Members Electric I Posted May 10, 2005 Members Share Posted May 10, 2005 Was thinking of pairing the Steve's Special up with a Humbucker From Hell in a guitar I've got coming this week. What can I expect from the Special? It's supposed to retain clarity even with distortion, which is what I need since I use a lot of polychords. Also, DiMarzio's description says the mids are scooped, so does that mean lack of low end girth? Feel free to wax any pros or cons or even indifferences. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JimmyDean Posted May 10, 2005 Members Share Posted May 10, 2005 Ive got a steves special in my mahogany rg2020x. The mids are scooped, you can definitely tell, but its not really drastic. Its a little dark at times, this may be because of the mahogany. I would recommend it. I had a tone zone before, and this is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mockingbich Posted May 10, 2005 Members Share Posted May 10, 2005 I think it's the worst brand name pickup I've ever used (my opinion) I bought it because of the scooped thing too... And I'm a big fan of the Tone zone But the steves special is just dull and uninspiring. It reminded me of a stock pickup from an import guitar.. Nothing particularly great about it and totally mediocre. There's no great attack or cut I put it in a mahogany body bolt-on schecter c-5 guitar.. so maybe it was just the guitar... maybe it would sound better on a neck-thru or different tonewood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric I Posted May 11, 2005 Author Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 Thanks for the input, people. I have a Tone Zone in a basswood guitar & lately it's been a little too mid-heavy in my ear. Which is why the Special may be a welcome change. I figure between my amp & the graphic eq in the loop I can compensate for the scooped mids the Special cuts. Also, since I use the middle switch position for clean / slight dirt sounds, I'm thinking the supposed non-muddiness of the Humbucker From Hell may be a good pairing with the Special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SGB Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 I have one in my primary guitar ( A custom string-thru RG with a Basswood body) and I wouldn't even consider using anything else. It is what John Petrucci from Dream Theater used before Dimarzio made him his own model specifically for his Music Man guitar. I fucking love it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SGB Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 I have one in my primary guitar ( A custom string-thru RG with a Basswood body) and I wouldn't even consider using anything else. It is what John Petrucci from Dream Theater used before Dimarzio made him his own model specifically for his Music Man guitar. I {censored}ing love it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeff Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 So, you folks really want to sound like Steve Vai? Just exactly what is his sound? To my ears, it's not very distinctive nor distinguished (e.g., BB King, Robert Cray, etc). He's a great entertainer, though, and I enjoy watching him play live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metallica_00 Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 Originally posted by docjeff So, you folks really want to sound like Steve Vai? Just exactly what is his sound? To my ears, it's not very distinctive nor distinguished (e.g., BB King, Robert Cray, etc). He's a great entertainer, though, and I enjoy watching him play live. Is Vai the Steve they named it after? It makes sense since he is a DiMarzio guy and all but I thought the Breeds and Evolutions were his pickups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Typhon Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 Originally posted by metallica_00 Is Vai the Steve they named it after? It makes sense since he is a DiMarzio guy and all but I thought the Breeds and Evolutions were his pickups No. Steve Blucher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ranalli Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 Originally posted by docjeff So, you folks really want to sound like Steve Vai? Just exactly what is his sound? To my ears, it's not very distinctive nor distinguished (e.g., BB King, Robert Cray, etc). He's a great entertainer, though, and I enjoy watching him play live. That pickup doesn't have anything to do with Steve Vai... Not to mention I'm sure everybody that uses a JB sounds exactly like Jeff Beck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JvK Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 I have a Steve's Special in an old Kramer Pacer which is a maple body (I think) and fretboard. When I had a lower gain Marshall style amp (Crate VC120, 120watt EL34 based) it didn't do it for me but into my Mesa DC-5 combo it sounds great. Part of the trick is the wiring as the Steve's Special has mismatched coils, one treble one bass. Put the treble coil towardsthe bridge. I use a 1 meg pot with no tone control and a three way mini switch for single coil sound from the treble coil in the bridge position. With the vol rolled half back its crunchy and full up saturated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BowerR64 Posted May 11, 2005 Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 I just went to the dimarzio site and only thing i see is the steve moorse pickup. When you guys said scooped mids i though WTF, the tone chart shows ALL mids. oh man, now i see it. There is a down arrow? dang more pups. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric I Posted May 11, 2005 Author Members Share Posted May 11, 2005 Originally posted by JvK When I had a lower gain Marshall style amp (Crate VC120, 120watt EL34 based) it didn't do it for me but into my Mesa DC-5 combo it sounds great. That's in line with DiMarzio's description of being suited for high gain amps. Originally posted by JvK Part of the trick is the wiring as the Steve's Special has mismatched coils, one treble one bass. Put the treble coil towards the bridge. Is there any marking/indication on the pickup itself to let you know which coil is which? Originally posted by JvK I use a 1 meg pot with no tone control and a three way mini switch for single coil sound from the treble coil in the bridge position. With the vol rolled half back its crunchy and full up saturated. What are the differences and/or advantages of using a 1 meg pot? Again, thanks for all the input, everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JvK Posted July 8, 2005 Members Share Posted July 8, 2005 More drive/gain and a little high end, you may or may not like it with a given setup. With a treb bleed cap across (I use no tone control) you can set an amp up to get a nice crunch with it rolledback or full saturation rolled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Luv playing Posted February 11, 2020 Members Share Posted February 11, 2020 I got it in my Jackson I got a Peavy viper I get killer clean distortion I can hear each note no flutters or feedback not like my bc Rich assassin with the invader in it luv the special Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mbengs1 Posted February 16, 2020 Members Share Posted February 16, 2020 the dimarzio steve's special is good/nice pickup. It sounds clear and the mids pop out with leads. the top end doesn't stand out much though. I think likes mids and bass. treble is just to make this sound clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ6stringsting Posted February 20, 2020 Members Share Posted February 20, 2020 And if you get any pickup that doesn't sound good in a particular guitar, you can always save it and try it out on another guitar. I have a box that has over 40 different pickups. I recently finished a double neck ( 6/ 12 string) guitar. The six string has a Floyd Rose with a Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon ( 10.20 k ohms ) in the neck position, a Bill Lawrence XL 500 ( 11.34k ohms) in the mid position and a Dragonfire Fat Screamer ( 17.89k ohms ) in the bridge position. On the 12 string, it has a Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell in the neck position and Eric Johnson pickup in the bridge position. All those pickups were put away because the didn't sound too good in the other guitars that I've worked in the past. Who knows , if that Steve Special doesn't sound too good , save it for another guitar . BTW the Steve Special is a great pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted February 20, 2020 Members Share Posted February 20, 2020 14 hours ago, AJ6stringsting said: And if you get any pickup that doesn't sound good in a particular guitar, you can always save it and try it out on another guitar. I have a box that has over 40 different pickups. I recently finished a double neck ( 6/ 12 string) guitar. The six string has a Floyd Rose with a Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon ( 10.20 k ohms ) in the neck position, a Bill Lawrence XL 500 ( 11.34k ohms) in the mid position and a Dragonfire Fat Screamer ( 17.89k ohms ) in the bridge position. On the 12 string, it has a Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell in the neck position and Eric Johnson pickup in the bridge position. All those pickups were put away because the didn't sound too good in the other guitars that I've worked in the past. Who knows , if that Steve Special doesn't sound too good , save it for another guitar . BTW the Steve Special is a great pickup. Cool! Pics of the 6/12? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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