DiMarzio bridge choice! Need help

[ranalli]

So you want a pickup that's a bit darker and has more output and harmonics? A Tone Zone is dark and medium output pup, I don't know if it's too dark but it is Thick with a capital T! Harmonics come out nicely as well. It may be a bit loose to some people's tastes, though. An Air Zone would be a bit more airy and open version of the TZ, but I haven't tried it out myself. I'd use 500k pots with these pups, they may be too dark with 250ks.

If you'd like, I could probably make a quick clip of the Tone Zone, but it's in the bridge of my Gibson SG Standard so it's a bit different guitar.

Btw, if you live in Europe and are letting go of that PAF, I could be interested...

The TZ is the furthest thing from a tight bottom end as there is.

I definitely wouldn't recommend that to this guy.

[Rick1114]

I just dropped an Air Zone in my Strat and it has super nice clear highs and a tight bottom as you described you were looking for. You really can't go wrong with this pup unless you are looking for unruly or nasty. As I said the bottom is tight so you can't have it both ways. I like it because it works both clean articulate to heavily distorted (but stays tight).

I didn't want to go with more output because of the single coils in the strat, I wanted the guitar to be cohesive. I would be interested in how the breed neck works(in the bridge), as that was my next choice.

[snowman3000]

I don't know....I'd like to try them all....hm....to me 'tight lowend' means very clear-clean bass response, never muddy or dirty, always very articulate, necessary for heavy-thrashy rhythm parts.. I tried the Tone Zone and it has too much mids! It's a total mess with the C+' lead chann... (maybe TZ is good with Marshally distorted tones. Marshall lead is way more scooped than Mesa lead)

[Aceman]

Stratdeluxer in his review, reported his VHPAF was about the same precieved output as his Fred. Dimarzio lists the VHPAF at 265mv, and the Fred at 305mv. My Fred is noticably lower output than my TZ, but certainly hotter than a typical vintage PAF. The PAF Pro is listed at 300mv. I'm voting VHPAF at this point, based on snowman's later memo.

Thanks for the tec/spec's. Not sure why I thought VHot had more juice?!?! I will say that I think the PAF Pro is a lot like a CC in that it really doesn't have that "high output" feel to it in my opinion. Tone Zone is heavy duty in comparison to the Pro...And I think FRED is a notch up from the Pro...But hey- this is my sad old ears talking....

[snowman3000]

Here you go with pic of my black strat:

another one here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ack_strat2.jpg

[wixomwhat]

Dave Murray Style. Very Cool!

[mind_transplant]

....to me 'tight lowend' means very clear-clean bass response, never muddy or dirty, always very articulate

If this is what you're looking for I personally think some of these suggestions are a bit off. I love the Air Zone (not as big on the TZ, but it has its place) but I don't see how the bass can be considered 'tight' or 'articulate' under gain. It's a very punchy pickup with a great rock sound, but it is not notably articulate, especially in the lower register.

The Norton has some great harmonics and responds well to gain (I'm not a big fan of it clean) and has less bass than the TZ or AZ so it certainly won't be muddy, but it still has a more open/vintage feel in the low end that I wouldn't categorize as 'tight'. Personally I'd go with the Evo 2, that's what I chose in the end. For lack of a better word it is a BIG sounding pickup, with excellent harmonics and even better articulation. The Fred (or the new higher-output Mo'Joe) is also a good choice, but also not for everyone.

I went through a very similar search and ended up with the Evo 2. To my ears the Evo will be the more modern sounding and articulate pickup, while the Norton has a more classic feel with a unique midrange vibe. Good luck...

[ErikH]

Get 500k pots in there. The PAF needs those to really open up. I have one loaded in a alder body/maple neck strat style guitar (vintage trem though) and it just kills. For the middle single-coil to see 250k, just put a 500k resistor from it's connection point on the switch to ground. If you're still not happy with it after that change, then start looking at other pickups. And yes, change the tone pots too, or bypass them altogether.

[snowman3000]

Dave Murray Style. Very Cool!

Ha! Got it! Thanks...I'll order a white single ply pickguard...much better..

I went through a very similar search and ended up with the Evo 2. To my ears the Evo will be the more modern sounding and articulate pickup, while the Norton has a more classic feel with a unique midrange vibe. Good luck...

