pickup experts...

[budalash]

...I have a question for you... Why is the DiMarzio PAF Pro in my Silhouette so weak compared to the neck humbucker in my Axis Super sport? This has been troubling me for some time and tonight I did some proper A/B testing and the results are astonishing. The Silhouette, my favorite guitar for years doesn't sound that good all of a sudden... I guess I was used to it and I genuinely thought that it couldn't get any better than that. But after months of enjoying my Axis SS (bought from a very nice fellow at this very forum, Mr Lawdaddy) I went back to the Silhouette and I am very disappointed. It sounds much thinner, does not sustain and the sound is not very woody, if you know what I mean...any ideas? Many thanks!

 

[budalash]

I kind of found an answer here...

http://www.jemsite.com/compare-guitar-pickups-parts/Dimarzio-PAFPro/reviews/

..it's the very nature of the PAF pro

 

[coldsummer]

Welcome to the world of the Axis pick-ups! A very different animal to the PAF pro.

 

[Rufedges]

Dude, are you me? Literally, that is originally why I changed the pups in my Silo Special, and I put a Dimarzio DP212 (Eric Johnson) pup in the bridge (and Area 58 in the neck)........awesome, and haven't looked back. It is not as hot as the ASS / Axis pups, but she will still scream and retain clarity. I got rid of my former Axis SS, and now all I have is a PDN ASS and my silo special......but, I am actually ordering the neck and bridge set DP211/212 for the ASS as I love the DP212 in my Silo so much,.......ASS pups are just to hot for me.......I know, blasphemy, but I think it will work out well, and I will not sell the ASS pups until I reach a verdict.

Long story short, I do find the stock pups in the Silo Special to be a bit bland, to bad the black/creme DP212 (bridge) is on backorder until March, I will have to wait some. If you decide to get a pup for your Silo Special, make sure you get F-spaced (fender spaced) so the strings sit properly over the poles.........I actually have a regular spaced pup, but I have slightly narrower titanium saddles on my Silo, so the high/low E are almost center over the Pup pole, but not quite.

...I have a question for you... Why is the DiMarzio PAF Pro in my Silhouette so weak compared to the neck humbucker in my Axis Super sport? This has been troubling me for some time and tonight I did some proper A/B testing and the results are astonishing. The Silhouette, my favorite guitar for years doesn't sound that good all of a sudden... I guess I was used to it and I genuinely thought that it couldn't get any better than that. But after months of enjoying my Axis SS (bought from a very nice fellow at this very forum, Mr Lawdaddy) I went back to the Silhouette and I am very disappointed. It sounds much thinner, does not sustain and the sound is not very woody, if you know what I mean...any ideas? Many thanks!

 

[ozzyrules]

Dude, are you me? Literally, that is originally why I changed the pups in my Silo Special, and I put a Dimarzio DP212 (Eric Johnson) pup in the bridge (and Area 58 in the neck)........awesome, and haven't looked back. It is not as hot as the ASS / Axis pups, but she will still scream and retain clarity. I got rid of my former Axis SS, and now all I have is a PDN ASS and my silo special......but, I am actually ordering the neck and bridge set DP211/212 for the ASS as I love the DP212 in my Silo so much,.......ASS pups are just to hot for me.......I know, blasphemy, but I think it will work out well, and I will not sell the ASS pups until I reach a verdict.

Long story short, I do find the stock pups in the Silo Special to be a bit bland, to bad the black/creme DP212 (bridge) is on backorder until March, I will have to wait some. If you decide to get a pup for your Silo Special, make sure you get F-spaced (fender spaced) so the strings sit properly over the poles.........I actually have a regular spaced pup, but I have slightly narrower titanium saddles on my Silo, so the high/low E are almost center over the Pup pole, but not quite.

Aren't you glad you stuck with that PDN. I regret not grabbing it from Pete...........

Also,
All of my Balls have the same pickups (supposedly) but I've tested them against each other and the Purple Tribute is the hottest! The Pink is a really close 2nd. They're both hotter than the EVH. Uh Oh, I've opened Pandora's box............

 

[headcrash]

Aren't you glad you stuck with that PDN. I regret not grabbing it from Pete...........

Also,
All of my Balls have the same pickups (supposedly) but I've tested them against each other and the Purple Tribute is the hottest! The Pink is a really close 2nd. They're both hotter than the EVH. Uh Oh, I've opened Pandora's box............

