Can't decide what to do...

D

DreamSeeker

New member
Hey guys. First post, but I have read many a thread on this forum. Now, I realize this is a Duncan forum, but I have always just kind of been acquainted with Dimarzio's. Nearly pulled the trigger on a '78, but for now, Dimarzio's are what I have.


Anyway, i've got some pickups lying uninstalled, and i'm not sure what arrangement I should try them in, or if I should look into replacing any of them (like selling the Tone Zone and getting an At-1). Here's how it goes:

Alder Charvel Socal (Tone Zone - VVHB2 - Pro Track
Basswood HM Strat (Super 3 - strat SC - strat SC)
Basswood Jackson DXMG (empty - HH)
Epi LP Jr. (empty) - does anyone know what wood these are actually made of?

Humbuckers: Tone Zone, Super 3, Norton, Super D (regular spaced), Air Classic neck (it's red though)
Singles: Pro Track, Heavy Blues 2, Cruiser Bridge, 2 Strat single coils


I'm open to any realignment of the pickups. The main thing is that the Charvel and HM have to be versatile (hard rock, fusion, pop, funk, jazz) but I like them to have different flavors from each other. Now, I know I need to experiment, and I will over time. But goshdarnit do I hate the hassle of removing the trems, and especially when I then have to deal with the pickguard on the Charvel. So I'm trying to decide on a starting point.

One thing I know for sure: The Tone Zone is indeed a little too bass heavy, and I wish it were a little more open-sounding. The overall sound isn't flubby or anything, but weight of the lows is just overbearing. I'm probably going to try wiring a capacitor inline with it to bleed some of the bass, a la LonePhantom, but something about trying to change the inherent tone of the pickup kind of unsettles me. I had also considered the half air mod, but i didn't know if that would do enough for it, especially for something so (relatively) invasive. I do like the core tone and fullness of the TZ, it's just that it's like ice cream covered with WAY too much chocolate syrup.
 
Re: Can't decide what to do...

Rand-O-Monium said:
If the Tone Zone is "too much",try the Norton...

.02
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest this as well. DiMarzio says that the Norton is right between a FRED and a TZ, and that's very accurate.

I have a TZ in the bridge of my Music Man Silhouette Special, and I use the reinforced lows to my advantage as that guitar is a tad on the bright side of things. I had a Norton in a regular Silhouette with a Floyd a while back and it was great... real ballsy with good definition and not too much of any particular frequency, but it did like gain and mids dialed up to really give up the goods.
 
Re: Can't decide what to do...

Depending on age and factory of origin, the Epi could be Alder, Agathis, Nato or a mystery laminate (plywood). The best places to glimpse the bare wood will be in the neck pocket (screw-on neck models) or at the bottom of the routed cavities.

Then, just to confuse matters, Epiphone has an annoying habit of abusing the Gibson nomenclature. To some of us, Junior means one P90, one vol, one tone, one jack socket, nothing else. Special means two P90s, two vols, two tones.

Which exact variant of Epi LP Jnr do you have?
 
Re: Can't decide what to do...

Rand-O-Monium said:
If the Tone Zone is "too much",try the Norton...

.02
Click to expand...
B2D said:
I was going to suggest this as well. DiMarzio says that the Norton is right between a FRED and a TZ, and that's very accurate.

I have a TZ in the bridge of my Music Man Silhouette Special, and I use the reinforced lows to my advantage as that guitar is a tad on the bright side of things. I had a Norton in a regular Silhouette with a Floyd a while back and it was great... real ballsy with good definition and not too much of any particular frequency, but it did like gain and mids dialed up to really give up the goods.
Click to expand...

The only thing is the Charvel is the brightest guitar, so my problem with the TZ would be exacerbated even more if I switched it with another. Of course I will probably try this a little later, but i'm going to see if I can make it work.

Is the Norton more suited to basswood or alder? I'm thinking that if it doesn't work out with the TZ i might get ahold of an AT-1 and put it in one of either the Charvel or HM, and put the Norton in the other. Do you guys like one or the other better?


Funkfingers said:
Depending on age and factory of origin, the Epi could be Alder, Agathis, Nato or a mystery laminate (plywood). The best places to glimpse the bare wood will be in the neck pocket (screw-on neck models) or at the bottom of the routed cavities.

Then, just to confuse matters, Epiphone has an annoying habit of abusing the Gibson nomenclature. To some of us, Junior means one P90, one vol, one tone, one jack socket, nothing else. Special means two P90s, two vols, two tones.

Which exact variant of Epi LP Jnr do you have?
Click to expand...

It's one humbucker, one vol, one tone. So it's definitely not any type of mahogany then?
 
Re: Can't decide what to do...

Examine the sides of the control cavity. Look for any linear features that run parallel to the back of the guitar. One or two such lines, a good distance apart, could be evidence of the passes made with the router. Lots of lines, close together, throughout the entire side of the cavity wall, suggests ply.

The wood could be a species related to mahogany - such as nato - or it could be one deemed to have similar sound qualities - such as agathis.

In your position, I would alter the other guitars first THEN try which American humbucker is left over in the Epi. Failing that, buy it a Tonerider Rocksong and some decent quality A500k pots.
 
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Re: Can't decide what to do...

DreamSeeker said:
The only thing is the Charvel is the brightest guitar, so my problem with the TZ would be exacerbated even more if I switched it with another. Of course I will probably try this a little later, but i'm going to see if I can make it work.

Is the Norton more suited to basswood or alder? I'm thinking that if it doesn't work out with the TZ i might get ahold of an AT-1 and put it in one of either the Charvel or HM, and put the Norton in the other. Do you guys like one or the other better?
Click to expand...

I've only used it in alder guitars but I do have good luck with it there. Don't forget to try tweaking your amp around with these pickup changes just to see if the amp reacts well (or doesn't) to the particular output and frequencies the pickups put out. Sometimes you just have to dial it in right.
 
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