On my last Dimarzio/Ibz review i told you about the reality of those pickups. If we are about to summerise it shortly; The DiMarzio/IBZ set is often overlooked, despite being one of DiMarzio's most underrated pickups. When they first appeared in Ibanez guitars around 2003-2004, initial reactions were mild, but as more guitars sold, online forums saw mixed feedback. Some questioned their authenticity compared to “real” DiMarzio pickups, while others criticized their sound as muddy, harsh, or weak. The opinions were highly contradictory, with no consistent promotional guidance to clarify the confusion. These subjective views are often way too misleading.
My view for the neck version of D/IBZ’s are all but the same. I remember they were highly contradictory, too. Some people said they are PAF Pros with ceramic magnet, some told them Steve Morse Bridge in disguise while some claimed they were not (again) not the real deal. Let’s see what i’ve got.
The Test Guitar
My test guitar for that set is my Charvel Model A guitar. The guitar features a mahogany body, quarter-sawn maple neck, ebony fretboard, 25.5" scale length, Floyd Rose tremolo with steel block (JT580LP), nickel silver frets, CTS&alpha 500K pots, Elixir Optiweb Strings in E-std tuning, a 5-way Ibanez (2502N) switch. For two hb guitars that switch has totally useable inner positions that you don’t need anything else. Its primary (unplugged) tone is warm.
Evaluation
Let’s read the desciption first, as always;
“The DiMarzio/IBZ pickups are specifically designed and manufactured by DiMarzio for Ibanez, and they are not available separately. Like all DiMarzio pickups, they are made in our New York factory. Both neck and bridge pickups are high-output models. The neck pickup is fairly bright-sounding, similar to a Super 2 (DP104). The bridge pickup is a little louder and warmer-sounding, and resembles a cross between the Steve Morse Bridge Model (DP200) and the Super Distortion (DP100). The R1 single-coil is warmer-sounding than a typical vintage single-coil, and was designed to work well with the neck and bridge humbuckers when they are in split mode. It has a sound similar to that of the HS-2 in split-coil mode.”
My measurements are here;
Dimarzio/IBZ Neck
Magnet – Big Ceramic
Measured DCR: 8.87 K Ohm (Series)
Measured DCR: 4.27 K Ohm (Screw/South Coil)
Measured DCR: 4.60 K Ohm (Slug/North Coil)
Inductance @100Hz: 4.86 H (Series)
Inductance @100Hz: 2.12 H (Screw Coil)
Inductance @100Hz: 2.12 H (Slug Coil)
Measured C: -32.4 nF (Series)/ -65.3nF (Screw Coil) / -59.1nF (Slug Coil)
Output: 352 Milivolts (advertised)
EQ (B/M/T) – 6,5/7/5 (old catalog data) 6/6,5/6,5/5 (official website)
Gauss: 480G screw, 480G slug (measured at top center of D&G pole pieces)
Patents: None
Ambient Measurement Temperature: 22C
If you’re familiar with DiMarzio’s “Super” series, then you’re already familiar with the DiMarzio/IBZ pickups as well. They all share a similar design architecture: large hex pole pieces in both bobbins, chunky ceramic magnets, and solid base plates without any holes. Although I measured the same inductance value, I found a slight difference in the DCR values. However, my impression is that they are matched coils. Still, they might have intentionally made this slight difference. I check the bobbins and i assume they are wound by AWG 42 wires.
Let’s come to the comparison part. Dim/Ibz neck can be compared by three pickups but i only have two of them. Therefore, when comparing with the last one, I will use external sources for reference. Here we go for what i’ve got and see if the rumours are true. I’ve got S.Morse Bridge and PAF Pro. Structurally, the Dimarzio/IBZ neck is exactly the same as the S. Morse Bridge. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is the number of wire turns. This is because the pole pieces, magnets (although I’m not sure if the magnet dimensions are identical), base plates, and the technologies they lack (like Dual Resonance or Virtual Vintage) are all the same. However, despite having a different architectural design, the winding is quite similar to the PAF Pro. There are differences from the PAF Pro in terms of pole pieces, base plate (the PP has pole piece holes on the base plate), magnet, and metal spacers.
