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Author Topic: Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem  (Read 19991 times)

siN

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« on: March 10, 2007, 09:58:34 AM »
I happen to have almost two identical guitars.


Old pic of my favorite twins.....

One is still loaded with the original equipped pickups (DiMarzio's). I thought the bridge pickup was a PAF PRO, but I'm not sure...

The other one has a BKP VHII since yesterday... need to tune it maybe a bit better....


Anyway, I undusted my Marshall JCM900 (almost unused for the last 5 years.... I shame myself.... and I need to clean the amp and change the tubes once....) and recorded the first two bits with a sh*tty mic onto a integrated soundcard. The volume drop could be the Marshall or the soundcard. The volume wasn't loud, because my neighbour would totally freak out...... :shock:

The last two bits are with a POD XTL direct into the line-in of the integrated soundcard so I could play with my headphone on......

I tried to play almost the same and I used the same settings for both recordings, to get the best comparization. The 2nd part with the BKP sounded maybe a bit too loud (distorted), but I didn't want to change the setting.

My excuses for the bad playing. I can't do any better and I needed to watch continually after my little kid, who was doing all things I had forbidden..... The missus was away..... LOL  :D

gingataff

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2007, 12:40:29 PM »
Maybe this should be in Time Out (non BKP content) but for the record the VHII wins  8)
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MDV

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2007, 01:18:09 PM »
I think its a really good idea to have comparisons like this in the players room. It shows differences with other pickups, which is helpfull to people looking through here thinking about what bk to get, and it would be frankly gay of us and bk to shy away from competition: Tim has said he'll stand BKs toe to toe with any other pickup in the world, and we wouldnt be here if we didnt agree.

Well done walking the talk there, siN. Good playing, and yes, the VHII is clearly better (I would liked to have seen two more similar tracks for better comparison, though! ah well...)

Tim

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2007, 04:08:01 PM »
This kind of thing is good and relatively objective in as far as you can get when discussing tone. The comparison is very good and demonstrates the clarity and dynamics of the VHII really well.
Tim
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dave_mc

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2007, 04:45:09 PM »
Quote from: MDV
I think its a really good idea to have comparisons like this in the players room. It shows differences with other pickups, which is helpfull to people looking through here thinking about what bk to get, and it would be frankly gay of us and bk to shy away from competition: Tim has said he'll stand BKs toe to toe with any other pickup in the world, and we wouldnt be here if we didnt agree.

Well done walking the talk there, siN. Good playing, and yes, the VHII is clearly better (I would liked to have seen two more similar tracks for better comparison, though! ah well...)


I agree... though I thought they were exactly the same clips? also, why did the paf pro's genre come up as "dance"? The VH2 too?  :lol:

excellent playing, by the way. that eruption bit was spot on!  :o  :drink:

And the VH2 pwned the dimarzio, far as I'm concerned... much more organic/bigger tone.

Peter Antal

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2007, 08:55:21 PM »
Nice comparison! I also prefered the VHII clip but both guitars sound fine with your setup. :) Can you please tell us what you consider the main difference in FEEL between the two pickups? They seem to behave quite differently.

Transcend

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2007, 11:10:49 PM »
hmm love the clips and playing but this has thrown another spanner into the works for my choice on my next pickup

VHII
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and im also considering the mustaine livewires cos i can get a set for £100

WITH FULL DISTORTION

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2007, 07:02:04 AM »
The dimarzios sound Weak,Lifeless and shattered
is it broken!?

hunter

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2007, 08:46:38 AM »
There was a difference and it was better with the VHIIs, yeah, the scatterwinding-liveliness and richness was there spot on!

What I don't get is the Flower-JEM ... I mean the original one (green w/ pink pickups maple fretboard etc) was a real looker and I'd have one right away, but the Flower Power one always reminded me of the curtains in my grandma's living room.

I mean I really like my grandma, but her curtains ... huh ...

Sorry, didn't wanna bash your guitar :o)

Did you get pink humbuckers from BKP? Didn't know they offer them ...
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38thBeatle

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2007, 09:17:38 AM »
I have not been able to listen to clips for a short while and even when I do, I don't have great speakers on my PC and I am hesitant to comment but the clip with the VH11 did sound better and articulate.
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siN

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2007, 09:27:44 AM »
Quote from: Peter Antal
Can you please tell us what you consider the main difference in FEEL between the two pickups? They seem to behave quite differently.


I will later on. I feel too new into this pickup for telling you already and I wanted to tune it a little bit better on height. Next to that I wanna try the differences at some more volume...

siN

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2007, 09:29:50 AM »
Quote from: WITH FULL DISTORTION
The dimarzios sound Weak,Lifeless and shattered
is it broken!?


I don't think that the dimarzio is broken... I've played with the dimarzio you heared in the clip for over 15 years (ever since I got that jem)...

hunter

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2007, 09:32:16 AM »
Quote from: siN
wanted to tune it a little bit better on height. Next to that I wanna try the differences at some more volume...


Oh remember you asked about height.

I have currently 7mm on the neck and 4-5mm on the bridge of my PRS with VHIIs.

This is how I do it: High gain tone and play some hammer-ons/pull offs with my left hand starting on the E and A and adjusting the bass side of the pickup, until I like the overtones created. Next I do the same on the treble side tapping on G, B and E string while screwing up/down with the right hand. Finally I doublecheck the result with chords and see whether it's too many harmonics.  Sometimes going a bit lower is good for rhythm sounds i find.

Good luck!!
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siN

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2007, 09:33:31 AM »
Quote from: hunter
What I don't get is the Flower-JEM ... I mean the original one (green w/ pink pickups maple fretboard etc) was a real looker and I'd have one right away, but the Flower Power one always reminded me of the curtains in my grandma's living room.

I mean I really like my grandma, but her curtains ... huh ...

Sorry, didn't wanna bash your guitar :o)

Did you get pink humbuckers from BKP? Didn't know they offer them ...


Two things. Yes, at first I thought looking at curtains, but nowadays, these colored guitars aren't seen that much anymore... I got used to it....

2nd: I got a Zebra colored pickup. Just wanna make a statement with a different colored pickup so people start thinking and listening to the differences. Next to that: The Zebra looks more interesting than only a black one into this guitar...

Thx for listening and reacting!

siN

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Comparization DiMarzio Paf Pro and BKP VHII in Ibanez Jem
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2007, 09:36:55 AM »
Quote from: hunter

I have currently 7mm on the neck and 4-5mm on the bridge of my PRS with VHIIs.

This is how I do it: High gain tone and play some hammer-ons/pull offs with my left hand starting on the E and A and adjusting the bass side of the pickup, until I like the overtones created. Next I do the same on the treble side tapping on G, B and E string while screwing up/down with the right hand. Finally I doublecheck the result with chords and see whether it's too many harmonics.  Sometimes going a bit lower is good for rhythm sounds i find.

Good luck!!


Thanks. I'll take your advice in trying to get a height which suited me best....