Dimarzio D-Activator vs Evolution Bridge Pickups - High Gain

[@oberkrainerrock7996]

Yes. There is some difference, D-Act adds just a bit more distortion and noise. Evolution is slightly cleaner but a bit less chunky as well.

[@theshredguitarist25]

I love them both! I notice the D-Activator has a bit more gain and warmth than the Evolution, and the Evolution cleans up more.

[@adriengrayson1369]

Love the D activator :D

[@willb1157]

Wow! So close in so many ways! I had no idea.

[@jonathanvisser1814]

I'm hearing a slightly warmer sound from the Evolution, and a slightly brighter, but not unpleasant sound from the Activators.

[@DiedrichKnickerbocker1783]

The Evolution sounds like you dialed back your presence on your amp. It's not bad sounding at all. I have a Schecter USA PT with D activator (bridge) and PAF Pro (neck) and I love it. If I want vintage tones I will play my American made Tele.

[@tarkgundogdu8940]

I have evo 2 on the bridge and liquifire on the neck. It is so good.

[@hollnagelc]

I'm going with the exact same setup in my PT. I've currently got a set of PAF Pro. About to swap the bridge for a D Activator. I've got a Fender Players Tele with SD La Brea pickups and I love those. Telecaster style guitars are hard to beat.

[@alcoholokaust9708]

I wonder how the Dactivator would sound in the a tuning? i have qmz 827 and i want to upgrage my pickups but i seesaw beetween two options ( dactivator and nazgul) and i play death metal band

[@jesterraj]

ok how about d activator vs the ducan distortion?

[@jblaze4583]

I love the EVO, but its way to bright in my Strat. The Acts sound like they might be a little darker, and work better for me.

[@OrkhanJulfa]

D Activator even more bright. It has more high mids and less lows than Evo. Better try Super Distortion.

[@jblaze4583]

@@OrkhanJulfa Thanks man. Good thing I have not gotten anything yet.

[@jeffrywidjaja1333]

If your caps 0.022 change to 0.047 Change to k40y capacitor

[@racerdeth]

​@@jblaze4583the D Activator has more treble hair on top but it has less of that really piercing upper midrange thing the Evo has (you either love that or you hate it and though I love it, I only have it on one guitar!). It also has deeper lows than the evo, which is pretty light on them. They're both great pickups, but if you've not picked yet, I definitely recommend the Norton. It's an excellent, crunchy mid power pickup that does the lot. Absolute underrated sleeper from DiMarzio.

[@jblaze4583]

@@racerdeth Thanks man. I've looked at the Norton, but have never heard one in person. But people say they are great.

[@renbhals6620]

The same sound

[@GretchZ]

The presence, attack and better cleans of the evo are what my next guitar needs, but… also not. I’ve become enamoured with aluminum necks, and the combination of attack and high-end detail with attack high end detail might end the world. Maybe the Fred, Norton or Air Norton would exist in the same realm but more tame.

[@asherplatts6253]

I did not hear a discernable difference

[@Worlds_Worst_Guitarist]

You must be deaf!

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

You can't hear how much brighter the Evolution is?

[@SuitOfSwords]

@@Donnie_Thornberry not really

[@bluntforc3studios198]

In person they are very diff

[@tarkgundogdu8940]

@@bluntforc3studios198have you tried them side by side? in which features are they different?

[@arvind-h1c]

These are bridge pickups right?

[@torchlord11]

Yes.

[@danielbotterill-wb6kq]

Sounds like the D-Activator has more output/gain. Other than that... they pretty much sound the same. 🤷‍♂

[@Brad143]

Evo 🤟

[@yrahcaz1967]

Tonally the evolution is going to give you more room. The d activator is too loud, too harsh, too bright, at least for that guitar. Just my opinion

[@angusorvid8840]

Great demo. I definitely prefer the D Activator to the Evolution. I've never owned an Evo but I've owned D Activators including a D Activator X I'm using right now. I've been using DiMarzios for about forty years, so I'm quite a DiMarzio veteran. My issue with the Evo is that it sounds too much like a pickup designed very specifically for Steve Vai. It's picayune and narrowcasted. It's not a bad pickup. It rocks. It screams. It's just too pinched to me. The D Activator, on the other hand, is big, brash, fat and cutting at the same time. It does indeed sound like a better active pickup without the sterility and more feel, response and warmth.

[@willb1157]

I thought this to. I could HEAR Vai in there. A little tiny one living in the pickup.

[@zAvAvAz]

Yeah! i feel the D Activator has more fullness and low end, however it has highs that cut and pop out the top more so than the EVO. The EVO has that cool neck pickup sound when playing lead runs where it is more subdued and fleks out all the notes in like a smoothness when trem picking the leads very fast. The D Activator in the neck sings more in the top end and is brighter while having very tight bass. That makes the Neck D Activator sound more like a bridge pickup like the EMG 81 X in a neck position. If want smoother and more subdued like the EVO try the D ActivatorX it has way less percievable highs. And that is why not using until probably eventually shall. Could allow you to Dime your Treble up to give the highs real push without becoming ice picky.