DiMarzio, Inc. (original name: DiMarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc.) is an American manufacturer best known for its direct-replacement guitar pickups.[1] The company also produces other guitar 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 overdriven distorted 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.
Airbucker™ design, which reduces string pull and increases sensitivity and sustain.
Dave Davidson of Revocation (Previously used DiMarzio D Activator Bridge, Liquifire neck and Super 2 neck pickups, now uses his signature Imperium pickups)
Hank Marvin of The Shadows (FS-1 fitted to his Fender Stratocasters throughout the 70's and 80's and used in the bridge position in his Signature Stratocasters)
John Petrucci of Dream Theater (Humbucker From Hell, Tone Zone, Blaze, Air Norton, Steve's Special, Custom Modded Air Norton and Steve's Special, D-Sonic, LiquiFire and Crunch Lab, Illuminator, Sonic Ecstasy, Dreamcatcher, Rainmaker)
Frank Zappa (used Dimarzio pickups in the Les Paul that he used in the 80s although it was later outfitted with Carvin and later Seymour Duncan pickups, thought to be a Super Distortion and PAF or PAF Pro but never confirmed).
Patents
Lawrence P. DiMarzio holds following US patents:
US patent 4133243, DiMarzio, Lawrence P., "Electric pickup", issued 1979-01-09
US patent 4227434, DiMarzio, Lawrence P., "Adjustable soundhole mount for a musical pickup", issued 1980-10-14
US patent 4320829, DiMarzio, Lawrence P.; Altilio, Daniel, "Merchandise display container", issued 1982-03-23 — a special container for merchandising pickups.
US patent 4442749, DiMarzio, Lawrence P.; Blucher, Steven L., "Electrical pickup for a stringed instrument having ferromagnetic strings", issued 1984-04-17
