Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
- Thread starter Benjy_26
- Start date
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
Listen to Mr. Big's first 2 albums and VH's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge". Granted, the amp/effects/fingers has a lot to do with it too but that'll give you an idea since both PG and EVH use basswood body guitars. PG used that combo back then, he might still, and that combo is the closest to the set in the EBMM EVH/Axis.
Listen to Mr. Big's first 2 albums and VH's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge". Granted, the amp/effects/fingers has a lot to do with it too but that'll give you an idea since both PG and EVH use basswood body guitars. PG used that combo back then, he might still, and that combo is the closest to the set in the EBMM EVH/Axis.
AmpliFIRE
Member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
Not trying to start a flame war here, but you said it's "the closest to it". The TZ sounds nothing like the stock Axis pickup. I own an Axis and swapped out the stock pup for a TZ and they're 2 totally different beasts. I also tried a Breed, BBQ and AZ in that guitar as well. The AZ is my favorite by far. It's much smoother than the TZ IMO. The AZ and TZ have huge bass response while the stock pickup had very little low end. It was all peircing highs to my ears.
ErikH said:
Not trying to start a flame war here, but you said it's "the closest to it". The TZ sounds nothing like the stock Axis pickup. I own an Axis and swapped out the stock pup for a TZ and they're 2 totally different beasts. I also tried a Breed, BBQ and AZ in that guitar as well. The AZ is my favorite by far. It's much smoother than the TZ IMO. The AZ and TZ have huge bass response while the stock pickup had very little low end. It was all peircing highs to my ears.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
I'm not arguing with you, just stating what's been stated by DMZ themselves. It's all good, bro.
This is from their FAQ:
What type of pickups were used in the Eddie Van Halen MusicMan Guitar?
These pickups were only available as original equipment on the EVH MusicMan guitar. MusicMan replaced the Van Halen guitar with a very similar model called the Axis, which uses the same pickups. The closest-sounding pickups we offer are the Air Norton™ for the neck position and the Tone Zone® for the bridge position.
You say otherwise based off experience, and that's cool. But, you can make the TZ sound just like it by taking out the metal screw spacer and leaving the air gap. It balances the coils out. The TZ has uneven coils (one hotter than the other).
I've debated getting a set myself and making the changes but I'm using lower output pickups these days. At some point I'd like to try an AZ though.
I'm not arguing with you, just stating what's been stated by DMZ themselves. It's all good, bro.
This is from their FAQ:
What type of pickups were used in the Eddie Van Halen MusicMan Guitar?
These pickups were only available as original equipment on the EVH MusicMan guitar. MusicMan replaced the Van Halen guitar with a very similar model called the Axis, which uses the same pickups. The closest-sounding pickups we offer are the Air Norton™ for the neck position and the Tone Zone® for the bridge position.
You say otherwise based off experience, and that's cool. But, you can make the TZ sound just like it by taking out the metal screw spacer and leaving the air gap. It balances the coils out. The TZ has uneven coils (one hotter than the other).
I've debated getting a set myself and making the changes but I'm using lower output pickups these days. At some point I'd like to try an AZ though.
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
THE TZ and the Axis are similar - even Dimarzio will agree. I have talked to their techs. Some say it's more like the Air Zone some say Steve's Special. It's all in the ballpark.
I love the TZ, it's rude, very fat esp in the lows and the mids. It's aggressive, somewhat stiff like a ceramic, but it IS in fact an Alnico 5. So you get that metal aggression with some soul to it. I like the Air Zone more for versatility and open tones. You can't go wrong with the TZ for harder rock, driving a vintage amp, or playing thru FX. So you won't be unhappy at all.
The Paul Gilbert comparison is pretty dead on accurate.
The Air Zone is great in thin guitars. It gives you a faux vintage fatness and les paul-ISH tone. No, it's not a Paul, but it gives you a fat, round open tone, and it SPLITS sooooo well. Not my fave neck to shred on, but it's good for classic tones, esp if you want to get them out of not-so-classic guitar bodies and woods (basswood, etc)
THE TZ and the Axis are similar - even Dimarzio will agree. I have talked to their techs. Some say it's more like the Air Zone some say Steve's Special. It's all in the ballpark.
I love the TZ, it's rude, very fat esp in the lows and the mids. It's aggressive, somewhat stiff like a ceramic, but it IS in fact an Alnico 5. So you get that metal aggression with some soul to it. I like the Air Zone more for versatility and open tones. You can't go wrong with the TZ for harder rock, driving a vintage amp, or playing thru FX. So you won't be unhappy at all.
The Paul Gilbert comparison is pretty dead on accurate.
The Air Zone is great in thin guitars. It gives you a faux vintage fatness and les paul-ISH tone. No, it's not a Paul, but it gives you a fat, round open tone, and it SPLITS sooooo well. Not my fave neck to shred on, but it's good for classic tones, esp if you want to get them out of not-so-classic guitar bodies and woods (basswood, etc)
AmpliFIRE
Member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
Honestly, I've spoken to the guy that designs their pickups (his name escapes me right now) and he said that the Axis pup and the TZ are nothing alike. He wasn't sure why they listed it on their site, but the only similiarity is that they are both very hot pickups. The EQ curve is very different for both pickups. I'd say it's more like the Breed than the TZ or the AZ. The stock Axis pup is VERY hot and has a loose bottm end and spikey high end. The TZ and AZ are the exact opposite in that they have a huge bottom end and alot of mids w/ the treble rolled off. Again, not trying to flame here, but i've done extensive tesing with several different pups in my Axis.
OlinMusic said:
Honestly, I've spoken to the guy that designs their pickups (his name escapes me right now) and he said that the Axis pup and the TZ are nothing alike. He wasn't sure why they listed it on their site, but the only similiarity is that they are both very hot pickups. The EQ curve is very different for both pickups. I'd say it's more like the Breed than the TZ or the AZ. The stock Axis pup is VERY hot and has a loose bottm end and spikey high end. The TZ and AZ are the exact opposite in that they have a huge bottom end and alot of mids w/ the treble rolled off. Again, not trying to flame here, but i've done extensive tesing with several different pups in my Axis.
AmpliFIRE
Member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
The BBQ was just OK sounding in that guitar and i didn't like the Breed at all. It has the same annoying high end thing going on that the stock pup had. The AZ is very balanced and sweet sounding in my Axis. It is very sensitive to height adjustments, so you will definetly need to spend some time tweaking it.
Fritz6 said:
The BBQ was just OK sounding in that guitar and i didn't like the Breed at all. It has the same annoying high end thing going on that the stock pup had. The AZ is very balanced and sweet sounding in my Axis. It is very sensitive to height adjustments, so you will definetly need to spend some time tweaking it.
Johtosotku
New member
Re: Dimarzio Air Norton + Tone Zone
I don't know about the Air Norton, but the Tone Zone is a terrific rock pickup imo. Nice attitude with a bit of rough edges, very thick and quite nice dynamics to it's output. I don't find the bass overbearing or too loose, although YMMV.
I don't know about the Air Norton, but the Tone Zone is a terrific rock pickup imo. Nice attitude with a bit of rough edges, very thick and quite nice dynamics to it's output. I don't find the bass overbearing or too loose, although YMMV.
