Hi guys,
Yup, I know... but here's ANOTHER pickup question on the tonezone.
I'm using an S520EX guitar... Hum-Hum config with 5 way switch... I'm looking for a tone thats versatile, which means it can handle blues, rock and a bit of metal... plus it got to have decent cleans, so it can handle some nice jazz.
I'm getting my X2N replaced with a Tonezone... so yeah, that kind of settles my Bridge... I loved the power of the X2N but I wanted something thicker and with more harmonics. The X2N could do some nice bright Swing jazz rhythm and even do funk on clean!
So now, i've got a Breed neck and I'm thinking of getting a 2nd tonezone in there, ala Paul Gilbert. I'm very happy with the Breed's clean tone as well as the distorted tone... but sometimes, I wish it was just a tad more focused... the eq is balanced very well just that I would like it to be tighter.
I've asked some ppl but its a mixed response.. some say the tone is very tight and focused, but it wouldn't give a typical neckish, fat tone... other say it totally rocks their world.
The tone zone makes a pretty good neck pickup actually. I love the TZ's in my UCEW and J-Customs. If I recall, Michael Romeo(Symphony X) and Akira Takasaki both have Tone Zone's as thier neck pickups.
If there's too much bottom end from the TZ you can try to ditch the tone pot if you don't use it and/or also try a 1meg volume pot. (or just replace the tone with a low cut filter)
I guess you could put a Tone Zone in the neck, but personally I'd go with an Air Zone if that's the kind of sound that you want. It just seems like it would be a bit more dynamic in the neck position than a TZ.
Well it will "mud out" to a lesser degree than the regular Tone Zone, since that's part of the effect of the "air" technology. The lows won't be as compressed. But if you were considering the TZ already, I'd agree the Air Zone is a better choice.
I used to have a Tone Zone in the neck of my Fender strat with Floyd-Rose, jumbo frets, scalloped neck and H-S-H configuration.
It wasn´t muddy at all but that guitar used to sound pretty fat, like a Gibson LP Standard. Great for chops and fast stuff IMO. The Tone Zone was louder than the bridge pickup - a Duncan Distortion trembucker.
So if you´re after a very fat tone don´t be afraid and go for it, but don´t forget that a TZ in the neck position will sound pretty fat and loud.
guys i have had a tonezone in the neck of one of my axes and oh lord its the best pickup ever in the neck! its high output, very clear, it has a bit of bottom end, but i call it balls, it sounds awesome, anyone who is familiar with my videos / recordings can vouch that the tonezone in the neck is an awesome choice
I used to play a 2027 with a Tone Zone in the bridge AND neck - don't ask, I bought it that way.
The TZ was actally much better in the neck than the bridge (where it was worthless in mahogany, IMO - all mids, no cut and no real bass response to speak of, just more lower mids). In the neck, it was ok - warm, reasonably defined, but not very "alive" - there was just no sparkle to it, and it struck me as a little overcompressed.
Especially in a SZ (mahogany/maple top, right?) I'd say you'd be better served by something else - perhaps an Air Norton? this is ESPECIALLY true if you're using a TZ in the bridge already - the TZ in the neck pickup slot will have significantly more output than the bridge TZ, all else being equal.
I used to play a 2027 with a Tone Zone in the bridge AND neck - don't ask, I bought it that way.
The TZ was actally much better in the neck than the bridge (where it was worthless in mahogany, IMO - all mids, no cut and no real bass response to speak of, just more lower mids). In the neck, it was ok - warm, reasonably defined, but not very "alive" - there was just no sparkle to it, and it struck me as a little overcompressed.
Yeah I don't like Tone Zone's in mahogany or maple much anyway. They have a lot of lows and mids and beef up a basswood or alder body a bit!
In mahogany and especially maple I go for the most evenly balanced pickups. In mahogany you can get away with a pickup with slightly scooped mids and sound okay - in maple the same pickup is going to scream but have no clean tone.
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