[waveydb]

I'm seeking feedback from those who may have had experience with using a Dimarzio SDS-1 pickup. I'm having a through-neck guitar built for me and am trying to decide whether to get an SDS-1 in neck position along w 2 SD-2's....or 3 SD-2's.
I notice from the specs that the SDS-1 has much higher output than the SD-2 in split-coil mode.

For those w experience: does an SDS-1 in neck position seem to be louder than a SD-2 in middle position (split-coil mode)?
Also, does the SDS-1 in neck seem too dark as compared to an SD-2 in middle (split-coil mode)?
Can anyone describe what they may perceive as relative advantages of these 2 different pickup configurations:
SDS-1 + 2 SD-2's versus 3 SD-2's.
Thanks,
Dave

[Poor Peter]

I'll take a stab at this since no one else has. I have a Troy Post build that has 3 super II's and another that my brother just built for me that has an sds in the neck and two super II's. I like the sds in the neck. Ther is a jump in volume when you switch to it from middle split but its not so huge that your gonna be reaching for your volume pot. At least for me anyway. Its definitely more aggressive sounding but not distorted like its called. To me it sounds deeper than the super II. Kinda tough to describe how something "sounds" but I don't think I'd call it darker. If it were me, now that I have both I would go with the sd in the neck. I rarely use the super II in the neck on the Post guitar, but having the sd in the neck on the new guitar I can see myself using it a lot more. Hope that helps.

[waveydb]

Thanks- I appreciate you sharing your impressions. Do you think you'll be using your SDS1for solos?
It occurs to me that for soloing high up on the neck, the slight volume boost provided by switching from the middle SD2 in split coil mode to the SD1 in the neck might be helpful/useful...

[Poor Peter]

Yes, I almost wrote that in the last post. It can actually work as a boost. I frequently go from split middle to hb for a boost as well. Again, I would go for it. Its a nice variation from the straight super II's.