Good pickup for Vai Satriani and Eric johnson

[professor_chaos]

I want a pickup that would work well for all of them, I have a Humbucker from hell in the neck which I like, but the Tone Zone does not sound to good in my guitar(Jackson Sl2h).

I was thinking, Dimarzio PAF pro, Fred, Evolution, Breed, or any other suggestions?

[big h]

What is it you don't like about the tone zone?

[Akhenaten]

You may find something to do the Satch and Vai thing reasonably close. But Eric is a vintage guy that loves his single coils. Most of the tones he his famous for are his old strats. He does have the SG and a 335 I think that he pulls out, but even those are likely to be older pickups in those.

[professor_chaos]

I emailed Dimarzio, they said to check out the norton, they also said it was a good all around Fusion/progressive pickup.

[Ralsch]

since you have the hfh in the neck why not try the hfh in the bridge as well? as i can remember( i might be wrong) the only tonality difference of the ej model pickups and hfh is EJ model is about 1/2 higher in mid range than hfh.I believe its the midrange,if its not just check out the difference honestly i dont remember .give it a shot

[rufes]

The 3 tones are very very very different.

They use different guitars, pickups, amps, cables, picks, effects..... and you want the 3 tones just with a pickup? ..... be realistic.

As far as I know Line6 is not making pickups yet LOL

Do you like their tones or the way they play?

[Rotti]

Maybe try the evolution. I think it might give you a "Vai" type sound that is quite different from the TZ.

[rgr]

I'll second the Norton, it may be the most versatile pickup they have. It's kinda like a Tone Zone with a little less output and tighter low end, but that makes a huge difference. I tried a TZ in an old guitar of mine and it sounded muddy, so, at DiMarzio's recommendation also, I tried a Norton, the same guitar really came to life. I would get the regular Norton for the bridge, not the Air version. The Air Norton sounds good in the neck position though.

Roger

[Jemwielder]

i'd go with the evos, but if you want to nail the eric johnson tone the best idea would be to have some coil taps wired, that'd work out great. Also realize that satch and vai use very different amps from eric johnson.