"Larry DiMarzio abandoned the unique designs for both guitar construction and pickup making, specifically seeking to create a rock 'n' roll pickup. Thus, he revolutionized the sound of rock guitar, significantly altering the Stratocaster bridge design."
In the world of hard-rock music, the name DiMarzio is synonymous with innovation and quality. Larry DiMarzio, a former guitar repairman in New York City, embarked on a mission to revolutionize the guitar pickup industry in the 1970s, reshaping the hard-rock guitar sound that continues to echo today.
DiMarzio's journey began with a simple vision: to create a better rock 'n' roll pickup. His first creation was a Strat pickup, born out of his possession of Strats at the time. This marked the genesis of a series of groundbreaking innovations that would forever change the landscape of hard-rock guitar tones.
One of DiMarzio's most significant creations was the FS-1 pickup, designed as a replacement for the stock Fender Stratocaster bridge pickup. The FS-1 was engineered with increased output and a different EQ profile to cater to the needs of club and rock players, providing a more powerful and defined sound compared to the original Strat pickups, which were seen as inadequate for rock tones at the time.
Another iconic innovation was the Super Distortion humbucker, engineered to fit into the standard Gibson humbucker slot but offering much higher output and a more aggressive tone. This pickup effectively changed the face and sound of rock 'n' roll in the 1970s by delivering the punch and sustain that hard rock guitarists craved, making it a go-to for many players who wanted a tougher, more powerful sound than typical stock pickups could provide.
DiMarzio's products have been embraced by a diverse range of musicians, including Randy Rhoads, Paul Gilbert, Kurt Cobain, Dimebag Darrell, Nita Strauss, Matteo Mancuso, David Gilmour, Earl Slick, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Al DiMeola, and Joe Perry. In fact, early adopters of DiMarzio's FS-1 pickup included many of these artists, drawn to its ability to provide a sound similar to that of Eric Clapton's records.
DiMarzio's work addressed the degrading quality and tonal shortcomings of mass-produced pickups in the early 1970s, bringing back rock-ready tones with modern improvements. His bridges featured tracks to prevent the bridge saddles from sliding around, maintaining tuning stability during tremolo use. He also redesigned the Fender Stratocaster bridge in the '80s, reducing the string spacing from 2 1⁄4-inch to 2 1/8-inch, which improved the guitar's playability and tuning stability.
The friendship between DiMarzio and the members of KISS, who started using DiMarzio pickups because of their friendship with the innovator, played a significant role in popularizing his products. Ace Frehley and the members of KISS, for instance, were part of DiMarzio's early adopters, having been invited to be a part of Wicked Lester, the pre-KISS band.
DiMarzio remains committed to maintaining the integrity of his products, avoiding skimping, penny-pinching, and manipulation. He is proud of not selling out and sticking with what he does well, continuing to build high-quality pickups every day. His work in the 1970s reshaped hard-rock guitar, and his impact continued to be felt into the '80s and '90s.
Today, DiMarzio continues to make improvements to their products, focusing on building something that guitar players can rely on. His efforts to show the differences in his pickups were aimed at demonstrating the loss of recipe for guitar building and pickup making by Gibson based on their original designs.
Most recently, DiMarzio worked with Steve Vai's Ibanez PIA guitar to create a beautifully engraved set of DiMarzio UtoPIA pickups, integrating the cosmetics of the pickup with the overall look of the guitar. This collaboration underscores DiMarzio's dedication to pushing the boundaries of pickup design and his unwavering commitment to delivering the best possible products to guitar players worldwide.
[1] "The Guitar Book: The Encyclopedia of the Electric Guitar." Edited by John McDermott, DK, 2007. [2] "The DiMarzio Story." DiMarzio, Inc., [www.dimarzio.com/diMarzio-story](http://www.dimarzio.com/diMarzio-story). Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.
- In the realm of hard-rock music, the name DiMarzio is synonymous with innovation, quality, and rock 'n' roll pickups.
- Larry DiMarzio, a former guitar repairman, embarked on a mission to revolutionize the guitar pickup industry, reshaping the hard-rock guitar sound of modern times.
- His first creation was a Strat pickup, born out of his possession of Strats at the time, marking the genesis of a series of groundbreaking innovations.
- One of DiMarzio's most significant creations was the FS-1 pickup, designed as a replacement for the stock Fender Stratocaster bridge pickup.
- Another iconic innovation was the Super Distortion humbucker, designed to fit into the standard Gibson humbucker slot but offering much higher output and a more aggressive tone.
- DiMarzio's products have been embraced by a diverse range of musicians, including Randy Rhoads, Paul Gilbert, Kurt Cobain, Dimebag Darrell, Nita Strauss, Matteo Mancuso, David Gilmour, Earl Slick, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Al DiMeola, and Joe Perry.
- DiMarzio addressed the degrading quality and tonal shortcomings of mass-produced pickups in the early 1970s, bringing back rock-ready tones with modern improvements.
- His bridges featured tracks to prevent the bridge saddles from sliding around, maintaining tuning stability during tremolo use.
- He also redesigned the Fender Stratocaster bridge in the '80s, reducing the string spacing from 2 1⁄4-inch to 2 1/8-inch, which improved the guitar's playability and tuning stability.
- The friendship between DiMarzio and the members of KISS played a significant role in popularizing his products, with members like Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons part of his early adopters.
- DiMarzio remains committed to maintaining the integrity of his products, avoiding skimping, penny-pinching, and manipulation.
- Today, smart-home devices and gadgets incorporate weather forecasting technology, allowing DiMarzio to monitor the weather for potential impacts on delivery schedules.
- Books on music, pop-culture, sci-fi-and-fantasy, and entertainment features DiMarzio as a prominent figure in the hard-rock music industry.
- In sports, DiMarzio might find a surprising connection to golf and sports-betting, as steady hands and careful technique are essential elements in both guitar playing and golf swings, as well as precise strategy in sports-betting.
