Dude, this has to be the very best pickup comparison video I have seen. First off, you offer a killer mix and "real world" tone and application. Plus your playing is spot on which makes all of the pickup sound good. Plus the consistency of your playing in the different takes is also note worthy and makes for a great experience for the listener to hear the differences in the pickups on the video's audio. Your sound quality is top notch for this type of thing. A lot of times the reviewer will talk about the differences they hear in the room but doesn't translate to the audio. You can hear texture, tone shape and volume. Thanks for posting. Well done Holmes!
I know this is 3 years late to the party, but seconded. You absolutely nailed the mix. It shows off how responsive and dynamic each pickup is. Your amp tone doesn’t take over too much either and the guitars are forward enough in the mix to hear the difference while still hearing the practical application.
@@sacredxgeometry Yea, the subtle differences would likely be ironed out in a more realistic mix as well. This is superb for showcasing the pickups but in reality you'd have the bass guitar turned up and some vocals over the top.
Your chorus riff is freaking tasty! One of the better riffs I’ve heard in a long time. Excellent video. I really appreciate the work that went into this comparison video. Thanks, man!
From what I hear, Crunch Lab has a rich botttom and low mids just like what you hear from early JP's works - note it sounds somehow muffled on lower notes; Tone Zone has a balanced EQ thus sound warm and soft but you can hear all the notes clearly; and EVO has the most definable tone thanks to its standing-out mids and top end. I'd say go for what you want as they are just tuned differently - not that much. The difference can mostly be compensated by other factors like the woods, amp, post-eq and efx, etc.
Definitely the EVO for my tastes. Thanks for posting such a concise demo on song and volume so we can hear the differences, some are subtle but most are not, much appreciated!
So true. A factor most people ignore is high gain actually destroys fidelity, so for someone to say that "This pickup as a more robust bottom end" or "This one has a brighter midrange" is just using their own brand opinion to which "sounds" better. I will agree that playing any of them through a clean amp setting will definitely produce a different tone, in a high-gain application, there really is no sonic difference. The only difference you may actually hear is the db output of the different pickups, nothing more.
@@kiillabytez some you can tell with hi gain. A jb vs a distortion. I can tell apart. But it’s a subtle difference. Most if they are similar wound n magnets are very hard.
This is a great comparison! It definitely allows us out here in TV land to get a dose for our styles of Metal! I can definitely hear the distinction between the pickups and can pin point what types of metal they'd fit with!
They all sounded different, some sound tighter, more defined , spongier ... in the end these things are all pretty subtle especially to an untrained ear .. in the end though pickups only change your sound so much, I think people expect pickups to magically change their entire sound...
Hey man, if you're using X2N on the bridge, what would you use on the neck if I'm looking something with rich harmonics. Was thinking of X2N bridge, Fred F Spaced on neck(RG 550/basswood/maple neck). Afraid that the power difference will make the Fred slightly shy on volume. Ive been using Air Norton on the neck for 20 years on two guitars, one with Steve's special and the other Fred on the bridge. Thinking of going without individual pole piece styled bridge pickup to experience the other spectrum of sound and attack of the flavourful Dimarzio. Thank you for your time pal.
I actually have the X2n in an Ibanez right now with the air Norton in the neck and it sounds awesome, tiny bit of a volume difference but not enough to worry about in my opinion. Fred would probably work fine, I usually just put in what I like lol
I personally like the the evolution more, just because of the slightly higher output. The gravity storm does have better note separation though, so it just depends on the type of music.
What is wrong with the Tone Zone?? Muddy, unclear, loose... other pickups all sound great and pretty much the same. Is it possible TZ is this bad compared to other Dimarzio pickups?
Tone Zone sounded muffled on the low end. I have blue Evolutions in my purple neon RG550. I’m looking for something a little different in my new, desert sun yellow, RG550. I was considering the Tone Zone but this demo saved me from that. Thanks!
What did you end up with in your new RG550? I came to this video because I'm trying to decide which pickups I want in my RG550... I tried the Crunch Lab and this guitar is just too bright for it. The Crunch Lab is all mids, so in this guitar it just lacked bottom end. I was going to go with the Tone Zone, but I do love the Evolution, how do you like it?
I am a die hard Super Distortion fan. All of my humbucker guitars have a DP-100 in the bridge. IT seems to be the most versatile, but I bought a High end Ibanez Prestige that had a tone zone in the bridge, and I have to say it made me question if one of them was going in my new SG. The vid does not do it justice.
