What position is the DiMarzio DP175 intended for?

The DP175 True Velvet is specifically designed for the neck position of an electric guitar. Its frequency response is tuned to compensate for the naturally bassier tones found at the neck.

What is the primary tonal characteristic of the True Velvet?

The pickup is designed to be vintage-sounding, offering a bright and crisp tone. It is specifically tuned to be clear without becoming thin or piercing.

How does the magnet stagger affect the sound?

The unique magnet stagger is designed to enhance string balance. This ensures that the output across all six strings is consistent in volume and clarity.

What colour is the pickup cover?

This specific model, the DP175, comes with a White plastic cover. This makes it compatible with traditional white or parchment Stratocaster pickguards.

Is this pickup suitable for high-gain music?

While it can handle gain, it is a vintage-voiced single coil. It excels in styles requiring clarity and definition, such as blues, jazz, and classic rock.

What is the typical price for this pickup in the UK?

The DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet generally retails in the price range of approximately £89. Pricing can vary slightly depending on the specific retailer.

Can I use this pickup in the bridge position?

While technically possible to install, it is voiced for the neck. Using it in the bridge may result in a thinner sound compared to a dedicated bridge-voiced pickup.

Does this pickup require special modifications to the guitar?

No, it is a standard single-coil size designed to fit into standard Stratocaster-style routs and pickguards. It is a direct replacement for most factory single coils.

How does DiMarzio define the 'sweet spot' for this coil?

The 'sweet spot' refers to a specific frequency tuning that maximizes brightness and response while rolling off harsh, piercing frequencies.

Is the True Velvet a hum-cancelling pickup?

No, the True Velvet is a true single-coil pickup. It is designed to provide authentic single-coil tone, which includes the traditional 60-cycle hum found in vintage designs.

What kind of magnets are used in the DP175?

The pickup uses DiMarzio's specific magnet stagger design to improve string-to-string balance, though the specific magnet alloy follows vintage-style output profiles.

How does this compare to modern high-output pickups?

Unlike high-output pickups that focus on driving an amplifier, the True Velvet focuses on responsiveness and clarity. It provides a more vintage, lower-output signal compared to modern ceramic models.

Gear article

DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet Neck Strat Single Coil Pickup

The DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet is a vintage-voiced single-coil pickup designed for the neck position of Stratocaster-style electric guitars. It is engineered to provide the clarity and chime associated with 1950s-era pickups while maintaining a balanced frequency response that avoids harsh high-end frequencies.

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Overview

The DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet represents a modern refinement of the classic vintage Stratocaster pickup. Part of DiMarzio's 'Parts & Spares' category, it is designed for guitarists seeking the 'sweet spot' of single-coil tone. The pickup is finished in a traditional white plastic cover, ensuring a seamless aesthetic fit for standard Stratocaster pickguards.

Design and Magnet Stagger

A defining technical feature of the True Velvet is its unique magnet stagger. Unlike traditional vintage staggers which were designed for specific string gauges of the 1950s, the True Velvet stagger is optimised to enhance modern string-to-string balance. This ensures that every string, from the low E to the high E, is represented with equal definition and clarity, avoiding the 'volume drop' or 'boominess' sometimes found in older designs.

Frequency Response and Sound Character

DiMarzio has tuned the coil of the DP175 to a specific frequency range designed to produce a bright and crisp output. The goal of this design is to capture the 'velvety' high-end detail without the thin or piercing qualities that can affect some bridge or neck pickups. The result is a responsive character that allows the player's nuances and picking dynamics to shine through.

Application and Comparison

This pickup is primarily suited for the neck position, where its clarity helps prevent the muddiness often associated with that slot. While other components like the Fender American Standard Stratocaster Tremolo Bridge Assembly or various Fender Jazz Bass pickguards are available for guitar modifications, the DP175 is a specific choice for players focusing on tonal refinement. In comparison to standard stock pickups, the True Velvet offers higher definition and a more controlled treble response.

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Frequently asked questions

What position is the DiMarzio DP175 intended for?: The DP175 True Velvet is specifically designed for the neck position of an electric guitar. Its frequency response is tuned to compensate for the naturally bassier tones found at the neck.
What is the primary tonal characteristic of the True Velvet?: The pickup is designed to be vintage-sounding, offering a bright and crisp tone. It is specifically tuned to be clear without becoming thin or piercing.
How does the magnet stagger affect the sound?: The unique magnet stagger is designed to enhance string balance. This ensures that the output across all six strings is consistent in volume and clarity.
What colour is the pickup cover?: This specific model, the DP175, comes with a White plastic cover. This makes it compatible with traditional white or parchment Stratocaster pickguards.
Is this pickup suitable for high-gain music?: While it can handle gain, it is a vintage-voiced single coil. It excels in styles requiring clarity and definition, such as blues, jazz, and classic rock.
What is the typical price for this pickup in the UK?: The DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet generally retails in the price range of approximately £89. Pricing can vary slightly depending on the specific retailer.
Can I use this pickup in the bridge position?: While technically possible to install, it is voiced for the neck. Using it in the bridge may result in a thinner sound compared to a dedicated bridge-voiced pickup.
Does this pickup require special modifications to the guitar?: No, it is a standard single-coil size designed to fit into standard Stratocaster-style routs and pickguards. It is a direct replacement for most factory single coils.
How does DiMarzio define the 'sweet spot' for this coil?: The 'sweet spot' refers to a specific frequency tuning that maximizes brightness and response while rolling off harsh, piercing frequencies.
Is the True Velvet a hum-cancelling pickup?: No, the True Velvet is a true single-coil pickup. It is designed to provide authentic single-coil tone, which includes the traditional 60-cycle hum found in vintage designs.
What kind of magnets are used in the DP175?: The pickup uses DiMarzio's specific magnet stagger design to improve string-to-string balance, though the specific magnet alloy follows vintage-style output profiles.
How does this compare to modern high-output pickups?: Unlike high-output pickups that focus on driving an amplifier, the True Velvet focuses on responsiveness and clarity. It provides a more vintage, lower-output signal compared to modern ceramic models.