Dimarzio Tone Zone: Sad and Confused

[Crazy_Guitar]

Originally Posted by nightofthelivingshred

Anyone know anything about this pickup? From everything I've read, it's supposed to sound great. PG has used it, and he has some great tones.

Well I just installed one in my guitar...the usual deal, basswood RG550 with a pickguard...and it sounds...

like ****.

It's in the bridge position. I have it set pretty low with the pole pieces raised high like I've read it good to do. And it sounds so god damn muddy and bassy, no bite or cut. Am I doing something wrong?

The TZ tens to be a bit bassy.
Try to raise the pickup closer to the strings and lower the pole pieces. Try to find the best balance.

I own a basswood JC (direct-mount) and it sounds good!

[rockboy999]

I had a TZ and felt the same way. It was in the Paul Gilbert Model. Was not crazy about it. I just purchased two Air Classics for my Yamaha/YM guitar..I'll report once I install them this weekend.

[Crazy_Guitar]

That's it, I guess. I'm not crazy about the Tone Zone also... but it's good, nevertheless! It's another tone that I have available. Not my favourite tone... but I'm glad I still have it available for me anytime.
I might replace it for a Steve's Special when I go sick of the TZ.

[casper777]

Or try a D-Sonic!! it's in between a SS and a TZ...

Powerful and difined as a SS but more mids and mellow like a TZ....

Usually I think ceramic pickups tend to have a better definition than alnico ones... just my 2 c....

[rub_800]

Originally Posted by Big Red

It don't know what your rig is, so YMMV.
My $0.02.
Cheers

Thanks, I play mostly with a Podxt with some other pedals (Bad horsie wah, Boss distortion pedal Keeley) and a cheap Marshall MG 50 or using the Podxt direct to P.A in bigger gigs.


I want to use the tonezone in bridge position.

Also, I'm looking for a neck pickup, I want a more brigther&cleaner sound.. what about a paf pro or an air norton? do you think it will work?

[rockboy999]

Humbucker from Hell,PAF Pro, PAF Joe, PAF, Air Classic, Hot PAF...any one of those will work. Just depends on how much output you want. The classic combo is the TZ and PAF pro.

[Jeff - CRO]

Originally Posted by rastachild

i totally agree with madryan and have pretty much the same philosophy when it comes to pickups. however, to play devil's advocate, the other side of the equation is that we all have wildly varying ideas of what good tone is. and no one is 'right' per se, because tone is subjective. sometimes someone will rave over a certain pickup and then post a clip of them playing with the pickup in action and i often find myself thinking i would never play with that tone. so you have to keep that in mind whenever people recommend pickups.

for instance, i found the tone zone to be muddy, overly bassy/middy and lacking definition when playing chords. it seemed to be better for soloing mainly because it gives a certain 'aww' or 'oval' sound. kind of like it's on a certain wah pedal setting. but it is a high output pickup and i found it didn't give a lot of room for the type of nuances i prefer in my playing.

others who like the tone zone say it is 'fat' with 'tight bass' and great for palm muting rhythms. they also call it 'warm'. so you can see that one man's 'muddy' is another man's 'warm'. my 'lack of clarity' is another man's 'fat'. so it's very subjective.

I'm not underestimating any other participants in this discussion,but this post is definitely a winner in this discussion.Thumbs up!
Pickups are very subjective stuff and just a part of a bigger picture and the TZ will always be a love/hate affair as long as there are different mindsets and different views in question of tone...

[Superlead777]

I don't know...I have a USRG30 with a Tone Zone,that sounds like a Tele in position 5.,thin & weak.....