Gravity Storm. It combines some of the clarity of the Evolution with the punch and weight of the Tone Zone without being too much of either... Where the Evolution is too pingy and the Tone Zone too fat, the Gravity Storm is just right. The thing that's missing though is the PAF PRO. For soe reason, lately, that pickup, as old as it is, is winning shootout after shootout.
Ummmm...., I think yoou might want to listen again. There is no difference in the tone of any of them, unless you've got supernatural hearing, of course.
Wow!. Such articulation and capturing of the individual tones of the pickups!. I don't know if it's because of my bias, but the Crunch Lab wins for me, I came for the Tone Zone demo though!.
i mean your not going to hear really any diffrence unless he takes the distortion off. I can attest that the tone zone and evolution will be way more versatile then the x2n.
Was actually here to see how the tone zone would compare. I've been playing x2ns for years, and I wanted to find something that wasn't a one trick pony.
Cateraxman333 I have a tone zone and am here bc I feel it's too weak for more extreme metal even thrash it's not tight or defined but it is probably more versatile I just need something hotter
I actually have the Air Norton paired with it right now in the neck position. It's not matched or even close with the output but I like the sound of it. Yeah Death was awesome \m/
It's the blade mags. The X2N is the best, the Crunch Lab, second best. If you want clarity with ultra high gain you simply CANNOT beat blade mags. I've used a number of DiMarzios and my favorite for high gain are the X2N and the D Activator X, which is also dual blade. They are awesome.
Yeah, same. This is one of the best pickup demos I've seen. Would have been nice to have the D Activator X and the Super Distortion in there. The D Activator X is a slightly toned down version of the X2N. I have a vintage 1987 X2N. There is no hotter passive pickup on the market still to this day. It's an untamed beast. The Crunch lab has a good natural tone but it lacks the power of the X2N.
X2N was a little too hot but sounded good. The tone zone lack definition. The I couldn't hear a difference between evo and gravity storm besides the latter having more low end. Crunch lab was nice too.
Cheers from Texas! 🤘😎🤘 I appreciate your dedication to this project!! Killer song! Great performances! I'll listen again with better speakers... Rock on! M
Good work! The best pickup comparison I have seen so far. Having the Tone Zone and the Gravity Storm, I was surprised how "metal" the X2N sounded. I guess I will give it a try!
Why are you suprised? The X2N is literally two slabs of metal producing an extremely large magnetic field. What should be amazing is how they aren't picking up more than just the strings.
Evolution was great~ Kind of a more.. cleaner, yet gritty distortion? And X2N was also great too, much more aggression, sharpness maybe?? But I'm also saying that because I'm a huge Death fan.
+JayF Official The tone zone isn't designed for djenty binary metal. It's designed for actually TONES, actually chords and decent solos. I LOVE the tone zone just like I love the Dimarzio AT1, which has a very similar EQ curve to the TZ but with a little lower output and far superior harmonics. The problem with this demo, like most demos nowadays, is that people think djent=the only kind of metal there is today which is total bullshit. Mindless chugcraft is not the only kind of metal there is and certain pickups will not sound good in that situation. The Tone Zone is one of those pickups. Now if Matt there actually did something besides downtuned chugfest, something in E standard along the lines of Dokken, the Tone zone would sound a million times better.
+pilotamurorei I don't like any "Djent"! But the Tonezone is to dark for my taste and the Crunch Lab to harsh or to "precise". The X2N i think has too much output for my liking.
I agree, this is an excellent comparison. Most of these PU videos are soling. You can't tell mush from single notes, you need to hear chords and rhythm playing. Most just can't handle looking like they can't solo well and turn it into an "I really don't suck" video. No help at all unlike this video. I just bought an Ibanez with a Tone Zone in the bridge.
Nice demo, I love DiMarzio pickups. For me.... 1) Evolution & Tone Zone (my favorite DiMarzio bridge pickups, so makes sense they tied for 1st) 2) Crunch Lab (I have one but haven't installed it yet...still need to get the Liquifire neck pickup to go with it) 3) X2N (planning to get this for a future HH Ibanez... any recommendations for a neck pickup that would pair well with the X2N? If I can't decide on one I'll get a set of DiMarzio D-Activators instead. 4) Gravity Storm (I didn't like it as much as I had hoped, which is disappointing because those are the stock pups for the Ibanez JEM77P that I hope to buy later this year)
Listen with a good set of headphones and jump from pickup to pickup and you can spot the differences. X2N has way more bite. Crunch lab sounds more hidden or veiled. All sounds good in the context of what he is playing however.
