Distinctive tone!

A nontraditional approach to high-output bridge humbucking guitar pickup design. Most hot humbuckers concentrate the pickup's power in a narrow frequency range for maximum impact. The Dimarzio Special spreads the sound over a broader range so bass and treble tones are boosted and midrange is lowered. The result is a sound that's hot, clean, and open at the same time. Recommended for bridge position.

DiMarzio DP161 Steve's Special Guitar Pickup Features:

• Clean overdrive with high-gain amps
• Very effective in dual sound and coil-splitting clean modes
• For soloing, this is a very good pickup to play with a midrange-heavy amp
• Mid-scoop keeps the initial pick attack clean; notes don't run together as much with legato playing, even with heavy overdrive

Click or call to give yourself that tonal edge today!

DiMarzio DP161 Steve's Special Guitar Pickup Specifications:

• Wiring: 4-conductor
• Magnet: Ceramic
• Output: 390mV
• DC resistance: 17.89
• Year of introduction: 1995

DiMarzio DP161 Steve's Special Guitar Pickup

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Average of 6 User Ratings

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An Excellent Pickup

Posted by jarledge from Texas on Oct 4, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: playing for over 7 years

Reviewer's Play Style: mostly rock

The Steve’s Special refers to Steve Butcher, the man in charge of Dimarzio's production. The orientation of the pickup matters a lot. The coils are tuned very differently so which coil faces the neck or bridge matters. The pickup doesn't blur from fast playing, and retains a very full and defined tone when chording or playing more solo oriented work. It isn't the best metal pickup; however it can do it with the right amp. Overall the pickup is pretty versatile and I have really come to like it in mahogany bodied guitars.

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By Far The Best Pickup I Have Played/Owned

Posted by Brandon from Sacramento, CA on Dec 19, 2005

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Band Member

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Blues, Metal

Where to start...this pickup does everything. This must be why it's Steve Vai's Special. I play a lot of different types of music and this is the only pickup that will fit into any sound no problem. The midrange is scooped right out of it which fits my style perfectly. The low tones are HUGE and it screams out loud for the highs but not so much that it kills you.

Features...This pickup does everything a passive pickup can possibly do. Includes four conducter wiring for coil tapping/phase switching. Quality...This is the most well made Pickup I have ever had from DiMarzio. Value...Can't be beat for the sound and price. Overall...10 play it and you will see.

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Amazing Pickup.

Posted by Creamtele from Rochester, NY on Dec 12, 2005

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive Rock

Amazing bite, harmonics, and dynamics. It shines for metal or rock. If you use the splitting capabilities, it will easily do a great bluesy strat sound with one coil cut.

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DP 161 as Advertised

Posted by Anonymous Musician from Sumner, WA on Jul 2, 2005

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive Rock, Country

This pickup works extremely well for everything ranging from Metal/Progressive Rock to Country. Highly responsive to volume control changes (cleans up well when volume is reduced). It gives back the missing tone when using mid-range heavy amps, as advertised. Excellent pickup for the player needing versatility of tone but doesn't want to pack 3 guitars.

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Best Pickup Ever!

Posted by Rfates from CT on Apr 28, 2003

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive Rock

This pickup does it all. Sounds great with a ton of distortion or nothing but a shimmering chorus. Its clean and hot but not as narrow as alot of todays hotter pickups are.

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DiMarzio DP161 Steve's Special Guitar Pickup

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MSRP: $99.00 - $109.00 Savings: $49.05(44%)

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