Added: 3 years ago
From: LarryDiMarzio
Views: 92,224
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (186)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Hey Larry :)

    Im interested in picking up the DP100 Super distortion and

    was wondering which neck pickup would compliment it best.

    Thanks

  • @CanadianKryptonite

    It is impossible to answer your question without knowing what type of guitar you have and what type of sound you are looking for. We can offer useful recommendations if you will email this info to tech@dimarzio.com

  • 6:00 what song????

  • If any of yo knows... a pickup selector with a sticker "YM-50" on it, is it possible that it pertains to an 80's japanish stratocaster? Thanks

  • "My relationship with Music Man began over 23 years ago..which is odd because im 21 now" i love this guy.

  • Hello Mr. Dimarzio:

    I want medium or vintage output Pickups in an HSH guitar with Mahagony/Maple Body, bolt-on Maple/Rosewood Neck and 22 Frets.

    The Neck Pickup should sound very warm, but not thin, while the Bridge Pickup should have a nice and fat Mid-Range. They should work good using only one Coil together with the Middle-Pickup.

    All Pickups should have a wide range of dynamics.

    I use a slightly boosted crunch-lead sound, playing Jazz-Fusion and Bluesrock

    I hope that you can help me.

  • @ProGuitarist1993

    You could try a LiquiFire in the neck, Red Velvet in the middle and an AT-1 in the bridge.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Thanks a lot, that really helped me. :-)

  • Comment removed

  • Hello, Mr. Dimarzio, I have a quick question;

    I have an AirZone in the bridge and Air Classic in the neck of my Les Paul and the difference between the bridge/neck together and neck on it's own position is hardly noticeable, in fact sometimes the bridge/neck position is sometimes warmer! They're definitely fitted properly, so is there anything I can for this problem? Thanks very much for your time.

    Mike

  • @MikeyZnuff

    The Air Zone is actually a much warmer-sounding pickup than the Air Classic, but I think there should still be a noticeable difference between the two positions with a clean amp setting. With a very overdriven amp setting, there may not be a large difference between the 2 positions. I don't think this indicates anything is wrong.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Thanks very much for getting back to me so quickly, what would you recommend to go with the air zone if I were to swap out the neck pickup for something a bit warmer sounding?

  • @MikeyZnuff

    The 36th Anniversary PAF (DP103) is a bit warmer. An Air Classic bridge model (DP191) will also be a little warmer and louder than the Air Classic neck model, and can be used in the neck position.

  • Hi Larry,

    I love Steve's neck pickup sound, really smooth and singing. And I saw on MusicMan website that he use 250kohm pot on his guitars.

    If I use 500kohm, still the DP205 sing smoothly?

    Or if I use 250kohm, could I lost natural bitting and scream on my old bridge pickup?

  • @MystFanfare

    You will probably do best with 500K controls. The DP205 is very warm-sounding and will still be smooth with 500K.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Thank you Larry! You have great sounding pickup and great customer support also.

    DiMarzio is the way to go.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Thank you Larry! You have great sounding pickup and great customer support also.

    DiMarzio is the way to go.

  • John Petrucci better...

  • did he just call his custom build tele, a frankenstein guitar?

  • how does that bridge pickup work? its like one bigass humbucker or 1 humbucker with an attached sngle coil?

  • Larry, I have an Ibanez guitar tuned down a full step. This guitar has a mahogany body which makes it sound kind of dark (too dark and muddy for my taste). Which of your high output (or even medium output) pickups would sound best in a mahogany body guitar?

  • @raskolnikov1873

    EMail us at tech@dimarzio.com and tell us the exact Ibanez model you have. This info is necessary to answer your question.

  • @raskolnikov1873

    If you're interested in a bridge pickup, an F-spaced D Activator bridge model should work.

  • Dear Larry,

    I just wanted to say that I think its awesome that you or someone from your team answers our questions directly here on youtube. Thanks, man!

  • dear larry

    i have an ibanez 2550z with 3 pups (humbucker in bridge/neck, single coil in the middle) that are labled dimarzio/ibz and i was wondering if they were custom pups or the tone zone/true velvet/air norton set.

    Thanks in advance

  • @ottozing

    The pickups in the RG2550 were specifically designed for Ibanez. The neck pickup is fairly bright-sounding, similar to a Super 2. The bridge pickup is a little louder and warmer-sounding, and resembles a cross between the Steve Morse bridge model and the Super Distortion. The middle pickup is not similar to any of our standard single-coils, but it has some resemblance to an HS-2 in single-coil mode.

