JB vs. Tone Zone

[Dave Z]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

Ranalli wrote: "It's a very dark pickup that is not very tight."

I had a TZ a long while back, I don't remembering it being THAT dark, in fact I'm remembering it having a decent clean sound. but if it is too dark that's OK...I'll have bracketed the problem & work down from there (Norton or Parallel Axis if I can shoehorn it in)

 

[ranalli]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

Ranalli wrote: "It's a very dark pickup that is not very tight."

I had a TZ a long while back, I don't remembering it being THAT dark, in fact I'm remembering it having a decent clean sound. but if it is too dark that's OK...I'll have bracketed the problem & work down from there (Norton or Parallel Axis if I can shoehorn it in)

Maybe it wasn't that dark the guitar you had it in. In some guitars it may not be *that* dark.

I guess the one thing I know for sure is that comparatively, it was the darkest out of many pickups I've tried....the tone chart seems to confirm what I was hearing.


But again, it's all about matching it with the right setup.....there's a place for every pickup IMO.

 

[DML]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

The JB has, not to mention the tonal differences, a more compressed sound. The TZ has a more open sound. I have a TZ in both my Silo's, great sounding pup!! Not muddy at all. Even it has a high output, the TZ has a broad frequency response, so the high output is "divided" to this response, sort of speak.

 

[Robotechnology]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

The TZ is bar none my favorite pup... I have one in 4 guitars! I usually dial in a midrangey tone and have no problems with getting nice fat, sustainy mids out of the TZ's. The Steve's Special I also have in one of my guitars... much brighter than a tone zone and a little more compressed sounding. A little EVO like in my opinion which are also great pickups.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

I used to use Tone Zones all the time. After using a JB for a while the TZ sounded flabby and dull....way to much low end for my tastes.


I much prefer the tight sound of the JB.

 

[roadstar II]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

the tone zone with the "wicked lester" mod just kills!
it sounds just like the custom wound EVH bridge dimarzio i bought from him

what happens is the TZ's bass gets tighter and the output comes down a notch and the overall fell of the TZ is more sensitive.if you have ever played a EBMM evh or axis you will know this sound.
i like it much better than the stock tone zone
it is in the middle of the air zone and tone zone

 

[Dave Z]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

OK...I'll bite - what's the wicked lester mod?!

 

[roadstar II]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

OK...I'll bite - what's the wicked lester mod?!

i sent him mine and he explained to me he takes out the metal screw retianer bar and creates two .024 air gaps on each side of the magnet with the room available after taking out the bar.
this is a hotter version of the air zone but not as hot as the stock TZ
the bass got tighter and the pup overall sounds cleaner and just plain better
the stock TZ was too over the top for me and i lve the EVH dimarzio bridge pup
tonally it is dead center to the TZ and AZ
real nice pup
send a TZ to him if you are into this mod he did not charge me any money but just shipping, but i can say he does this for everyone
last time i talked to him he was real busy with his band so you have to ask him
shoot him a PM or Email

 

[ErikH]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

OK...I'll bite - what's the wicked lester mod?!

All you gotta do is remove the metal screw retainer bar and make sure the "air gap" remains.

Look at post #17 and post #23 in this thread:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=57765&highlight=Tone+Zone+Mod

 

[roadstar II]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

All you gotta do is remove the metal screw retainer bar and make sure the "air gap" remains.

Look at post #17 in this thread:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=57765&highlight=Tone+Zone+Mod

erik on mine he made two .024 air gaps and it sounds great man!

I own a air zone also and the EVH dimarzio and this modded TZ sounds just like my EVH dimarzio

 

[ErikH]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

erik on mine he made two .024 air gaps and it sounds great man!

I own a air zone also and the EVH dimarzio and this modded TZ sounds just like my EVH dimarzio

I think by making the gap on one side, it makes the gap on the other side the same. I haven't done the mod myself but it seems to make sense. One of these days I'll snag a TZ/AZ set. I'm still deciding on whether I want to make my MIA Strat a dual-humbucker or leave it as is. The nice thing about it is all I have to do is swap pickguards.

 

[roadstar II]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

I think by making the gap on one side, it makes the gap on the other side the same. I haven't done the mod myself but it seems to make sense. One of these days I'll snag a TZ/AZ set. I'm still deciding on whether I want to make my MIA Strat a dual-humbucker or leave it as is. The nice thing about it is all I have to do is swap pickguards.

you will really dig the modded version
the stock version was all about low mids and bass but with his mod it really took on a new tone
like a isaid it sounds like the EVH dimarzio now
picture the "right here right now live" tone
it sounds just like that
i recently traded my XXX for a 5150 and man i swear i nail live tone from this disc

with both the EVH dimarzio and the modded TZ since they both sound so much the same

 

[ErikH]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

I believe you, and WL too considering he does the mod. It'll be a while before my Strat sees any changes. Gotta get my homemade going again first.

 

[Dave Z]

Re: JB vs. Tone Zone

OK thanks for the links gents, I am lookin forward to doing this myself...