Many comments saying they can't hear the difference. Well, I CAN hear the difference, but it's underneath some really muddy, sludgy, canned poop pod hatched distortion that really masks the goodness. That said, I still appreciate the effort and it was enough for me that I can hear the differences enough to know what I am going for. This is helpful so thumbs up from me. But to really hear and FEEL the differences these pickups will make in your situation, you gotta try 'em out with YOUR amp and dial in YOUR sound. Keep training those ears, my friends.
Good video. X2N for this genre of music, followed by Crunch Lab. The others I didn’t like- for this style of music. Tone Zone is great if you’re not playing fast chunky rhythms. For speed chunky stuff Tone Zone becomes mud. Probably the best all-around would have been the Super Distortion. Great from classic rock to modern metal. At 13 K it may be too low output for this, though.
Well that sold me haha. X2N 7 for my bridge and blaze in the neck. Currently running a pair of D Activators and while they're not bad, they just aren't my style. They really tried to replicate the sound of actives and Its pretty sweet if you're into that. Guitar came with em so I can't really complain. The X2N just had this specific bite to the low end. Wish they came in more bobbin colors then black but either way it has an wonderful tone
I like to try to cover a lot of ground, style-wise, so, having a lot of different guitars is appealing to me. With that being said, for this heavy/tight metal rhythm style, my picks would be: #1 - Crunch Lab #2 - Evolution #3 - X2N (but probably would never use, just too hot) I wouldn't use either of the lower-output AlNiCo magnet ones (Gravity Storm and Tone Zone) for this type of application.
All sound pretty much the same. Maybe it's the digital amp modelling doing that but it just goes to show a lot of the aftermarket picups are just marketing. Different models of the same pickup type (eg. hot humbucker) are all just slight differences to EQ and output that your audience won't notice or care about. Stock pickups are a lot better these days than they used to be too.
I'm thinking about getting an x2n. It sounds a little scratchy during the fast picking at the beginning of your lick. Would you say you can still get good punchy rhythms with your amp slightly scooped? I'm also considering a D-activator or Super Distortion-or even a duncan custom-since the eq's on those favor the low end a little more. I'm looking for whichever is full, articulate with a punchy low end, and wet to get smooth squeelies. Thoughts, anyone? Thanks in advance.
Awesome video! Wanted to get a gravity storm but your video (which actually shows rhythm tones and not Steve Vai-style soloing with lots of delay) changed my mind. Way too muddy and scooped for my taste. Will consider the X2N though.
Gravity storm and the Crunch lab ...but to be honest any one will work fine just adjust the amp and overdrive to be more open than tight and you should be good to go.
Tied between the Evo and the Crunch Lab for me. Been meaning to get rid of my dead ass EMGs for a while, I guess it really shows pickups designed by shredders are a player's best bet for high gain tones with livelihood and definition to them.
Yeah either one would be great, I have the Evo in my guitar right now, but had the Crunch Lab in there for a long time. I have a DiMarzio Illuminator in my 7 String and it's awesome also.
Gravity Storm sounds the best to me overall. It's got the clearest tone with the most impact. X2N was good, but a bit too gainy in the chord sections. Evo sounds a lot like Gravity Storm, but a bit more "metal" in the sense of a sharp attack with fuzzplosians, but I though that the GS sounded better. Tone Zone lacked punch in the mids and sounded just a bit murky. Crunch Lab was my second favorite, it's always fascinating to me and I loke the sound, but I don't think it's ever won a shootout. As always, I dug the solid low end and highs, but it sounds a bit scooped to me.
+AkiraSpectrum Thanks! The Evolution was my favorite, it has a really raw sounding midrange. The Evolution is very versatile, but I would say the Gravity Storm is the most versatile out of all the pickups.
Wow, nice demo. The only one I didn't like is the Tone Zone, the mids are a little too extreme for these metal rhythms although for leads it might win. The X2N sounds gigantic and the Evolution or Crunch Lab have the best balance.
The only thing you wrote that makes sense is that the X2N had the biggest sound, because of the magnetic field, it will definitely produce more output. Other than that, there is no sonic difference.
@@kiillabytez get your ears checked. This is easily the most laughable comment I've read all day and it's going to be a while before something tops it.
WOW !!! awesome riffing 👍 I was thinking of a super 3/gravity storm neck combo on ash body with an ebony fretboard...I'd really like your opinion on this 1...thanx in advance 🎸💣🤘!!!
