Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

[LonePhantom]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

If you're looking for a tighter sounding Tone Zone then check out the DiMarzio Mark Morton Dominion Bridge. I found it kinda like a "perfected" Tone Zone. Tighter and sharper, but with a similar output and footprint.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

I've had the Dominion... in the same guitar in question, actually. It was alright. Definitely not a fat-sounding pickup, IME. Tight and sharp for sure, but kinda dry and not juicy enough. Definitely not as hot as I want either, as I found it pretty close to the JB's output. It's a nice pickup, but not what I'm going for now.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

In other words, the JB has close to the right feel, the Distortion has the right amount of power, but I was hoping for an EQ that leans more towards a slightly smoother JB and not as wide (sizzly top and boomy lows) as the Distortion. Not to say the Distortion is boomy, but I'd prefer the feel of the JB's alnico-driven low-end than the Distortion's boldness.

This really makes me think of the Alternative 8...have you tried one of those yet?

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

Doesn't the Airbucker technology take a huge toll on the overall output? The only Airbucker I've had has been the PAF 36th Anni, and it was pretty puny even compared to the Duncan '59.

I would call the AZ a medium output pickup that really excels at high Gain. It's naturally dark and thick sounding so it by no means sounds small after being "aired".

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

This really makes me think of the Alternative 8...have you tried one of those yet?

I have not! Good idea. Isn't it even bassier than the Distortion, though?

I would call the AZ a medium output pickup that really excels at high Gain. It's naturally dark and thick sounding so it by no means sounds small after being "aired".

Well, what I want this pickup to do is to make me be able to plug all my guitars in without having to readjust my settings, at least when it comes to gain. I can deal with EQ differences, but plugging a mid-output pickup into a rig set for an EMG 85 is probably going to sound severely undergained, LOL.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

I have not! Good idea. Isn't it even bassier than the Distortion, though?

No, though it has a good dose of low-mids, and it does a good job of blending the character of Ceramic and Alnico. It's literally what your after...a distortion-class, smoother, warmer JB-type tone that isn't overly muffled or boomy :cough::tonezone::cough:

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

I have not! Good idea. Isn't it even bassier than the Distortion, though?


Well, what I want this pickup to do is to make me be able to plug all my guitars in without having to readjust my settings, at least when it comes to gain. I can deal with EQ differences, but plugging a mid-output pickup into a rig set for an EMG 85 is probably going to sound severely undergained, LOL.

I run an EMG 85 in one guitar and then switch to my AZ loaded guitar and I have no such issues.

The 85 isn't that hot. My JB and BW feel and sound hotter.
I bet if you tried a TZ, it would also feel and sound hotter than the 85.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Suhr Aldrich or Tone Zone - which is hotter and fatter but still tight?

No, though it has a good dose of low-mids, and it does a good job of blending the character of Ceramic and Alnico. It's literally what your after...a distortion-class, smoother, warmer JB-type tone that isn't overly muffled or boomy :cough::tonezone::cough:

Interesting. I'll look more into the Alternative 8. It does seem promising.

I run an EMG 85 in one guitar and then switch to my AZ loaded guitar and I have no such issues.

The 85 isn't that hot. My JB and BW feel and sound hotter.
I bet if you tried a TZ, it would also feel and sound hotter than the 85.

The Black Winter the 85 replaced in one of my guitars was indeed hotter, agreed.

I have the Distortion currently in this guitar I'm asking about the pickups for. Granted it's a different guitar, but the 85 is along the lines of the same output as the full-on oversized ceramic DD through my setup. I love the whole EQ shape of the Distortion with an A5 magnet swapped in (JB-ish I guess?), but there is a noticeable difference in output between my 85-equipped guitars and my DDA5 guitar. Not massive, but enough to bother me. Otherwise, I'd just have the JB, TBH. JME.