DiMarzio DP 254BK Transition Neck black

These are the Steve Lukather model pickups. I have it in the neck on a HSH configuration. It has all the creamy warmth you'd expect from a good neck pickup, and overall an even response from bass to treble. It feels like there is a little punch in the attack that I haven't felt with other neck humbuckers and seems to add a touch more brightness in the treble tones and harmonics when overdriven. which is great for lead lines. So its warm but also expressive at the same time. With the coil split it feels a little brighter without sounding harsh and still warmer than a strat single coil.
I think this is great replacement for a stock humbucker for both rhythm and lead tones, both clean and overdriven.

I should start with mentioning that I'm primarily a Strat player and I'm used to a single coil sound in the neck position. Or at least more biting humbuckers. Reading reviews for this pickup I got the impression it is "creamy" and bluesy unit with more warm character to it. Well it is but that's only one side to it. I have wired it to a 5-way super switch so in position 1 is bridge in series, position 2 is outer coil of bridge hum and inner of neck hum in parallel, position 3 is same coils as position 2 but in series, positon 4 is only neck humbucker in parallel and finally positon 5 is neck humbucker in series (which means full humbucker mode for those not familiar with pickup wiring terminology). Bridge pickup is also Transition F spaced. All five positions sound awesome and very useful.
Off course position 2 and 4 are with slightly less output and sound more single coil like which is what I was going for. To my surprise in both 4 and 5th position neck pickup can actually sound both bright and Stratty while staying creamy and bluesy. Sensitive to different picking techniques it can do it all. Transition pickups are rather high output pickups but are highly responsive to how hard one plays and clean very well if picked lightly or to volume levels through volume pot. They can sound thick and with lots of sustain, and compression while at the same time can be very dynamic and responsive. Highly versatile and suitable for different musical styles.
Both neck and bridge pickups are highly recommended especially if you are gigging musician who is frequently called for recording sessions.

Great pickup. Fitted it into my S Prestige (Mahogany body). Medium output pickup but very well balanced. I manage to switch between rock, blues and DTheaterish playing without any issues. Complimenting Transition Bridge very well and when volume rolled out easily giving that stratish glassy feeling. Would definitely buy it again to other guitars (its my fav right now, personally loving it more than even AirNorton).