Pickup Model | Steve Morse Bridge (DP200) | Dimarzio/IBZ Neck | PAF Pro (DP151) |
DC Resistance(Series) | 9,7 | 8,87 | 8,92 |
South Coil/Screw DCR | 4,85 | 4,27 | 4,45 |
North Coil Slug DCR | 4,85 | 4,6 | 4,47 |
Inductance (series) | 5,6 | 4,86 | 4,47 |
South CoilScrew Inductance | 2,4 | 2,12 | 1,94 |
North Coil Slug Inductance | 2,4 | 2,12 | 1,94 |
Capacitance series (nF) | -30,6 | -32,4 | -31,4 |
South Coil/Screw Capacitance | -57,9 | -65,3 | -59,7 |
North Coil /SlugCapacitance | -58 | -59,1 | -59,4 |
Gauss (Mean of D&G Pole Pieces) | 480 | 480 | 350 |
To summarize, the DiMarzio/IBZ neck can be thought of as either a lower-wound version of the DP200 or a PAF Pro built with the DP200’s architecture. On the other hand, another pickup that I’m somewhat familiar with, though I don’t have it on hand right now, is the Super 2, which is also mentioned in the official description. Since I can’t measure and compare it directly, I’ll keep it brief: the Super 2 and the DiMarzio/IBZ are very close relatives. The only difference is that, just like in the Super Distortion, the Super 2 has a thin metal spacer placed next to the magnet under the north coil. This slightly increases its inductance.
Now, let’s talk about the EQ character of the DiMarzio/IBZ neck model… To put it simply, The lows are very tight, but not too in-your-face. The lower mids are flat and uncolored, while the highs are rich, plentiful, bright and clear. So DiMarzio/IBZ neck model is true cure for the ones who wants clarity and power on their neck positions. More powerful than your very clear Humbucker from Hell but still very clear.
DiMarzio/IBZ neck is a brilliant and powerful neck humbucker for your tone search. So, whenever you need a powerful humbucker into your muddy neck position, DiMarzio/IBZ neck can make you satisfied.
It’s not a focused pickup like Air Norton or Al DiMeola DP201 in the neck position. Nor fleuty like the ones have distict mids. So, if your tone search is based on these approaches, you may not be satisfied. On the other hand when you have a short scale mahogany body+neck guitar with apparent mids and put it in a mid rich amp, yeah, DiMarzio/IBZ neck will work for ya!
An official data for the Dimarzio/Ibz output does not exist. But I assume very close to Super 2, 400-425mV roughly. Because they all have similar chunky ceramic magnet within and no other parts like steel spacers near the narrower magnet we see on the EVO2 or Super Distortion.
When evaluating the D/IBZ in terms of dynamic range, there is inevitable compression when volume pot is full up, but as you lower the volume knob down, you can get distinct cleans. For some pickups, you know, when you roll the volume down, your tone turns clean that is very well and usable. But some pickups doesn’t have that “tasty cleans” by volume pot drops. Unfortunately, D/IBZ neck is in that territory, either. Cleans get too crisp for my taste. For the phrasing sensitivity, well, it’s not your good ole dynamic alnico powered humbucker, do not forget that.
The most defining characteristic of the D/IBZ neck pickup is, just like its bridge version, that it’s a powerful rock pickup. It has the ability to bring balance with a powerful bridge pickup, breathing neck tone and bring neck positions in darker-sounding guitars to life with its own unique flavor.
Is it suitable for modern heavy metal? In my opinion, yes, it is. I believe it can handle lower tunings with ease.
Another noteworthy feature of the D/IBZ neck is its potential to transform into something different—or even better—with a simple modification. I published this in one of my previous articles. When you replace the ceramic magnet inside with an Alnico 5, you get a very clear yet (though I don’t like using this term) more organic tone. For more details, check out my article here...
Conclusion
Everything I wrote about the DiMarzio Ibanez bridge also applies to the neck version. Until a few years ago, these pickups could be found for incredibly low prices. People did everything they could to get rid of them from their Prestige Ibanez guitars to achieve “real” dimarzios. Considering their potential, I’d say that’s a shame. There’s no need to go on and on about it—this is a high-output rock machine with lots of clarity that can breathe life into the bridge tones of guitars with a somewhat darker/warmer character.
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