JB vs. Tone Zone
- Thread starter Dave Z
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Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
elaborate for the duderanalli said:
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
The TZ has a much smoother top end, better low end and more pronounced mids. It is an awesome pickup for how hot it is. If I ever venture back in to the over 14.4k territory again, the TZ will be on the list to get. The only guitar I ever played it in was a friend's PG model. I like the JB too, but I like the smoothed out top end of the TZ better.
Reckless, since you have a Axis copy, the TZ is the closest production DMZ you can get to the bridge pickup in the Axis.
The TZ has a much smoother top end, better low end and more pronounced mids. It is an awesome pickup for how hot it is. If I ever venture back in to the over 14.4k territory again, the TZ will be on the list to get. The only guitar I ever played it in was a friend's PG model. I like the JB too, but I like the smoothed out top end of the TZ better.
Reckless, since you have a Axis copy, the TZ is the closest production DMZ you can get to the bridge pickup in the Axis.
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Dave Z
New member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
Hm OK that may just do the trick - looking to take off a lot of sizzle from a bright trem-equipped axe, and though the CC has been suggested, you lose the low end with that pickup. Also I remember the TZ being awesome split.
If it ends up being too heavy I'll try a Norton or CC.
Hm OK that may just do the trick - looking to take off a lot of sizzle from a bright trem-equipped axe, and though the CC has been suggested, you lose the low end with that pickup. Also I remember the TZ being awesome split.
If it ends up being too heavy I'll try a Norton or CC.
Dave Z
New member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
It is for a mahogany strat. Pao Ferro board - which is pretty hard, and a Wilkinson VS100. Something about that combination is very toppy - the Fred, which sounds fairly mellow & sweet in my SG sounds a bit over the top in that axe...OK clean higher up but get around the 12th fret & hit the E string and ouch. Also, while I like the harmonics, the Fred harmonics on this thing are overpowering - dial up any gain and instead of warmish bluesy stuff I get some pretty alien sounding stuff...I liked the PATB3 but that as well has a pretty bright top end...I was thinking Norton but, hey, why not bracket this problem? Throw in a TZ and work down if that does not cut it.
I'll put the Fred back int he SG meantime....
It is for a mahogany strat. Pao Ferro board - which is pretty hard, and a Wilkinson VS100. Something about that combination is very toppy - the Fred, which sounds fairly mellow & sweet in my SG sounds a bit over the top in that axe...OK clean higher up but get around the 12th fret & hit the E string and ouch. Also, while I like the harmonics, the Fred harmonics on this thing are overpowering - dial up any gain and instead of warmish bluesy stuff I get some pretty alien sounding stuff...I liked the PATB3 but that as well has a pretty bright top end...I was thinking Norton but, hey, why not bracket this problem? Throw in a TZ and work down if that does not cut it.
I'll put the Fred back int he SG meantime....
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
I had a mahogany Sabre - very thin strat shaped body. It sounded more "thin" than "toppy" to me (for a mahogany guitar), but your description might fit. The TZ was the best pickup I had in that one, so I'd bet it'll work well for you. I DID like the JB in that guitar as well, but more for solos; for rhythms it wasn't the best, nor as good as it was in my basswood guitar.
I had a mahogany Sabre - very thin strat shaped body. It sounded more "thin" than "toppy" to me (for a mahogany guitar), but your description might fit. The TZ was the best pickup I had in that one, so I'd bet it'll work well for you. I DID like the JB in that guitar as well, but more for solos; for rhythms it wasn't the best, nor as good as it was in my basswood guitar.
dr.barlo
New member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
I think them TZ's are great pickups. And I cannot understand why DiMarzio stopped doing MegaDrives. Those were great as well.
For moderate output pickups (more than PAF less than ceramics) TZ's, CC's (especially with a3 magnets) and MegaDrive's are my favorites. (I say this even tho I have strong feelings against the business practices of DiMarzio. And I have to admit that I do like like their other pickups that I have tried not that much.)