Yeah...I think i'll go for 2 p.u. one with a modern vibe one more classic. I'll order an EVO2 creme (with chrome polepeices, hate the black ones!!!) and a Virtual HOT PAF creme.

[snowman3000]

Get 500k pots in there. The PAF needs those to really open up. I have one loaded in a alder body/maple neck strat style guitar (vintage trem though) and it just kills. For the middle single-coil to see 250k, just put a 500k resistor from it's connection point on the switch to ground. If you're still not happy with it after that change, then start looking at other pickups. And yes, change the tone pots too, or bypass them altogether.

OK i'll get a 500K for the Vol pot, 250K for the neck tone pot but not sure for the bridge tone pot...What are the differences between a 250/500K tone pot? A 500K volume pot will increase the output but what about the tone pot? Does a 500K tone pot increase the high freq? If so i'll stick with 250K because the PAF is already very treblish..

[ErikH]

OK i'll get a 500K for the Vol pot, 250K for the neck tone pot but not sure for the bridge tone pot...What are the differences between a 250/500K tone pot? A 500K volume pot will increase the output but what about the tone pot? Does a 500K tone pot increase the high freq? If so i'll stay 250K because the PAF is already very treblish..

The 250k tone pot should be OK. I don't find the PAF treblish at all. I find it very balanced, very "EVH-ish" through my Marshall. A 500k will allow more highs through so if you're concerned about that, leave it as-is.

[snowman3000]

The 250k tone pot should be OK. I don't find the PAF treblish at all. I find it very balanced, very "EVH-ish" through my Marshall. A 500k will allow more highs through so if you're concerned about that, leave it as-is.

Just checked the your PAF mp3....very nice! Sounds really good and balanced...So you're using 500K volume pot and 500K tone pot..?

[ErikH]

Just checked the your PAF mp3....very nice! Sounds really good and balanced...So you're using 500K volume pot and 500K tone pot..?

500k volume pot, no tone pot. There's only a volume control on the guitar.

[34029324079]

uh, dont go for modern tone with that axe IMO...sounds like yall agrreee

[Johtosotku]

The TZ is the furthest thing from a tight bottom end as there is.

I definitely wouldn't recommend that to this guy.

Really? I don't find the bottom end that bad for the pickups other qualities like thickness. I did mention it may be loose to some people's tastes, but I've never found it too loose to play some speed/thrash metal for example. Maybe it's the SG that compensates, but I think I mentioned that too. Cheers!

[snowman3000]

Here's my plan: get a 500K volume pot and try it with PAF. If it doesn't work i'll get an EVO2 (250K volume pot) and/or a Virtual HOT PAF (500K volume pot)

Thanks ya all for the advises and statements...i really appreciate!

[snowman3000]

Here's my plan: get a 500K volume pot and try it with PAF. If it doesn't work i'll get an EVO2 (250K volume pot) and/or a Virtual HOT PAF (500K volume pot)
Thanks ya all for the advises and statements...i really appreciate!

Ok...I've just tried the 500K volume pot with DP103 PAF...now the output problem is fixed but seems to be treblish now..
I asked DiMarzio tech which one is the tightest in the low end,
clear-articulate but still not harsh (and PAFish)?

Virtual HOT PAF.......265mV H-5 M-6.5 B-6.5 (9.13K)
Breed (neck)...........325mV H-5 M-7.5 B-7.5 (10.14K)
Al DiMeola (bridge)...275mV H-5 M-8 B-8 (10.84K)

They told me to try the Breed neck...should i go for it? Does anybody here have this pickup in the bridge position?

[ErikH]

Are you playing through an open back cab or closed back?'
You can try adjusting the pole pieces as well. That will change the tone. Lower the treble strings some and raise the bass strings some.

[snowman3000]

Are you playing through an open back cab or closed back?'
You can try adjusting the pole pieces as well. That will change the tone. Lower the treble strings some and raise the bass strings some.

I've tried a lot of settings! believe you me!! =)

Usually i'm playing through a 4x12 closed back or a Bogner Cube 1x12 closed back

[ErikH]

I've tried a lot of settings! believe you me!! =)

Usually i'm playing through a 4x12 closed back or a Bogner Cube 1x12 closed back

Hmm. Well, if it's more low end that you want, then try something else. I'm not familiar with any of the other DiMarzio's to say what they would be so I can't help ya there.