  • @LarryDiMarzio

    hey Larry, i have a BC Rich mockingbird with a Fernandez sustainer in the neck, and i own 3 les pauls with the super-distortion in the bridge and paf pro in the neck... my problem is that the mockingbird is the thinnest guitar i have ever owned and i need a bridge pickup that will not become muddy or too dark.. the guitar is a mahogany body but like i said very thin and i am used to the super-distortion sound.. any suggestions?

  • @renagade12

    The D Activator bridge model and the Evolution bridge model have similar output levels to the Super, and they are both a bit tighter & brighter, so either might be able to solve the problem..

  • @LarryDiMarzio

    thanks a lot Larry... really helped!

    Vaughn

  • hes the est on the planet

  • such an amazing player this dude, i saw him with Deep Purple 5 years ago and he never even registered! but now i get it!

  • Comment removed

  • Larry,

    I have a SMY2 and am delighted with it in all but one respect. The ergonomics and neck are phenomenal , the purple burst and matching headstock and beautiful, the heft and hew perfect, the balance of frequencies perfect as well as the versatility of the positions; a whole arsenal of weaponry in one instrument...my only reservation is that I find the initial frequency 'attack' a little bit more dull than my other gits; PRS custom 22, LesPaul VOS, Strat relic 56 and Nik Huber Orca. Thanks!

  • @turockandar

    You might try playing with the heigh adjustment of the pickups. Moving them further from the strings might open up the sound a bit.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Thanks a lot for replaying and thanks for making such a beautiful instrument:)

  • @DANizDAN Sorry, they are 2" wide.

    All the best,

    Larry DiMarzio

  • @DANizDAN Hi, Thanks for your interest. We designed all our straps with different materials. We use nylon (the same as the seat belt in your car), cotton, codura ( like nylon but doesn't slide as much) and leather. They all feel different. I don't use polypropylene that's the cheap pawn shop stuff.

    Musician's Friend has the largest on line selection of DiMarzio straps.

    Hope that helps,

    Larry DiMarzio

  • closer to God and also closer to your soul...

  • hi larry...i need your recomend for my guitar project, i wanna make a guitar with mahogany for warm tone and great sustain, rosewood fret board...i wanna have configuration like H-S-S, in bridge with creamy sound, middle and fat, middle pickup for clean, and neck pickup that has glassy tone with the treble...which pickup should i use???...

  • @roboteko

    You didn't mention whether you prefer true single-coils or humcancelling pickups in the neck and middle positions. Please email us at tech@dimarzio.com with this information.

  • although Petrucci is Morses student, i think that Petrucci's picking technic is superior than the masters, by faaar

  • Steve is God !!!!

    I own his Musicman models theses guitars are dreams, the pick-ups are wonderful and the the idea of 4 pick-ups is really wonderful, Steve is a genius even in the conception of his models and the YD-2 is a wonderful guitar too, the purple colour of these pick-ups is really really beautiful.Great job Larry!

    All the best,

    Patrice.

  • Thanks for this video! Love Steve Morse. Great player. Great guy.

  • you can hear the influence john petrucci had on him, steve morse is like the hero of john

  • @trashedlostandhungry

    errr

    he was not influenced by petrucci

    petrucci was influenced by him

  • That's a godly guitar tone at 1:40 and on... Is it the ENGL he uses here? It looks more like a marshall?

  • Idk why but he reminds me of ted nugent & john mccain, sorry I'll go kick my ass now...

  • I recently bought a Y2D Morse. Love it. The pickups are perfectly voiced to the guitar. Just so happens that I use a Morse ENGL.....not sure why but they all work well together.

  • 1:20 i learned it from petrucci almost unconsciously.... and now i know from who he learned too. So, bottom line, i´m a Steve Morse´s student :D :D:D

  • Are there any Steve Morse single coils available (particularly the one he's using in this guitar) from DiMarzio? I'd love to get my own configuration of pickups for a strat I'm building and would love to see some Morse mods on it. Keep it up Larry!

  • @Bartolucci711

    The single-coils are only available on the signature guitars. However, the Area 67 is fairly similar in terms of performance to the single-coil on the Y2D, and it has the added advantage of hum cancellation.

    

  • God Bless you Steve

  • Im a lefthand guitarist and i play steve morse style...id love to have his guitar.shame there is no.

  • that transparent plastic pickguard makes that guitar look so stupid and ruins the finished look of it. they need to ditch that.

  • Larry Ive been a working guitarist for about 20 years now,ive tryed many pick ups and im very picky.the tone has to just right.Hands down DiMarzio has allways been the best.The DiMarzo dual sound humbucker is still the best in other words its the Sm58 of pick ups it will never let you down.Thanks so much !!!