Hope you like yours.
Best,
B
I think them TZ's are great pickups. And I cannot understand why DiMarzio stopped doing MegaDrives. Those were great as well.
For moderate output pickups (more than PAF less than ceramics) TZ's, CC's (especially with a3 magnets) and MegaDrive's are my favorites. (I say this even tho I have strong feelings against the business practices of DiMarzio. And I have to admit that I do like like their other pickups that I have tried not that much.)
Hope you like yours.
Best,
B
fenderiarhs
Active member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
never liked the TZ .......stayed on my guitar only for one week..........muddy and artificial sounding.........the JB stayed there for much much longer.......
never liked the TZ .......stayed on my guitar only for one week..........muddy and artificial sounding.........the JB stayed there for much much longer.......
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
i love the TZ it's my favorite DMZ i think. i have it in basswood and it rocks, and i also have it in alder and it rocks there too. i'm yet to try it in mahogany but i will sometime. i also like the JB but the TZ is very different as others said. no high mid spike and a fatter low end with smoother highs. very good pickup IMO.
oh and as for the megadrive, you can still order them new they just aren't listed on DMZs site anymore.
-Mike
i love the TZ it's my favorite DMZ i think. i have it in basswood and it rocks, and i also have it in alder and it rocks there too. i'm yet to try it in mahogany but i will sometime. i also like the JB but the TZ is very different as others said. no high mid spike and a fatter low end with smoother highs. very good pickup IMO.
oh and as for the megadrive, you can still order them new they just aren't listed on DMZs site anymore.
-Mike
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
Ok.
As far as the TZ goes I think it's good for what it does.. It's a very niche pickup IMO because of the extreme EQ'ing of it. It's almost ALL bass and mids. It's a very dark pickup that is not very tight. To my ears it only sounds good with the brightest of setups because it is so dark, thick, and meaty.
I like dark pickups, however, I like something tighter such as the Super Distortion or Super3...these seem to work in more guitars to my ears.
So if you're looking for something darker than the JB....keep in mind that you're going to the full extreme of darkness with the TZ....there are many other pickups that are less extreme IMO that might fit better and be more moderate.
Reckless Abandon said:
Ok.
As far as the TZ goes I think it's good for what it does.. It's a very niche pickup IMO because of the extreme EQ'ing of it. It's almost ALL bass and mids. It's a very dark pickup that is not very tight. To my ears it only sounds good with the brightest of setups because it is so dark, thick, and meaty.
I like dark pickups, however, I like something tighter such as the Super Distortion or Super3...these seem to work in more guitars to my ears.
So if you're looking for something darker than the JB....keep in mind that you're going to the full extreme of darkness with the TZ....there are many other pickups that are less extreme IMO that might fit better and be more moderate.
Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
Reckless, since you have a Axis copy, the TZ is the closest production DMZ you can get to the bridge pickup in the Axis.[/QUOTE]
I thought about the TZ for it. The guitar is bright so it would have worked. I put an emg 85 in it and love it.
Reckless, since you have a Axis copy, the TZ is the closest production DMZ you can get to the bridge pickup in the Axis.[/QUOTE]
I thought about the TZ for it. The guitar is bright so it would have worked. I put an emg 85 in it and love it.
Re: JB vs. Tone Zone
Wow. My sabre wasn't really that bright, but I didn't think the TZ was that muddy or anything. I thought it chunked well but had a decent top. I cranked on a bit of amp treble, but it didn't seem out of place switching to stock C2 or F1 settings (the F1 is kinda-sorta like a breed).
Wow. My sabre wasn't really that bright, but I didn't think the TZ was that muddy or anything. I thought it chunked well but had a decent top. I cranked on a bit of amp treble, but it didn't seem out of place switching to stock C2 or F1 settings (the F1 is kinda-sorta like a breed).
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