other 6 strings? Perhaps, but remember that a 7 string has more wood in the neck than a 6 string, and that probably compensates for it.

It'll sound different, but not necessarily bad.

wait... What was your question again?

Ah yes... The baritone. I'm assuming the baritone is a 6 stringer that you're referring to? A baritone, is something many people misunderstand. Just because the neck is longer, the notes can be tuned lower, doesn't mean the string tension is more floppy. On the contrary, the baritone wil have HIGHER string tension than a usual 25.5" scale guitar, which means smaller amplitudes in general. That's already a "brighter" more snappy sound. So you'd want the bar to the neck for warmth even more. Even for a 7 string baritone, I'd guess.

Makes sense?

 

[phatduckk]

i dunno the technicals but I bet it boils down to "that's what JP wanted".

The MM sig models are exactly what the artist wants.

 

[73h Nils]

Cool. Thanks Whitestrat. Good enough answer for me; felt like I was reading my University Physics textbook again