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DiMarzio DP158/DP159 Evolution Humbucker Pickup

Designed specifically to fit Steve Vai's demands, this pickup delivers singing highs and tight lows.

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Product Description

zZounds is an
authorized DiMarzio dealer

The Evolution humbucker is the result of years of research to come up with the right sound for a very demanding player - Steve Vai. This pickup is designed for maximum impact and power. The sound is tight, aggressive and loud. The design incorporates DiMarzio's patented dual-resonance coil configuration that senses more harmonic overtones than ordinary humbuckers.

Tech Talk
The Evolution bridge pickup works best for soloing where the sound must cut through. Low notes are very tight, and the highs have a lot of presence, enabling the pickup to be heard in almost any situation. Obviously, the Evolution(TM) was designed for Steve's Ibanez Jems, but it can add a lot of punch and definition to Les Paul's and similar set-neck guitars - even the lowest bass notes really jump out of the amp, and feedback occurs easily with a wide range of harmonic overtones. zZounds is an authorized dealer of DiMarzio products.

DP158

Wiring: 4 Conductor

Magnet: Ceramic

Output: 294mV

DC Resistance: 13.04k

Year of Introduction: 1993

Patent#: 4501185

DP159

Wiring: Standard 4-conductor

Magnet: Ceramic

Output: 404mV

DC Resistance: 13.84K

Year of introduction: 1993

Patent #: 4,501,185

Note: Model DP158 pickup is not F-spaced.

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Black, DP159, Bridge: Shipping Weight: 0 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 4 x 2 x 2 in
Black, DP158, Neck: Shipping Weight: 0 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 4 x 2 x 2 in

Installation Instructions

Sound Samples

DP159 Sound Clip - Jibboom by Steve Vai

DiMarzio Warranty

DiMarzio Warranty

If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 718-981-9286

zZounds is an
authorized DiMarzio dealer

This item must be exchanged directly through the manufacturer if it is found to be defective, and can only be returned to us if it is unopened. details

Our Return Policy

Payment Options

Purchase Orders

What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "With zZounds' Play as you Pay installment plan, I can purchase the professional-grade gear I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford." - customer on May 11, 2013

New, Black, DP159, Bridge

$69.95

Play as You Pay
on orders $249.00+ details

List: $115.00

Savings: $45.05 (39%)

Only 1 Left! Seen it for less?

Free Ground Shipping

2 Day Air $9.99Overnight $20.99

New, Black, DP158, Neck

$69.95

Play as You Pay
on orders $249.00+ details

List: $115.00

Savings: $45.05 (39%)

Only 1 Left! Seen it for less?

Free Ground Shipping

2 Day Air $9.99Overnight $20.99

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Customer Reviews

5 out of 5 (76 ratings) Rate and Review This Product

Read 1 DiMarzio DP158/DP159 Evolution Humbucker Pickup Review

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us. "The pickup with taste for people who want to sound serious."

Sound: Powerful sound. It does not have quite the amount of highs that I would want but this pickup is great for doing things like pinch harmonics. It really lets them show. I like the Evolution because it has a dense and more saturated sound. It's not like a bunch of those other pickups that sound gritty. The Evolution is a smooth saturated sound. A characteristic that I have seen in other Dimarzio pickups. The Evolution can be great for heavy metal because of it's powerful mids and saturation of sound, but if you back off the volume a little on your guitar, it can really produce a sweet and somewhat soothing elegant sound. I highly recommend the Dimarzio Evolution. I have been using one exclusively since 2001. If you are in doubt about what pickup to put in your guitar, at least for the bridge position, I think the Evolution would be a good choice. I mean, look who it was designed for, VAI!! Steve Vai has made his contribution to the music world not only with his skill but in the pickup that he had made by Dimarzio. If the Evolution had a little more highs in the sound, then I would like it even more. That is because I usually have to have my treble all of the way up to get the sound that I like out of it. But once you get things setup like you want, the Evolution really is a great pickup. Feature: The guitar that I had my Evolution in is an older Peavey Predator. I have the Evolution in the bridge and wired in SERIES humbucking. I like the sound that I got when I used an equalizer to help shape the tone a bit, I also like using a digital delay petal and some chorus for effect. I have an old Marshall JCM 800 50 watt all tube amplifier head and a speaker cabinent that I actually made myself. I used two Eminence Legend 105 10" guitar speakers in this thing. The amp had been modified by a friend for higher gain. The combination of that, with those Legend 105 speakers and the Evolution really made a sound that I like. You could get a sound really similar to what Satriani had live in 2001, you could do metal with it and avoid those worthless Metallica tones (always E minor, ha ah aha ha ha ha!), you can have a sound of actually knowing what you're doing and have some taste for doing it, and you can make sweet tones to invoke the emotions and even into memories with stuff like this. At least that is what it did for me. Quality: I might as well give the best rating here because I haver had problems with it. It may not have absolutely the most ideal sound for me, but it functioned as perfect as you could expect. It appears that it worked as well as it was designed. I never found any defects in it and it has worked great for 5 years already. Value: YEAH!! I'd buy another one. The common price that I have seen these was about $70 I think, if I remember correct. In a shop they would easily be $100 because of guitar shop prices. For $100, I'd still say it is a good value. But if you can get this pickup in NEW condition for $70 or less, then more power to you. It is a superb value for that price. It's better than stock pickups in my opinion. Manufacturer Support: Honestly, I don't really know. I never had to contact them. They could be superb and I wouldn't even know it because I NEVER had a problem with the pickup which would necessitate the need to contact them. I can't really give an opinion of their customer support. Their design team was great, the pickup works and sounds good. The Wow Factor: The best thing that I could say to summarize this pickup is that it will make your guitar sound like you have some good taste in what you are trying to play. Doing string bends and especially pinch harmonics are made to sound good with this pickup, it's great for instrumental musicians. Overall: I like the Evolution a lot and I would not want to abandon it. But I would like to try a Dimarzio PAF PRO and also a Dimarzio X2N. But that is simly to solve the problem of not enough highs in the sound. I wish that the Evolution had a blade option to prevent the dropping off when doing string bends. That is another reason why I was thinking of the X2N and the X2N has more output than a Evolution. I would use the Evolution as a default or standard pickup for my guitars. It has satisfied me for a half decade now.

Style of Music: Instrumental/progressive

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Read 1 DiMarzio DP158/DP159 Evolution Humbucker Pickup Review

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Available on
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Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.: We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.: It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.: No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

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Available on
orders $249+

learn more

Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.: We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.: It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.: No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

on most orders $49+

Just $2.99 on
smaller orders

Really heavy stuff might cost you a
little more

learn more

Why fight traffic and pushy salesmen when we'll bring your gear straight to your home, free of charge?

zZounds free shipping is really free!: No hidden charges or hassles on returns.
Fast, reliable delivery: We have warehouses on both coasts, so most shipments arrive in 3 days or less.
We don't collect sales tax. Bonus!: Only NJ residents pay tax during checkout.

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