(Photo credit: David Caudery/Guitarist Magazine/Future)
The name “DiMarzio” has become synonymous with innovation in the world of electric guitar pickups, establishing itself as a leading brand in the industry. Founded by Larry DiMarzio, a former guitar repair technician from New York City, the company’s origins trace back to the early 1970s. Larry’s keen ear for tone and his technical expertise quickly revealed a market opportunity: creating pickups that could elevate the sound quality of electric guitars beyond their factory settings.
“My journey began around 1971 or 1972 at the Guitar Lab,” Larry recalls in an interview with Guitarist. “I was working at a well-known guitar shop near 48th Street in Manhattan, where I had access to a wide array of guitars brought in for repairs. I’d often take a Stratocaster, bring it to Manny’s, and think, ‘This could sound so much better,’ you know?”
According to DiMarzio, “Initially, pickups were seen as a way to compensate for the limitations of stock guitars. When I started working on pickups, the most common one was the Fender Stratocaster bridge pickup because I owned a few Strats myself.”
In this context, DiMarzio developed the now-famous FS-1 pickup, an alternative to the standard Fender Stratocaster bridge pickup. This innovation attracted a number of prominent guitarists, including David Gilmour, who was among the first to adopt it. Over time, legendary players such as Earl Slick, Ace Frehley, Al Di Meola, Paul Stanley, and Gene Simmons also became associated with the DiMarzio brand, helping to cement its reputation in the rock and metal worlds.
When asked about the inspiration behind the FS-1, DiMarzio explains, “I had this vintage Telecaster that sounded incredible acoustically, but it didn’t quite capture the tone I was hearing on Eric Clapton’s recordings. Being in New York, I quickly learned from professional musicians that hardware could be modified to achieve specific sounds.”
“My first idea was to boost the output of the Strat pickup, and I also tweaked the EQ to suit live performance environments. As a repairman, I saw firsthand what musicians needed, which eventually led me to open my own shop to develop these custom pickups.”
Another significant contribution from DiMarzio was the creation of the Super Distortion humbucker, designed to fit seamlessly into the standard Gibson humbucker mounting system. This pickup provided a powerful alternative to traditional humbuckers, offering more output and tonal versatility, and quickly gained popularity among rock guitarists seeking a heavier sound.
For more insights into Larry DiMarzio’s career and his ongoing influence on guitar technology, pick up issue 525 of Guitarist, which features exclusive interviews with artists like Bob Mold and Scott Gorham.
