Dimebucker vs BL USA L500XL comparison

[KnightBrolaire]

I got bored and took some of my DIs from my 6 string shootout and ran them through Neural's Omega Granophyre vst with ML Studio Mesa 4x12 IRs. I used the same guitar for making both DIs (my PRS Mike Mushok).

The dimebucker gets a bad rap but it was a fine pickup imo. It just has a particular voicing that seems better suited to djent than Pantera type stuff tbh.

I vastly prefer the L500XL tbh, but ymmv.
If you want to mess around with the DIs they're in the DI thread and my 6 string shootout thread.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I had the Dimebucker in a guitar and hated how it sounded... Turns out it was the guitar itself. Tried a lot of pickups but could never get a sound I liked. Need to try it again eventually.

 

[Abominorg the Grotesque]

You gotta remember Dime played 24.75" scale guitars too. A slightly "djenty" quality in the pickup combined with the mahogany and the shorter scale would produce a tone reminiscent of Reinventing the Steel and the Damageplan album. It might be overkill with the 27.7" Mike Mushok.

 

[Zhysick]

I don't like neither of both for my style even though they sound great with that sharp attack and for me the Dime sounds clearly with more bass response and a bit sharper high end while the BL is a bit more snappy if that makes any sense considering I said the Dime sounds sharper...

Anyhow, what I really want to say is that the Thin Lizzy kinda riff in that loooooooooooow tunning sounds AMAZING.

 

[hensh!n]

I got bored and took some of my DIs from my 6 string shootout and ran them through Neural's Omega Granophyre vst with ML Studio Mesa 4x12 IRs. I used the same guitar for making both DIs (my PRS Mike Mushok).

The dimebucker gets a bad rap but it was a fine pickup imo. It just has a particular voicing that seems better suited to djent than Pantera type stuff tbh.

I vastly prefer the L500XL tbh, but ymmv.
If you want to mess around with the DIs they're in the DI thread and my 6 string shootout thread.

They sound fairly close to my ears. My preference would likely be the 500XL, as it sounds a tad bit brighter. With the Dimebucker sounding slightly darker and more saturated. They both sound good though.

 

[hamoftruth]

The BLUSA seems to have a much more natural frequency curve - even if they both have that hairy aggressive high-mid thing going on, the Dimebucker has it to an almost absurd degree.

The Bill n Becky L500XL is another variation yet, with slightly wider blades it seems even less spiky in the upper mids and a bit fuller all around. I need a good slimy ML to put them in, but I'm waiting for either prices to become slightly more reasonable or for whatever becomes of "Dime Guitars" to present itself.

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

Accurate, my Horizon has a Dimebucker that quacks like a duck. I need to switch it out for something else.

 

[cowboystring]

I have the USA L-500XL in my Dinky Pro. It's decent. I wouldn't buy another one though

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Bump because I did what I said and got a Dimebucker so I can throw my two cents in.

I actually got an BLUSA L500XL first and was pretty satisfied with it. Got a Dimebucker on a whim because it was cheap and put them against each other.... and I preferred the Dimebucker. Lower output, less bass, more high mid attack. Given both were in a baritone guitar tuned down to Drop G#, the Dimebucker was much better for my needs, so it stayed.

So I can confirm I just didn't like the guitar they were in.

 

[lewis]

Bump because I did what I said and got a Dimebucker so I can throw my two cents in.

I actually got an BLUSA L500XL first and was pretty satisfied with it. Got a Dimebucker on a whim because it was cheap and put them against each other.... and I preferred the Dimebucker. Lower output, less bass, more high mid attack. Given both were in a baritone guitar tuned down to Drop G#, the Dimebucker was much better for my needs, so it stayed.

So I can confirm I just didn't like the guitar they were in.

Good to know the dimebucker sounds great in a Bari.
That's what I was planning.
30 incher tuned F and lower

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Good to know the dimebucker sounds great in a Bari.
That's what I was planning.
30 incher tuned F and lower

I literally had it in a baritone in the OP video and in my 6 string shootout thread lol

Bump because I did what I said and got a Dimebucker so I can throw my two cents in.

I actually got an BLUSA L500XL first and was pretty satisfied with it. Got a Dimebucker on a whim because it was cheap and put them against each other.... and I preferred the Dimebucker. Lower output, less bass, more high mid attack. Given both were in a baritone guitar tuned down to Drop G#, the Dimebucker was much better for my needs, so it stayed.