Chuggy Riff - Arpeggio Riff - "Thirds" riff
X2N 0:10 - 0:21 - 0:31
Gravity Storm 0:42 - 0:53 - 1:03
Evolution 1:14 - 1:25 - 1:35
The Tone Zone 1:46 - 1:57 - 2:07
Crunch Lab 2:18 - 2:29 - 2:39
Thanks for all the work on the time stamps. And double thanks to the Uploader
gravity storm
Dude, this has to be the very best pickup comparison video I have seen. First off, you offer a killer mix and "real world" tone and application. Plus your playing is spot on which makes all of the pickup sound good. Plus the consistency of your playing in the different takes is also note worthy and makes for a great experience for the listener to hear the differences in the pickups on the video's audio. Your sound quality is top notch for this type of thing. A lot of times the reviewer will talk about the differences they hear in the room but doesn't translate to the audio. You can hear texture, tone shape and volume. Thanks for posting.
Well done Holmes!
+Enzo Treppa Thanks a lot man!! Glad you liked it!
Yeah this was a really good and straight to the point pickup shootout.
Definitely the best DiMarzio comparison. There's literally no other high gain comparison between diffent DMZs that doesn't suck ass.
I know this is 3 years late to the party, but seconded. You absolutely nailed the mix. It shows off how responsive and dynamic each pickup is. Your amp tone doesn’t take over too much either and the guitars are forward enough in the mix to hear the difference while still hearing the practical application.
For me.... ToneZone. It had the clarity across the range and still cut through while getting that smooth velvet-ish feel with the chords.
Same here, and they're all great pickups. Been using a TZ since 1991. Great pickup.
I agree 100%
Bottom end on the Tone Zone just really ain't doing it for me. It's also probably his tone tho
@@sacredxgeometry Yea, the subtle differences would likely be ironed out in a more realistic mix as well. This is superb for showcasing the pickups but in reality you'd have the bass guitar turned up and some vocals over the top.
X2N 0:09
Gravity Storm 0:42
Evolution 1:14
The Tone Zone 1:46
Crunch Lab 2:18
Dude this is up there with a Keith Merrow demo in my book. Great job!
Wow thank you!!!!
This is an amazing comparison, stellar job. The Evo is fantastic, but the Gravity Storm really combines definition and warmth in a great way.
Those were some killer riffs! Any chance you will be posting tabs? Don't have a good enough eye to figure it out.
Your chorus riff is freaking tasty! One of the better riffs I’ve heard in a long time.
Excellent video. I really appreciate the work that went into this comparison video. Thanks, man!
Thanks!!!
From what I hear, Crunch Lab has a rich botttom and low mids just like what you hear from early JP's works - note it sounds somehow muffled on lower notes; Tone Zone has a balanced EQ thus sound warm and soft but you can hear all the notes clearly; and EVO has the most definable tone thanks to its standing-out mids and top end. I'd say go for what you want as they are just tuned differently - not that much. The difference can mostly be compensated by other factors like the woods, amp, post-eq and efx, etc.
Put the bong down. They sound the same.
gravity storm
This is the right way to do pickup or guitar shootouts: nonstop music playing with backing track. the best way to a/b tones. thanks
Think the Gravity Storm has more clarity, maybe I´m wrong but that is my opinion!
Definitely the EVO for my tastes. Thanks for posting such a concise demo on song and volume so we can hear the differences, some are subtle but most are not, much appreciated!
+Roland Lemus Thanks! Glad you liked it! I'm all about the EVO as well haha
Is it just me or does the Gravity Storm cut more than the others?
Amazing how similar they sound. And how everyone hears them the way they want. I’ve had most of them and love them all.
So true. A factor most people ignore is high gain actually destroys fidelity, so for someone to say that "This pickup as a more robust bottom end" or "This one has a brighter midrange" is just using their own brand opinion to which "sounds" better.
I will agree that playing any of them through a clean amp setting will definitely produce a different tone, in a high-gain application, there really is no sonic difference. The only difference you may actually hear is the db output of the different pickups, nothing more.
@@kiillabytez some you can tell with hi gain. A jb vs a distortion. I can tell apart. But it’s a subtle difference. Most if they are similar wound n magnets are very hard.
This is a great comparison! It definitely allows us out here in TV land to get a dose for our styles of Metal! I can definitely hear the distinction between the pickups and can pin point what types of metal they'd fit with!
Definitely think the best two are the X2N and the Evo. The tone zone is a little too bassy sounding whereas the GS and Crunch lab are too clear.
