DiMarzio

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.
  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference GuitarWorld was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ DiMarzio Super Distortion Specifications