software

Finally am going to cave in and get a neck pickup for my OLP, the epi pickup is killin me now for some reason. I have a Tone Zone in the bridge and LOVE it. I want a solo tone that is just as biting as it but just a tad bit smoother and less bright. What would you suggest? I'm thinking Humbucker from Hell, your thoughts? Dimarzio please, not in the market for SD's, got em in my LP.

I have a PAF Pro with a TZ in my Gibson SG Standard. I think that they're quite a good match, although the PAF Pro loses a bit in output IMO. It's a terrific pup.

The HFH is a great pickup but I don't think it's what you're looking for. It's VERY bright because it sounds like a fat single coil basically. Just look at the tone chart for it and see. What about a standard Dimarzio PAF or Virtual PAF?

IMO the Super 2 sound like what you are looking for.

I think the TZ- HFH combo doesnt work so well. It would be okay but

its one extreme to the other- their completely different pickups. the HFH might be a little to low and plane to match the TZ. Like I said not a bad combo but the Super 2 would work better for solos and stuff in the neck, thats what its made for.

I'd go with a PAF Pro or the Air Norton. The AN is a great match with the Tone Zone. Check out Petrucci's solo on the song quot;Scarredquot; from the Awake album to hear what it's capable of. It can go from that smooth tubular sound great for shredding to a snarly aggressive bite, depending on your pick attack and where you're at on the neck.

1st choice: Air Norton

2nd choice: Paf Pro

Try a Breed NEck, I have one in an RG and it sounds awesome. Nice and smooth with great presence.

Air Norton.

Now let me read the rest of the thread.

Yup. I'm sticking with the Air Norton.

The last half of Petrucci's solo on 'Scarred' is pretty much straight neck pickup. Hell, listen to anything Petrucci from Awake up to the present. That's the Air Norton at work.

I'll have to add to my earlier post that I may be changing my own PAF Pro away. It's a terrific pup, like I said, but I'd like it to have some more output, mids and highs. The change would go from damn great -gt; perfect. So PAF Pro stil could really be up your alley.

I wouldn't personally go for Air Norton, I've never tried it but it seems to have even less output than PAF Pro. I'm thinking maybe evolution neck, Fred or something else. The perfect pup for me seems to be hard to find.


Originally Posted by JohtosotkuI'll have to add to my earlier post that I may be changing my own PAF Pro away. It's a terrific pup, like I said, but I'd like it to have some more output, mids and highs. The change would go from damn great -gt; perfect. So PAF Pro stil could really be up your alley.

I wouldn't personally go for Air Norton, I've never tried it but it seems to have even less output than PAF Pro. I'm thinking maybe evolution neck, Fred or something else. The perfect pup for me seems to be hard to find.

Higher output isn't always the answer though, how the pickup reads on the meter is only one factor to consider. I personally prefer the PAF Pro for lower gain applications, and the AN for higher gain. They both clean up well, but that's how they excel when dirty IMO.


Originally Posted by NateYup. I'm sticking with the Air Norton.

The last half of Petrucci's solo on 'Scarred' is pretty much straight neck pickup. Hell, listen to anything Petrucci from Awake up to the present. That's the Air Norton at work.

Nuff said! Air Norton is just what I'm lookin for. Paf's are too low output, I play prog metal people!

The Air Norton will give you nice long sustain, too.

BREED neck model
this is damn near THEE perfect neck pup
it is a cross between the air norton(fattness,warmth)
paf pro( clarity,articulation)


Originally Posted by FretFireHigher output isn't always the answer though, how the pickup reads on the meter is only one factor to consider. I personally prefer the PAF Pro for lower gain applications, and the AN for higher gain. They both clean up well, but that's how they excel when dirty IMO.

So how would you compare the pickups and what would you recommend to me? The problem I have with my PAF Pro is that it lacks output compared to TZ, along with a bit of stronger highs and more midrange. I'm afraid that the AN, the Evo and the Breed as well lack output. I'm not sure were to turn to, maybe I'm just hearing it out wrong.
Originally Posted by SeraphimTNNuff said! Air Norton is just what I'm lookin for. Paf's are too low output, I play prog metal people!

But, according to DMZ website info, PAF Pro has more output than the AN. So are you sure?

Very sure, a good solo tone isn't saturated. High output pickups is why we have bridge pickups, a perfect balance in the neck will suffice and from what I've seen on the Dimarzio website that pickup is my choice, I'm sorry guys, I much prefer Dimarzio's BUT dont throw things! ahh, I still think this forum is better than anywhere else.

Wow, if Dimarzio shows the neck paf pro is hotter than the air norton, it looses alot of credibility to me.

I used the Air Norton 7 with my Tone Zone 7. They were spaced pretty much the same distance from the strings, and I didn't have the slightest problem with output on my AN.

I'm sure the original will be better, though. I just don't think that Ceramic magnets belong in the Air Norton.

Yep. Air Norton with the Tone Zone. Geez think I'm a believer? Second post on this one tonight

Super 2 for sure would do GREAT in a basswood body.