Y2D bridge pickup: Crunch Lab or Super Distortion?

[FantasyMetal]

Hello forumites,

I was wondering if any of you had any experience with the DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup? I'm looking for an alternative to the Morse bridge pickup in my Y2D because I feel its lacking in the crunch department (mostly play heavy metal, looking for something with a little more oomph). I've played a JP6 and I like the sound of the Crunch Lab, but the DiMarzio website suggests the Super Distortion instead (using the Pickup Picker anyway). So, with that in mind any suggestions?

 

[LawDaddy]

I love the SD. It's a versatile and classic pup to me.

I am trying one out in my Y2D right now. To my ears, the stock bridge pup and the SD share a common ancestry, it's like the Morse bridge is an SD relative with more mids and less bass. The SD definitely puts some 'oomph' in the bottom end. So far, I like it.

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

Hmmm, My Morse Y2D Pickups Crunch just fine. Maybe Dial in your amp a little better ? Or get a Better Amp?
Don't use cheap distortion pedals. Turn up the Volume and Pick a lot harder. Stop playing 70's pop Songs.
I'll bet ya it's not your Y2D Pickups and most probably your Cheap Amp. Don't be a Sissy Picker either. Picking and attacking the strings can make you sound as good as Capt'n Crunch.

 

[FantasyMetal]

Well, SreaminFloyd, I appreciate your viewpoint, but my situation is not what you describe. I'm capable of dialing in my rig to get the sound that I want, however, I find the Morse Y2D pickups lackluster in comparison to my other guitars. I wanted opinions from people who felt similarly about which pickup they preferred. If you like your sound, I'm glad for you!

 

[yellowv03]

Maybe try a 500k pot before changing the pickup. The Morse pickup is super hot. One of Dimarzio's hottest, but they tame it a bit by using a 250k pot in the Morse. That said I have no problem getting metal out of the Morse bridge pickup with the stock pot. What is your rig, exactly?

 

[FantasyMetal]

The amp that I use on a day-to-day basis is an Orange Dark Terror, but I also use a Mesa/Boogie Mark V and a Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic when I play with other people. The neck pickup on the Morse sounds phenomenal, but the bridge pickup just doesn't have that low-end oomph I'm looking for. The Morse bridge pickup sounds decent for metal, but I just feel that I need more low-end.

 

[FantasyMetal]

Also, thank you for your input LawDaddy. I was leaning toward the Super Distortion anyway. Looking at the specs, I think it will be exactly what I want. Thanks!

 

[yellowv03]

Well you didn't say you wanted more low end. The Morse pickup definitely lacks a big low end.

 

[FantasyMetal]

Yeah, I should've mentioned that, but I guess in my mind metal implies a lot of low end.

 

[LawDaddy]

Also, thank you for your input LawDaddy. I was leaning toward the Super Distortion anyway. Looking at the specs, I think it will be exactly what I want. Thanks!

You'll probably want to change the pots to 500k, as well. You may want to look at the tone cap, it comes with a rather high value .047. I changed the cap to a .01uF, a more typical value would be .02.

 

[Roubster]

I'm also toying with the idea of swapping the pickups just to see how it sounds with something else. I think the Morse sounds pretty damn good for metal with the current pickups, but I can see needing more low end. I was thinking of checking out the Suhr Aldrich set in there and see how that sounds.

 

[Slav123]

Super Distortion is a great choice. It's a well rounded classic metal pickup! If you have a bit more cash look into a Suhr Doug Aldrich:
Suhr Guitars and Amps News - Expanding the Experience of Tone!
or
Bare Knuckle Warpig:
Bare Knuckle Pickups, UK - Hand Wound Guitar and Bass Pickups

Good luck!

 

[LawDaddy]

Just a reminder that the body is routed for DiMarzios, short legs with the rounded tabs. It might take a long leg, I'm not sure. The tabs definitely need to be rounded.

BTW, I paired my SD with a PAF Pro, and it sounds fantastic. The PAF Pro really works well in this guitar.

I'm really taking to the neck profile as well. What a nice axe.

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

Sorry Mr. Fantasy Metal. I had too much Christmas Cheer the last couple of days. Didn't mean to be rude or anything. Maybe it's just me, But I figure if I'm buying into a signature guitar. I'm pretty much buying into the tone or genre of the model of the signature endorser. Not that I want the precise tone, But to make it my own and put my touch and style into it. My question is: Why would you buy a Morse Model guitar? Why not a Silo or Axis and dump whatever Pickup config you wish? I just don't understand. Is there really no EQ or pedal option to give you that bottom end that your looking for other than a Pick up change? I can understand the tinkering and such. It's fun and to each is own. Maybe it's me though thinking that for a player like Morse and guitar maker like Music Man. I would think they pretty much got it right. Please take no offence. I pull out clumps of hair every time I see someone wanting to change out JP's pick ups as well ! Happy Holidays ! Happy New year too.

 

[LawDaddy]

Sorry ScreaminFloyd, I just got released from the Betty Ford modding clinic, then I went out and bought this guitar.

Seriously, I bought it because: 1) it's drop-dead gorgeous; 2) the H-S-H config with the single moved adjacent to the bridge; 3) the Tune-O-Matic bridge; and 4) overall mojo. I have seen SM's videos online discussing the axe, and I went in with eyes open, even though I play in a completely different genre. The fact that it's a "Morse" had nothing to do with my purchase, even though I think very highly of the Sleeveless One. We just play different music. It could have been named any model name. The axe is just amazing and literally jumped off the rack into my arms.

But my wife agrees with you, and rolls her eyes whenever she sees me with soldering iron in hand.

 

[yellowv03]

The Aldrich isn't exactly a pickup known for low end either. Now the Warpig that's a different story. The Warpig has about as much low end as any pickup you will find as well a **** ton of low mids. If you want something with huge lows and more scooped mids the Miracle Man is the way to go. But as far as Dimarzio's go the Super D is pretty much what your looking for. Also the Tone Zone could be an option, but it is known to muddy up some. Not sure how much tightness and definition you need. Also definitely go with a 500K pot with the swap.

 

[FantasyMetal]

LawDaddy summed it up perfectly! I really feel that the Y2D is one of the best constructed guitars out there, and is perfect for me in terms of feel and playability. I'm not a huge fan of Steve Morse's tone (though I think his playing is sick!), so I bought the guitar thinking I would change the bridge pickup anyway. I see it the same way as putting EMG's in a Les Paul or a humbuckers in a stratocaster, it's customized to fit who you are as a player. Infinite combinations makes exploring them half the fun ! Happy New Year to all of you!

 

[LawDaddy]

It's definitely an amazing axe. I've been gigging it steady since we bought it, and now people are coming up asking about the "purple guitar". For the last several years, it's been people asking about the brown rosewood Axis SS in my avatar, now it's the Morse.

BTW: I was stationed up at Loring AFB in Presque Isle/Caribou back in the '80s. Fun times.

 

[shredhed]

I have a Morse and a JP6. I've changed the bridge pup in the JP and both the HBs in the morse too............

Sweet dreams

 

[FantasyMetal]

BTW: I was stationed up at Loring AFB in Presque Isle/Caribou back in the '80s. Fun times.

I've done most of my research up in Presque Isle, it's a pretty cool area. Not many people though!