DiMarzio Titan Humbucker Pickup Set

Jake Bowen made his way to DiMarzio a few years ago and hit the stage with the Titan humbucker set. I’m glad he did. Having checked out some of what he was using previously, Jake’s signature DiMarzio Titan set is much more defined, versatile and… well, just… better.  If you are reading this, I know you are smart enough (*wink, nudge*) to know the association with the Titan or to click a link if you are interested… so I’m not gonna waste your time with a history lesson.

Installation

For this assessment, I am installing the Titan set using a double-hum guitar. The wiring harness on this guitar has Bourns 500k pots, a Switchcraft 12120X 3-way toggle, and Switchcraft 1/4″ jack.  Each pickup was wired to an independent 3-way mini-toggle so that each humbucker could go from series to split to parallel. During installation, I hit the friction points with some Lizard Spit Slick Nutz. The guitar is tuned to E standard with a regular 9-42 set.

Titan Bridge

But… what I am gonna do is go on and on about how the specs of the Titan bridge seems to defy logic once you hear/play it. It has a relatively even tone/EQ, a ceramic magnet, and a moderate 11k range resistance that pumps out a pretty hot 418 mV output… proving once again that you don’t need in excess of 16k to peel the paint off the walls.

Will the Titan bridge peel paint, so to speak? If that be your task, I do believe it can. In another conundrum, the Titan bridge can cut right through with plenty of edgy bite capable of piercing a dense mix. The mids have a blend of a roar and a growl that contribute a bit of “oomph” and a low end that is punchy while being one of the more articulate and precise low ends out there – there’s not much sag going on here, if any. Yet, it does it without getting into that crispy/brittle territory.

The Titan bridge is also a solid option for your 80s hard rock and the more progressive rock styles of the 90s and into the modern scene. Riffing and chugging are smack dab in the middle of the Titan’s comfort zone, but it is great for big open chords and for players that want to display their proficiency. Yes, the Titan is a great pickup to show of your chops… just as it will lay you out on the chopping block if you are off your game.

When going to a clean amp tone, the output does seem to dominate a bit. Be prepared to adjust your volume knob or tweak your amp or possibly use a neck or middle pickup, depending on your guitar.

Titan Neck

The Titan neck model works very well with the Titan bridge, as well as offering a very productive contrast. Middle position tones are excellent for a backing rhythm with a dirty amp. That same middle position with a clean amp is very nice for chords and single note lines… and I’m talking about regular series wiring. I generally find I have to go to a split or parallel wiring for clean tones that meet my needs, especially on a pickups with specs like the Titan… but not so in the middle position, or the neck position.

In a neck-only standalone environment, the Titan neck can be big and punchy and authoritative. Working your way down to the low end of the neck will reveal a deep voicing that remains defined. I like that the mids walks along the fine line of a traditional neck voicing, but seems to strut more toward a clarity more than some of the “honk” that many neck models have. The high end really is a lead player’s stomping ground, with a firm presence and a nice bite.

On a clean amp setting, the Titan neck commands a lush, rich vibe that has a transformative depth. Although up in the 10k resistance territory, the more moderate output allows a wider range of right hand dynamics without breaking up. When in parallel wiring, the clean tones are a little more chimey, articulate and focused.

DiMarzio is cool enough to include an allen wrench for pole adjustment. I also dig that they include normal and Phillips screw sets for overall height adjustment….other manufacturers, please take note.  LOL!  Back to the point, the Titan set are both really sensitive to pole piece adjustments. Tread lightly, if your path leads that direction… maybe a 1/4 turn at a time.

Specs

Demo

Check out Jake playing and talking about the DiMarzio Titan pickups:

Overall, the Titan set is a well-voiced and versatile set. A lot of ground can be covered with either an adjustment in picking style or a couple of small tweaks to amp settings. While I personally like a bit more constraint in the low end of the neck position, there’s enough punch in the Titan neck to keep things happening.

For reference, this DiMarzio Titan 6-string humbucker set pickup evaluation was conducted with a Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller.  In addition, real cabs in use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.

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