Well I've narrowed it down to 4.... Maybe 5

pwnzor · #1 10-20-2009, 09:10 PM

Well I've narrowed my search down.. after trying several Dimarzios I think I'm finally getting closer...

I've had.. an Evo2.. D activator and Breed.

Out of those I like the breed most. It's a bit honky? With my setup. Had to drop the mids. Then it was pretty good.

This is a mahogany guitar... (Schecter c-1 Artist) I removed the tone pot and used a 250k pot for volume. So the 250k volume kind of attenuates the highs since I removed the tone pot.

Well its still a tad brighter than I'd like it to be. It's close and I may end up coming back to this pickup after trying several more... who knows. Heres what I'm currently considering though:

Super Distortion
Super 3 (Maybe too modern for me?)
Tone Zone (Maybe too modern for me?
AT-1
Maybe - Air Zone? ( Vintage Version of Tone Zone

)

Thats down to... 4 maybe 5

I suck at choosing pickups lol...

I play a lot of classic rock and old school metal, my distortion is usually set at a Van Halen level. Soo in other words just enough gain to let those harmonics squeal!

So if you guys would be kind enough to help me out here and tell me the advantages to each of these pickups. Even though my guitar is mahogany I'm doubting I'll have any trouble with muddyness. My setup includes a Crate V30 (Modeled after a Plexi) and a 4x12 of G12h30's and G12m's... I run a 6 band EQ up front to tighten everything up and boost the mids some.

**jaxadam** · #2 10-20-2009, 10:13 PM

I really like the Tone Zone, but I'm not so sure how well it would sound in mahogany, because I haven't tried it.

I think a Super Distortion may be your best bet. I have had friends put these in Schecters and they loved it. So much that it's pretty much the only pickup they'll use.

Jblaze · #3 10-21-2009, 01:00 AM

Think of Iron Maiden for the Super Distortion, and old Def Leppard for the Super 3. If you want a Darker sound, then do the Super 3. What didn't you like about the Activator and EVO 2? Too bright?

-M- · #4 10-21-2009, 03:35 AM

I haven't tried a Tone Zone in mahogany (yet) but even though you'll read a lot of people saying it's too muddy, there are also a lot of people that love it and say to just lower it a little and it cleans up.

I guess you also know that Dimarzio has an exchange period, where you pay the shipping, right? I'd probably try the Tone Zone and like it, but if not, maybe I'd exchange it for the Super Distortion, which usually seems like a safe/popular choice.

pwnzor · #5 10-21-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jblaze

Think of Iron Maiden for the Super Distortion, and old Def Leppard for the Super 3. If you want a Darker sound, then do the Super 3. What didn't you like about the Activator and EVO 2? Too bright?

Yea the Evo2 and D activator sounded really thin to my ears... I like chopped treble... massive mids and low bass. My tone is pretty close to Andy Timmons on Resolution.

I've also narrowed it down to 4... With a new comer:

Dimarzio Double Whammy
Treb:5
Mid:9
Bass:4

Super 3
Treb:5
Mid:8
Bass:6.5

AT-1
Treb:5.5
Mid:8
Bass:8

Air Zone:
Treb:5
Mid:8.5
Bass: 8.5

They all have a really powerful midrange push, chopped treble and I cut the bass before it hits the preamp so I'm not worried about any of these getting muddy in the Mahogany Schecter.

The Double Whammy looks to be the most promising to me. I like all of the midrange, the chopped treble and how the low end isn't massive.

Andy Timmons plays his signature pickup in a mahogany guitar though and he has no mud issues what so ever and that is with the bass being rated at 8 from the pickup.

axemanrio · #6 10-21-2009, 04:31 PM

I'm a big fan of the Tone Zone too, however, I've only tried it in basswood and alder... here's a little table I came up with recently to decide on pickups for a new guitar (ended up buying another TZ but I really should have gone the Air Zone route).

pwnzor · #7 10-21-2009, 10:25 PM

Why do you say that?

What are your opinions on the Tone Zone vs Air zone?

(Nice Chart by the way)

Jblaze · #8 10-22-2009, 01:33 AM

The TZ was way to bass heavy for me. I think you would really like the Super 3. It has that nice thick mid range crunch.

axemanrio · #9 10-22-2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwnzor

Why do you say that?

What are your opinions on the Tone Zone vs Air zone?

(Nice Chart by the way)

Well, I already have two TZ equipped Ibanez guitars and feel I should have gone vintage for the next without compromising on the TZ character. The Air Zone sounds very close to the TZ, just warmer, lower output and a tad less bass.

pwnzor · #10 10-22-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axemanrio

Well, I already have two TZ equipped Ibanez guitars and feel I should have gone vintage for the next without compromising on the TZ character. The Air Zone sounds very close to the TZ, just warmer, lower output and a tad less bass.

Hmmm... Now you've got me really curious about an Air Zone

axemanrio · #11 10-22-2009, 03:25 PM

I'd pair it with a PAF Pro/Joe in the neck. Let us know how it goes.

pwnzor · #12 10-22-2009, 05:16 PM

Well I think I'm going to buy... an air zone, super 3, double whammy and at-1 and see which I like best. Reviews will be up sometime soon

Jblaze · #13 11-02-2009, 12:12 AM

Let us know. I need something for my new guitar.

-Rhaab · #14 11-04-2009, 06:50 AM

I used tone zone in mahogany with no muddy problems, only played thru a marshall mg though. I looooved it, dont have it anymore but i think im going to get that again.