[jalguitarman]

I think after everything and really listening to my stock bridge pick up and finding more so what i don't like it has come down to these 2. See i have found that with the stock c26 there is a top end brightness but no clarity and i want clarity across all strings especially for leads and just enough"whomp" on the low E and B for rythyms. The dimarzio tech said the dactivator 7 might be good and also i heard a soundbyte on the dimarzio site of the blaze bridge used for leads and really liked what i heard. Bearing in mind that my carvin is maple neck thru ader/ maple top and ebony board through 2x12 recto road king which one of these two do you think?

[zimbloth]

My DC747 is the same specs as yours, I use the Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. That guitar is really full and bright, a ballsy warm pickup like the JB is an excellent choice. I wouldn't recommend a Blaze in that configuration, would be too bright and peaky. The clips you heard of the Blaze were most likely in a basswood/rosewood guitar, not neck-thru alder/maple/ebony. As for the D-Activator, that could be okay but I really don't think that would be ideal for what you have either.

I would really look into the Duncan JB, Custom or Invader, all of those work really well in alder/maple/ebony neck-thru guitars. Given you're using a Mesa, I wouldn't recommend the Invader, that pickup is better off w/ Peavey/ENGL/VHT. Try the JB or Custom, those pickups have a lot of heavy tone and also very good leads.

As for DiMarzio, IMO most DiMarzios are better suited for basswood or mahogany. Many of their models can sound good in alder, but in my experience the signature DiMarzio treble sound can be over the top in guitars where the dominant woods are maple and alder.

So, as an owner of basically the same guitar as yours, I vote for NEITHER.

[The Dark Wolf]

I have both pickups.

If those are your choices, based on your description, I'll say the DA7. But I think both would be improvements over the stock pickup.

[Edroz]

i have both DA7s in one of my 727s which has a koa/maple neck and maple f/b, mahogany sides and maple top... in other words, alot of maple plus koa is a fairly bright sounding wood as well. the DA7s work great in this guitar and i can't see them sounding bad with any wood combinations.

[jalguitarman]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

I have both pickups.

If those are your choices, based on your description, I'll say the DA7. But I think both would be improvements over the stock pickup.

Do you have another suggestion in mind? Clarity and being good for both lead and rythym in mind. Btw, Thanks.

[EdgeCrusher]

The DA7 is a very balanced pickup and would most likely sound great in anything. Its very loud and raw sounding, like a hotter blaze with more mids and overall oomph, while still being very clear and articulate.

The JB7 would be great too, but in a very different way. Its sweeter and smoother, with less output, but still roars nicley. Fantastic lead sounds! Its nice and full sounding, but isnt as tight as the Dimarzios. Hope that helps!

[jalguitarman]

Originally Posted by EdgeCrusher

The DA7 is a very balanced pickup and would most likely sound great in anything. Its very loud and raw sounding, like a hotter blaze with more mids and overall oomph, while still being very clear and articulate.

The JB7 would be great too, but in a very different way. Its sweeter and smoother, with less output, but still roars nicley. Fantastic lead sounds! Its nice and full sounding, but isnt as tight as the Dimarzios. Hope that helps!

Yes that truly does help. Thanks. I have been holding back waiting for a reveiw from a member with a similar guitar on the ds-7 but i am very close to gettinga da-7 as i am thinking this will likely give me the clarity i want without being too bright. Thanks

Originally Posted by Edroz

i have both DA7s in one of my 727s which has a koa/maple neck and maple f/b, mahogany sides and maple top... in other words, alot of maple plus koa is a fairly bright sounding wood as well. the DA7s work great in this guitar and i can't see them sounding bad with any wood combinations.

Just curious how does it sound in the neck position?

Originally Posted by zimbloth

My DC747 is the same specs as yours, I use the Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. That guitar is really full and bright, a ballsy warm pickup like the JB is an excellent choice. I wouldn't recommend a Blaze in that configuration, would be too bright and peaky. The clips you heard of the Blaze were most likely in a basswood/rosewood guitar, not neck-thru alder/maple/ebony. As for the D-Activator, that could be okay but I really don't think that would be ideal for what you have either.

I would really look into the Duncan JB, Custom or Invader, all of those work really well in alder/maple/ebony neck-thru guitars. Given you're using a Mesa, I wouldn't recommend the Invader, that pickup is better off w/ Peavey/ENGL/VHT. Try the JB or Custom, those pickups have a lot of heavy tone and also very good leads.

As for DiMarzio, IMO most DiMarzios are better suited for basswood or mahogany. Many of their models can sound good in alder, but in my experience the signature DiMarzio treble sound can be over the top in guitars where the dominant woods are maple and alder.

So, as an owner of basically the same guitar as yours, I vote for NEITHER.

I appreciate your input as well. Thanks.

[The Dark Wolf]

The DA7 is very clear, but in a smooth, balanced, compressed kinda way.

Single notes jump out at you, but chords and 2 tones together under high gain sort of blend together a bit, due to output and the balanced, compressed nature of the pickup.

It's a wierd pickup. It doesn't react like any passive pickup I've ever played. Feels and sounds alot like what I guess you'd imagine a passive EMG 81 to sound like, if that makes sense.

[Toshiro]

TDW, what do you like better the DA7 or the DS7?

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by Toshiro

TDW, what do you like better the DA7 or the DS7?

DS7, bro man. If it was straight up DA7 vs. DS7... eh, I could go either way. The DA7 is much quieter than the DS7, and I like it's clarity and punch. But it's a bit too loud and too even, whereas the DS7 output is perfect, and the tone, while not QUITE as balanced, is a little edgier.

But all that is moot, because my custom DS7 beats both, IMO.