Pickup suggestions!

EXCrosslink · #1 12-16-2003, 10:08 AM

Hey guys,

Been playing around with the Fred for quite awhile now but I find that it doesn't quite have the harmonics that I'm looking for. The harmonics sound a tad restrained and artifical harmonics are a little difficult to pull off at certain parts of the fretboard. In contrast, my duncan JB in my Jackson just seems to scream with harmonics

I tried raising the height and that improved the response a little but I feel that i'm still not getting what I want. DiMarzio suggested that I check out the Norton but I've also heard that the Breed has good harmonics. I'm basically looking for a nice, clear, beefey bridge tone. Any suggestions would be welcome, thanks!

davester1234 · #2 12-16-2003, 10:13 AM

Well, I know for a fact that EVO's scream...you can get all the harmonics you like and the tone is smooth.

However, the drawbacks are that EVO's are not exactly the world's best heavey metal pickup. And you often have to make some minor adjustments to your settup when using them to compensate for the smooth sound.

Paf pro's also scream, not in quite the same way as an EVO mind you. They have more attack, and sound tinny-er.

Anyhow, hope this helps a bit, I'm not the greatest at verbally evaluating pickups.

nuno · #3 12-16-2003, 10:53 AM

try a Super Distortion, if the EVO doesnt work for you.

AndersPGM · #4 12-16-2003, 04:15 PM

what do you guys think of the Tone Zone?

I´m thinking of replacing the bridge and neck pups in my PGM30.
Either go with Tone Zones all the way or perhaps Tone Zone (bridge)
and Air Norton (neck). I dunno. You think?

Or maybe Evo is the way to go?

Mandrak · #5 12-16-2003, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndersPGM

what do you guys think of the Tone Zone?

I´m thinking of replacing the bridge and neck pups in my PGM30.
Either go with Tone Zones all the way or perhaps Tone Zone (bridge)
and Air Zone (neck). I dunno. You think?

Or maybe Evo is the way to go?

Impossible to say because they are different.

You should try Breed/Air Norton.

the.godfather · #6 12-16-2003, 05:17 PM

You see, in this post alone, we have reffered to like 6 different DiMarzio pickups. The only way to see which one you like is to listen to them on songs or demos, or actually play one.
Pickups are hard to choose.
But all DiMarzios are good so you wont go wrong wherever you go!
Gary.

AndersPGM · #7 12-17-2003, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndersPGM

what do you guys think of the Tone Zone?

I´m thinking of replacing the bridge and neck pups in my PGM30.
Either go with Tone Zones all the way or perhaps Tone Zone (bridge)
and Air Zone (neck). I dunno. You think?

Or maybe Evo is the way to go?

Impossible to say because they are different.

You should try Breed/Air Norton.

Thanks

Yes Air Norton! That´s what I meant, not Air Zone. My bad.

I´m pondering these three combos:

Tone Zone (Bridge and Neck)
Evolution (Bridge and Neck)
Tone Zone (Bridge) and Air Norton (Neck)

Mandrak · #8 12-17-2003, 08:18 AM

I´m pondering these three combos:

Tone Zone (Bridge and Neck)
Evolution (Bridge and Neck)
Tone Zone (Bridge) and Air Norton (Neck)[/quote]

Actually the TZ isn´t a good idea if you want to install it in the neckspot.
I did it once (don´t laugh); it was too bassy and much louder than the bridge pickup - a Duncan Distortion! That´s why they make the Air Zone. And even so, they´re good for a jazzy/fat tone, not rock/metal/...

nuno · #9 12-17-2003, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern

...the TZ isn´t a good idea if you want to install it in the neckspot...

Paul Gilbert used to do that on some of his guitars. i think it's about how close you set the pickup to the strings.

AndersPGM · #10 12-17-2003, 10:05 AM

thanks for the input you guys.

so I might go with:

Tone Zone (bridge) and Air Norton (neck)
or
Evolution (bridge and neck)

anyone tried Dimarzios on a PGM30?

The_Grindfiend · #11 12-17-2003, 02:00 PM

For what it's worth, I like the Tone Zone a lot...

EXCrosslink · #12 12-19-2003, 07:20 AM

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the suggestions and sorry for ignoring the thread! I'd love to try all the pickups but it's really difficult to test them out as my local distributor only orders the pickups when a customer requests for it... not a very good idea

Anyhow, he suggested the Tone Zone and the Breed and according to him, both pickups have a similar tonal signature. I've tried the Tone Zone in an RG3120 before but I thought it was a little too aggressive. I think the Breed will be a better choice in my case but he was not able to tell me more about the Norton hmm...

marshall · #13 12-19-2003, 03:45 PM

how about: tone zone- bridge/ evo- neck

Mandrak · #14 12-19-2003, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

how about: tone zone- bridge/ evo- neck

Matter of taste.

It´s not a bad idea, since Dimarzio says the PAF Pro and Tone Zone match pretty well, and the Evo (neck model) is like a hot-rodded/boosted/enhanced PAF Pro, it´s fine.

Sometimes (and I repeat sometimes) the Tone Zone sounds too middly, specially if you´re using a mahogany guitar and Vintage 30 speakers. Just be careful!

power freak · #15 01-13-2004, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndersPGM

thanks for the input you guys.

so I might go with:

Tone Zone (bridge) and Air Norton (neck)
or
Evolution (bridge and neck)

anyone tried Dimarzios on a PGM30?

The PGM is a basswood guitar. So its a matter of wanting more Bass or more treble as far as the bridge pickup. In the neck I wood go for an air norton wether you get a Evolution or tonezone.

Freak