Description
Before the early ’70s, if you wanted more from your guitar, you were stuck with whatever came stock. The Super Distortion changed that. It was the first pickup built from the ground up to shove a tube amp into full overdrive, and decades later it’s still the reference point for what a high-output humbucker should sound like.
Plug one in and you get that instantly recognizable DiMarzio signature: boosted mids with real thickness, low end that stays tight instead of turning to mud, and highs that cut without getting harsh. Single notes leap forward, chords bloom into a wall of sound, and the whole thing feels alive under your hands whether you’re tracking or gigging. It’s the tone behind three-plus decades of records, powering everyone from Ace Frehley to Al Di Meola to Paul Gilbert.
The ceramic magnet and 4-conductor wiring mean you’re not locked into one voice. Split the coils for a surprisingly Strat-like snap, or run parallel wiring for a slightly hollower, still-humbucking option — Gilbert famously ran two Super Distortions in parallel during his Racer X days.
This one’s built for the bridge of a solid-body electric, where it really earns its reputation; it can work in the neck with a lower-gain amp, but hollow and semi-hollow bodies tend to fight its warmth and output.
- Wiring: 4-conductor
- Magnet: Ceramic
- Output: 425 mV
- DC Resistance: 13.68 kOhm
- Introduced: 1972
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