New pickup day - Dimarzio Area P

[Alanko]

I finally found some unicorn pickups. A few years back I had a PJ Mustang bass I installed a set of Dimarzio Area PJ pickups into. I didn't want the firepower of Model P and J pickups, but wanted a noiseless J, and along came the Dimarzio Area set courtesy of EBay.

 

I eventually sold the bass, but could never find another Area P pickup, aka a DP250. Dimarzio never published a web page for them or really acknowledge their existence. I assume their Sixties P pickup is the successor.

 

Finally a set appeared from a UK seller on EBay, so I snapped them up!

 

 

 

They are built like Model Ps, set into their cases with epoxy and with two wires per pickup half plus a chassis ground wire per half. Six wires to tuck away into the control cavity! 
 

These also have Alnico II magnets, which is apparently unusual. From memory they were fairly mild output and sounded like nice, detailed P pickups. Nothing unusual or astonishing but a nice take on a vintage pickup. Maybe I remember them more favourably as I thought they were extinct...

 

The kicker is that I paid £140 for them and they came with a pickguard with a pre-loaded wiring harness. I didn't need the pickguard!
 

 I think the pickguard is also a Dimarzio offering. There is a terminal block for the pickups glued onto the pickguard. I can't transfer the harness due to the glue, but i don't want a stark white pickguard on either of my P Basses. I think Dimarzio offered these pre-populated pickguards for a while, but assumed you would want a white pickguard pre-drilled for a '60s style tugbar and pickup cover. I've seen 'The Bass Whisper' reviewing a similar pickguard and Model P set on YouTube.

[Beedster]

I love Dimarzio Precision PUPs, they have a lovely mix of clarity and grunt. But yes, a lot of wires to find a home for. Worth the struggle though 👍

[Alanko]

2 hours ago, Beedster said:

I love Dimarzio Precision PUPs, they have a lovely mix of clarity and grunt. But yes, a lot of wires to find a home for. Worth the struggle though 👍

I do like Model Ps, but they do come from an era where if you replaced your stock pickups it was because you want more output, grunt, mids etc. Model Ps are great pickups in a band setting, but I spend more time noodling away on the sofa these days.