DiMarzio DP220 D Activator Bridge

The DiMarzio D Activator Bridge pickup is DiMarzio’s attempt at creating an active sounding pickup using passive techniques. It’s a very powerful pickup with individual adjustable pole pieces, four conductor wiring and a ceramic magnet.

This pickup is kinda like a mix between the EMG 81 and the EMG 85. It’s got the aggression of the EMG 81 with the thump of the EMG 85. It’s very tight and aggressive but blooms more than the actual active counterparts. Harmonics on this jump out nicely and it actually has some decent pick attack going on. Chris Broderick has been using these lately, and he does a great job showing off what they can do.

Given that it’s a bridge pickup, I didn’t bother splitting it. I also didn’t test out the parallel tones, so I can’t comment on that, either. I found it to match well in most woods, so there shouldn’t really be an issue as to what kind of guitar you put this in, unlike the neck pickup. It’s surprising how different the bridge and neck pickup are in terms of EQ. To me, it would make more sense if the EQs were reversed, but that’s just me. You could feel completely different.

Everybody is trying to create these pickups that are better than EMGs. Some manage to do it fairly decently, but I can’t help but think if you want that EMG tone, you should just get EMGs. People try to make out EMGs as if they’re bad pickups or that only beginners use them. That’s not true at all. Just use what you like, and don’t worry about what anybody else says. That said, this is a very cool pickup on its own. If you’re looking for a humbucker that is a little different, check these out.

Ben that's new. A dual passive supposed to sound like an asset?!?
I just try it in my favorite store on a beautiful Ibanez Xiphos XPT-700 (which I will do a review soon). The amp head was a Engl Powerball (that I know well since I have one for 4 years), a Mesa 4x12 cabinet 'V30. A test in very good conditions so.

I mainly play on Ibanez all equipped with DiMarzio Super Distortion (output level: 425mv / good and low fat)
I also have a ESP LTD equipped with the famous EMG 81 (output level: 405mv / her clean and shiny) and 85.

Here we go. I grab the beautiful Xiphos, plugs into the amp heats. Setting the amp: LoLead channel, gain in depth, 2h bass, mid 11h, 2h treble, presence and resonance to 12. I am a big plate Miiiiiii .... Ouaaaahhhhhhhh! It's great! What's going on? Why it sounds 100 times better than me?
Our famous agreement Mi sounds very compact, very big, very "Toufu" with lots of harmonics and sustain fantatsique. I can link in pm ... same thing: super clear, defined, and very large. I can stop playing. FOOT!

This mic is really a success. It sends a very high level of signal to the amp. It boosts the Powerball. I felt that it sparkled with happiness ... and myself.
The sound is very rich in harmonic and frequency response very linear and neutral. I felt no bump in the frequencies. Whether in bass, midrange, or treble, balance is great and brilliant of Armona. It is never garish.

Compare:

Super Distrotion vs D-Activator: D-Activator better wake up the receiver, pushed further and without resorting to low abundance. The sustain is better

EMG 81 vs D-Activator: D-activator pushes the amp a little more than the EMG. The D-Activator is more "soft" and less "screaming". I feel that where the attack EMG amplifier with treble, D-Activator attack with an output level a little higher and more harmonics. For me, the EMG 81 has a tendency to become a loud amp for extreme settings. The D-Activator is more neutral balance Bass / medium / treble remains constant. Always with a beautiful harmonic brilliance.

Conclusion: it sounds better than the EMG81 and better than my Super Distortion. And there is no need to change the battery because there is none. I have to get back to vai welds on my guitars and I ordered a dozen D-Activator!

I just buy and install on my MusicMan Silhouette Special.
A real personality. Output level worthy of EMG85 and 81, which facilitates the task by moving from a Luke on SLH. I tried the SuperDisto, Evolution, the DropSonic the Paf Pro, and more ... This one outperforms them in both defined by dynamics. Do not try to make clear arpeggios like Telecaster, it is not his thing .. Instead, it sends the sauce, with purity and precision, and with heat. Mister Petrucci uses SteveSpecial and DropSonic, I urge to try this one.
Tested on Brunetti amps, Fender Tone Master, JCM800, JCM900, Mosfet Lead, 8100RH Valvestate amps and other various ... It makes them all sound. It is a microphone with a real personality and a great temperament ...
To be installed preferably on alder body type or MusicMan Stratocaster. I recommend Gibson .. He is just able to give a versatile and make it sound a Start or a Lespaul SLH or SG, potatoes and more, but not only. Its spectrum is so rich, by changing setting amp or pedal or using a small equalizer pedal, you can do it live and sound in various genres, is a joy, it is very generous.
This is a real success, bravo DiMarzio