software

Hi, I can get hold of the Dimarzio Evolution or the Tone Zone pickups for quite cheap but should i even consider them?

I play mostly metal, lead and rhythm. I also like tight chunky palm mutes. 80's thrash style.

I play a solid mahogony Les Paul with rosewood fretboard.

Would any of the mentioned pickups be any good to me? thanks

I wouldn't put either in a Les. Dimarzios tend to be very bass amp; mid heavy, which can lead to muddiness. They tend to sound better in lighter, strat style guitars IMO. If I had to chose between the 2, I would go with the Evos though, cause they're a bit more balanced and clear than the ToneZone.

Both are really good pickups for metal and shred imo... but if you are going to put one in a les paul, i say go for the evo's. they just scream! but the evo's, like the tz, tend to have a lot of quot;chunkquot; in mahogany-bodied guitars, so i recommend to lower your bass eq a wee bit more than you're used to.

also, if you can get a Steve's Special for cheap, i suggest you get that one for your les paul instead. they sound really good in a les paul matched with a humbucker from hell in the neck.

good luck!

The Steve's Special is a great pup for metal. Powerful palm mutes and when you play fast solos the notes are completely separate from each other, like when you tap them.

I wouldn't go either. These pickups are made for super strats ect and the woods they are usually made of and I can def. see those 2 pickups being a muddy mess in Mahogany. The TZ in my basswood axis is really bassy as is!

The Evo is much tighter in the low end. The TZ is really best for trem equiped guitars that need more low end and driving clear PAFish highs.

personally id go for the tone zone~

I just put a tone zone in the bridge of my epi les paul, and put an air norton in the neck. They both sound great, no muddiness at all. I like very bright crunchy pickups, and this tone zone fit the bill.

The Air norton is probably a little more versatile for my style of playing, and when I back off the tone control, it's hard to beat.

As for that tone zone though, it's a great sounding pickup. I have been playing it through my 5150's all weekend, and I love the bright crunch it offers. I tend to scoop the mids on my amps though, so that may help in defining the sound of these pickups.

evo, check my sig. it sounds amazing. awesome sound all across the board. its amazing how you can hear every note under heavy distortion when your playing a chord. palm mutes sound incredible too. overall its a very huge sounding pickup in my les paul. im thinking of putting a tone zone in the bridge of my carvin because its an alder bodied guitar and could use more low end. the super distortion is good but not quite there. i could use a bit more mids as well.

I would go Air Zone but that's not an option.

Evo is clearer and silkier for screamin' leads (does that make sense? lol) They are both good. THE EVO is clearer. I think you should consider whether you like CERAMIC or ALNICO 5 mags, since EVOs have a distinctly Ceramic bright power. You should also look into the EVO 2 or Breed.

I wouldnt put either into a les paul as well.
As the rest have said...it'll be muddy madness...coz of the mahogany wood.

I think for Dimarzio you might wanna try a Super Distortion in the bridge of ur LP

EVO or EVO 2


Originally Posted by I_M_KenI wouldnt put either into a les paul as well.
As the rest have said...it'll be muddy madness...coz of the mahogany wood.

I think for Dimarzio you might wanna try a Super Distortion in the bridge of ur LP

An Evo being muddier than a Super Distortion??No way......not to say that the SUper Distortion is muddy, but the Evo is NEVER muddy in almost ANY guitar.

Evolution and TZ are very neutral.
Hifi pickup

It's doesnt have a organic sound and they are cold.


Originally Posted by slash857evo, check my sig. it sounds amazing. awesome sound all across the board. its amazing how you can hear every note under heavy distortion when your playing a chord. palm mutes sound incredible too. overall its a very huge sounding pickup in my les paul. im thinking of putting a tone zone in the bridge of my carvin because its an alder bodied guitar and could use more low end. the super distortion is good but not quite there. i could use a bit more mids as well.
This a pretty good desription of how hear the TZ and evo too.

The TZ is much more organic than a super distortion, and most any high output distortion model hummer, however, clean it's not at most common settings.

Now, I hear the the Evo as very high out put, but more HI-FI and tight.


Originally Posted by I_M_KenI wouldnt put either into a les paul as well.
As the rest have said...it'll be muddy madness...coz of the mahogany wood.

I think for Dimarzio you might wanna try a Super Distortion in the bridge of ur LP

i dont know about the Evo's being muddy in mahogany-bodied guitars. they sound really clear in my PRS. I had a Super Distortion in my PRS before and it was a muddy mess. i sold the SD, to my friend with a basswood BC RICH, and it sounded great there. the mahogany body just enhances the evo's mids and low-end and the evo has enough top-end sizzle to balance out with the warmth of mahogany. the evo also has a lot of punch and BITE... and i mean it bites like a beast... dont take that lightly!