Thoughts on DiMarzio Dominion, Gravity Storm, AT-1, and Air Zone?

[Rex_Rocker]

... And how do they do for downtuned Metal?

The story is DiMarzio has a sale right now in their site. I love trying new pickups out, so it might be a good oportunity to try another one out. Generally, I like to keep my guitars in the neighborhood tone-wise, but each with their own identity. That makes them all work when plugging into the same settings without having to tweak, but still be able to tell them apart and do different things. And I am liking my JB's right now, so I figured it would be cool to get something along the lines, but different.

I've tried the Dominion before and liked it. That would be a safe bet, and it fits the bill as being (loosely) JB-ish, but also its own thing. But it's also the one pickup I've tried, and I wouldn't mind trying out others. If none of the others are suited for Drop C or B chuggs, however, I might pick this one up.

What are the Gravity Storm, AT-1, and Air Zone like? I've tried the Tone Zone, but that was ages ago. I did like it, though. And figured the Airbucker thing would tame the TZ a bit and make it more suitable for drop tunings? What about the GS and the AT?



Thank you.

 

[Chistopher]

I've heard nothing but stellar things about the Gravity Storm. 25% off their whole catalog

 

[Rex_Rocker]

25% off their whole catalog

Too bad the Breed isn't on their site anymore. I'm interested in that one as well.

 

[jeremy]

they do the 25% off at least once or twice a year. i didnt know they stopped making the breed

 

[Rex_Rocker]

they do the 25% off at least once or twice a year. i didnt know they stopped making the breed

Yeah, I bought a double cream D Activator last year's Black Friday.

And yeah, it's a shame they took the Breed down. I don't think they stopped making it, though. You can still buy it new off Ebay.

 

[soulforger]

Too bad the Breed isn't on their site anymore. I'm interested in that one as well.

The Breed can still be ordered from Dimarzio, it just isn't on the site.You would have to email or call in the order. I settled on the AT-1 for my PRS SE Floyd and so far I have been really happy with it. The bottom stays solid so I suspect it would be great for downtuned metal. I play metal but I tune to E Flat but often with a dropped D and it sounds killer. It def has some JB 'ish" qualities, a really chewy midrange, lower focus than the JB though and it has quite a lot of lows just as the Tone Zone/Air Zone do. My favorite thing about it is the full fat, vocal solo tone. Great for a brighter toned instrument. It works well with high gain amps. If you try the Breed, I always say this, but know that the Breed neck model is a great bridge pickup as well with it's own character, not as middy as the bridge model but it is actually the same output as the Air Zone, AT-1, and MoJo. The Breed neck has a brighter top end and more open sound and is said to be basically a hotter, fatter PAF Pro. FWIW I think the Dominion bridge is very similar if not the same as a Breed bridge with a ceramic magnet (Dom has a "regular" ceramic not a thick one. The neck models are definitely different though.

 

[xxxplorer]

I had a breed a few years ago. I liked that one. IIRC... Breed and Dominion are similar with different mags. But I could be wrong.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I had a breed a few years ago. I liked that one. IIRC... Breed and Dominion are similar with different mags. But I could be wrong.

The Breed can still be ordered from Dimarzio, it just isn't on the site.You would have to email or call in the order. I settled on the AT-1 for my PRS SE Floyd and so far I have been really happy with it. The bottom stays solid so I suspect it would be great for downtuned metal. I play metal but I tune to E Flat but often with a dropped D and it sounds killer. It def has some JB 'ish" qualities, a really chewy midrange, lower focus than the JB though and it has quite a lot of lows just as the Tone Zone/Air Zone do. My favorite thing about it is the full fat, vocal solo tone. Great for a brighter toned instrument. It works well with high gain amps. If you try the Breed, I always say this, but know that the Breed neck model is a great bridge pickup as well with it's own character, not as middy as the bridge model but it is actually the same output as the Air Zone, AT-1, and MoJo. The Breed neck has a brighter top end and more open sound and is said to be basically a hotter, fatter PAF Pro. FWIW I think the Dominion bridge is very similar if not the same as a Breed bridge with a ceramic magnet (Dom has a "regular" ceramic not a thick one. The neck models are definitely different though.

​
Yeah, as far as I know, the Dominion is based off the Breed.

Few differences more other than the mag, though. Dominion has Virtual Vintage stuff, and the baseplate is nickel rather than brass. Not sure if the wind is the same.

 

[Aceman]

I was very stoked as I'm looking for an Area PJ set...but they have really reduced their bass offerings

 

[Chistopher]

I think the Sixties PJ set is closest to the Area I think. The Model PJ set came with the Charvel Pro Mod that I got and I like those

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I ordered the AT-1. I hope I like it!

 

[soulforger]

​
Yeah, as far as I know, the Dominion is based off the Breed.

Few differences more other than the mag, though. Dominion has Virtual Vintage stuff, and the baseplate is nickel rather than brass. Not sure if the wind is the same.

I forgot about the Virtual Vintage and nickel in the Dominion, the AT-1 has that as well along with the Air tech. It would be interesting to try with and without the VV to see the difference it makes, but some say it's tricky to remove the slugs, I haven't been tempted to do fiddle with the AT-1 yet though lol!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I forgot about the Virtual Vintage and nickel in the Dominion, the AT-1 has that as well along with the Air tech. It would be interesting to try with and without the VV to see the difference it makes, but some say it's tricky to remove the slugs, I haven't been tempted to do fiddle with the AT-1 yet though lol!

Yeah, my only experience with the Airbucker thing is with my Air Norton, and I dig it, but that's in the neck. I don't love that it waters down the output. I do like that it makes the pickup brighter as there's less metal on it.

We'll see how I get along with the AT-1. It's going in a Strat, so there's that.

 

[Masta' C]

I de-aired my AT-1...I like it!

That said, the Gravity Storm is probably next on my list to try

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I de-aired my AT-1...I like it!

That said, the Gravity Storm is probably next on my list to try

How did you de-air it? Where can you get a keeper that fit the odd spacing DiMarzios have? Also, did you have to swap out the slugs? I believe the airbucker slugs are narrower at the bottom so they don't touch the magnet?

 

[soulforger]

I de-aired my AT-1...I like it!

That said, the Gravity Storm is probably next on my list to try

When I get the urge to tinker that will probably be the first thing I try lol!