33 Guitars With DiMarzio Pickups – And My Favorites

Since 1971, DiMarzio has been creating pickups that many of us love. Guitarists like John Petrucci, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani are just a couple of great shredders that frequently use DiMarzios as their weapon of choice…

Personally, as “an OK guitarist” I like the sound of the most DiMarzios, a lot. Most of them are excellent for distortion, and some pickups like DiMarzio Satchur8 Humbucker (Joe Satriani signature) are extremely versatile. And Dimarzio’s selection pretty much has something for everyone…

This is why I was happy to put together this article that gathers the cream of the crop guitars with DiMarzio pickups together. I also reveal my 3 favorites…and if you have any questions, check the FAQ section of this article or leave a comment.

Let’s get started!

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33 Guitars With DiMarzio Pickups

Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar NOS is one of the few Fender’s coming with DiMarzio pickups. If you like Nirvana and other older punk full of attitude, this Jaguar is one of the best options out there. Its offset body is easy to handle, C-shaped box…um, neck gives a smooth feel, and the tones are thrashy. It can provide you clear cleans too, but this guitar and its DiMarzios are meant for in-your-face punk distortion and melancholy-cleans.

Price Range Icon Meanings:

$= $799-999

$$= $1000-119

$$$= $1200-1499

$$$$= $1500-1899

$$$$$= $1900

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Model	Pickup	Body Style	Price Range	Check Current Price (affiliate links)
Ibanez RG421HPAM – Cheapest Guitar With DiMarzios – Best Budget	DiMarzio The Tone Zone & DiMarzio Air Norton humbuckers	Modern Stratocaster	$	Sweetwater* – Thomann*
Ibanez Standard SEW761CW – Budget HSS	2x DiMarzio True Velvet Single-coil & DiMarzio The Tone Zone Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez RG420HPFM – Cheapest With Floyd Rose	DiMarzio The Tone Zone & DiMarzio Air Norton humbuckers	Modern Stratocaster	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez RGD7521PB – Cheapest 7-String	2 x DiMarzio PAF7 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Jackson Pro Series Signature Chris Broderick Soloist HT6	2 x Direct Mount DiMarzio CB6 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Charvel Pro-Mod Joe Duplantier San Dimas Style 2	DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary Humbucker & Joe Duplantier Signature DiMarzio Fortitude Humbucker	Telecaster	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Jackson Pro Series Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster – Great Offset Guitar	DiMarzio Air Norton DP-193 Humbucker & DiMarzio Rob Caggiano Humbucker	Shadowcaster (Offset)	$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Paul Gilbert Signature FRM300PR	3 x DiMarzio PG-13 Humbucker	Paul Gilbert Signature (Offset)	$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
BC Rich Mockingbird Legacy ST BB	2 x DiMarzio D Activator Humbuckers	Mockingbird Legacy (Offset)	$$$	Guitar Center – Thomann
Ibanez Nita Strauss Signature JIVA10	2 x DiMarzio Pandemonium Humbucker & DiMarzio True Velvet Single-coil	Modern Stratocaster	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Axion Label RG60ALS – Best Overall Guitar With Sustainiac Pickup	Sustainiac Pickup & DiMarzio Fusion Edge-7 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar NOS	DiMarzio PAF DP-103 36th Anniversary Humbucker & DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion Humbucker	Jaguar	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Jackson Pro Series Mark Morton Signature Dominion	2 x DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion humbuckers	Dominion (Offset)	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Tim Henson (Polyphia) Signature THBB10	DiMarzio THBB Single-coil & DiMarzio THBB Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Andy Timmons Signature ATZ10	2 x DiMarzio “The Cruiser” Humbucker & DiMarzio AT-1 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Prestige RGR652AHBF – Best Overall	2 x DiMarzio Fusion Edge Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Charvel Angel Vivaldi Signature Pro-Mod DK24-6 Nova	DiMarzio Air Norton DP193 Humbucker & DiMarzio The Tone Zone DP155 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Steve Vai Signature JEM77	2 x DiMarzio Gravity Storm & DiMarzio Evolution	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Joe Satriani Signature JS240PS – Best Premium Guitar With Sustainiac Pickup	Sustainiac Driver Only Pickup & DiMarzio Satchur8 Alnico Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
ESP LTD Alex Wade AW7B Baritone	2 x DiMarzio D-Activator-7 Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Sterling by Music Man John Petrucci X Majestic	1 x DiMarzio LiquiFire & 1 x Crunchlab humbuckers	Majestic	$$$$	Thomann
Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster – Really Popular Telecaster	DiMarzio Twang King single-coil & DiMarzio Chopper T humbucker	Telecaster	$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Prestige RG5320	2 x DiMarzio Fusion Edge Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Jackson MJ Series Dinky DKR	DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151 Humbucker & DiMarzio Super Distortion Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez J Custom RG8570Z – Best Premium	DiMarzio Air Norton Humbucker & DiMarzio True Velvet Single-coil & DiMarzio The Tone Zone Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Fender Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 “Virginia” Stratocaster	Original ’57/’62 Strat Single-coil & DiMarzio HS-2 Single-coil	Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez Steve Vai Signature PIA3761	2 x DiMarzio UtoPIA Ceramic Humbucker & DiMarzio UtoPIA Alnico Single-coil	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 – Good for Def Leppard Fans	Jackson PC1 Sustainer Driver & DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Single-coil & DiMarzio DP-152-F Humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport	2 x DiMarzio Custom Wound Humbucker	Music Man Axis Super Sport	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 (John Petrucci)	2 x DiMarzio Illuminator Humbucker & Piezo	JP	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Majesty	DiMarzio Rainmaker Humbucker & DiMarzio Dreamcatcher Humbucker & Piezo	Majesty	$$$$$	Sweetwater – Thomann
Charvel San Dimas HS 4 Horsemen	1 x Fender SCN Hot Neck single coil  & 1 x DiMarzio Super Distortion 100F humbucker	Modern Stratocaster	$$$$$	Thomann
Gibson Les Paul 59 BS VOS Ltd – Rare Gibson With DiMarzios	2 x DiMarzio 36th Anniversary Double White PAF humbuckers	Les Paul	$$$$$	Thomann