Recently got my first Silo special. I was used to the Norton Bridge/Air Norton Neck pickup of my AL or my ASS (stock pups).
I experienced what Strat users know as string pull thru the magnets of the single coils. I exchanged the single coils and put in some Alnico ll virtual vintage Dimarzios. Now the guitar sustains as I am used to from Music Man guitars. Plus I installed a PAF 36th bridge humbucker, which is truly a piece of art. Sounds huge, wide, open, fat and snappy at the same time. Excels for my 80s mid to hi gain sound, as well as for clean and light crunch. Simply gorgeous.

 

[OU812]

headcrash, did you put a 36th in your ASS or Silo Special?

 

[DrKev]

I don't know if Budalash ever swapped his original pickups or not, but just in case there is any confusion, the stock humbuckers in Silhouettes and Silhouette Specials are not PAF Pro, but Virtual PAFs, which DiMarzio no longer offer to public and (I think) are only now made for EBMM.

 

[LawDaddy]

The PAF Pro is a very different animal than the Axis bridge. The PAF Pro (or a Virtual PAF) are better suited as a neck pups, IMHO.

I'm gonna hang around and wait for the new Luke Transitions...

 

[Rufedges]

It is a sexy guitar, I just need it to sound more like my Silo Special....not that it sounds bad, just different. BTW, not sure if it is the pups, or the different tonewood/SS Frets/etc. between my former ASS and my PDN ASS, but pups on my PDN seem to be definitely a little hotter.......I can actually negate the hotness with some input impedance on my HD500 (got a Kemper coming), bu that is not the preferred way.

Aren't you glad you stuck with that PDN. I regret not grabbing it from Pete...........

Also,
All of my Balls have the same pickups (supposedly) but I've tested them against each other and the Purple Tribute is the hottest! The Pink is a really close 2nd. They're both hotter than the EVH. Uh Oh, I've opened Pandora's box............

 

[skerwo]

I don't know if Budalash ever swapped his original pickups or not, but just in case there is any confusion, the stock humbuckers in Silhouettes and Silhouette Specials are not PAF Pro, but Virtual PAFs, which DiMarzio no longer offer to public and (I think) are only now made for EBMM.

What´s the difference between the virtual PAF and the PAF pro soundwise? Is there any difference? I like the two hb in my silo but always thought that these are PAF Pro.


Rainer

 

[DrKev]

To the best of my limited knowledge...

Virtual PAF is vintage voiced and lower output humbucker, another version of the classic PAF pickups from the Les Paul and SG hey days. IIRC, BP or Dudley Gimpel once said that the humbuckers for the Silhouettes were chosen thinking of a very classic rock vibe, Cream-era Clapton SG kinda thing (and the single coils are similar vintage idea). The 36th Anniversary is DiMarzio's current publicly available version, Duncan's 59 would be similar too.

FWIW, I love the bridge VPAF in my Silo Special. Wonderfully versatile, well balanced, can both sparkle and bark, a great rhythm and lead pickup that sings the more gain you put on it. (BTW, did you know the contoured horns on the Silo and Silo Special are also SG-inspired?)

The PAF Pro (which, BTW, is easy to distinguish because it has allen bolt pole pieces, not slugs and screws) is higher output, bigger and slightly brighter sounding, with an extra mid-range focus compared to the VPAF. The PAF Pro first popped up back in the late 80's and 90's shred days, cut through the mix better and gave better articulation for that kind of playing. I always associate it with Joe Satriani, who still uses them in the neck position of his guitars. Good bridge pickup too.

The Axis pickups are a different kettle of fish altogether. Higher output again, with more mids and bass than a PAF Pro and therefore significantly louder and bigger sounding than the stock Silhouette pickups.

 

[skerwo]

Thx for your explanation. When playing my silo I also would say that the humbucking pups have very low output and match perfect with a sc. Also they deliver very good clean tones and are perfect for the classic rock thing.

Rainer

 

[OU812]

I guess it comes down to what you're looking for. If you want the pickup to push the amp more, or have a more natural sounding pup and have the amp push itself.

 

[A.J.]

500k pots (Axis/Sport/Super Sport) vs 250k pots (Silo) could also contribute to the pickup seeming more tame.

 

[Tollywood]

I love my Axis pickups so much. I'll never pull them out. My stock Axis pickups sound like the guitar sound I hear in my head.

That being said, I am very interested in the DiMarzio Gravity Storm pickup. Steve Vai always sounds so good to me.

 

[headcrash]

@OU812: PAF 36th went into the Silo Spec. Axis is stock.

 

[aaroa]

The axis pickups are described a bit in the FAQ of the music man website. Long time DiMarzio fan here. I love the pickups in my 20th Anniversary Silo, JP7 (1st year), and Axis SS. Different flavors, but all so versatile.

I haven't quite warmed up to the Area T pickups in my tele, but I do love the noise free quality of them.