Definitely the Evos, the Tone Zone had great bottom but the Evos by far are the ones. Great demo
Thanks! Yeah Evo was my favorite as well.
Evo is the best to my ear...totally cuts through
Took 2 years to develop the evo. Designed for big live sound.
Wrong.
Mmm that Evo was beautifully defined, as was the Tone Zone. I love them both
I honestly couldn't tell the difference, even with ear buds on. All sound very similar if not the same.
They all sounded different, some sound tighter, more defined , spongier ... in the end these things are all pretty subtle especially to an untrained ear .. in the end though pickups only change your sound so much, I think people expect pickups to magically change their entire sound...
Hey man, if you're using X2N on the bridge, what would you use on the neck if I'm looking something with rich harmonics. Was thinking of X2N bridge, Fred F Spaced on neck(RG 550/basswood/maple neck). Afraid that the power difference will make the Fred slightly shy on volume. Ive been using Air Norton on the neck for 20 years on two guitars, one with Steve's special and the other Fred on the bridge. Thinking of going without individual pole piece styled bridge pickup to experience the other spectrum of sound and attack of the flavourful Dimarzio.
Thank you for your time pal.
I actually have the X2n in an Ibanez right now with the air Norton in the neck and it sounds awesome, tiny bit of a volume difference but not enough to worry about in my opinion. Fred would probably work fine, I usually just put in what I like lol
great test dude! I'm split between Gravity Storm and Evolution. I'm curious what's your opinion on that?
I personally like the the evolution more, just because of the slightly higher output. The gravity storm does have better note separation though, so it just depends on the type of music.
What is wrong with the Tone Zone?? Muddy, unclear, loose... other pickups all sound great and pretty much the same. Is it possible TZ is this bad compared to other Dimarzio pickups?
I didn't like the one on my Caparison at all. It sounded basically like your description.
Put in on guitars with floating bridges
Fantastic riff
Tone Zone sounded muffled on the low end. I have blue Evolutions in my purple neon RG550. I’m looking for something a little different in my new, desert sun yellow, RG550. I was considering the Tone Zone but this demo saved me from that. Thanks!
What did you end up with in your new RG550? I came to this video because I'm trying to decide which pickups I want in my RG550... I tried the Crunch Lab and this guitar is just too bright for it. The Crunch Lab is all mids, so in this guitar it just lacked bottom end. I was going to go with the Tone Zone, but I do love the Evolution, how do you like it?
Did it? Are you sure about that?
thanks to your RUclips video it sealed me on the deal to buy some dimarzio gravity storm pickups. thanks!
Awesome tones sir! Loving all these Dimarzio humbuckers! I have the Crunch Lab 7 on my Ibanez 7strg. Sounds great!😎🤘🤘🤘
Crunch Lab all the way 🙂
Been wanting the X2N or D Activators but my tone zone sounds so damn good
Ed Martinez I'm having the same problem Lol wanna try others, but I love the tone zone.
All great, Crunch lab ahead by a nose for me. Thanks for doing this, it‘s really helpful
I am a die hard Super Distortion fan. All of my humbucker guitars have a DP-100 in the bridge. IT seems to be the most versatile, but I bought a High end Ibanez Prestige that had a tone zone in the bridge, and I have to say it made me question if one of them was going in my new SG. The vid does not do it justice.
Looks like the super dist. I just can't tamper with perfection.
Gravity Storm.
It combines some of the clarity of the Evolution with the punch and weight of the Tone Zone without being too much of either... Where the Evolution is too pingy and the Tone Zone too fat, the Gravity Storm is just right.
The thing that's missing though is the PAF PRO. For soe reason, lately, that pickup, as old as it is, is winning shootout after shootout.
The PAF pro is awesome, we didn’t have one at the time but do now!
Ummmm...., I think yoou might want to listen again. There is no difference in the tone of any of them, unless you've got supernatural hearing, of course.
Another deaf zombie entered the chat.
Wow!. Such articulation and capturing of the individual tones of the pickups!. I don't know if it's because of my bias, but the Crunch Lab wins for me, I came for the Tone Zone demo though!.
Gravity storm and Crunch Lab are the most atitude sound, imo.
i mean your not going to hear really any diffrence unless he takes the distortion off. I can attest that the tone zone and evolution will be way more versatile then the x2n.
Was actually here to see how the tone zone would compare. I've been playing x2ns for years, and I wanted to find something that wasn't a one trick pony.