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3 Best Guitars With DiMarzio Pickups – My Favorites

Best Overall – Ibanez High Performance RG421HPFM

What I like

• DiMarzio humbuckers offer really crunchy & fat distortion but are also surprisingly versatile
• Thin Wizard III neck is slim, smooth, and fast as a neck gets
• Offers really high value for the money
• Coil-split adds versatility
• Great all-around quality
• Slim body

What I don’t like

• Tusq, Graphite, or even a real Bone nut would make this guitar even better (increases sustain and overall tone)

Who is it for?

Ibanez RG421HPFM is one of my favorite guitars right now. It offers really smooth playability because of its Wizard III neck (my small hands love it). It’s equipped with great-sounding DiMarzio humbuckers (with a coil-split). And overall it offers a great bang for the buck (it could cost a lot more).

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Best Overall – Ibanez Prestige RG5320

What I like

• DiMarzio Fusion Edge Humbuckers provide killer tones
• GraphTech Black Tusq XL nut improves sustain
• Super Wizard HP is extremely slim and comfortable
• Ibanez Gibraltar Standard II bridge feels really comfortable against the picking hand (it’s high quality too)
• High-quality Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners hold the tune well
• Usually comes with a Hardshell Case
• Really high-value package
• A flat 16.9″ fretboard radius works really well for fast playing

What I don’t like

• Some prefer a real bone nut for this price (GraphTech Black Tusq XL nut works for me tho)

Who is it for?

