the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

[Othmane666]

Hi guys , hope you are doing well

actually i'm planing to change my ibanez stock pickups "the bridge one" , I have read alots that the tone zone sound muddy on mahogony body , but in other hand I have seen a video in which the tone zone sounds really awesome on the RG421 here is the video .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SJEgo2Y98

I have the same exact guitar ,and it's the sound I'm looking for , I play instrumental stuffs , solos on bass and keyboard and sometime riffs and powerchords , but as I said on forums I read people say it sounds bad on mahogony .
here are the choice I have :

Saymour Duncan SH4 JB model

Saymour Duncan SH2 Jazz model

Saymour Duncan SH6 distorsion model

Gibson 496R

Gibson 500T

Dilmarzio DP 155 Tone zone

Dimarzio DP 158 Evolution neck

Dimarzio Super distorsion

what do ypu think guys ?

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Every guitar is different. The generalizations about mahogany should be taken with a grain of salt. Mahogany is inconsistent in tone from plank to plank. What would really help us is knowing what styles you play, what amps you use, and what are you trying to achieve. Also, tell us what do you not like about your current pickup.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I have had no luck with the JB or Tone Zone in Mahogany guitars.
Bridge pickups I have had luck with include the Duncan Distortion, Custom, CustomCustom, 59, Seth Lover, Dimarzio Air Zone and Super Distortion.

 

[devastone]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SJEgo2Y98

I have the same exact guitar ,and it's the sound I'm looking for , I play instrumental stuffs , solos on bass and keyboard and sometime riffs and powerchords , but as I said on forums I read people say it sounds bad on mahogony .

Hmm, you have the same guitar and want the same sound, I would probably start with the TZ then. If it seems too woofy, play around with the distance from the strings on the bass side, and possibly height of the screws, like, lower the pick up from the strings, then raise the screws some. I like to replace the fillister screws with socket cap screws in TZs.

But also, don't forget the guy in the video may have a different "touch" than you do, so take that for what it's worth.

*EDIT* Or, you could just get the AT-1 for the TZ sound with tighter lows, I forgot about that one...

Also, if you buy new, DiMarzio also has a 30 day exchange policy.

 

[Othmane666]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Every guitar is different. The generalizations about mahogany should be taken with a grain of salt. Mahogany is inconsistent in tone from plank to plank. What would really help us is knowing what styles you play, what amps you use, and what are you trying to achieve. Also, tell us what do you not like about your current pickup.

I sold my amp 2 months ago , currently i'm using a practice amp "blackstar fly 3" but it's just for practice , for serious stuffs most of times im using virtual amps "i'm planing to get a real amp soon" . as I said , im moore in leads , playing solos on keyboards or only bass and drums in background , like gary moore , yngwie , dream theater stuffs , and i like metallica and megadeth too but im not looking for their heavy sound , but i will cover them ... what i didnt like about my current pickups ? ibanez stock pickups suck my friend

 

[Othmane666]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I have had no luck with the JB or Tone Zone in Mahogany guitars.
Bridge pickups I have had luck with include the Duncan Distortion, Custom, CustomCustom, 59, Seth Lover, Dimarzio Air Zone and Super Distortion.

how does super distortion sounds like ? especially in the highest notes ? is it too trebele like the jb ?

 

[Othmane666]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Hmm, you have the same guitar and want the same sound, I would probably start with the TZ then. If it seems too woofy, play around with the distance from the strings on the bass side, and possibly height of the screws, like, lower the pick up from the strings, then raise the screws some. I like to replace the fillister screws with socket cap screws in TZs.

But also, don't forget the guy in the video may have a different "touch" than you do, so take that for what it's worth.

*EDIT* Or, you could just get the AT-1 for the TZ sound with tighter lows, I forgot about that one...

Also, if you buy new, DiMarzio also has a 30 day exchange policy.

i think that what i will do , i want just to make sure that if i purshase the TZ , it will sound like the video , the same guitar and teh same pickup , why wont it sound alike ? ^^

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I think a tone zone in mahogany would mud city.
Great pickup it's just better suited to alder and basswood.
I have one in my RG Prestige 655 and love it though it can get a little muddy if you don't watch the gain and EQ and pickup height. Dialed in and it's awesome!

 

[Van Noord]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I would go with the Air Zone instead personally.

 

[jclogston]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Neither, go with a Duncan Distortion or PATB-2.

 

[Aceman]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I played a Tone ZOne in an all mahogany LP copy for a long time.

Not one bit muddy. Thick, yes. Muddy, no.

And I really like the way the TZ compresses. Gives solid state a touch of tube-like feel/sound IMO….

 

[dave74]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Don't go by the "muddy" generalization on jb/tz in mahogany.
Strings, tensions, picks, touch, and of course everything else in your rig after the fact are all big factors in how spongy or tight the low-end tracks.

 

[elelpe]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

If you're really doubtful about TZ, go with one of these: AZ, AT-1, Alt8.

 

[Top-L]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

Hi guys , hope you are doing well

actually i'm planing to change my ibanez stock pickups "the bridge one" , I have read alots that the tone zone sound muddy on mahogony body , but in other hand I have seen a video in which the tone zone sounds really awesome on the RG421 here is the video .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SJEgo2Y98

I have the same exact guitar ,and it's the sound I'm looking for , I play instrumental stuffs , solos on bass and keyboard and sometime riffs and powerchords , but as I said on forums I read people say it sounds bad on mahogony .
here are the choice I have :

Saymour Duncan SH4 JB model

Saymour Duncan SH2 Jazz model

Saymour Duncan SH6 distorsion model

Gibson 496R

Gibson 500T

Dilmarzio DP 155 Tone zone

Dimarzio DP 158 Evolution neck

Dimarzio Super distorsion

what do ypu think guys ?

It really depends on your guitar and your amp.

The Tone Zone has a really strong bass, but mahogony guitars also can have a lot of "sparkle" on top. Depending on the piece of wood, or if it is capped, etc.

IMO, mahogony guitars generally have a wide "hi-fi" presentation as opposed to basswood or alder which have more mid representation. Mahogony almost always sounds better unplugged but amped getting the right pickup can be more finicky.

The Tone Zone shipped in some mahogony body RGs late 90s, early 2000s, so its a proven combination. Whether you will like it depends on your signal chain. Good luck.

Personally, I would try it and if you don't like it, take advantage of their 30 day return policy. Another Dimarzio, in a similar vein as the TZ is the D-Sonic which I am really enjoying right now.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

I have a similar guitar (RGA32 MOL), with DiMarzio Evolution bridge and neck, and it's one of my favorite guitars.

 

[marcello252]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

One thing before we dig in it: what you don't like about your actual combo guitar + pickup? are they too bright/dark, cold/warm, you want more/less on something?

Apart from the ideal sound you want to obtain it's important to know how it sounds now and the areas where you want to work.

 

[Top-L]

Re: the tone zone vs JB on a mahogony body RG421

One thing before we dig in it: what you don't like about your actual combo guitar + pickup? are they too bright/dark, cold/warm, you want more/less on something?

Apart from the ideal sound you want to obtain it's important to know how it sounds now and the areas where you want to work.

True.

The Quantum pickup is actually quite similar to the Tone Zone.