  • God bless you Steve

  • great guitarist and musician! and really nice guy too...

  • Hi Larry, I just installed a Dimarzio Tonezone in my guitar (replaced a broken Super 3), and to be honest it really blew me away..high output with a great definition and lots of bottom end...now I have a PAF Pro in the neck and is actually looking for a single coil for the middle position (something that can cancel noise in position 2 and 4, it doesn't have to be noiseless single coil), can you recommend me anything? thank you.

  • This video is a perfect primer on how Steve gets the tones he does using various pickup selections (his amp selection and effects are different matters) and the theory of why his guitar is the way it is. He mostly uses the bridge and neck humbuckers, singly (depending on whether he is playing high or low on the neck) or combined if he wants a clean sound. He adds in the single coil to the bridge for funky stuff and the single coil alone as described for clean/low volume with a distorted setting

  • thanks larry! your the man i dont really no what the f space is but ill go with your combo becouse i mean after all you made em :p

  • hey larry your the man im only 13 and ever since i first picked up a guitar i wanted some dimarzio's and im finaly gonna get some for my j5 tele wuld u recomend d activators or super distortions? for metal but also a nice clean sound

  • @slipknotandmh

    A PAF Pro in the neck position and either an F-spaced D Activator bridge model or Super Distortion should be good in the bridge position. Between the 2 models, the Super is a little cleaner-sounding.

  • @LarryDiMarzio Hello Dimarzio, i mainly play jazz, but also play alot of rock metal and classical, could you guys possibly recommend a neck pickup for jazz and a bridge pickup for the other genres, if so thank you

    P.S Preferably humbuckers

  • @LarryDiMarzio what pick up whould you suggest for rock lead ,metal but also crystal clean sound i 'm considering d-activators

  • @slipknotandmh what pick up whould you suggest for rock lead ,metal but also crystal clean sound i 'm considering d-activators

  • Damn. even though he's old i bet he can kick most peoples asses. Look at those arms!

  • if DiMarzio's are what give him those great pinched harmonics with low gain i definately gotta get me some

  • Buying my first set of DiMarzio's soon...Larry, your my hero xD

    All best wishes.

  • His distorted tone still puzzles me. It sounds raw, with some of the "bee buzz" sound that you get by connecting the output of a distortion pedal straight into line... but when he plays live, it cuts through so clearly no matter how loud the bass and drums are playing...and it sounds great in studio too! Live gig and studio are two worlds apart but he manages to deliver in both. Nothing beats experience I suppose.

  • His distorted tone still puzzles me. It sounds raw, with some of the "bee buzz" sound that you get by connecting the output of a distortion pedal straight into line... but when he plays live, it cuts through so clearly no matter how loud the bass and drums are playing. Nothing beats experience I suppose.

  • @zdkezios

    you are a moron if you think the guitar will not be affected by a pickup swap. thats like saying if you have a mim stratocaster and you change stock pups to say breeds or fast track pro track and a cruiser it wont make much of a difference well it did in mine. the brand doesn't say anything about the insturment or where its made. its about the science of the instrument and the sonic changes.

  • I could never figure how he jumped to those high notes.. He plays so clean + precise i didn't know they were harmonics

    Excellent player, i'm glad people finally know him beyond Dixie Dregs fans

  • steve is such a humble, great person. i swear, i become a better musician by just listening to him in interviews.

    he's on a completely different level than most other musicians today: he's extremely versatile, has got an insanely good sound and he's an awesome guy to boot.

    what can you ask for more?

    thanks for posting, larry!

  • @peterstrohm Room mate! haha who lets you borrow an axe

  • Wow, been following Morse since 1978, and still today nobody anywhere or on the horizon can match diversification and his over all ability. Rated over best guitarist 5 consecutive years (in guitar magazine polls) Morses name was finally discontinued eligibility for over best guitarist category to give a chance to some one else. Nobody in the history of the guitar polls have ever won more than one year except for Steve Morse.

  • Wow, been following Morse since 1978, and still today nobody anywhere or on the horizon can match diversification and his over all ability. Rated over best guitarist 5 consecutive years (in guitar magazine polls) Morses name was finally discontinued eligibility for over best guitarist category to give a chance to some one else. Nobody in the history of the guitar polls have ever won more than one year except for Steve Morse.

  • thank you jeffretrac  :)

  • i shooked steves hand in a purple show :)

  • what´s the name of the song at 5:26 ?

    pleaaaaaaaaaaaase help meeee

  • @ChronoCrusade08 5:26 is Vista Grande.

