PICKUPS

James had this to say on the subject of his pickups choice.
JB: "I began using HS-3's in the neck and bridge positions as soon as the first prototypes became available to me as an artist endorser of DiMarzio pickups -since the early 1980's-. I used HS-3's exclusively until Steve Blucher -Dimarzio VP and designer- finally talked me into trying the Virtuals".

"Here's the difference; The HS-3 has a frequency response much like an old Gibson PAF humbucking pickup. It's very mid-rangy, and a bit dull on the top-end. The new V.V. pickups come in a wide variety of sound colorations, but the crucial difference is that the inherent design of the pickup does not place the limitations previously imposed by the HS series design. If DiMarzio wants to create a V.V. pickup that truly sounds like a single coil, they can and have. The old HS series do not really sound exactly like humbucking pickups because the size of the magnetic "window" is the same as a single coil. But their frequency response is limited, so they distinctly lack the "sparkle" of a real single coil. I was a very tough sell for DiMarzio when they wanted me to try the new V.V. pickups because I was quite happy with my sound and didn't really want to bother. I'm really glad I finally did try them because I ended up liking them much better".

"I've got about 5 different models installed in my various Super Avianti's and came to like one particular model the best: The Virtual 54B installed in the bridge position. Personally, I like a very upper mid-range emphasised mid-range in a neck pickup because I play 80 percent of my solos on the neck pickup, and I want good articulation for sweep and speed-picking, while all my heavy rhythms are played with the bridge pickups".

"The 54B was "voiced" by Steve at DiMarzio to replicate the tonality of one of Eric Johnson's 54 Strats. It's a very "violin-ish" sounding pickup in the bridge position, and this is what I am always after. The 'B' in the suffix stands for Bridge, as that's the general intent for this pick-ups location, but there are no rules. DiMarzio introduced the virtual 2 series of pickups next, and they're designed to have less string pull from the magnets. I've got a set but I've yet to install them for 2 years because I'm quite happy with what I'm using. I guess it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks after all".

"The only model of virtual vintage I might shy away from, is the DP 401. These were the first models made available to the public and I found them to be objectionably hard sounding and lacking in bass response. DiMarzio has a web site with the basic frequency responses of the pickups listed on an easy to read chart. The potentiometers you use with these pickups are also an important determining factor to the sound. The higher the rating, the more open and brilliant the pickup will sound. Disconnecting the tone controls altogether will yield the brightest possible sound".

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