You have probably noticed that I have a thing for Ibanez guitars, haha. This axe is one of the most affordable Ibanez Prestige series guitars, but it manages to still offer exceptional quality and value for the money. Super Wizard HP neck paired with a flat 16.9″ fretboard radius provides slick & slim & comfortable playability. Hardware is premium quality (Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners & Ibanez Gibraltar Standard II bridge & GraphTech Black Tusq XL nut, etc.). Plus the reverse headstock looks stunning and this axe usually comes with a hardshell case. I’m sold.

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Best Premium – Ibanez J Custom RG8570Z

What I like

• Beautiful “Tree of Life”-inlay on the fretboard
• Slim & smooth & comfortable Super Wizard HP neck shape
• Premium quality hardware, Edge-Zero Tremolo bridge and Gotoh-tuners for example
• Equipped with 3 different DiMarzios, this maximizes versatility
• Usually comes with a hardshell case
• Can handle anything like a breeze

What I don’t like

• Expensive

Who is it for?

If you are after a premium level, versatile guitar that comes with 3 different and great-sounding DiMarzio pickups, Ibanez J Custom RG8570Z is a great choice. It’s a premium guitar from, hardware, to sound, to playability. It is quite expensive, but it’s really a companion for life..and you usually get a nice hardshell case with it (as you should for this price).

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FAQ

Are DiMarzio Pickups Any Good?

DiMarzio pickups are good pickups. But as with any pickup, they are necessarily the best fit for everyone.

DiMarzios are known for their full, fat, and crunchy distortion. Another noteworthy thing is that DiMarzio only creates passive pickups. This fits some guitarists who like to use a nice amount of distortion & overdrive, such as Synyster Gates and John Petrucci.

Also, when listening to comparisons like this, I did notice that DiMarzios metal-oriented pickups offer fuller sound with cleans than most EMG active pickups for example.

When comparing really versatile, but mean-sounding passive pickups like DiMarzio Tone Zone nad Seymor Duncan JB SH-4 I noticed that again, DiMarzio offers fuller and fatter sound, while Seymor Duncan’s sound was more clear and treble-heavy. Check out this comparison (Mike Stamper makes the best pickup comparison videos, I highly recommend you also go and SUB to his channel):

So, DiMarzios can offer players a really full passive sound. If this sounds good, I think that you are going to love DiMarzios. Personally I do. I don’t have any overall favorite #1 pickup option, but for passive metal tone, DiMarzios are my top choice.

Are DiMarzio Pickups Good Metal?

I have to say…absolutely. Most DiMarzios are excellent passive pickups for metal. If you don’t believe me, check this video where mean riffs are run through 24 different DiMarzio pickups on bridge position (go and hit thumbs up for this guys awesome video to show him support!):

Which Guitar Brands Typically Use DiMarzio Pickups?

Following guitar brands frequently equip their guitars with Dimarzio pickup(s):

• Fender
• Ibanez
• Jackson
• Charvel
• BC Rich
• Music Man

Which Guitarists Use DiMarzio Pickups?

Here are some famous guitarists that use DiMarzio pickups(got this info from DiMarzios “Artists“-page).

• Steve Vai
• John Petrucci
• Joe Satriani
• Paul Gilbert
• Nita Strauss
• Joe Duplantier
• Richie Kotzen
• Andy Timmons
• Adrian Smith
• Herman Li
• Chris Broderick

Did Eddie Van Halen Use DiMarzio Pickups?

Yes. Eddie Van Halen did use DiMarzio pickups. DiMarzio designed pickups for Van Halen Music Man signature guitar.

Eddie Van Halen also used DiMarzio Fat Strat & Super Distortion in some of his guitars.

Source of this information.

Are DiMarzio Pickups Made in The USA?

All DiMarzio pickups are made in The USA.

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Conclusion

What great guitars we had here. From mean metal machines to super versatile and smooth playing all-around guitars. I don’t know about you, but diving deeper into the world of DiMarzios made me like their pickups even more. Right now, they are my top choice if in search of mean sounding passive pickups.

I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.

Now go, my son, and Rock!