DiMarzio Fast Track 2 Set

The Fast Track 2 is one of the earliest “Rail Hum-Canceling Strat” pickups from DiMarzio. It’s release is from 1991, along with it’s brother the Fast Track 1. But where the FT1 is very much like a single coil sound, the FT2 is swinging for the bleachers of “unlimited power”.

In fact, the DiMarzio marketing suggests that the Fast Track 2 has a “strong resemblance” to the Super 3. Now, I do like the Super 3 and I think it’s a VERY overlooked and underrated humbucker. That means that you can bet I have an interest in the Fast Track 2.

Dual Resonance Tech

If you remove the cover from the FT2, you should be able to see the difference in the size of the two coils. That’s DiMarzio Dual Resonance technology.

Dual Resonance is basically mis-matched coils. It’s common for several pickup companies to allow about a 5% variance. But Dual Resonance is an intentional mis-matching of the coils to produce a specific “tuning” of the pickup’s voice. According to the patent, it is pretty much about putting a similar number of turns on each coil. But with different wire gauges.

Installation

The Fast Track 2 set is going on a 2023 MIM Fender Player Stratocaster Floyd Rose. Alder body, maple neck, pau ferro board, Floyd Rose tremolo.  The harness is the Mojotone Premium Historic Strat pre-wired harness. It has CTS vintage taper pots (customized w/ 500k V and 250k T), CRL 5-way switch, Switchcraft 1/4″ jack, Luxe Paper & Oil .1uF (1952-58) cap. Strings are 09-42 with standard E tuning.

And I do mean an entire set. Bridge, middle, neck. All are the FT2. It’s the same as with the Fast Track 1 article. Why? To look at the versatility of how the Fast Track 2 works in each position.

Evaluation

You don’t usually see me starting with the clean amp channel on the high output pickups. But I think credit is due with the Fast Track 2. Most barn-burners really break up and redline things in this sort of application. Or you have to rely on wiring trickery, by way of split or parallel options. Not so much with the FT2. Sure, it’s going to have more beef than a noiseless single coil like any one of the Area models. And I did go full out with this installation, wiring positions 2 and 4 to have the respective pickups in series. Still, a very usable clean options that was actually quite unexpected. In my opinion, the response to a clean tone is some of what that Dual Resonance brings to the table.

What you really want is the dirty amp setting? LOL! Right! Ha! Of course you do! And that’s groovy. Give the FT2 a little juice and it’s jumping off the deck, shoving in to overdrive! That’s right, this pickup is a high-octane high-energy high-output player’s playground. The tone is more fun and entertaining that finding out your wife never noticed you have a new guitar!

The string-to-string coverage ensures that you get maximum response and ultimate harmonics. The crunch factor is top notch and is excellent for 80s riff-rock and modern extreme tight chugging. There are powerful heavy solos to be had from the neck position. Searing, screaming, smoking notes all over the bridge spot. And an impressive versatility in the middle position for players that like a blend of presence and precision.

Specs

Demo

Did you know that Neal Schon uses a FT2 in his Les Paul? Yep. In the neck position, installed in there with his single-width size sustainer transducer. No better example than that. So here is his solo from a 2024 show in Colorado:

Conclusion

The video example should help confirm that the Tone Guide should be just one part of your decision. By that, I mean that I see a lot of people looking at the Tone Guide and unfairly labeling the FT2 as totally about the low end. Sure, it’s a big-sounding pickup. But the roots are firmly in a time when shredding solos are still the flavor of the day. Also remember that Tone Guides are respective to each company and is not comparable from one pickup builder to the next.

The Fast Track 2 is going to be good for hard rock, shred, metalcore, progressive rock, thrash, doom, death metal, hardcore, nu-metal, heavy metal styles, and more. The FT2 comes with 4-conductor lead wire and is current available with a dozen different cover colors and 3 pole piece options.

For reference, this DiMarzio Fast Track 2 pickup evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs 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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