Anyone here ever A/B a tone zone and air zone?

[WICKED LESTER]

What is the tonal differences between these two?
I know the air zone has less output but what else is different about the two?

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Anyone here ever A/B a tone zone and air zone?

I dont have experience with the air zone, but i have experience with the Tone Zone. The Air Zone uses the same "air" technology as the Air Norton and Air Classic, etc. Dimarzio states that it reduces string pull, and improves sustain.

I hear that the Air Zone is a lot less compressed sounding, much more open, and much more dynamic than the Tone Zone. If you've had a Tone Zone, you will know what I mean. The TZ is very agressive, tight, and compressed. Many people who dislike the TZ for those reasons like the AZ.

I have to admit this part you stated "The TZ is very aggressive, tight, and compressed."
makes me think i would rather go TZ over the AZ?
I like the EMG stuff for my LP's but need a tight, aggressive and very warm pup for my lone star strat.

 

[zak]

Re: Anyone here ever A/B a tone zone and air zone?

I have compared the two in the same guitar.
EQ wise they are both very similar, although the tone zone feels bigger/thicker.

The tone zone is better if you just want a good all out heavy rock/metal pickup - the cleans arent great, its not very subtle, but it has a very powerful in your face relentless sound and makes amps distort very early. And despite its power, the TZ is quite warm sounding - in a kind of modern EVH sort of way.
The air zone is more versatile. Although it doesnt really sound like a JB or Custom 5, it is versatile in that kind of way - the cleans are decent (actually better than JB or C5), it can sound vintagy for a good classic rock sound because it is more reactive than the TZ to lower the gain on an amp a bit, but can also do the modern metal sound as well. I reckon the AZ has about the same output as one of the custom series SD pickups (CC, C5 or C).

In short I guess the biggest difference is simply that the tone zone is significantly more compressed, which means you sacrfice a fair bit in terms of clean/lighter distortion sounds, but the overall sound is bigger/more forceful.

Having read your last post I would say this:
If you have tried a JB, C5, CC or Custom and these arent aggressive enough for you, then go with the TZ.
But if there were aggressive enough get the AZ

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: Anyone here ever A/B a tone zone and air zone?

I have compared the two in the same guitar.
EQ wise they are both very similar, although the tone zone feels bigger/thicker.

The tone zone is better if you just want a good all out heavy rock/metal pickup - the cleans arent great, its not very subtle, but it has a very powerful in your face relentless sound and makes amps distort very early. And despite its power, the TZ is quite warm sounding - in a kind of modern EVH sort of way.
The air zone is more versatile. Although it doesnt really sound like a JB or Custom 5, it is versatile in that kind of way - the cleans are decent (actually better than JB or C5), it can sound vintagy for a good classic rock sound because it is more reactive than the TZ to lower the gain on an amp a bit, but can also do the modern metal sound as well. I reckon the AZ has about the same output as one of the custom series SD pickups (CC, C5 or C).

In short I guess the biggest difference is simply that the tone zone is significantly more compressed, which means you sacrfice a fair bit in terms of clean/lighter distortion sounds, but the overall sound is bigger/more forceful.

Having read your last post I would say this:
If you have tried a JB, C5, CC or Custom and these arent aggressive enough for you, then go with the TZ.
But if there were aggressive enough get the AZ

hey ZAK thanks!
that was a great description you should get compensation from dimarzio :laugh2:
seriously that was what i was hoping to hear about the two pups thanks again