  • Damn John Petrucci does play just like this guy

  • @jhop5150 Petrucci said Morse is his all time fav guitar player ;)

  • whats the name of the song steve is playing in the beginning?

  • It's simple simon...

  • That's Simple Simon, Schecter725.

  • "mother nature is definitely in charge..."

    I can't believe how inspiring steve is. on every level... a truly master

  • Bloody brilliant guitarist. Simple and to the point!

  • power!

  • lol the first thing he said made me laugh

  • lol :P

  • Hahahaha, same here buddy.

    " My relationship with Music Man started over 23 years ago, which is odd because I'm 21 now... "

    Awesome way to start the video.

  • steve morse is great.

  • those harmonics are badass.

  • @TheLiesette x2... How does he do that!!??

  • Potentially silly question given my relative inexperience with...well, knowing much about pickups (being a lefty I rarely get to try new guitars and thus, pickups, out in local stores) but how suitable would the Morse pickups be for a slightly cheapo Epiphone LP? Given that these were designed for Steve's unconventional pickup configuration etc I'm not sure the guitar would do them justice. Obviously the best way to find out is to try them but it's an expensive gamble...

  • Prior to posting this I did ask the same question to a guitar parts dealer here in the UK and I'm still awaiting a response. I then e-mailed DiMarzio directly, (shortly after posting the above question on here) and received a response within 20 mins with some valuable advice. Excellent customer service and, having opted for the suggested pickup combo by the DiMarzio tech, excellent pickups too. Sweet all round!

  • @Growlycake

    I'd say Steve's pickups wouldn't be great for your guitar. And if this guitar cost less than 300 dollars, I wouldn't think swapping out the pickups would make enough of a difference in the sound to justify spending that kind of money. If you are still looking for a good pickup for an epi les paul, then look into gibson pickups. I'm thinking about putting the 500t in the bridge of my granddad's guitar.

  • @zdkezios

    Thanks for the reply. The DiMarzio tech agreed that they probably wouldn't suit the guitar ('dark' sounding neck p/up on a Les Paul) or what I was looking for tone-wise (usable clean sounds - the Morse bridge is high output & Steve of course gets his clean tones from his single coil/s). He recommended the current Satch set - Mo Joe & PAF Joe which I'm very happy with.

  • Are his guitars body wood still poplar?

  • "Which is funny, because I'm 21 now" haha gotta love steve...

  • @sportsportsport : I guess Steve meant to say "mentally, I'm 21 now and ever..." actually most of his masterpieces were composed when he was around that age; a true genius. To me he is Master Yoda of guitar.

  • whats the last song ?? i heard it but i dont remember the name...

  • flight of the osprey

  • This is a man that petrucci says is his "favourite guitarist of all time" ... I can see why. Also, music man and DiMarzio rock so bad!......

  • Morse is my favourite too and the second place i have for guys like petrucci, yngwie, jason becker etc. Steve is the man

  • Awesome.

  • i see Steve Morse as a Bald Eagle..

    the symbol of America.. :)

  • i tried a Brian May setting.. and it sounded great!

    i tried a Steve Morse setting.. and it sounded better!

    i tried a Petrucci setting.. and it's the best out there.. :)

  • he sure does have a unique sound.

  • Sweet tone, all the best players seem to be using DiMarzio pickups. I'll get a Petrucci musicman when I'm good enough to truly appreciate it.

    Anyone know if there is a video of Steve Morse and Petrucci jamming, I can't find one and I have the feeling it would be incredible.

  • i cant find one, but i met john petrucci in NC 2 months ago, and i met steve last thurs,john had told me to tell steve he said hello when ever i met him,but steve was so nice and had so many good things to say about john. both great people. steve was one of the coolest guys ever to talk to,no ego. just a really cool guy. but yah back to your comment. i looked for one too and couldnt find anything :( ohhh well

  • guitarcenter uploaded vid with steve morse and lukather cause of MM guitars and dimarzio pickups so maybe the next one will be with petrucci :) Student meets Master :)

  • How did larry ever become soo good at making pickups. Yeah theres plenty of good guitarists but only ! good pickup maker in my book thats larry.

    Keep doing what youre doing larry

  • he aged pretty well

  • Love the finish on that MUSIC MAN guitar

  • Hi,

    If you get a chance check one out in person. MusicMan did a great job with the finish, DiMarzio even made the pickups in purple.

    All the best,

    Larry DiMarzio

  • What's the song at 5.30?

