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The Pickup Place / Re: Can anyone identify this old 80s stacked single?

« Last post by darkbluemurder on December 15, 2025, 04:18:15 AM »

In the 80s DiMarzio had the HS-1, HS-2 and HS-3 models but I believe they were all higher DC resistance. Even though their output was rather low - even lower than standard single coils. I guess they had to use very thin wire to get enough turns on both coils.

I have to check the old catalogue whether this could be one of the Virtual Vintage models which are now discontinued in favor of the Area series.

Cheers Stephan

32

The Pickup Place / Re: Neck Position: Fast Track 1 vs. Injector bridge vs. Virtual Solo

« Last post by gregr on December 14, 2025, 02:25:16 PM »

I’d consider The Chopper or warmer/rounder Pro Track in the neck, and perhaps a Virtual Solo in the middle. Satch Track is another option in the neck if you want to go a little weaker, though I prefer the Seymour Duncan single-sized humbuckers over the Satch Track which I found to be disappointing.

I have an HSS with a Fast Track 1 in the neck, an HSH with a Fast Track 1 in the middle and an SSS with a Fast Track 1 in the bridge. It’s a great pickup for straddling the line between single coil and humbucker. It has the dynamics to keep up with vintage up to weaker medium output pickups but it isn’t particularly fat sounding in the latter context. It completely lacks top end chime, as does anything else hotter than the Virtual Vintage 54 Pro (though some chime can be coaxed out of the Injector Neck). This can be a good thing with distortion dialed for humbuckers where top-end chime can get brittle and harsh. However, I’m not recommending Fast Track 1 for the fear that it won’t keep up with the Custom EVH as you described it, combined with your preference for humbuckers in the neck that will likely also preclude the Injector Bridge and Virtual Solo, which sound even more like single coils than the Fast Track 1.

33

The Pickup Place / Neck Position: Fast Track 1 vs. Injector bridge vs. Virtual Solo

« Last post by headcrash on December 14, 2025, 09:03:05 AM »

I‘d like a louder noiseless neck single coil in a HSS guitar ( Music Man Axis Sport).
The full-size bridge humbucker is a DiMarzio Custom EvH, which makes it very similar to Tone Zone, Air Zone or AT-1.
For the neck I imagine a rather fat sound in terms of fat single coil, or thin underwound PAF, hence the three candidates.
I am used to double humbucker guitars, so a very single coilish sound just doesn’t sound quite right for me.
At the moment I have an Injector neck there, which is a little too quiet there and maybe also too single coilish. I‘d rather put it in the middle position.

34

The Pickup Place / Can anyone identify this old 80s stacked single?

« Last post by headcrash on December 14, 2025, 08:32:45 AM »

…the tile says it all (almost).
Seller says he measures 12,7k, has bought it around mid 80s himself.

35

The Pickup Place / Re: Difference between The Breed and Dominion?

« Last post by darkbluemurder on December 10, 2025, 08:26:48 AM »

By now it is back in the regular line up, even though there is a footnote saying that it is made to special order with a production time of 4-6 weeks.

Cheers Stephan

36

Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: The Breed

« Last post by darkbluemurder on December 10, 2025, 08:23:26 AM »

Glad to see the set is back in the regular line up, albeit as a special order model with longer production time.

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The Pickup Place / Re: My review of the Super PAF Ceramic

« Last post by nienturi on December 10, 2025, 12:51:55 AM »

Hi guys, long time no post on my end (happens when we get old). I ordered a Super PAF Ceramic and installed it in my Kiesel Delos which has 2 bridge Cruisers in the neck and middle.  It replaced the Air Classic that I was running.  The sound, for me, was too compressed (less openness than the Air Classic).  I'm currently playing classic rock in my current band and recording progressive rock at home and various jams.  It just didn't have the openness that the Air Classic has, and for me, it was an exchange for another (a PAF 7 for the neck of my 7-string Delos with an Air Norton 7 in the bridge).  It was just too much squeeze for me, as I find myself going to more vintage pickups these days.  Some will like it, but for me it wasn't to be.
 Yours in 
Walt

Thanks for your review.

Nevertheless the result was too obvious; results from air classic to Super PAF are, you know, inevitable If i were you i would pick something more "real" PAF oriented like Virtual Hot PAF, Fortitude, PAF 36th bridge

38

The Pickup Place / Re: My review of the Super PAF Ceramic

« Last post by darkbluemurder on December 09, 2025, 11:57:45 AM »

First of  all, welcome back!

Going from an Air Classic to a Super Distortion type pickup is quite a radical change in output and compression, and it is a substantial volume mismatch to the Cruisers which are quite low output.

If you want a bit hotter than PAF level, Air Norton is worth considering.

Cheers Stephan

39

The Pickup Place / Re: Quacky Neck PU for Super 3 Bridge PU?

« Last post by Mr. Lime on December 09, 2025, 02:44:46 AM »

I just realized I did a post 3 years ago on the Duncan-Forum praising the Air Norton with a ceramic magnet to have a kind of stratty sound. Since it's my only AN it still has to have the swapped magnet in it.
Seems I forgot what I did and I now have the ceramic AN in the SG  - this explains why I like it much more than the AN I had in an Ibanez J Custom so the A5 magnet is the wrong reference here.

Last week I ordered a Gravtiy Storm neck pickup but it will take up to 5 months until it's delivered so my comparison will take some time till I can give advice.

The Norton sounds great with a ceramic magnet for the bridge position as well!


EDIT: Also the Satchur8 seems so be very close to the Gravity Storm neck. Just swap the A8 for ceramic and do the airing..

40

The Pickup Place / My review of the Super PAF Ceramic

« Last post by wxs3 on December 08, 2025, 03:21:54 PM »

Hi guys, long time no post on my end (happens when we get old). I ordered a Super PAF Ceramic and installed it in my Kiesel Delos which has 2 bridge Cruisers in the neck and middle.  It replaced the Air Classic that I was running.  The sound, for me, was too compressed (less openness than the Air Classic).  I'm currently playing classic rock in my current band and recording progressive rock at home and various jams.  It just didn't have the openness that the Air Classic has, and for me, it was an exchange for another (a PAF 7 for the neck of my 7-string Delos with an Air Norton 7 in the bridge).  It was just too much squeeze for me, as I find myself going to more vintage pickups these days.  Some will like it, but for me it wasn't to be.
 Yours in 
Walt