DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

[B2D]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I see. I'm planning on replacing my Tone Zone with this one. Have you tried it for low/mdeium gain settings? The TZ is really giving me a honky thin sound when the gain is down.

I haven't tried it for lower-gain stuff much yet, mainly because I just replaced a defective volume pot in the guitar that passed signal fine when it was on 10 but had noise/contact problems throughout the rest of it's range.

 

[cayle_6]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I haven't tried it for lower-gain stuff much yet, mainly because I just replaced a defective volume pot in the guitar that passed signal fine when it was on 10 but had noise/contact problems throughout the rest of it's range.

I hope it's not honky like the TZ..

 

[Schmeer]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I recently installed the crunch lab and the liquifire in my RG1527 and I have to say, I agree 110% with this review!

It's clear, articulate and :headbang: metal :headbang:

@cayle6
Oh, and I think it handles low gain stuff pretty well.
However I think it's strange that you found the TZ to be thin.
In my experience the TZ is anything but thin sounding :scratchch

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I recently installed the crunch lab and the liquifire in my RG1527 and I have to say, I agree 110% with this review!

It's clear, articulate and :headbang: metal :headbang:

@cayle6
Oh, and I think it handles low gain stuff pretty well.
However I think it's strange that you found the TZ to be thin.
In my experience the TZ is anything but thin sounding :scratchch

Schmeer,
I normally dont gel with Dimarzios, but do like the TZ and Super D. Sounds like you know both the TZ and Crunchlab. How do they compare? Ive been hearing alot of good things about the Crunchlab, but never got real excited cuz of my past experience with Dim.. But this review has me thinking.. Plus Id like to find a cool combo for my RG570 with some attitude.. It currently sounds soulful.. I have plenty of soulful guitars, I want the Rg to rip..

Ibanezfreak777,
AWESOME Axe! can you post a pick of both? Also, is it safe to assume the Crunchlab is now avail in all colors??

 

[Schmeer]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Schmeer,
I normally dont gel with Dimarzios, but do like the TZ and Super D. Sounds like you know both the TZ and Crunchlab. How do they compare? Ive been hearing alot of good things about the Crunchlab, but never got real excited cuz of my past experience with Dim.. But this review has me thinking.. Plus Id like to find a cool combo for my RG570 with some attitude.. It currently sounds soulful.. I have plenty of soulful guitars, I want the Rg to rip..

Well, it's been a while since I've played the TZ, but I seem to remember the TZ as bassier than the crunchlab.
Not that the crunchlab is lacking low end in any way, mind you

It also strikes me as having more harmonics than the TZ.

I've only had it installed since last saturday so I'm still messing around with pickup height and stuff like that, but so far I really, really like it.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah the TZ has a huge low end. Im kinda suprised at how hot you guys say this pup is. I dont have alot of experience with Petrucci's playing, but I dont recall what Ive heard being super heavy or distorted.

 

[nienturi]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Great review Mr.Raptor

Can you please compare Air Norton with Liquifire and CrunchLab with Steves Special, if you tried?

 

[B2D]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Great review Mr.Raptor

Can you please compare Air Norton with Liquifire and CrunchLab with Steves Special, if you tried?

I have not tried the Liqufire. I may try it out in place of my Air Norton if I get some extra cash and see which I like better.

I have tried a Steve's Special, though. It's not anywhere near as loud - probably 2/3 the output of the CL, and much more subtle sounding. It's not loud but it's got a nice smooth tone to it. Like the Crunch Lab, it sounds different depending on which coil is facing the bridge... one of the SS's coils is underwound and I preferred it with the "hot" coil towards the bridge.

Very fat, smooth, expansive sounding pickup, but just a little tame for me.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

How does the Crunch lab and D sonic compare?

 

[B2D]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

How does the Crunch lab and D sonic compare?

I used both with the bar towards the bridge, so i can make an apples-to-apples comparison on this one.

Compared to the D-Sonic, the Crunch Lab is louder, warmer, and has more depth to the sound. It feels a little more "alive" than the D-Sonic did, if that makes any sense.

I like the D-Sonic as well. I just like the CL more.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I used both with the bar towards the bridge, so i can make an apples-to-apples comparison on this one.

Compared to the D-Sonic, the Crunch Lab is louder, warmer, and has more depth to the sound. It feels a little more "alive" than the D-Sonic did, if that makes any sense.

I like the D-Sonic as well. I just like the CL more.

Good info! Makes sense. I tried a Dsonic in one of the guitars they come in and I couldnt figure all the hype the pup was getting.. I thought it was very bland. So, this post was very helpful

 

[Schmeer]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Great review Mr.Raptor

Can you please compare Air Norton with Liquifire and CrunchLab with Steves Special, if you tried?

In my opinion, the Liquifire and the Air Norton have a lot in common tone wise, but I think the liquifire is a bit smoother (in lack of a better way to decribe it..)
The pick attack also seems to be less pronounced.
I kinda get the feeling that the Liquifire is a little less "modern" sounding than the Air Norton, but that might just be me

The CrunchLab has quite a bit more mids than the Steve's Special.
The SS is more scooped sounding, and it's a lot less aggressive than the CrunchLab.
Because the SS has less mids, it's seems that harmonics don't stand out as much. The CL has better harmonics, but I don't think it's anywhere near say, a JB or a FRED.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I used both with the bar towards the bridge, so i can make an apples-to-apples comparison on this one.

Compared to the D-Sonic, the Crunch Lab is louder, warmer, and has more depth to the sound. It feels a little more "alive" than the D-Sonic did, if that makes any sense.

I like the D-Sonic as well. I just like the CL more.

What are the mids like on both? More low or highs? Which is overall brighter? Thanks.

 

[B2D]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

What are the mids like on both? More low or highs? Which is overall brighter? Thanks.

The CL has more pronounced mids. In the DSonic, the mids are a bit more neutral - more evenly lined up with the lows and highs. The DSonic struck me as a very even-sounding pickup overall with a good amount of everything. The DSonic overall is brighter, but only because the CL is fatter.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Thanks. I take it the CL is more open sounding, with more dynamics. But both are pretty open sounding right?

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Great to hear. I was wondering about the Crunchlab myself. I have a lot of faith in Dimarzio pickups. They never let me down. One thing I really like about this forum is that people can have open and informed discussions about various brands of pickups. Even though I like SD pickups a lot I dont want to be married to them only.

What I want to know about the Crunchlab now is how well does it do with midgain tones and if the harmonics come off as easily as the Super distortion. How does it fare in that respect?

 

[mustaine-who?]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I'm pulling out my Full Shred set...and installing a CL/LF combo tonight. Report back soon...

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

I enjoy Dungenuss with a fresh Asparagus salad, or King with a hot bowl of Clam chowder...wait..oh sorry, my bad, I thought you said "Lunch Crab".

 

[B2D]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Thanks. I take it the CL is more open sounding, with more dynamics. But both are pretty open sounding right?

Yeah, the CL is more open and dynamic out of the two.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: DiMarzio Crunch Lab review.

Thanks man. I found the X2N to be pretty even sounding, except for the extra treble. I want something like that, but with less output. The D sonic sounds like it might work for me.