Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
OK, so to be very brief: It kinda sounds like a brighter, lower output JB. I am surprised as to how well it handles Drop B chuggs. I really like it so far!
But to be more specific, I wanted to buy something new to try now that DiMarizos were on sale. I was torn between a few of the models, but decided for the AT-1 as I thought it'd be interesting to try. I know there are rumors about it being based on Andy Timmons using JB's, and I love my JB's. So I figured I'd go for that.
My initial impression was, "wow, this is closer to a JB than I thought it was going to be". It definitely has the vibe. But upon playing it more, recording some DI's, and letting it sink in, I realized two things: It's lower output and it's brighter... or maybe thinner... or maybe both.
I immediately liked it becuase it's very familiar sounding and feeling. It has the squishy feel, the cutting upper mids, and that typical JB "kerrang" to single notes. However, the reduced low-end (and output, I guess) kinda lends itself to a little more clarity and top-end detail. It's nowhere near a '59 when it comes to detail and airiness as the focus is still pretty much the high mids. But it just feels a little livelier and less chunky than a JB. That in itself really helps it sit well in a guitar which is naturally kinda blunt and that is tuned to Drop B. My biggest struggle with the JB is I find it's a bit too fat in the low mids at times. That is much less of an issue with this pickup.
I don't really know what the airbucker thing does to the "feel" of a pickup. I don't feel it's any more dynamic than a regular JB, personally. Then again, I'm not the kinda guy whose playing is super soulful. I kinda like to chugg like a caveman on my bridge pickup, and that's it, LOL. I do know the airbucker thing reduces inductance (becuase there is less metal within the pickup) and output. I can totally hear both qualities here.
That's not to oversimplify things. My reference point right now is the JB because both my other guitars have other variations of the JB in them, so it's hard not to compare. The pickup it replaced was a DD-N which was definitely a lot less mid-forward and way less JB-like. Before that, I had a Custom which is even less JB-like. I haven't tried a MM Axis pickup, a Tone Zone (in a while), Breed, or any other pickup in the same family of DiMarzio pickups. Well, I have tried the Dominion, and it does kinda resemble some aspects of the AT-1, but I still feel it's closer to a JB.
So all in all, initial impressions were very positive. I like it. It might be the best my Strat has sounded... but I've said that before, LOL. I fall in and out of love with that guitar constantly. So I'll let the honeymoon wear off and see how it does in the future.
But to be more specific, I wanted to buy something new to try now that DiMarizos were on sale. I was torn between a few of the models, but decided for the AT-1 as I thought it'd be interesting to try. I know there are rumors about it being based on Andy Timmons using JB's, and I love my JB's. So I figured I'd go for that.
My initial impression was, "wow, this is closer to a JB than I thought it was going to be". It definitely has the vibe. But upon playing it more, recording some DI's, and letting it sink in, I realized two things: It's lower output and it's brighter... or maybe thinner... or maybe both.
I immediately liked it becuase it's very familiar sounding and feeling. It has the squishy feel, the cutting upper mids, and that typical JB "kerrang" to single notes. However, the reduced low-end (and output, I guess) kinda lends itself to a little more clarity and top-end detail. It's nowhere near a '59 when it comes to detail and airiness as the focus is still pretty much the high mids. But it just feels a little livelier and less chunky than a JB. That in itself really helps it sit well in a guitar which is naturally kinda blunt and that is tuned to Drop B. My biggest struggle with the JB is I find it's a bit too fat in the low mids at times. That is much less of an issue with this pickup.
I don't really know what the airbucker thing does to the "feel" of a pickup. I don't feel it's any more dynamic than a regular JB, personally. Then again, I'm not the kinda guy whose playing is super soulful. I kinda like to chugg like a caveman on my bridge pickup, and that's it, LOL. I do know the airbucker thing reduces inductance (becuase there is less metal within the pickup) and output. I can totally hear both qualities here.
That's not to oversimplify things. My reference point right now is the JB because both my other guitars have other variations of the JB in them, so it's hard not to compare. The pickup it replaced was a DD-N which was definitely a lot less mid-forward and way less JB-like. Before that, I had a Custom which is even less JB-like. I haven't tried a MM Axis pickup, a Tone Zone (in a while), Breed, or any other pickup in the same family of DiMarzio pickups. Well, I have tried the Dominion, and it does kinda resemble some aspects of the AT-1, but I still feel it's closer to a JB.
So all in all, initial impressions were very positive. I like it. It might be the best my Strat has sounded... but I've said that before, LOL. I fall in and out of love with that guitar constantly. So I'll let the honeymoon wear off and see how it does in the future.
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