DiMarzio Air Norton 7

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 260mV output. DC resistance 17.50K

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul 7 String LTD Ed
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Tone Zone 7
Artists using this pickup: You really need to ask??
You musical style(s): Alternative Rock/ Metal/Soft Rock
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup was very muddy, didn't cut through the mix all the notes just kind of blended together

Perceived output level: Pretty much the same as the stock pickup, a little hotter, but the notes have that much more clarity and power
Tone: Very bassy/middy, but with the abilty to coil tap its needless to say trebly sounds can be achieved
Sonic evaluation: OK I have so many other guitars but there is no point in listing them cos they are not part of this review, just wat you people to know i'm not some little kid who sits in his bedroom with his 7 stringer rockin away to Korn all day.. now that we cleared that up.. on with the show...
The Epiphone>Jim Dunlop Crybaby>Boss OC2 Octave>Noise Custom Guitar Systems Dirtbox>Boss EQ20>MXR Micro Amp>Peavey Transtube Supreme 100W Head>Marshall 1960B Cab
Then in the clean 1 FX loop on the dirtbox I'm running:
Boss PH2>Boss DS1(don't laugh, amazing with a good EQ lol>Yamaha DSC-20M>Yamaha DDS-20M
Then in the FX loop of the amp I'm running a Digitech Whammy and a Bespeco VM14 Volume Pedal.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You already knw what style I play, but I can safely say this pickup would suit any style off to a tee.. one of the all time great pickups without a doubt

Comments: If this were stolen I'd hunt down the guy who did it, take the pickup out of his axe, make him eat it, then take him down to the local music store and make him buy me a new one.

Pickup features: Passive Ceramic Magnet Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 17.50k DC resistance, 260mV output

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7421
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Evolution 7
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Ibanez V7-7
Artists using this pickup: None I know of.
You musical style(s): Art metal and hard rock.
Reason for pickup change: The Evolution 7 was too hot and had out of control overtones. Lead sounds were great, lower strings sounded like a train wreck.

Perceived output level: Medium output, lower than stock and certainly lower than Evo 7.
Tone: Balanced in bass and mids, chopped treble response.
Sonic evaluation: I'm playing an Ibanez RG7421 seven string into a Digitech Valve FX preamp into a BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer into a Carvin DCM150 power amp into a Legion Sound 2x12 cab. I tried the Evolution 7 as an upgrade from the stock pickup but it was so overtone heavy I couldn't stand it. I also wanted something a bit lower output, but I didn't want to go the scooped mids route ala Blaze; I don't like scooped sounds. Dimarzio recommended the Air Norton 7 for the bridge position so I exchanged the Evo 7 for it. The Air Norton 7 has chopped treble response and this was what killed it for me. No changing of EQ, compression, or gain settings could make it sound clear. I tweaked for hours trying to get it to sound good, and with boosted treble it just sounded fizzy and I realized that tweaking everything else was not going to change the personality of the pickup. There simply was not enough treble frequencies coming out of the guitar and boosting what was there was not going to change that. After calling Dimarzio they said I could exchange it AGAIN (nice guys, eh?), so I sent it back for a Blaze neck model, going against my anti scoop instincts.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I would say this pickup would work better in the neck position, but in my defense I put it in the bridge on Dimarzio's recommendation. The chopped treble would make it better for smoother sounds, I suppose. But I need clarity and muscle, and this pickup was seriously lacking in the clarity department.

Comments: Not really the pickup for me but that doesn't make it a bad pickup. I wouldn't personally get it again, even for the neck. It just doesn't have enough edge and clarity for me, if I need a neck pickup upgrade I'll most likely get a PAF 7. I knew I was in the minority putting this pickup in the bridge position and it was a gamble and I lost, but thankfully Dimarzio let me exchange it again. I exchanged it for a Blaze neck model for the bridge position and lo and behold even though the Blaze had slightly scooped mids it turned out to be perfect for me. But that's another review. ;)

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: www.dimarzio.com you lazy guys :)

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7420
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez stock V7-7
Other pickups on guitar: Di Marzio Blaze Bridge model
Artists using this pickup: John Petrucci more than likely
You musical style(s): everything between Blues and Metal
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to duplicate Petrucci's rig cuz I think his tones are cool...Uh, yes, IBZ pickups suck big time.

Perceived output level: Fairly hot, balances very well with the Blaze Bridge, which is definitely a hi-output pickup... A bit less than a 6 string Duncan 59 I would say.
Tone: Very well balanced, it can do it smooth or rough depending on yer amp's tone settings
Sonic evaluation: I am using the following rig:
Ibanez RG7420
Mesa/Boogie TriAxis-->TC Electronic G-Major-->Mesa/Boogie 20/20 into a Marshall 8412 4x12 cab.
My main complaint about neck humbuckers is that they sound muddy, especially on the lower notes.
Well, this buddy isn't one of those!!
Its tone is warm but clear, the low strings sound very definite, even on the B string, and the overall sound has so much presence that I often find myself wondering if I selected the bridge pickup by mistake. The high notes are bright but not piercing and still retain that warmth I was talking about a couple of lines above. Backing up the volume brings you to the Jimi realm, especially with the coils in parallel...Very effective for raw blues and funky rhythms. It is even very easy to play artificial harmonics with it, which I always found a little bit difficult on other neck pickups, for example the Duncan 59 I have on my 6 string Ibanez 540S is as muddy as hell on the low E string and it is almost impossible to play artificial harmonics with it...I'm seriously considering replacing it with a 6 string Air Norton. Anyway, the whole world knows that 6 string pickups and 7 string pickups sound different, so this may not be a significant comparison.
As per me I love the Air Norton 7 so much that I end up using it on 80% on the tracks I play.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Funky, Rock, Hard Rock, Prog Rock, Metal.... It does it all and then some!!

