DiMarzio Steve Vai Signature Model UtoPIA Middle Single-Coil Pickup – Satin Gold

DiMarzio Steve Vai Signature Model UtoPIA Middle Single-Coil Pickup – Satin Gold

Add exceptional clarity, vibrant single-coil character, and distinctive signature styling to your electric guitar with the DiMarzio UtoPIA Middle Steve Vai Signature Pickup. Developed to complement Steve Vai’s UtoPIA Neck and Bridge humbuckers, this Strat-style single-coil pickup delivers bright, articulate tones and expressive dynamics for modern guitar performance.

Originally introduced in 2020 for Steve Vai’s Ibanez PIA signature guitar, the UtoPIA Middle combines traditional single-coil characteristics with a carefully developed tonal response that complements the powerful humbuckers in an H-S-H pickup configuration.

Equipped with an Alnico 5 magnet, the UtoPIA Middle produces clear high frequencies, strong midrange presence, and a full-bodied low end. Its manufacturer-rated 185mV output provides greater strength than many vintage-style Strat pickups while preserving the crisp attack and natural responsiveness associated with traditional single-coil designs.

One of the pickup’s defining qualities is its vibrant, chime-like character. The UtoPIA Middle adds brightness, sparkle, and definition to guitar tones, making it particularly useful for clean passages, rhythmic chord playing, expressive melodies, and detailed picking techniques.

When combined with the UtoPIA Neck and Bridge humbuckers, the Middle pickup produces the distinctive Strat-style quack associated with intermediate pickup-switch positions. Its carefully matched design makes it particularly effective in the second and fourth positions of a compatible five-way switching system.

The UtoPIA Middle features a reverse-polarity magnetic configuration. When combined with the split coils of the matching UtoPIA humbuckers in the appropriate wiring arrangement, it provides hum-cancelling operation in the combined positions.

Unlike DiMarzio’s stacked hum-cancelling pickups, the UtoPIA Middle itself is a true single-coil design. When used alone, it retains the natural characteristics of a traditional single-coil pickup, including the possibility of electrical hum.

Designed primarily for the middle position of compatible six-string electric guitars, the pickup features F-Spaced string alignment. Its two-conductor wiring allows integration into suitable passive guitar electronics, including Steve Vai-inspired H-S-H configurations.

Beyond its sound, the Satin Gold version features an elegant etched decorative pattern that visually complements the distinctive laser-cut designs of the UtoPIA Neck and Bridge humbuckers. Its gold-plated appearance creates a refined, premium aesthetic inspired by the Ibanez PIA.

Whether you’re upgrading a custom H-S-H electric guitar or recreating the tonal versatility of Steve Vai’s signature instrument, the DiMarzio UtoPIA Middle delivers excellent articulation, rich single-coil character, and expressive performance with distinctive visual styling.

Specifications