Cateraxman333 I have a tone zone and am here bc I feel it's too weak for more extreme metal even thrash it's not tight or defined but it is probably more versatile I just need something hotter
@@Blazzjaster I have a tone zone and I think it sounds undefined and to bass heavy. I think the evo sounds best, then gravity storm.
Finally a pickup demo for metal rhythm players! Thank you. Gotta say, all of'em sounded pretty damn good to me!
Thanks! Yeah they all can sound good. I have the evolution in one guitar and the x2n in another...and switch them out randomly lol
What neck pickup do you pair with the X2N? That pickup reminds me too much of Death :).
I actually have the Air Norton paired with it right now in the neck position. It's not matched or even close with the output but I like the sound of it. Yeah Death was awesome \m/
Thanks for taking the time to make this!
Like all of the pups and the riff sounds like a cross between Lamb of God, Megadeth, Iron Maiden and In Flames
Lamb of Bored, Megabored, Iron Boredom... *yawns*
for me x2n and crunch lab wins with a slight win for the x2n
Abyssium agreed! x2n sounds tighter
Just the opposite for me. Too muddy. No clarity and note seperation.
It's the blade mags. The X2N is the best, the Crunch Lab, second best. If you want clarity with ultra high gain you simply CANNOT beat blade mags. I've used a number of DiMarzios and my favorite for high gain are the X2N and the D Activator X, which is also dual blade. They are awesome.
Same
Yeah, same. This is one of the best pickup demos I've seen. Would have been nice to have the D Activator X and the Super Distortion in there. The D Activator X is a slightly toned down version of the X2N. I have a vintage 1987 X2N. There is no hotter passive pickup on the market still to this day. It's an untamed beast. The Crunch lab has a good natural tone but it lacks the power of the X2N.
That third variation of the riff is fucking awesome! So good. Also a kickass comparison!
Thanks!
I'm so torn between the Gravity Storm, Evolution, and the Titan. I feel like the Gravity Storm might not be too good for Drop C tuning.
Great comparison. Drop tune one step correct? Do you remember what gauge strings you used here?
Sorry for late response but it was 10-52 gas TNTs
Please what is the amp used and how you get that distorsion?
all sound sick with that bad ass riff lol. amazing video thanks
I am kinda tone deaf, but the EVO and XN2 had a specific crunch I like, but they all sounded good!
Yeah I know what you mean, I have the EVO in my Jackson and the X2N in my Ibanez
X2N was a little too hot but sounded good. The tone zone lack definition. The I couldn't hear a difference between evo and gravity storm besides the latter having more low end. Crunch lab was nice too.
Cheers from Texas!
🤘😎🤘
I appreciate your dedication to this project!!
Killer song!
Great performances!
I'll listen again with better speakers...
Rock on!
M
Thanks a lot!!! Cheers from Florida! 🤘
A lot and noticeable difference. Crunch Lab is most meaty and balanced and require less equalization. Thank you.
Good work! The best pickup comparison I have seen so far. Having the Tone Zone and the Gravity Storm, I was surprised how "metal" the X2N sounded. I guess I will give it a try!
Thanks! Yeah the x2n can sound really metal, it also can sound very classic.
Why are you suprised? The X2N is literally two slabs of metal producing an extremely large magnetic field. What should be amazing is how they aren't picking up more than just the strings.
Evolution was great~ Kind of a more.. cleaner, yet gritty distortion? And X2N was also great too, much more aggression, sharpness maybe?? But I'm also saying that because I'm a huge Death fan.
Great comparision! Deserves more views! I like the Evolution and Gravity Storm the most, leaning towards the Evolution.
+JayF Official Thanks! Those 2 were my favorites, but something about the Evolution in the midrange that makes it my favorite.
I used to have them in a JEM back in the 90's and i remember they had great sound.
+JayF Official I had the Evolution in my Jackson and kept trying different pickups to see if they were better but just ended up putting it back.
+JayF Official The tone zone isn't designed for djenty binary metal. It's designed for actually TONES, actually chords and decent solos. I LOVE the tone zone just like I love the Dimarzio AT1, which has a very similar EQ curve to the TZ but with a little lower output and far superior harmonics. The problem with this demo, like most demos nowadays, is that people think djent=the only kind of metal there is today which is total bullshit. Mindless chugcraft is not the only kind of metal there is and certain pickups will not sound good in that situation. The Tone Zone is one of those pickups.
Now if Matt there actually did something besides downtuned chugfest, something in E standard along the lines of Dokken, the Tone zone would sound a million times better.