So I can confirm I just didn't like the guitar they were in.

Interesting, for the mushok I found the dimebucker to feel greasier and quackier. I thought the l500xl was better tbh. The dimebucker just wasn't my thing.

 

[wakjob]

I only ever tried the regular L-500 when I went through a Nuno phase years back... I should revisit Bill's pickups.

Never like the Dimebucker. Reminds me of D-activator. Not in tone or Eq or anything, but they are both just hot and "vanilla". No defining character to them.

 

[Shask]

Bump because I did what I said and got a Dimebucker so I can throw my two cents in.

I actually got an BLUSA L500XL first and was pretty satisfied with it. Got a Dimebucker on a whim because it was cheap and put them against each other.... and I preferred the Dimebucker. Lower output, less bass, more high mid attack. Given both were in a baritone guitar tuned down to Drop G#, the Dimebucker was much better for my needs, so it stayed.

So I can confirm I just didn't like the guitar they were in.

I was reading something recently that said the Dimebucker sounded a lot like the Duncan Custom, but just way more output. What do you think about that opinion?

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I was reading something recently that said the Dimebucker sounded a lot like the Duncan Custom, but just way more output. What do you think about that opinion?

...Actually sorta accurate the more I think about it. A little more complex than that, but I gotta make that comparison one day. They both got that high mid clanky thing going on.

 

[Legion]

I don't like neither of both

Wat

 

[SubsonicDoom99]

Good to know the dimebucker sounds great in a Bari.
That's what I was planning.
30 incher tuned F and lower

Yeah, my experience with the Dimebucker is similar, I have it right now in a baritone tuned down to G.
I actually like that it has that upper-mid thing happening, really works well with this tuning and heavier strings.
The L500XL is a very good pickup in it's own right but the Dimebucker just wound up being tighter on the low end and what I was needing for this guitar.
And while I can see some similarities in the mids between the Custom and the Dime, I think those two pickups still overall feel pretty different from each other.
So people expecting the Dimebucker to sound just like a hotter Custom might want to proceed with caution. I think the Dime has it's own character.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I'm actually kinda curious now so I'm gonna buy both. I had a Custom but ended up selling it because I put another pickup in the guitar. And I don't wanna take the Dimebucker out of my baritone because it's the only pickup I got that fits in a P90 route.

So yeah gonna eventually try to get both an SH-5 and Dimebucker. I can already imagine the Dimebucker being more aggressive and the SH-5 having a bigger low end, but they both have that low-mid scoop and bright attack going on.
EDIT: After I posted this, I scooped up an SH-5.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I was reading something recently that said the Dimebucker sounded a lot like the Duncan Custom, but just way more output. What do you think about that opinion?

So I have the Dimebucker and SH-5 in 2 of the same guitar (Squier Deluxe Affinity Teles) and I can confirm they're pretty different. The Dimebucker does indeed have more of that high mid attack while the SH-5 sounds more "old school" I guess i'd say? Djent vs Chug as expected.

Dimebucker is 1st, SH-5 is 2nd. I tried to keep the pickup heights even to make it as close as possible.
EDIT: Did a tweak on the Dimebucker guitar actually. Wanted to make sure the setups were 1:1 exact on both guitars

 

[Shask]

So I have the Dimebucker and SH-5 in 2 of the same guitar (Squier Deluxe Affinity Teles) and I can confirm they're pretty different. The Dimebucker does indeed have more of that high mid attack while the SH-5 sounds more "old school" I guess i'd say? Djent vs Chug as expected.

Dimebucker is 1st, SH-5 is 2nd. I tried to keep the pickup heights even to make it as close as possible.
EDIT: Did a tweak on the Dimebucker guitar actually. Wanted to make sure the setups were 1:1 exact on both guitars

I can hear why people say they are similar. Both have the scooped lower mids, strong bass and upper mid clank thing going on. I do think the DB has less bass and more higher end presence / treble. The Custom seems a little more chunky on the low end, and not quite as much high end presence fizziness.

 

[BornToLooze]

So I can confirm I just didn't like the guitar they were in.

This gave me flashbacks to the Deluhi thread and how I actually joined SSO

The Bill and Becky 500XL was one of my favorite pickups before I quit caring about gear. And I've wanted a Dimebag guitar since I got into metal, but every one I've played is pretty much the guitar version of don't meet your heros. I've heard DIs of all 3 of the pickups, and there's no reasons the Deans should sound as bad as they do.