Tone Zone 7 vs. Blaze 7 in bridge position

[Jemmm]

Building Limba 7 string. Considering Air Norton 7 in neck position.
For bridge position I'm in limbo.

I see Ibanez offer their Mahagony 6/7s with Tone Zone/Air Norton combo's.
On the net i have seen raving reviews about the Blaze (br) in combo with Air Norton (n). Specialluy in Mahagony (read: Limba)

So for the neck I'm pretty sure to go for the Air Norton 7. But what to do with the bridge. Best would be to hear some sound samples........just have hard time locating them.

Tone Zone or Blaze in bridge, for Limba body. Anyone????

[The Dark Wolf]

People say limba is a sort of "super mahogany." With tonal qualities similar to mahogany, I'd say avoid a middy pickup, like the TZ7. I had it in my RG2027, and it was too round, lacking in treble, and fat. A good sounding pickup, and sounds great in my basswood 7, but the Blaze Bridge is MUCH clearer and more articulate in the 2027. Night and day difference, and it matches well with the AN7. The BB has more bass, it's tighter, punchier, much better treble clarity, smoother, and ends up sounding very even and balanced, even though it's scooped in the mids.

[Jemmm]

Thank, Wordwolf.......but why is Ibanez delivering their Mahagony Ibanezzzes with the TZ-AN combo. Doesn't make much sense to me.

I heard similar stories like yours. They all say the Blaze (br) - AN (neck) combo is a great combo for Mahagony.....and I suspect for the Limba too.

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by Jemmm

Thank, Wordwolf.......but why is Ibanez delivering their Mahagony Ibanezzzes with the TZ-AN combo. Doesn't make much sense to me.

I heard similar stories like yours. They all say the Blaze (br) - AN (neck) combo is a great combo for Mahagony.....and I suspect for the Limba too.

Well, there are some people who like it, and to be honest... it doesn't sound bad. Very meaty and punchy, fat, but the TZ7 tends to be a clear pickup, so even though it's not glassy clear, like the Blaze Bridge, it has a dark, round, almost to my mind, vintage kind of clarity. Only analogy I can think of (not saying it sounds like this, but similar "vibe") is perhaps a real nice jazz box. Overall rather dark, round tone, but a good one is still very present and clear. But personally, I think maybe the TZ in mahogany is a better combo for a lead-dedicated six string. You need all the clarity, and treble to be honest! you can get with 7's and downtuning it seems like, esp. when you compound that with mahogany.

My opinion.

Surprisingly however, the same logic doesn't apply with the AN7 in the neck. Tonally, similar (at least in theory) to the TZ7 (To me they didn't sound alike, though). It's bassy, has a very present mid-spike, and a wonderful dark clarity. But that works GREAT in mahogany for a beautiful full, rich jazz clean sound, a VERY Strat-like neck SC sound when in parallel, and the BEST lead tone you could ask for. Gobs of tone.

PS The Blaze Bridge seems to sustain quite a bit better than the TZ7, at least in my experience, even though it's hotter and has a larger magnet structure. MY RG is almost Les Paul-like at times in that regard. Nothing compares to the TZ for pinch harmonics, however, so it requires a bit of technique compensation. The Blaze still has great harmonics.

[Jemmm]

Thanks Wordwolf. This is very helpful.

[The Dark Wolf]

You're welcome. It's just my opinion, anyway, but I do have the experience with that exact setup, so maybe it'll help ya.

There's lots more knowledgeable people around here, esp. guys like Jim Soloway, Rich, Glenn, Darren Wilson, even Two Hands and Drew, Scott of Actual Time, lots! But I try.

People mention woods alot for tone, and they are important. But it all seems to be a balancing act. A darker wood? Then a brighter pickup. Using a mid-heavy, less trebly, complex-toned wood like mahogany, means that often, a clearer, mid-scooped, treble-boosted pickup will sound good. And vice-versa!

I'm sure your guitar will sound great.