+pilotamurorei I don't like any "Djent"! But the Tonezone is to dark for my taste and the Crunch Lab to harsh or to "precise". The X2N i think has too much output for my liking.
This is one of the few good dimarzio comparison videos on youtube, good job. Think Im going with the X2N
Great comparision and awensome play man !!!
Is the guitar body made of mahogany or basswood ???
+GZ Hannover Thanks man!! That guitar has an alder body.
I agree, this is an excellent comparison. Most of these PU videos are soling. You can't tell mush from single notes, you need to hear chords and rhythm playing. Most just can't handle looking like they can't solo well and turn it into an "I really don't suck" video. No help at all unlike this video. I just bought an Ibanez with a Tone Zone in the bridge.
Fantastic video comparing the exact pickups I've been debating over for my HSH strat to beef it up
They all sound so similar, practically identical BUT I do think the X2N sounds better 4 sure
Nice demo, I love DiMarzio pickups. For me....
1) Evolution & Tone Zone (my favorite DiMarzio bridge pickups, so makes sense they tied for 1st)
2) Crunch Lab (I have one but haven't installed it yet...still need to get the Liquifire neck pickup to go with it)
3) X2N (planning to get this for a future HH Ibanez... any recommendations for a neck pickup that would pair well with the X2N? If I can't decide on one I'll get a set of DiMarzio D-Activators instead.
4) Gravity Storm (I didn't like it as much as I had hoped, which is disappointing because those are the stock pups for the Ibanez JEM77P that I hope to buy later this year)
I have a Tone Zone in my ESP and just bought a Super Distortion for my Jackson. I'll be doing a vid soon. Great job brother!
Listen with a good set of headphones and jump from pickup to pickup and you can spot the differences. X2N has way more bite. Crunch lab sounds more hidden or veiled. All sounds good in the context of what he is playing however.
Many comments saying they can't hear the difference. Well, I CAN hear the difference, but it's underneath some really muddy, sludgy, canned poop pod hatched distortion that really masks the goodness.
That said, I still appreciate the effort and it was enough for me that I can hear the differences enough to know what I am going for. This is helpful so thumbs up from me. But to really hear and FEEL the differences these pickups will make in your situation, you gotta try 'em out with YOUR amp and dial in YOUR sound.
Keep training those ears, my friends.
anyone of them would make a great pickup. Just ordered an evo bridge for my jackson js32. Can't wait to get it installed!
Good video. X2N for this genre of music, followed by Crunch Lab. The others I didn’t like- for this style of music. Tone Zone is great if you’re not playing fast chunky rhythms. For speed chunky stuff Tone Zone becomes mud. Probably the best all-around would have been the Super Distortion. Great from classic rock to modern metal. At 13 K it may be too low output for this, though.
One word : GREAT ! My favorite : Evolution :)
Great work ! What’s the guitar here?
Thanks! It’s a Jackson dinky from 2004 I believe, not sure about the exact model though.
Well that sold me haha. X2N 7 for my bridge and blaze in the neck. Currently running a pair of D Activators and while they're not bad, they just aren't my style. They really tried to replicate the sound of actives and Its pretty sweet if you're into that. Guitar came with em so I can't really complain. The X2N just had this specific bite to the low end. Wish they came in more bobbin colors then black but either way it has an wonderful tone
Ur composition mate? Whats the song title?
I liked your riffs in general. idgaf what pickups used. The riff sounded good on all of them.
Thanks!!!!
What a guitar work, Beaton Guru says Bye Bye
Very useful and informative video btw and awesome riffing. Thanks man
just curious, is that a real amp or cab sim?
I like to try to cover a lot of ground, style-wise, so, having a lot of different guitars is appealing to me. With that being said, for this heavy/tight metal rhythm style, my picks would be:
#1 - Crunch Lab
#2 - Evolution
#3 - X2N (but probably would never use, just too hot)
I wouldn't use either of the lower-output AlNiCo magnet ones (Gravity Storm and Tone Zone) for this type of application.
? Petrucci used a Tone Zone on Images & Words
OK , I've heard this before but what were you playing ... I like it !
They sounded pretty much the same to me although the crunch lab seemed to have a smidgen more punch....
The crunchlab is punchy but also boxy. Needs some post-EQ to handle that boxiness on metal.
uh.... I like the one where it goes chugga chugga? They all sound great. I've been using the X2N for 10 years. Top 5 pick ups. The Evo is great too.
What you think about D Activator's?
I like them as well we have them in a jackson kelly
What's the wood combination? Alder/Flame Maple Top?
Alder/maple exactly.
