D-Activator X. opinions?

[Big Flannel]

I had a wonderful conversation with a forum bro today. We talked about gear, government, and a wide variety of topics.

While discussing pickups, I had mentioned the D activator X whifh has the rail configuration of an x2n. We both find this pickup to he fascinating and I think it may be what I'm looking for.

So, as usual, I come to you; my brothers in arms, looking for opinions.

So give it to me.

[CTN]

interesting pickup.

pretty clean and punchy sounding, but not a whole ton of warmth/character/personality/insert-adjective-suited-to-lower-gain-bluesy-playing. It is fairly high output, but more precise feeling and controlled than the X2N which tends to just bludgeon you mercilessly.

[Big Flannel]

Very interesring. on paper, it seems like a pickup I'd be interested in trying. Unfortunately there isn't exactly a wealth of information or sound clips out there to help me gauge the pickup.

[CTN]

Dunno if you'd still be able to find them in a store, but there were some Ibanez Xyphos guitars that came stock with them a couple years ago.

[Big Flannel]

Dunno if you'd still be able to find them in a store, but there were some Ibanez Xyphos guitars that came stock with them a couple years ago.

If only it were that easy. The closest store that might have them is over an hour away.

Have you personally used one? If so, what applications did it work best for and which did ot fall short while pursuing?

[CTN]

only ever jammed with it for a little while on a friends' Xiphos for metal and some bluesy stuff. It was good for beefy, articulate metal tones. A bit cold/sterile for bluesy stuff.

As you know, the D-Activator and D-Activator X are supposed to be passive takes on the "active" sound. So they are quite clean and precise sounding, very focused and punchy sounding. TBH if I wanted that active kinda sound, I feel like I'd rather have EMGs or Blackouts, cuz they seem to be more ballsy whereas the D-Activators tend to feel like they're lacking a bit of push and attitude. Too clean for my tastes.

[Big Flannel]

My thought process (which admittedly, may be flawed) was that the rail type poles and the D activator's claims of active precision would combine and make a very articulate, ballsy pickup with great note separation while not being as full-bore as an x2n.

[CTN]

My thought process (which admittedly, may be flawed) was that the rail type poles and the D activator's claims of active precision would combine and make a very articulate, ballsy pickup with great note separation while not being as full-bore as an x2n.

the X is certainly more ballsy than the non-X version. and yeah, it's not as full bore as the X2n. I dunno, neither version floated my boat though.

Dudeness, there are parts of how you describe it that almost sounds like it might resolve issues with a boomy neck position. Is that fair, or off base?

That's probably true, though I didn't spend much time on the neck position. I remember thinking that it'd be good for high gain shred, without getting too fat in the low end.

[kinnikuman]

Go on a journey and find the ultimate metal pickuo. The wilburn metalbucker. I think you can only find them in the middle of rickety bridge over a volcano.

[Big Flannel]

Where os the nearest volcano?