By Kevin Chisholm
Posted 05/24/2025
The DiMarzio Injector is a stacked hum-cancelling single-coil pickup available in two versions: DP422 (Neck) and DP423 (Bridge). Both feature Alnico 2 magnets and four-conductor wiring for flexible configurations, along with wax potting to eliminate microphonic squeal.
History
The DiMarzio Injector first hit the market in 2010, and it was developed in close collaboration with shred legend Paul Gilbert. Gilbert wanted something that could keep up with his high-speed, expressive playing while retaining the vibe and chime of a single-coil — just without the noise.
DiMarzio delivered with a design that uses stacked coil hum-cancelling technology, enhanced by their own dual-resonance tuning. The result is a pickup that manages to be both powerful and articulate — rich in mids, but never muddy. It’s that rare kind of pickup that can thrive in multiple musical settings without feeling like a compromise.
My Personal Thoughts About the DiMarzio Injector
If you are a single-coil lover who wants to use some gain, but hum is the bane of your existence, this pickup delivers. The DiMarzio Injector is dead quiet. You could stack it with a high-gain amp, a noisy overdrive pedal, and a fuzz box for good measure — and it would still keep things tight and under control. For a single-coil, that’s no small feat.
Tonally, the Injector has a slightly harder, more aggressive top end than your average vintage-style single coil. It’s got that crisp snap you want for articulate rhythm work, but there’s also a nice push in the mids that helps leads jump out — especially in the bridge position. This thing doesn’t get buried in a mix.
When you dial back the volume, it cleans up in a way that feels organic. You can absolutely coax some classic Strat-style tones from it. And the “quack” in the in-between positions? Totally there. It might not be 100% vintage, but it’s certainly convincing — and useful.
I was particularly impressed by how well the Injector handled fuzz. Normally, fuzz pedals and single-coil-style pickups can be a finicky combination, but the bridge position on the Injector gave me a thick, punchy roar that had a kind of humbucker-like muscle while still cutting through. That surprised me in the best way.
In a blues or classic rock setting, the bridge Injector doesn’t feel like a weak link. It’s got just enough grind and presence to stand on its own, and I’d even go so far as to say it shines in a trio setting where you want your guitar tone to carry weight.
Summary
The DiMarzio Injector is one of those rare pickups that checks a lot of boxes. It’s quiet. It’s expressive. It’s versatile. And it’s clearly designed with real-world playing in mind — not just spec-sheet hype.
If you want a single-coil sound without the hum, but you don’t want to lose the nuance and dynamic response that makes single coils special in the first place, the Injector is a top-tier option. Especially if you lean into heavier styles or use a lot of gain, this pickup can keep up and then some.
Technical Details
- DC Resistance: Neck – 8.56 kΩ, Bridge – 11.35 kΩ
- Magnet Type: Alnico 2
- Wiring: 4-conductor
- Wax Potted: Yes
- Retail Price: $119.00
- Street Price: Around $99 on Reverb or eBay