  • its Vista Grande from Southern Steel. i think thats one of best albums :)

  • Vista Grande.

  • Heh, he looks like John McCain, but better on guitar.

    Good player.

  • Ha, he does remind me of john mccain.

  • Hey Larry I am from India and I believe you have only one dealer that is in mumbai since,India is such a vast country it is impossible for some of us to try dimarzio pickups there if you could somehow have one in Delhi things would be much easier for dimarzio fanatics in India

  • it cant be a coincidence that all great players use dimarzio pickups! Hopefully, soon ill have my paf pros comin...!

    greetings larry!

    MIKE from Greece!

  • pickups of destiny

  • this man might just be the best electric guitar player ever

  • Solid.

  • The first song is "Simple Simon"

  • ok, thanks larry

  • larry, were these the pickup that were original pickups when the Y2D first came out? or are these new line of SM signature P'ups ernie ball now uses standard on y2d production line?

  • The original Y2D pickups and the signature models on the EB production line are the same. The neck and bridge pickups are the models Steve has always played.

  • Larry, do you know why Steve decided to take out the middle Single Coil in the new Y2D's? thanks

  • larry just want to say that i have been playing guitar for almost 20 years, always use dimarzio on every single of my gtrs .. you are a legend sir..

  • Hi,

    Thanks for your kind words, I try to do my best.

    Regards,

    Larry DiMarzio

  • DIMARZIO GUITARS ROCK!!!!!!

  • It's amazing how active his little finger is all the time, it is constantly adjusting volume, and tone

  • Morse is a god.

    I've been lucky enough to see him with Deep Purple twice. He is one of the most amazing guitarists I've ever seen.

  • Simply the best overall guitarist walking the planet. 'nuff said!

  • I probably attended this. Dimarzio's site (I think it's them, directly) actually shows entire clinics throughout.

    It's nice to relive this with an interview. = )

  • While Steve Morse is definitely an excellent guitarist...he's no David Gilmour. Would most DEFINITELY like to see those two jam.....

  • uh, what? excuse me? lol...

  • glad he IS'NT Gilmore... as much as I LIKE gilmore.

  • Excuse the non-music orientated question but does anybody know the deal about that thing he wears round his neck is? Jeff Beck wears something similar :/

  • The few seconds after the 2minute mark may be the most beautiful sound I've ever heard a guitar make.

    Something about it sounds classical

  • Guitarist-Musician Extraordinaire. He is simply a "GENTLE GIANT!"

  • He will always be BETTER than anyone else

  • Steve is the Ultimate GOD

  • STEVE IS MY HERO. END OF STORY.

  • Holy word

  • he's becoming older hugh?:D

  • Steve Morse is THY guitarist. There's no better guitar player from him

  • I saw him live a while back with deep purple..he is amasing

  • Great guitar player, one of the best, I love the tone of his

    Music Man guitar and its versatile Tones!

  • When i was 5 tumeni notes was my favourite song!

  • Wow, you were a cool kid...

  • An incredible guitarist.

    Big inspiration!

  • Thank you so much!

    Is it easy to meet such a great guitar player?

    Did you meet him after a concert?

    And does he have children?

    Are they old?

    Is his wife american or Brittish?

    (Sorry, but I want to know this about him) XD

  • ThanX very much.

    I have heard that he is father, is that right?

    And how old are his childrenHow many does he have?

  • Has Morse a wife?

    Does someone know that?

    I was just reading his biographie, and i wondered, why such a famous guitarrist has no wife.

  • HI,

    Yes, Steve is married, I met her about a year ago. She is very nice.

    All the best,

    Larry DiMarzio

  • i just started listening to steve morse recently....he is slowly becoming my favorite guitarist

  • Thanks for setting a very nice tone for the interview Mr. DiMarzio. Excellent interview.

  • Larry should do an interview with Ace Frehley

    as he was one of his very first customers, back in the days when Larry hand delivered the pick ups....LOL

  • such a great guitar player. the most underrated in the world.

  • Are you kidding? He has TONS of acknowledgments all over the place, and there are are FAR more guitar players who deserved to come under the spotlight but never made it.

    The world is full of those guys.

    Steve Morse has lots of credits anyway.

  • The Songs Steve was playing during this video..are they on one of his solo albums??

  • First one before he speaks is a song called 'Simple Simon'.

    It's on his VHS instructional thingy. Enjoy

  • Professor Morse ! =)

  • Dimarzio just posted Steve Morse signature pickups

  • Dimarzio just posted Steve Morse signature humbuckers checke them out

  • Vista Grande.

    ;-