Dimarzio Pickup X2N Pair With Which Pickup

[SportyMusical]

I'm new here, so Hi to everyone :)

I'm doing some research here and was wondering which pickup is best paired with Dimarzio X2N.

Will a combination of Dimarzio Evo on the neck and X2N on the bridge the way to go for a superb metal shredding and rhythm combo?

I'm playing metal, hard rock, but also in need for clarity as I also do a lot of shredding.

By the way, I'm using a Japanese made Ibanez Rg570.

Does anyone else have other better ideas with that pickup combination thing?

Cheers!

p.s. Someone else recommend X2N with Tone Zone on the other forum. I'm not really sure if this is going to be a great combo though.

[alucard0941]

assume you want dimarzio, do you plan to shred with the neck? or just to play nice clean jazzy tones? For the both, try the PAF Pro. Thats the only pickups I have used by Dimarzio and loved or both high overdrive and classic clean. Never had experience with the EVO.

As far as I know, the Tone Zone is primarily a bridge pickup. Theoretically, it would be possible, but I have no clue how satisfied you may be.

But even though you play really heavy distorted guitar, monster like the X2N may not be necessary. Especially if you plan to really drive you amp to the max (tube amp primarily). The X2N might get really muddey and grimey (even more if you play in drop D or C tuning). I have played a guitar with Tone Zone in the bridge and a PAF Pro in the neck and it really thrashes when I needed it to and the neck PAF Pro is an awesome full tone yet bright pickup. Wonderfull for sweeping and high fret alternate picking. Tone Zone is actually a really good pickup for distortion and when I played it, it never mudded out on me. I played it though a Crate Blue Voodoo 100 watt at almost ear shattering volume....my friends rig. :mad:

[SportyMusical]

assume you want dimarzio, do you plan to shred with the neck? or just to play nice clean jazzy tones? For the both, try the PAF Pro. Thats the only pickups I have used by Dimarzio and loved or both high overdrive and classic clean. Never had experience with the EVO.

As far as I know, the Tone Zone is primarily a bridge pickup. Theoretically, it would be possible, but I have no clue how satisfied you may be.

But even though you play really heavy distorted guitar, monster like the X2N may not be necessary. Especially if you plan to really drive you amp to the max (tube amp primarily). The X2N might get really muddey and grimey (even more if you play in drop D or C tuning). I have played a guitar with Tone Zone in the bridge and a PAF Pro in the neck and it really thrashes when I needed it to and the neck PAF Pro is an awesome full tone yet bright pickup. Wonderfull for sweeping and high fret alternate picking. Tone Zone is actually a really good pickup for distortion and when I played it, it never mudded out on me. I played it though a Crate Blue Voodoo 100 watt at almost ear shattering volume....my friends rig. :mad:

Hi there, thanks very much for sharing your thought and experience with Paf Pro.
I'm after a neck pickup that is versatile for shredding also clean for some jazz licks/rhythm, after reading your post, I'm now really thinking to get a PAF PRO for my neck pickup.

I was actually thinking of getting EVO 2 for the bridge pickup, but ended up with X2N as I'd love to try something really really different, and that I've bought this X2N pickup off ebay just a few hours ago LOL :D

So I'll try this first and see how it goes.
PAF PRO + X2N :cool:

[Akira]

p.s. Someone else recommend X2N with Tone Zone on the other forum. I'm not really sure if this is going to be a great combo though.

Have you heard of Symphony X? The guitarist (Michael Romeo) uses that combination of pick-ups, it sounds pretty brutal.

[SportyMusical]

Have you heard of Symphony X? The guitarist (Michael Romeo) uses that combination of pick-ups, it sounds pretty brutal.
No, I haven't heard about Michael Romeo, nor Symphony X.

But would it do any good for a clarity when it comes to shredding?

Ok, I've just found a bunch of people recommending me to use X2N on the bridge with Dimarzio Breed on the neck :D

I'm now getting a little confused, but I've just read the Dimarzio.com website, the Breed has more gain/power to it, slightly wilder than Paf Pro.

[alucard0941]

wow, Micheal Romeo uses X2N and Tone Zone? Maybe it may be a choice to consider. Especially since you have high end RG, very similar the the ESP M-II that Romeo uses. You should check him out!

Yea the Breed is louder, and wider than the PAF Pro. Its really a preferance thing. I have never tried the Breed, but I doubt you will be unsatisfied.

[SportyMusical]

wow, Micheal Romeo uses X2N and Tone Zone? Maybe it may be a choice to consider. Especially since you have high end RG, very similar the the ESP M-II that Romeo uses. You should check him out!

Yea the Breed is louder, and wider than the PAF Pro. Its really a preferance thing. I have never tried the Breed, but I doubt you will be unsatisfied.

Would you say Breed has fatter sound and more clarity than Paf Pro does?

Michael Romeo...hmm...it's time to check this guy out.

Ok, I'm now tossing between Paf Pro and Breed, will do a few more research then I'm down to decision making :p

[alucard0941]

I havent had any experience with the Breed, but since your using the X2N, the Breed might level the power more. The PAF Pro is slightly weaker, so (not positive) the X2N may overpower it, unless you raise the pickup height, but thats too much out of my league.

But yea, I think the PAF Pro most likely will have more clarity, and the Breed will most likely be fatter. But take into account, something I noticed, the more distotion you play with, the less you can distinguish between subtle changes. On paper, it may sound perfect, but when you actually plug in and play with massive gain, its hard to see a difference when one pickup is fatter or not. Your amp may be more of a factor at that moment.

[SportyMusical]

Ok, final decision...tadaaa...

I've chosen X2N on the bridge and Breed on the neck!

But one last thing though, do I need to get F spaced pickup for the neck? Considering that my Ibanez has floating bridge (floyd rose), or no need for F Space pickup for neck?

Cheers!

[alucard0941]

Awesome, glad to see you made a decision. I cant even choose what guitar to get every time I get the cash, so I never do...

Most likely not for the neck. Probably for the bridge. Take a look at this (http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?postid=16944141)
If I didnt know better, thats would be you. :eek: