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Air Zone vs. Duncan Custom

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  • #1

    Air Zone vs. Duncan Custom

    Anyone compared these two?

    I'm considering Air Zone as a possible alternative to Duncan Custom.
    Both are medium output PAF type pups with plenty of low mids.

    I do like Custom a lot but I'm wondering how Air Zone would sound compared to it in a floyded alder superstrat body.

    Which has more vintage character?
    "There is nothing more fearful than imagination without taste" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    "To be stupid, selfish and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost" - Gustave Flaubert
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  • #2
    Oops, wrong place.

    Can anyone move this to the tech section?
    "There is nothing more fearful than imagination without taste" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    "To be stupid, selfish and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost" - Gustave Flaubert

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    • #3
      Actually I was gonna say move it to the Duncan Forum
      I want to depart this world the same way I arrived; screaming and covered in someone else's blood

      The most human thing we can do is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

      My Blog: http://newcenstein.com

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      • #4
        What's "vintage" to you?

        If you want something more 60's/70's then an Alnico II pickup that's not wound too hot is the ticket, they have a sweetness to them and the tone instantly makes me think of classic rock sounds. If you can muster enough gain, you can play metal on them no problem, too.

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        • #5
          Not looking for a true vintage pickup in this case, I want something that has more of an old school/PAF characteristics rather than modern voicing but capable of handling hi gain amps and would be good in modern whacky/futu/alternative musical context. True "Classic" sound is not necessary, Duncans have that field covered.

          What I mean by more vintage is more natural/open compressed tone and smoother highs.
          Duncan Custom has ceramic magnets while Air Zone has Alnico V and this so called airbucker technology which helps to have more sustain and warmer characteristics. Although Custom 5 and Custom Custom have Alnico magnets and are more warmer sounding than the regular Custom I'm open to something new, I've always been a Duncan guy but in this case I'm interested in DiMarzio as they - at least to me - seem to be making more "progressive" type pickups.
          "There is nothing more fearful than imagination without taste" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

          "To be stupid, selfish and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost" - Gustave Flaubert

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          • #6
            You also have to consider Alnico II vs. Alnico 5. Alnico II will be more vintage sounding, smoother highs/warmer. But it's not a strong magnet, so most of the time you won't find them wound very hot. I think the Custom Custom is one of the hottest Alnico II pickups. Warren DeMartini uses a JB with a Alnico II magnet IIRC as his signature pickup.

            Anyway, if you want a DiMarzio I did use the PAF 36th Anniversary PU in a Floyd'ed Charvel and I was pretty impressed with it. I don't know about the Air Zone but the Tone Zone is pretty awesome, I can't imagine making it warmer, though. If you don't mind the darker characteristic I think the Tone Zone sounds kick ass for old Priest and early hard rock/heavy metal in the right guitar.

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            • #7
              I love Alnico II but it's not necessary in this case otherwise I'd just put Duncan EVH '78 in there.

              Air Zone is supposedly a lower output Tone Zone, I'm just wondering how it compares to Duncan Custom.
              "There is nothing more fearful than imagination without taste" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

              "To be stupid, selfish and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost" - Gustave Flaubert

              Comment

              • #8
                I can't comment on the air zone but I have a tone zone in my RR1 and a custom in my RR1T. I prefer the custom in the end but the tone zone gives you a different look for sure. The high end is more open with a little less cut than the custom. The TZ is a little more scooped in the bottom with a humpy midrange that can seem almost like a cocked wah with certain notes.

                If I ever get off my lazy ass and re-install pro-tools I can record a quick clip comparing the two. Of course it would be V's versus superstrats.
                GTWGITS! - RacerX

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