Taming the Tone Zone..

[napalmdeath]

I picked up another Ibanez Prestige and was concerned about the Tone Zone. I never liked it... Did some research and have read many suggestions, and seemed to hit the sweet spot.

I lowered it to about 4mm, and raised the pole pieces. Worked significantly better. The bass has been subdued, and better clarity. I ordered some alloy 1022 hex head pole pieces that are shorter, another suggestion found over at the Jemsite, but right now, it's already been a huge improvement. I've lowered the pickup in the past, never 4mm though. Crank that sucker down and raise those pole pieces, E, A, D a bit more, but still at a good radius, and it's golden. It's also less low-mid heavy. Of course a boost has to be in the mix, chock 'o block.

 

[tommythelurker]

Yeah, I ran it quite low when I put one in my old S540. Never messed with the pole pieces though. I haven't adjusted it since getting my Prestige, wanted to live with how it was "meant" to sound for a while but it's probably time.

 

[DanTravis62]

Best tone zone setup; rip it out of the guitar, throw it in trash, and put a Duncan in

 

[tommythelurker]

I have a duncan custom I'm tempted to try but haven't felt like tearing into the electronics.

 

[Shask]

I picked up another Ibanez Prestige and was concerned about the Tone Zone. I never liked it... Did some research and have read many suggestions, and seemed to hit the sweet spot.

I lowered it to about 4mm, and raised the pole pieces. Worked significantly better. The bass has been subdued, and better clarity. I ordered some alloy 1022 hex head pole pieces that are shorter, another suggestion found over at the Jemsite, but right now, it's already been a huge improvement. I've lowered the pickup in the past, never 4mm though. Crank that sucker down and raise those pole pieces, E, A, D a bit more, but still at a good radius, and it's golden. It's also less low-mid heavy. Of course a boost has to be in the mix, chock 'o block.

I am curious how high you have the screws out of the top of the pickup.

 

[napalmdeath]

I am curious how high you have the screws out of the top of the pickup.

Maybe the distance of the screw head on some, others slightly lower.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have a duncan custom I'm tempted to try but haven't felt like tearing into the electronics.

I'm thinking that would be the ideal pickup, and if i decide to change the Tone Zone, that's the one I'll go for.

 

[BeZo]

Can't you just fix it with an EQ pedal?

 

[rsm]

Can't you just fix it with an EQ pedal?

...or a new amp?

 

[DanTravis62]

Can't you just fix it with an EQ pedal?

If you can fix it with an EQ pedal, then you can make it sound like a wagner ironman with 543 Boss GE7s

In fact, that's the smartest tone move of all time, just have a pedalboard of nothing but seven hundred Boss GE7s (but make sure to have an EQ200 in the loop for midi)

Edit: I think visualization helps with this. Notice how I am very smart and watch Rick and Morty because I use 56 GE7s.

 

[BeZo]

If you can fix it with an EQ pedal, then you can make it sound like a wagner ironman with 543 Boss GE7s

In fact, that's the smartest tone move of all time, just have a pedalboard of nothing but seven hundred Boss GE7s (but make sure to have an EQ200 in the loop for midi)

Edit: I think visualization helps with this. Notice how I am very smart and watch Rick and Morty because I use 56 GE7s.

View attachment 460753

Should just need two: One before the pickup and one after it.

That's how they do it in the studio.

 

[DanTravis62]

Should just need two: One before the pickup and one after it.

That's how they do it in the studio.

I saw on instagram that they use one before the pickup, one after, and another EQ as a slide, and another EQ as a capo.

Think about how much control you would have then!

 

[stratjacket]

Interesting. I’ve tried the TZ a few times and never jelled with it. I have one in my drawer and will try this next time I give it a whirl

 

[gclef]

Best tone zone setup; rip it out of the guitar, throw it in trash, and put a Duncan in

I had a tone zone years ago. Didn't like it.
I fixed it by exchanging it for a norton.
These days, the transition sits between the norton and the TZ.

 

[DanTravis62]

I had a tone zone years ago. Didn't like it.
I fixed it by exchanging it for a norton.
These days, the transition sits between the norton and the TZ.

I am not a dimarzio fan in any way

But a norton is a huge upgrade over a tone zone for sure

 

[thegame]

This pickup has crap tone that’s never in the zone. Epitome of false advertising

 

[DanTravis62]

This pickup has crap tone that’s never in the zone. Epitome of false advertising

In all seriousness the tone zone was the first aftermarket pickup I ever encountered where it was almost impossible for me to get a recorded tone I liked out of it. My buddy had an ibanez prestige RG with one in it, and when I tracked his band, it was the first situation where I honest to god considered quitting doing engineering and production. We tried marshalls. We tried 5150s. We tried boosted and unboosted. No matter what we did, not only did it have the signature honk, it was somehow honky and muddy; at the same time.

I am an A5 superfan, and even more so I love medium hot A5 pickups. You'd think it would be my favorite Dimarzio ever, right? Not so much. Since then, I have discovered multiple aftermarket pickups that I hate, but the tonezone reminds me every day that specs aren't everything.

 

[JimAnsell2]

tone zone hate?!!? lol am i the only guy who fucking loves that stupid ass pick up??
i have it in my explorer, my strat...always in the bridge of strats because it gives it "mahagony balls". i really liked the FRED and Breed pickups from dimarzio too. they have something "hi-fi / extra "umph" going on with them which works well for expressiveness with notes (i.e. not hiding your playing for better or worse)

 

[BlueParfait]

I've finally loved a Tone Zone in one of my guitars

It's in this rather toppy superstrat without a tone knob

 

[thegame]

In all seriousness the tone zone was the first aftermarket pickup I ever encountered where it was almost impossible for me to get a recorded tone I liked out of it. My buddy had an ibanez prestige RG with one in it, and when I tracked his band, it was the first situation where I honest to god considered quitting doing engineering and production. We tried marshalls. We tried 5150s. We tried boosted and unboosted. No matter what we did, not only did it have the signature honk, it was somehow honky and muddy; at the same time.

I am an A5 superfan, and even more so I love medium hot A5 pickups. You'd think it would be my favorite Dimarzio ever, right? Not so much. Since then, I have discovered multiple aftermarket pickups that I hate, but the tonezone reminds me every day that specs aren't everything.

We need a “this is your brain…this is your brain on DiMarzio” public service announcement. The “on drugs” portion would be that recent pic of Vai and Satriani staring weirdly at each other