Dimarzio 36th vs AT-1

[AmpliFIRE]

Which one do you like in a H/S/S alder guitar? I like a well balanced pickup with some balls and clarity...but not too hot.

Thanks in advance

 

[chumbucket]

If the guitar is bright, go with the AT-1. If not the 36th is hard to beat. Good all around-er.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

If the guitar is bright, go with the AT-1. If not the 36th is hard to beat. Good all around-er.

Yeah, it's a little bright but I like my tone a bit on the bright side.

 

[chumbucket]

If the guitar is bright, go with the AT-1. If not the 36th is hard to beat. Good all around-er.

Yeah, it's a little bright but I like my tone a bit on the bright side.

By all means then, go 36th and don't look back. Cool pickup at a sweet price.

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

The AT-1 is one of the darkest pups I've ever tried. The 36th is cool, but it has a single coil quality in its attack/ tone.......at least in my experience.

Have you considered the Norton (NOT the Air Norton). It fits your description perfectly. I had it in a few alder guitars and its damn near perfect to my ears.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

The AT-1 is one of the darkest pups I've ever tried. The 36th is cool, but it has a single coil quality in its attack/ tone.......at least in my experience.

Have you considered the Norton (NOT the Air Norton). It fits your description perfectly. I had it in a few alder guitars and its damn near perfect to my ears.

Yeah...I've seen you mention the Norton a few times. They make it sound dark in the description since they compare it to the Tone Zone.

 

[threadkiller]

I have the Norton in an Explorer and an AT-1 in a maple neck through Carvin. They are both great pups. I suggest using the pup finder program on the dimarzio website. It hasn't let me down yet. Put in your info a few different ways and see what it recommends most consistently. I bought both of these using that program. I need something to add some harmonics and open up my explorer which is neck through and all mahogany and sounded a little dull. My carvin was bright and chirpy and the AT 1 really tamed that.

Also to muddy the waters, consider the FRED. It is really a PAF pro with a little more midrange.

 

[DrugDM]

+1 on the Fred. The Fred is such a cool pickup and balances very well with single coils. With gain it may be one of the most articulate pickups by Dimarzio but still sounds great with a clean tone.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

The AT-1 is one of the darkest pups I've ever tried. The 36th is cool, but it has a single coil quality in its attack/ tone.......at least in my experience.

Have you considered the Norton (NOT the Air Norton). It fits your description perfectly. I had it in a few alder guitars and its damn near perfect to my ears.

My experience as well with the 36th..great crunch and cut but sometimes can feel to quacky and sharp in it's attack. Also consider the air zone. it is a nice slightly hoter paf with great string definition and not too bass heavy in a brighter guitar. I bet you that's what you are looking for.

 

[Anonymous]

Lots of great Dimarzio pickups out there
The only ones I didn't really like, out of the dozen I've owned, are the Steve's Special (intentionally scooped, not for me, but glad I tried it and have it on 1 guitar for some different stuff), PAF Pro in neck position (too nasal sounding for my tastes) and Evolution bridge (sounds kinda dead)
The Dimarzio website has a really good layout and makes it to browse through

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The pick up picker on the dimarzio website tells me that i should go with either one of these two...hence the thread

Now I'm thinking I should look at something else based on the replies here

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

I have a like new Dimarzio 36th bridge laying in my parts drawer. It's black/cream and F spaced. I'll send it to you for free if you send me a few bucks to cover shipping. I have no use for it.

 

[glassjaw7]

I have a like new Dimarzio 36th bridge laying in my parts drawer. It's black/cream and F spaced. I'll send it to you for free if you send me a few bucks to cover shipping. I have no use for it.