For that metal sound. And great tone and note separation under heavy distortion…..gravity storm hands down!!!
Sure, buddy.
Love the evo
What would be best for some chimey kill switch engage type cleans as well as metal with tone clarity?
Crunch lab would probably be good for that or the Evolution
Matt Bodnar Thank you. I’ve been looking forever for some options.
I wonder which pickup would sound best in bridge position on ibanes s470 through jcm800 2205 pushed with boss sd1?
Killer riffs. If I had to pick I would take the Crunch lab. The X2n would be my runner up.
Thanks! I had the crunch lab in for a long time, sounded great
In high gain, the thing you should be asking yourself is, "Which pickup would look best on my guitar."
I got 3 Ibanez' with EMG active PU's and 1 with an X2N in the bridge position and the X2N outperforms the EMG's for heavy distorted tones
All sound pretty much the same. Maybe it's the digital amp modelling doing that but it just goes to show a lot of the aftermarket picups are just marketing. Different models of the same pickup type (eg. hot humbucker) are all just slight differences to EQ and output that your audience won't notice or care about. Stock pickups are a lot better these days than they used to be too.
They are all great Tone Zone is my pick
I'm thinking about getting an x2n. It sounds a little scratchy during the fast picking at the beginning of your lick. Would you say you can still get good punchy rhythms with your amp slightly scooped? I'm also considering a D-activator or Super Distortion-or even a duncan custom-since the eq's on those favor the low end a little more. I'm looking for whichever is full, articulate with a punchy low end, and wet to get smooth squeelies. Thoughts, anyone? Thanks in advance.
Not noticeable in this demo but the crunch is veeerrryyyy smooth in person. Almost too smooth.
Tone zone
Awesome video! Wanted to get a gravity storm but your video (which actually shows rhythm tones and not Steve Vai-style soloing with lots of delay) changed my mind. Way too muddy and scooped for my taste. Will consider the X2N though.
Thanks!! Yeah solos are cool and all but most of a song is rhythm hahaha
What is best for big epic chords? Gravity Storm? I think it has fuller and fattest tone.
Gravity storm and the Crunch lab ...but to be honest any one will work fine just adjust the amp and overdrive to be more open than tight and you should be good to go.
Tied between the Evo and the Crunch Lab for me. Been meaning to get rid of my dead ass EMGs for a while, I guess it really shows pickups designed by shredders are a player's best bet for high gain tones with livelihood and definition to them.
Yeah either one would be great, I have the Evo in my guitar right now, but had the Crunch Lab in there for a long time. I have a DiMarzio Illuminator in my 7 String and it's awesome also.
Evo and gravity storm. Nice vid!
Gravity Storm sounds the best to me overall. It's got the clearest tone with the most impact. X2N was good, but a bit too gainy in the chord sections. Evo sounds a lot like Gravity Storm, but a bit more "metal" in the sense of a sharp attack with fuzzplosians, but I though that the GS sounded better. Tone Zone lacked punch in the mids and sounded just a bit murky. Crunch Lab was my second favorite, it's always fascinating to me and I loke the sound, but I don't think it's ever won a shootout. As always, I dug the solid low end and highs, but it sounds a bit scooped to me.
That was awesome!
great demo, thanks!
which was your fave? which was most versatile?
+AkiraSpectrum Thanks! The Evolution was my favorite, it has a really raw sounding midrange. The Evolution is very versatile, but I would say the Gravity Storm is the most versatile out of all the pickups.
+Matt Bodnar awesome, thanks!
+AkiraSpectrum No Problem!
Wow, nice demo. The only one I didn't like is the Tone Zone, the mids are a little too extreme for these metal rhythms although for leads it might win. The X2N sounds gigantic and the Evolution or Crunch Lab have the best balance.
The only thing you wrote that makes sense is that the X2N had the biggest sound, because of the magnetic field, it will definitely produce more output. Other than that, there is no sonic difference.
@@kiillabytez get your ears checked. This is easily the most laughable comment I've read all day and it's going to be a while before something tops it.
Nice! ive been wanting an x2n!
WOW !!! awesome riffing 👍
I was thinking of a super 3/gravity storm neck combo on ash body with an ebony fretboard...I'd really like your opinion on this 1...thanx in advance 🎸💣🤘!!!
I've never played the super 3 but you definitely can't go wrong with the gravity storm. It would sound awesome!
That tone zone rocks.
For Metal i would go with the X2N and for everything else the Tone Zone.
the tone zone and the crunch lab sounds exactly the same