Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

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Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Recorded two sound clips to compare the dimarzio 36th anniv PAF nickel plated humbuckers and the Tonerider alinico 4 (ac4) nickel plated humbuckers.
Guitar: yamaha sa1000
Strings: D'Addario 11-49
Pickup height identical.
Amp: laney cub 12r celstion blue clone speaker. Gain 3 Vol 5 Tone 7 Eq all at mid day.
CAD condenser Mic
Focusrite scarlet 2i4 into reaper

Image


Please let me know which one you like best, and what pickup you think A and B are.
I tried to play similarly on each track =, but there are some differences. Please try and ignore them.
The order of playing goes from neck to both to bridge pup.
Cheers!

PICKUP A



PICKUP B

Last edited by StrummersOfThunder on Mon Oct 13, 2014 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by Danger Mouse »

No idea which is which, but I prefer pickups in test b by some margin. Far more musical, warm and full. Pickups in test a are a bit flat and thin by comparison, which probably actually suits the Bliss cover more, but that isn't a good thing.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Thanks for your observations Danger mouse, will chalk that up as one vote for Pickup B.

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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by willow13 »

I'm with DM on this as well
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by handsoffmatt »

The tricky thing about this one is that Pickup B sounds like it has a little more output than Pickup A - which is driving the amp a little harder into overdrive, which in turn produces more harmonics.

I think it would be fairer to compare tonality of the pickup if the gain level on the amp was adjusted for a similar perceptible level of gain for both the clips.

Just my $0.02
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by GrantB »

I think once I adjusted the volume to match, B sounds a little richer.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by slash-ed »

Whatever's going on at the amp and whichever one is which, I preferred clip B.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

NZRS_Matt wrote:The tricky thing about this one is that Pickup B sounds like it has a little more output than Pickup A - which is driving the amp a little harder into overdrive, which in turn produces more harmonics.

I think it would be fairer to compare tonality of the pickup if the gain level on the amp was adjusted for a similar perceptible level of gain for both the clips.

Just my $0.02
completely valid point Matt, tried to get the signals pretty similar but it is hard to to a perfect comparison in amatureville.

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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by willow13 »

I would just say that B was the toneriders just to throw everyone....that is assuming B is the 65's :rofl: ooops I mean 36th's
Last edited by willow13 on Mon Oct 13, 2014 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by handsoffmatt »

*UNIQUE* wrote:I think once I adjusted the volume to match, B sounds a little richer.
This is not quite the point I'm making. Playback volume is not the issue here..

A tube amplifier produces more and more harmonics that are pleasing to the ear as it is overdriving.
A higher output pickup will push the amp harder and the AMP (not the pickup) will produce more pleasant harmonics.

For example. If you set up your amp for a great Les Paul sound, then plug a Strat in without changing the input GAIN, the Strat (even if loaded with beautiful pickups) will almost certainly sound thin and lifeless.
Nudge up the amp gain a little, to a similar perceptible level of overdrive as the LP and the Strat will burst into life.

Same goes in this case. Pickup B is pushing the amp a little harder, which in turn generates more harmonics and of COURSE makes pickup B sound better.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 65th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by GrantB »

Agreed, but my old skool ears oft prefers lower output p/ups.

I wondered whether the pickup heights could have been different.

It's actually very hard to do a neutral pickup test.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by Jay »

Haven't read any of the others
B sounds slightly more appealing to me, little bit more highs and 'definition' and they appear to be hotter. I want them to be the PAFs but they probably are the Toneriders.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Also, both the tonerider and the 36th anni are desogned to be vintage output.
tonerider: DC resistance: 7.9K (neck), 8.6K (bridge)
36th anni: neck 7.3K, bridge 8.6K

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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by GrantB »

Interesting. There are more PAF's below 8.3 than above...in the real world.
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Re: Blind test Dimarzio 36th Anni vs Tonerider Ac4

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

interesting indeed

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