Comments: It definitely belongs to my guitar's neck position, if it was somehow stolen, damaged or whatever I'd buy another one in a heartbeat

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: See DiMarzios Website

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez K7
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: PAF-7
Other pickups on guitar: Blaze
Artists using this pickup: unknown
You musical style(s): Progressive Rock, Metal, Jazz, Fusion
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a slightly hotter neck pickup

Perceived output level: low - medium output
Tone: cut mids
Sonic evaluation: Basically an Ibanez K7 with a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier and a Mesa Recto 4x12 cab. Want to see my other gear and hear this pickup, then check out my website for Video Clips & MP3s @ www.jim-horne.com

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Progressive Rock, Metal, Jazz, Fusion

Comments: This is the perfect neck pickup for me - if you are looking for that Petrucci sound and/or play a lot of your leads using the neck pickup, then this pickup is for you. Want to hear it, check out my website for Video Clips & MP3s @ www.jim-horne.com

Pickup features: Passive Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: 260mV output. DC resistance 17.50K

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG2027XVV
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio Tone Zone 7
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: I wanted (again) the best neck pickup for my Ibanez, which is the greatest guitar made IMHO. The stock pickups is great, and I installed it in my Squier 7-string. However, DiMarzio is juts plain MADE for Ibanez. THis pickup sounds great!

Perceived output level: Fairly high output for a neck pickup. The Air Norton was designed to be a med/low output bridge pickup, but DiMarzio discovered it sounded great in the neck. A little cooler on the scale than the Tone Zone 7, but not by a whole lot.
Tone: The tone is very bassy and middy, but again, like the Tone Zone 7, remains VERY clear and articulate. It's hard to explain. You have to crank it through a high gain amp or so to appreciate it. In clean mode, it's not nearly as bright as a single coil, although just as clear, but in a high gain situation, it is WAY clearer than any single coil around. Very smooth sounding.
Sonic evaluation: I am playing my Ibanez through a Digitech RP300 into a Behringer mixing board, then into a stereo/mono PA. This pickup is a neck lead player's dream! Every note is round, thinck, and smoldering. Get ready... even harmonics are good. Better than a lot of bridge pickups to be honest (this from a NECK pickup.) Sounds beautiful in clean mode, very Creed-like... or a fat, old blues tone. Nice. Sounds absolutely splendid in split or parallel mode. Clean heaven. Sparkly, jangley... a nice 'quack' sound when split. For distorted rhyhtms, this thing kicks MAJOR @$$, get ready. Sounds nice and thinck, tho. Goes well beyond the typical PAF, Les Paul range.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play metal, and this pickup is a lead players dream, whatever style. Even has a nice, fat jazz tone with the volume backed off. Smooth. Would work good in any style, and is the perfect mate for the Tone Zone 7. This pickup would do fine in the neck or the bridge.

Comments: I would definately get this pickup again. It's the best neck pickup I've heard, maybe the best around IMHO. I have been playing for 10 years, and this Ibanez is my main guitar. I have assorted other guitars/equipment, but I play mostly with the setup listed. I love how this pickup makes me sound SMOOOOOOTH, lol, and there ain't nothing I hate about. Be careful, tho, it's loud, and it's HOT! This is MY sound.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: around 285 mv.

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG7420
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock ibanez 7
Other pickups on guitar: Tone Zone 7
Artists using this pickup: Petrucci more than likely
You musical style(s): God fearing rock/praise jamming with petrucci
Reason for pickup change: curiosity...wanted that "sweet child of mine" tone. heard the original was close

Perceived output level: balances well with Tone Zone 7. not too hot.
Tone: very ballsy pickup. smooth tone complements the Tone Zone 7. almost the same eq curve
Sonic evaluation: this is a very smooth neck pickup. nails petrucci's tone (duh). not as bright as the stock ibanez but it really sings. if you are looking for a Paul Gilbert neck tone in a 7 string, forget it. notes are really fat and jump out at you. i wonder how it would sound coil tapped.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Shredding for Jesus! cleans up well with ibanez new switch. creedish tone when switched to parallel mode. suitable for aggressive leads.

Comments: i was looking for the elusive "SCOM" tone. it doesn't exaclty deliver that, but it has it's own tone. very open. balanced. sings well clean and shreds when driven hard. if you like the tone of the Tone Zone 7 in the bridge, this will deliver the same tone in the neck.