B
Blues Lyne
Guest
I can't seem to get a handle on exactly how these differ. I've been doing a lot of research the last few days, and asked on a couple of forums, including Dimarzio's, but haven't gotten any response. Seems a little weird to come to a SD forum to ask about DiMarzio's, but all my searches keep bringing up posts here!
The reason I'm looking into these two pickups is that I'm considering replacing the bridge pickup in my Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH. It has a chambered mahogany body (maybe maple cap, maybe veneer), set mahogany neck, Fender scale length. The pickups in it are Fender Atomic II and Black Canyon. I've heard the Atomic II may be Fender's version of a JB. I got this guitar because my back can't deal with the weight of Les Paul's anymore. The other guitars I gig with use vintage single coils (Lollar blondes and Don Mare Super Sports), and this is my go to for fatter, warmer, humbucker tones. However, my Nash Strat with a Vintage Vibe A2 SP90 (single coil sized P90) is warmer.
The stock pickup can be a little harsh and honky and that sometimes makes it sound a little thin. I'm wanting something with a little more low end and a warmer, smoother high end to move this guitar even closer to Gibson territory. But, I want it to still have a somewhat vintage sound, and be responsive to picking dynamics and volume pot changes. I have a pair of really nice sounding PAF style pickups that I thought about putting in this one, but I kind of like having the hotter pickup to contrast with the vintage output single coils in my other guitars. I'm using it mostly for dirty tones. I play mostly Blues, R&B and Classic rock and use this guitar for things like ZZ Top, Warren Haynes, Santana, Neil Young, Jonny Lang etc. Nothing even approaching metal or shred.
I had a Tone Zone suggested to me, but was a bit afraid it would be too much output and bass and too little treble. The Air Zone and AT-1 look good. My understanding is that the Air Bucker design is DiMarzio's way of getting A2 like response, but with more low end. That sounds right up my alley, but most of the samples I've heard are metal or shred and not the kind of tones I use. I haven't found any direct comparisons of them. From the DiMarzio site it looks like the Air Zone has a bit more bass and mids and the AT-1 has a bit more treble. I think I read that the Air Zone was more vintage sounding and more PAF like, is that the case? Other than that, how do they differ?
The Norton was also suggested, but most references I see to it talk about 80's metal tones, and that's not what I'm going for.
Thanks for any input you have!
PS. I have a CC in an old 80's Schecter strat and thought about swapping, but I don't think the CC would have the low end I'm looking for. I have an A5 magnet around here, but I think a C5 wouldn't have the mids I'm wanting.
The reason I'm looking into these two pickups is that I'm considering replacing the bridge pickup in my Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH. It has a chambered mahogany body (maybe maple cap, maybe veneer), set mahogany neck, Fender scale length. The pickups in it are Fender Atomic II and Black Canyon. I've heard the Atomic II may be Fender's version of a JB. I got this guitar because my back can't deal with the weight of Les Paul's anymore. The other guitars I gig with use vintage single coils (Lollar blondes and Don Mare Super Sports), and this is my go to for fatter, warmer, humbucker tones. However, my Nash Strat with a Vintage Vibe A2 SP90 (single coil sized P90) is warmer.
The stock pickup can be a little harsh and honky and that sometimes makes it sound a little thin. I'm wanting something with a little more low end and a warmer, smoother high end to move this guitar even closer to Gibson territory. But, I want it to still have a somewhat vintage sound, and be responsive to picking dynamics and volume pot changes. I have a pair of really nice sounding PAF style pickups that I thought about putting in this one, but I kind of like having the hotter pickup to contrast with the vintage output single coils in my other guitars. I'm using it mostly for dirty tones. I play mostly Blues, R&B and Classic rock and use this guitar for things like ZZ Top, Warren Haynes, Santana, Neil Young, Jonny Lang etc. Nothing even approaching metal or shred.
I had a Tone Zone suggested to me, but was a bit afraid it would be too much output and bass and too little treble. The Air Zone and AT-1 look good. My understanding is that the Air Bucker design is DiMarzio's way of getting A2 like response, but with more low end. That sounds right up my alley, but most of the samples I've heard are metal or shred and not the kind of tones I use. I haven't found any direct comparisons of them. From the DiMarzio site it looks like the Air Zone has a bit more bass and mids and the AT-1 has a bit more treble. I think I read that the Air Zone was more vintage sounding and more PAF like, is that the case? Other than that, how do they differ?
The Norton was also suggested, but most references I see to it talk about 80's metal tones, and that's not what I'm going for.
Thanks for any input you have!
PS. I have a CC in an old 80's Schecter strat and thought about swapping, but I don't think the CC would have the low end I'm looking for. I have an A5 magnet around here, but I think a C5 wouldn't have the mids I'm wanting.
