DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

[jtougas]

I've got a problem child that I'm trying to find the right pickups for - my Spector ARC 6 Tremolo. Basswood body, maple veneer, maple/rosewood neck.

The Tesla pickups that came in it were just... weak.

I tried a pair of EMG H3s, and they were too raspy.

I've currently got a Bartolini "Grunge Pair" (1D-01 & 1D-03) in it, and there are waaaaaay too many mids going on.

Wanting to switch things up a little I thought I might give some Dimarzio's a shot, and their website recommended Air Classics.

I happen to have a pair of '59s sitting around (non-matched, and the bridge may even be bogus - it reads waaay hot for a '59), that I thought may be worth a shot, but frankly I'm getting tired of shuffling pickups out of this guitar.

So. Do Dimarzio Air Classics run as a close analog to Seth Lovers, or '59s? SD's Tone Wizard suggested a Custom/Jazz combo (which I'm not averse to, but I already have a Jazz in the stable, so to speak).

Whattya think? Got any other suggestions?

I play through a Tweaker, and was aiming for this guitar to be used for Progressive/Fusion type stuff...

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

I'm relatively new to pickup swapping but when I was looking at humbuckers for my ibanez artist I was strongly considering the air classic for the neck position. It had a really sweet 3d kinda sound. I ultimately decided on the 59n because I wanted a more "vintage" tone from the neck and found that it complements the sh-5 that I installed in the bridge.

 

[lemonman]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

It's been a while since I've played the Dimarzios, but I'd say the Air Classics are closer to Seths than 59s; warmer, fuller, more rounded. I remember them having a beautiful tone, but didn't get along with the attack; felt weird to me- YMMV.

 

[soulforger]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Fred and PAF Pro or Joe would be great for the style of music you want to play with it, and sound great in basswood (Ibanez JS 1000/1200)

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

At first I was going to reccomend just throwing in the 59s since they were handy, but if they may be bogus then maybe not.

but I'd say the Air Classics are closer to Seths than 59s; warmer, fuller, more rounded. I remember them having a beautiful tone

+1 to that. They are the sweetest tone humbucker Dimarzio makes in my opinion. They are very sensitive to pick attack and picking dynamics. It is an excellent PAF voice pickup by any standard.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

I'm not averse to trying other SDs, either, if anyone's got suggestions.

(Of the 59s, the only one I'm worried about being bogus is the bridge... the neck I got from someone on here, IIRC).

 

[jtougas]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Since I have the 59n, I'll give that a shot, but I've got a Fred on order to try on the bridge.

I've also managed to find a Bartolini Beast that I'll try out in the bridge... can't hurt.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

The FRED's a good fit in the bridge... unfortunately, the '59 isn't working well in the neck. Volumewise is workable, but still too dull tonewise. The '59s may end up in the SG...

Figured I'd try a Humbucker from Hell in the neck... don't know how it'll match up output-wise, though...

 

[soulforger]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

That HfH should give great clarity for the proggy and fusion styles, if it doesn't work out for any reason the PAF Pro is a tried and true mate for the Fred, or the PAF Joe if you want those characteristics with a little less output. Enjoy that Fred it's a great pup! I think I'm getting one for my Gunslinger next.

 

[blueman335]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

The FRED's a good fit in the bridge... unfortunately, the '59 isn't working well in the neck. Volumewise is workable, but still too dull tonewise. The '59s may end up in the SG...

Figured I'd try a Humbucker from Hell in the neck... don't know how it'll match up output-wise, though...

'59N's are nice in SG's. The HFH is a very bright and clear PU, and doesn't have much output, being very underwound. It's not a PU that pleases many players.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

I tried an Air Classic in the neck of one of my old guitars. It was too single coil-y for my tastes. Not a very full sound.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Aaaaand the pickup shuffle continues...

I'm really liking the Fred in the Spector, but I've got an S470 that needs a full set - and it's getting a full set of Parallel Axis. Problem is, those Parallel Axis are in an RGT42... So, the RGT42 is getting a PAF Joe/Mo' Jo set, and I need to come up with a neck pickup again for the Spector. The Humbucker From Hell is waay too low output... maybe an Air Norton?

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

I thought I read that the Air Classic was discontinued when they brought out the 36th Anniversary PAF's, which were supposedly an improvement on the Air Tech sound (although there may be a lot of them still around). The 36th's are an update of the old DM PAF's using the Air technology. It's been a while since I checked out the Dimarzio site, but that is what I remember.

Al

 

[ErikH]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

No. The Air Classics are still available. It's the Virtual PAF that was discontinued.

The Air Classics are great pickups, IMO/IME. I had a set in a PRS SE Singlecut and they sounded fantastic. Might put them in the Ibby SZ720 I just got if I don't go with PG's.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Try a gravity storm. Being described as, "Thunderous cloud of ice cream" makes me wanna give it a shot.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

In my opinion the Air Classic is the best sounding humbucker they make. Its odd to me that some find it single coily. It has always sounded nice and warm to me. The 36th is noticably brighter and louder. Even a bit stiffer. I think of the Air Classic as sounding more A2 and their 36th as sounding more A5. A4 might describe the sound of the Air Classic better because its warm and organic but also with more relaxed mids, if I'm describing A4 more or less correctly. What I like most about the AC is the touch sensitivity and the picking dynamics. Its the one Dimarzio humbucker I really like. It would be a shame if they discontinued it.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Well, that's great an all, but what about the Air Norton? *grin*

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

No. The Air Classics are still available. It's the Virtual PAF that was discontinued.

The Air Classics are great pickups, IMO/IME. I had a set in a PRS SE Singlecut and they sounded fantastic. Might put them in the Ibby SZ720 I just got if I don't go with PG's.

Sorry for my mistake, I knew they discontinued some pickups when they brought out the 36th's, just remembered it wrong. The 36th Ann. pickups are supposed to be Dimarzio's closest pickups to real PAF sound, and some don't realize that real PAF's were pretty bright. Many people don't really want that sound, they want a more modern sound. Of course, you can just roll back your tone control with them, or use lower-value pots to make them less bright.

Al

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: DMZ Air Classics ~ Seth Lovers or '59s?

Well, that's great an all, but what about the Air Norton? *grin*

I had a Fred before many many years ago and in my opinion the Air Norton in the neck position would over power a Fred in the bridge position.