warm clean refined open sound!?

[RG550BW]

I have Marshall VS100 combo,Ibanez RG450 guitar(basswood,rosewood fingerboard,Edge) and I love the guitar for its action and feel but don't like the sound(muddy,thin,too dirty). I would like to put some DiMarzio in it(only pickups available in my city) to try get a bit closer to sound that I like.
My ideal sound would be something like THIS:
warm(Van Halen),lot of harmonics(VH),clean(cleaner than VH,kinda satriani clean,to strum a 5 note chord and hear every string),refined(Vai..but not so compressed) and open sounding.
Tony MacAlpine came pretty close to that sound(just listen song Sinfonia..amazing
In reviews of Air Zone it seemed it could be close..but I didn't heard the thing ..I heard Tone Zone and it seems cool for harmonics and feel..but I'll like more clean and refined sound..any suggestions?

[Thrash]

For the neck two pickups:

Paf Joe

or

Air Norton

Go Joe if you want a glassier tone and the Norton for a warmer tone. Both very good cleans and articulate.

[TheToneZone]

Try out the Norton in the bridge position. early VH vibe, Satchy too... It's a fair balance between warm and open. As far as Macalpine. Well, I've heard just about everything that guy has done and I still can't distinguish sounds of what equipment or pickups he might be using at all.

Mike

[Jeff - CRO]

norton would be my guess as well,considering what are you after for...

[erikm5150]

Air zone -- warm, open , clear -- nice fat tone

[Shredcows]

Go lower output for a more "warm clean refined open sound", really.

IMO, a Tonezone isn't open and refined. Its fat, and some think its too fat and it takes away clarity.

But start dropping the power... you get less fatness, things start to open up, you hear the notes really ring out and you get the idea... Now you come to... the Air Zone and the discontinued Double Whammy.

Double Whammy is still quite hot @ around 15k and its more modern voiced. Ridiculous chug tones though not what you want I think.

Air Zone makes sense... buts its also a very fat and warm sounding pup. Is that what you want to go for?

PAF Joe in neck is very "warm clean refined open sound"-ing to my ears.

[eelblack2]

If you want Early EVH tones and none of the later fuzz/sludge from his signature models, try a Seymour Duncan Custom Order '78 (formerly known as EVH before Eddie got lame and harrased them.

From the SD Custom Order page:

Humbuckers
'78 Model (for Evenly Voiced Harmonics) Humbucker $160 each; $300 set (neck and bridge)


It would have to be custom ordered from SD no matter where you are so availability is a non-issue.

P.S. SUUUUUURE the EVH stands for Evenly Voiced Harmonics.....SUUUUUUURE

[Roadstar]

Originally Posted by RG550BW

My ideal sound would be something like THIS:
warm(Van Halen),lot of harmonics(VH),clean(cleaner than VH,kinda satriani clean,to strum a 5 note chord and hear every string),refined(Vai..but not so compressed) and open sounding.
Tony MacAlpine came pretty close to that sound(just listen song Sinfonia..amazing

dude you need the NORTON(not the air one) it is EXACTLY what you want

I got one recently and it is great for everything you described here

[Roadstar]

Originally Posted by eelblack2

If you want Early EVH tones and none of the later fuzz/sludge from his signature models, try a Seymour Duncan Custom Order '78 (formerly known as EVH before Eddie got lame and harrased them.

From the SD Custom Order page:

Humbuckers
'78 Model (for Evenly Voiced Harmonics) Humbucker $160 each; $300 set (neck and bridge)


It would have to be custom ordered from SD no matter where you are so availability is a non-issue.

P.S. SUUUUUURE the EVH stands for Evenly Voiced Harmonics.....SUUUUUUURE

No offence but that thing is a waste of money
any paf type like the 59,PG,dimarzio V hot paf will do that older VH tone with a plexi amp turned to 10
I dont think anyone should have to spend $160 for a pup that a $50 one will do that same job as.
if you want that tone get the Virtual hot paf for $50
duncan should be shot for that hype

[eelblack2]

I hear what you are saying. I think the cost is not so much hype as it is the normally exorbant amount they charge for anything custom. Take a peek at the other custom option prices on this page:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/customshop.shtml

If they ever do put the '78 into standard production Im sure it would be priced accordingly.

[Dazza1004]

check out the bareknuckle VHII

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-vhii.html

[eelblack2]

Originally Posted by Dazza1004

check out the bareknuckle VHII

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-vhii.html

Anyone tried that? Im seriously tempted to try some of thier products.

[Dazza1004]

I am tempted by the VHII but I think I am going to go for a Cold Sweat bridge and Trilogy neck for my pacifica. I have a set of Apachies in a strat and they are very good for the Eric Johnson esq tone. Very sweet

Originally Posted by eelblack2

Anyone tried that? Im seriously tempted to try some of thier products.

[RG550BW]

I just put Air Zone into my Ibanez RG..
I was tempted by Norton and Paf Joe but I had to pick one.. I still have to spend some time with pickup to give good opinion but for curious people about this pickup..
AIR ZONE: Easily described it is a pickup that make basswood Ibanez Rg sound pretty much like Les Paul!!! Very crazy thing and I had to hear it to believe it! My guitar was like a bit thin,middle soundind,bit harsh,dirty sound,ok for single notes screams but chords sounded just dirty. Now with AZ it got FAT,really defined chords with strenght,power,and single notes are well defined,pretty much give a sound that you make by your fingers..without dirt but with POWER. It's like when I do Smoke On The Water..its as hard rock and powerfull as it can be. Van Halen Panama also sound pretty much like original. On high distorsion it gets like that rough Zakk Wylde tone. Pretty good defined hard rock thing..not a screaming devil like Evolutions..but can scream too. Overall I am satisfied..tone is MUCH better than with V2 Ibanez pickup. One thing that I wish for still is to have tone with less bass,bit more treble that would not sound rough..more kind sounding,refined like those sounds of Macalpine or like in some cleaner songs from Vai(For the love of God,Lotus Feet,Touching Tounges) or Always with you,always with me(Satriani)..I would describe it like "kind" tone.
But you can't have all in just one pickup so I am pretty satisfied with AZ. Any suggestions for "nice and kind" tone for neck pickup or single middle? :-)
THANKS FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS..HOPE I HELPED SOMEONE DECIDE FOR AIR ZONE IF THAT SOUND IS WHAT YOU'RE AFTER ;-)