DiMarzio

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DiMarzio HS-3 -stack single coils on electric guitar.
DiMarzio Inc.
Company typePrivate
Headquarters,
USA
ProductsGuitar pickups
WebsiteDiMarzio.com

DiMarzio, Inc. (original name: DiMarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc.) is an American manufacturing company, best known for its direct-replacement guitar pickups.[1] The company also produces other accessories, such as hardware, guitar straps, and instrument cables.

DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the world’s first after-market replacement guitar pickup.[citation needed] It was introduced in 1972[2] and is still considered one of the most popular models.

The Super Distortion pickup produced a higher electrical output than most pickups normally fitted as standard to guitars at the time. It has around twice the output of a PAF-type pickup,[citation needed] and stronger ceramic magnets. This drove the input stage of guitar amplifiers with roughly twice as much voltage as a PAF pickup, so that an overdrive and distortion sound was easier to obtain.

In 2023, DiMarzio published The Birth of the Super Distortion, Larry DiMarzio’s recount of the development of the Super Distortion pickup and the history of the DiMarzio company.

Two of the technologies that they are known for are:

  • Dual-Resonance design, which uses different size wire gauges to produce a different resonant peak for each coil, providing unique sounds.
  • Air bucker™ design, which reduces string pull and increases sensitivity and sustain.

Notable users past and present[edit]

Patents[edit]

Lawrence P. DiMarzio holds following US patents:

  • US patent 4133243, DiMarzio, Lawrence P., "Electric pickup", issued 1979-01-09 
  • US patent 4227434, DiMarzio, Lawrence P., "Adjustable soundhole mount for a musical pickup", issued 1980-10-14 
  • US patent 4320829, DiMarzio, Lawrence P.; Altilio, Daniel, "Merchandise display container", issued 1982-03-23  — a special container for merchandising pickups.
  • US patent 4442749, DiMarzio, Lawrence P.; Blucher, Steven L., "Electrical pickup for a stringed instrument having ferromagnetic strings", issued 1984-04-17 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Guitar World Magazine May 1994
  2. ^ DiMarzio Super Distortion Specifications
  3. ^ "Meet Pearl, My Brand New Custom Fender Stratocaster". www.twitter.com. 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  4. ^ "Fender Telecaster meets Dimarzio Pickups". www.youtube.com. 2017-12-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  5. ^ "Rocky Kramer Guitars". www.equipboard.com. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2017-09-12.

Further reading[edit]

  • Guitar World Magazine, "The 100 Most Important People In Guitar", San Francisco, CA, May 1994.

External links[edit]