DiMarzio DP719B D-Activator 7 Neck Pickup (Black)

Billy Corgan's quest for the perfect pickup sound led to a fascinating collaboration with DiMarzio that resulted in two exceptional signature models. Initially, Corgan tested several pickup combinations and settled on the Air Norton S™ in the neck position, The Chopper™ in the middle, and The Tone Zone® S in the bridge. However, after extensive gigging with these pickups, he identified specific areas for improvement in both the neck and bridge positions.

Corgan's requirements were precise: he wanted deeper low-end response without sacrificing punch, while ensuring the sound remained clear and articulate even when using high-gain amplifiers. DiMarzio's solution was ingenious — they carefully adjusted the frequency response of one coil in each pickup, lowering it just enough to enhance the bass frequencies while opening up the midrange. This subtle but crucial modification prevented the muddy tone that often plagues high-gain setups.

The resulting DiMarzio® BC-1™ and DiMarzio® BC-2™ pickups share remarkably similar output and DC resistance specifications with their Air Norton S™ and Tone Zone S™ counterparts respectively. The real magic lies in the coil tuning and how the coils interact with each other. Rather than a dramatic tonal shift, the difference is best described as enhanced "feel" — these pickups seem to move more air and provide superior performance in both humbucking and split-coil modes, making them versatile tools for the modern guitarist.