DiMarzio Fast Track 1 Set

The Fast Track 1 is one of the earliest models of DiMarzio’s Rail Hum Canceling Strat line. In 1991 DiMarzio comes out swinging for the fence with several new “rail” models. You can see some of the newer models, such as the Sugar Chakra, the Mirage Neck and the Satch Track, already detailed on the site. So how about we go old school with some of the progenitors? Let’s start with the Fast Track 1.

Before we start, did you know the Fast Track 1 implements DiMarzio’s Dual Resonance technology? Actually, many of the “rail” models do. One of the things about this tech is that each coil has it’s own resonant peak. It also allows DiMarzio to be able to voice each coil in a way to complement each other so that the sum is greater than the parts. Of course, that applies to any DiMarzio pickup with this tech. In the case of the FT1, it’s easy to extrapolate that it’s a key factor in how they get the amazing tonal results.

Dual Resonance Tech

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 1 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 FT1. I’m doing the same with the Fast Track 2 and the Cruiser articles. Why? Well, it’s fairly easy to understand the Super Distortion S or the Tone Zone S are going to be intended for and used in the bridge only about 9 out of 10 times. However, I can attest that The Cruiser Bridge works out to be most excellent in the middle and neck, when together with the AT-1 in the bridge. More on that complete set coming up before too long as well.

Evaluation

Wow! What a great pickup!

For real, it’s almost deceiving. This has to be one of the best examples of a Strat-like tone from a “rail” design. Is it a single coil? Of course not. Yet you can hear that woody timbre that you associate with a single coil. Be it a clean or a dirty amp setting, it’s right there, just below the surface. The quality that gives a single coil that snap when you dig in to the string.

In every position, the Fast Track 1 gives you a tone that is perfectly usable. Clarity is how it can be simply put. And it’s that transparency that helps it to work so well for so many applications. It’s an excellent option for a clean amp tone. It is giving you a character that allows for a range of jangly crisp to vocally warm. Notes ring through with their own placeholder in the chord. When filling out a Strat, it is truly difficult to find a single slot to call a favorite.

Hitting a dirty amp channel, the FT1 is just as much a wonder. This pickup takes high gain like a kid takes candy. The middle position FT1 with lots of dirty gain wins a little favor with my personal preference. The ability to be adaptable to all positions definitely makes this model a clutch player in most any guitar for most any purpose. If you are into a lot of processing effects, the clear and strong voice of the Fast Track 1 is going to suit you very well.

Specs

Demo

Sorry. No official demo video of the Fast Track 1. However, a FT1 is in the middle position of Phil Collen’s (Def Leppard) Claro Walnut PC1 guitar. Should take you to the mark at which Phil talks about both DiMarzio pickups in this guitar.

Conclusion

The Fast Track 1 is going to be good for blues, country, jazz, funk, reggae, pop, classic rock, surf, and more. The FT1 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 1 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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