Anyone Recognize These Dimarzio Pickups?

These Dimarzios were in the 2007 LP Studio I snagged about a month ago. I’m replacing them with the Gibson Series 2 humbuckers I bought a while back.

I have to say, they sounded REALLY good and if I had any other pickups besides the Series 2s, I would keep them in the guitar.

There’s no factory markings to reveal just what models they are but they do say “103” on them which seem to indicate they’re Dimarzio PAFs. I’m curious about the color differences in the base plates. I know just about nothing when it comes to Dimarzio pickups.

They’re four conductor, btw.

Look like Dp103 36th anniversary set to me. You would have to measure them against the specs on dimarzios website to be sure.

They could be either the original DP 103s (PAF) they made up until the 36th annis, or they are the 36th annis.

For some stupid reason they decided to keep the model #, even though the construction is very different (and the tone) between them.

I notice one has the brass base plate and the other is nickel. "Original" 103s had brass base plates.

Of course the hand written non original stickers could be wrong

Looks to me like the bottom is one of the PAFs from the 90s since they have the triangle tabs and a brass baseplate. The top one is an early modern (late 2000s) one.

Give dimarzio an email, they're great to work with.

Thanks for the responses! I’m going to list these pickups but I wanted to be able to be accurate in my description of them. I’ll give Dimarzio a call.

Torren61 said:

Thanks for the responses! I’m going to list these pickups but I wanted to be able to be accurate in my description of them. I’ll give Dimarzio a call.

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I usually email them, but I am on a different continent … they usually reply after a few days or a week, have always given me sound info.

FWIW I think @Acey and @jbash are right.

jbash said:

For some stupid reason they decided to keep the model #, even though the construction is very different (and the tone) between them.

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Yes, 100%. The old type are some of my favourite pickups, somewhat T-Top / Pat. No. Sounding.

I wish DiMarzio hadn’t changed the formula …

I love that you're putting 1,000. dollar pickups into a studio!

Banned said:

I love that you're putting 1,000. dollar pickups into a studio!

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I know it's dumb but the alternatives didn't work either. I'll have about $2300 in this guitar when it's all done. It had better be awesome, lol.

Torren61 said:

I know it's dumb but the alternatives didn't work either. I'll have about $2300 in this guitar when it's all done. It had better be awesome, lol.

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What the hell right ?!

Torren61 said:

I’m replacing them with the Gibson Series 2 humbuckers I bought a while back.

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The series 2 sounds exactly like the pickups in the gibson USA tobacco burst slash guitar.

Whilst they may have the "103" sticker after looking at the bobbins I do not believe these are PAFs.
The original PAF and the DiMarzio PAF have 3 holes in the bobbins - the 3rd on being a square outer with a round centre - located between the screw and the edge of the bobbin. Burstbuckers also have this 3 hole setup. Unless the Anniversary PAF had a bobbin change, these are not PAFs.

Peter Mac said:

Whilst they may have the "103" sticker after looking at the bobbins I do not believe these are PAFs.
The original PAF and the DiMarzio PAF have 3 holes in the bobbins - the 3rd on being a square outer with a round centre - located between the screw and the edge of the bobbin. Burstbuckers also have this 3 hole setup. Unless the Anniversary PAF had a bobbin change, these are not PAFs.

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Those are the older 80’s ones. The 90’s ones started coming with 2 holes per bobbin.

These look like old DP103’s but yeah one could easily be the 36th version.

The brass backplate pickup measures about 8.35 Ohms and the nickel backplate pickup measures about 7.65 Ohms.

My plan is to install the Series 2 and if I'm not blown away, these are going back in. If I AM blown away, these will be listed but I want to make sure I'm correctly identifying them.

I did email DiMarzio.

You could loosen up the screws on the baseplate and lift bobbins for a look

A 36th will have slugs in the bobbins on the bottom side BETWEEN the actual slug/polepieces. Its part of their Virtual Vintage tech/pat. I do believe the neck (or maybe bridge and Im remembering incorrectly) 36th also incorporates the dimarzio air tech as well (plastic spacers for air gap). A pre 36th 103 will have normal construction.

rich85 said:

Those are the older 80’s ones. The 90’s ones started coming with 2 holes per bobbin.

These look like old DP103’s but yeah one could easily be the 36th version.

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I forgot about the holes. I'm pretty sure that they still made some with 2 holes and lighter cream in the 90s.