Closest seymour duncans to Tone Zone and Air Norton combo

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Lord Toneking

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Hi y'all, I'm doing a strat build and I'm trying to figure out what pups to put in it. Yes, another pup thread! :lol: :LOL: So many choices but let's stick to Duncans, ok?

Anyways, I've always used dimarzios but wanna try some Duncans for this particular guitar. It's Alder and I want a big fat sound... not a crispy chicken nugget. I don't like bright or thin! Fat warm sustaining goodness with just a bit of bite is what I'm after

Please advise ;)
 
There really is no duncan's like those dimarzios
The only vaguely similar to the TZ is the invader for the bridge and the 59 bridge model in the neck is about the closest.
 
charvelstrat81":3ud0s2n4 said:
There really is no duncan's like those dimarzios
The only vaguely similar to the TZ is the invader for the bridge and the 59 bridge model in the neck is about the closest.
Click to expand...

Ya think? I had a few invaders over the years and still have one in a box. My favorite Hamer has a TZ in it. The TZ has more harmonics and cleans up better. They sound and feel like very different pickups to me.
 
rcm78":2l0ksbs8 said:
charvelstrat81":2l0ksbs8 said:
There really is no duncan's like those dimarzios
The only vaguely similar to the TZ is the invader for the bridge and the 59 bridge model in the neck is about the closest.
Click to expand...

Ya think? I had a few invaders over the years and still have one in a box. My favorite Hamer has a TZ in it. The TZ has more harmonics and cleans up better. They sound and feel like very different pickups to me.
Click to expand...
Like i said there is NO duncan like the TZ
even the JB is far off.
 
I've only played one guitar with a TZ and I concur the Custom 5 would be comparable.
 
charvelstrat81":3dwgx59a said:
rcm78":3dwgx59a said:
charvelstrat81":3dwgx59a said:
There really is no duncan's like those dimarzios
The only vaguely similar to the TZ is the invader for the bridge and the 59 bridge model in the neck is about the closest.
Click to expand...

Ya think? I had a few invaders over the years and still have one in a box. My favorite Hamer has a TZ in it. The TZ has more harmonics and cleans up better. They sound and feel like very different pickups to me.
Click to expand...
Like i said there is NO duncan like the TZ
even the JB is far off.
Click to expand...


This. And some are saying Custom 5, but that has much less low-mids than a Tone Zone.
 
The Custom Shop RTM is a fatter, smoother JB... which vaguely kinda sorta loosely may fit the description of a Tone Zone... -ish...

I think what differentiates a Tone Zone the most from Duncans is the Dual Resonance thingy meaning one of the coils is wound with different wire gauge than the other. I don't think Duncan even sells anything with asymmetric windings other than the 59/Custom Hybrid, which is not wound anywhere near as hot as a Tone Zone.

IMO, the Tone Zone is one of the most DiMarzio-sounding DiMarzios, LOL, so it's going to be hard finding a Duncan that sounds quite like that.
 
Believe it or not you can call 'em direct and get them to custom wind you some pups that fit your specs.

And no, they're not overly priced.

Just FYI.
 
Lord Toneking":1czphug7 said:
How about a custom 5 and a jazz in the neck?
Click to expand...

One of my favorite Duncan pairings, yet they sound nothing like a Tone Zone and Air Norton which is one of my favorite DiMarzio pairings. Oddly enough the Tone Zone is one of my two go to DiMarzios and the Custom 5 on of my two go to Duncans but they're quite different. So it's possible you'd like the C5 but don't go into it thinking Tone Zone made by Duncan because it's not.

The Custom 5 has a big bottom, scooped mids and a real chimey top. The Tone Zone has a fat bottom too but it's tighter than the C5 and overall more compressed with more mids and a warmer top end while still having a good amount of bite.
 
I still dont get the whole" which duncan sounds like this dimarzio" ?
If you like the tone zone then get a tone zone! :doh: :lol: :LOL:
 
Why not just get a TZ and AN set since that is what you're shooting for?

I'm not too sure how they compare to the DiMarzios a Duncan Distortion and Jazz in the neck would be a cool combo. JB/50 Custom-Custom / Jazz combo are good
 
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