DiMarzio True Velvet Neck Alnico 5 Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickup – Aged White, Black, White

DiMarzio True Velvet Neck Alnico 5 Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickup – Aged White, Black, White

Experience the clarity, warmth and expressive character of vintage Strat-style electric guitar tone with the DiMarzio DP175 True Velvet Neck Single-Coil Pickup. Designed for guitarists seeking authentic single-coil sound with smooth high frequencies and natural responsiveness, the True Velvet Neck combines classic pickup construction with carefully refined tonal performance.

Introduced in 2008, the True Velvet series represents an evolution of DiMarzio’s earlier Blue Velvet pickup designs. Developed to capture the most desirable characteristics of vintage single-coils, the True Velvet Neck delivers a sound that is bright, clear and articulate without becoming excessively sharp or thin.

One of the pickup’s defining qualities is its smooth treble response. Traditional Strat-style neck pickups are valued for their glassy clarity and expressive tone, but certain designs can become harsh in the upper register. The True Velvet Neck addresses this by carefully tuning its frequency response to preserve brightness while ensuring that notes above the 12th fret remain sweet and musical.

Equipped with Alnico 5 magnets, the pickup produces a lively attack and excellent sensitivity to picking dynamics. Its manufacturer-rated 130mV output delivers a traditional vintage-style response, making it suitable for clean playing, expressive blues phrasing, classic rock, country, funk and pop.

The True Velvet Neck features hand-ground, staggered magnets arranged to improve string-to-string balance. This helps individual notes remain clear and well-defined, even when playing full chords, complex rhythm patterns or melodic passages.

For an authentic vintage-inspired construction, the pickup includes cloth-covered wiring, complementing its classic appearance and traditional single-coil design.

With clean amplification, the True Velvet Neck produces sparkling chords, warm melodies and detailed articulation. Its natural dynamic response allows guitarists to move easily between delicate picking and more aggressive strumming.

When used with overdrive, the pickup develops expressive warmth and a slightly gritty character while preserving its clarity. This makes it an excellent choice for players who rely on their picking technique and guitar volume control to shape their sound.

Although designed primarily for the neck position of compatible six-string Strat-style electric guitars, DiMarzio recommends the True Velvet Neck for all pickup positions.

For a balanced Strat-style configuration, pair it with the True Velvet Middle (DP175S) and True Velvet Bridge (DP176). The matching Middle pickup features reverse polarity, helping cancel hum in the second and fourth positions of a properly wired five-way switching system.

Unlike stacked hum-cancelling pickups, the True Velvet Neck is a traditional single-coil design. It therefore retains the familiar sound and characteristics of vintage pickups, including the possibility of electrical hum when used independently.

Available in Aged White (DP175AW), Black (DP175BK) and White (DP175W), all three variations share the same electrical specifications and tonal performance.

Whether you’re restoring a vintage-inspired Stratocaster or upgrading a modern electric guitar, the DiMarzio True Velvet Neck delivers sweet highs, exceptional clarity and expressive single-coil character for a wide range of musical styles.

Specifications