C5/59 vs Dimarzio AZ/AN in SG

[telecaster887]

I just got a new SG Standard and decided to get some new pickups. Now I've read A LOT of reviews and searches through this board and Harmony Central and was hoping if some people could help me. Everyone seems to have their own opinions and bias' so my heads spinning when I keep looking at them.
Right now I can't really decide between the Custom-5/59 and the DiMarzio Air Zone/Air Norton. I'm looking for a nice fat sound that will still sound good clean and have a beefy distortion. I don't want something with a lot of highs but I want it to be able to cut through. I'm looking for that Sabbath tone. I'll be playing a lot of classic rock with some blues and occasional stoner rock. The amp is a Fender DeVille and I use a Rat2 and USA Bigmuff for distortion.
I'll probably get a lot of SD suggestions since this is a SD board but I was hoping that i'll get some food advice. Thanks.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: C5/59 vs Dimarzio AZ/AN in SG

hmmmm I can tell you from experience

SD and Dimarzio are like going to 2 different restaurants with great chicken. It's all chicken but the recipe and sauce is different. Dimarzio's are a little smoother and modern sounding. I can tell you that the Music Man EVH / Axis uses a very similar Dimarzio setup, only a little more full in the upper mids (only a hair).

I used a C5 - 59, and while people adore the 59, it has a little spike in the highs (tiny) that I do not like and its not always the classic tone I like, so I prefer the Alnico 2 Pro. I feel the C5 cleans up well, but I am in the same boat as all the other, it lacks some mids, esp if you want the old Sabbath Iommi thru and Orange amp sound.

If you really want Sabbath, I would say go for the Custom over the Custom 5. As far as the AZ/AN, I love it. I can tell you that if you want a classic tone similar to the 59, but smoother and more articulate at the same time, consider the Virtual PAF neck. The Air Norton is more classic and fat sounding, but the Virtual PAF does the AN and 59, only sweeter. I will add, it can do Sweet Child O Mine beatifully.