X2N/Tone Zone sample Redux

[XShredTheCoreX]

Your harmonics are insane!

[mikeguitar41]

skip to 2:46 to hear the x2n scream right away

[buddahmaster]

IM LEFTY ALSO! woohoo! watch my video :)

[tenminuteproduction]

skip to 2:50 to hear awesome guitar sound

[joellesperance]

Im going to put this neck on a ibanez mikro with dimarzio x2n and d activator

[LessthanJake14]

That Iced Earth-esque galloping stuff was great.

Great style of playing, man.

[Softairguy]

@TheEthanhausler just try the evolution 

[jackassguyman]

Hi, i was wondering if it would sound good with 2 f-spaced x2n in my les paul? i would be grateful if someone help me.

[Zp33rz]

@TheEthanhausler Oh, sorry, they're humbucks.

[Zp33rz]

@TheEthanhausler D Activator X NECK + X2N bridge.

[synthesizer301]

he jimi lol

[djfrank203]

Hey could i ask u something? i have an sg faded special by gibson, and i wanted to put an x2n in the bridge position. Do you think its a good idea? cuz i dont really know if the sound will change that much, given that the guitar is worth 700 dollars and surely not as much as a jem or whatnot

[itchyzitts]

I bought D-activator X's F-spaced, i heard the X2N F-spaced works in regular guitars because of the bar poles, would the D-X's F-spaced also?

[x3VYLOxXxCORPS3T3Rx]

less words more shred

[liamaustin7v]

Do you think the X2N has too much out for playing vai / satriani style leads? I use a RG350DX.

[DeathMetalAngel123]

@liamaustin7v

Those DiMarzio D Activator-X pickups (both neck AND bridge versions) are really good...

[SHREDDER222X]

@liamaustin7v i think thats why are you suposed to use the tone zone :P

[AnimeGod99]

Hey rob, what gauge strings do you have?

[LeftyRobb]

Ernie Ball Hybrid 9 top/10bottoms

[WutangClan4LiF3]

@LeftyRobb m8 nice playing. Let me ask you . Does Xn2 Helped your tapping? in compare with the stock pick up? and the pinch harmonics? ty

[anasabidofficial]

Hi Rob, i'm left too ha ha ha^^

Hum, i wanted to ask you something: I have an Ibanez Rg 370 DX, basswood body i think, and i'm thinking on replacing its bridge pickup for a ToneZone Dimarzio. How this pickup sounds in lowtuning (downtuned to A)? Is there a lot of harmonics, the notes are still clear?

[CasketBreath441]

did you buy that lefty jem neck from parts, get a replacement neck from Ibanez, or jut get one made? I'd love to do that on my lefty RG!

[CasketBreath441]

sorry, I just read/realised from your description that's its original Ibanez. Still, parted out or a replacement? :)

[LeftyRobb]

Factory Original replacement, ordered but never put on a guitar until i got it.

[ROBDproductions]

would a ibanez s series go well with a x2n pick up

[IanKusekSoloArtist]

an F spaced pick up is great for fenders, trems, floyd roses, while the standard spacing is great for a nashville bridge such as a gibson les paul, or sg bridge, and a fixed bridge.

hoped this helped a tad.

Cheers,

IKSA

[PrsFenderJackson1980]

Will a Dimarzio f-spaced pickup work in a ZR bridge? Also does anyone know what a Super 3 would sound like in a mahogany body.

[walterppk1989]

Yeah ZR bridges accept f-spacing.

[jlennozchin]

i know that about the amp. my next head will either be the randall t2 or peavey 3120. but i wanna pickup that will produce a rough edge distortion tone and the neck to produce a semo weak distortion tone and a clean tone.

[jlennozchin]

hey man, i'm getting a dean guitar soon. and i want the tone from it to be a little heavier than pantera but weaker than slayer. so i was going to get the x2n or the d-activator x for the bridge pickup. and for the neck i can't decide between the tone zone, super distortion, or the duncan distortion from seymour duncan. i'm gonna be using the neck pickups for clean sounds and like weak distorted sounds(intro to hard lines sunken cheeks by pantera type sound) any input?

[kongfuzion]

you need to realize that the amps the gain set on the preamp is what creates perceived "heaviness".

I have a tonzone in the neck, and it is heavy as noneother. All the pickups you listed as neck options are meant to be bridge pickups.

You ideally are probably looking for a high output in the bridge, like an x2n or d activator, and then a Paf Pro, Paf Joe, or duncan 59 in the neck

[itchyzitts]

Whats better for bridge. tonezone or X2n? any other pickup suggestons for bridge for palying meta?

[wizardy99]

you should play before and talk after..

[PrsFenderJackson1980]

I am going to get a Music-Man Silhoutte w/ tremolo. Would X2N(Bridge), Chopper(Mid), and Breed Neck(Neck) work or would it be too thin to work? lol. Oh yeah looking into tube amps. Any thoughts on Engl Invader 100w, Carvin C3(I think), or Marshall Dsl 100w?

[sevarnatk]

would you say the x2n is pobably the best high output pickup for deffinition, harmonics and overall gain for the high output pickup range in the market?

[niahos]

for passive yes, i prefer them better than actives because actives have no tone , go with x2n i have em in both my guitars

[LeftyRobb]

I've had 3 line6 products and they never did that. I don't play line6 anymore but I do have a Pod XT Live for backup.

[SomethinWild]

Hey man, at last someone with this combo:) I'm keen on the TZ for the bridge position (I don't really use the neck pickup much). Being the same price category in my local music store, which one of the two do you recommend and why? TZ or X2N?

[LeftyRobb]

They are both really good in the bridge but have different voicings, the EQ if the X2N is rather flat and the TZ has its mids scooped a bit.

[koppergtr]

how would the x2n sound with a solid state amp i know they probally sound best with a tube amp?

[LeftyRobb]

that's far to vague a question to answer, there's 50 billion SS amps out there all ranging from full on suck to full on shred. But I can tell you its sounds just fine through a SS modeling unit and SS power amp.

[koppergtr]

well i play through a marshall hdfx 100 watt head i read some people say it only sounds good through a tube amp but i dont know if thats true

[TheMsHeroes]

I was planning to change my pickups in my rg4exfm1. They current stock pickups are the Inf3 and inf4 pickups. These don't really sound to good in my opinion. This guitar is made out of basswood with a maple top and I was wondering what pickups would produce a good sound for alternative rock(Like an AAR sound/ or Boys like girls). Also my amp is a line 6 75 watt. I was thinking about getting these pickups:

Air Zone/Air Norton

Tone Zone/Air Norton

Breed/Air Nortion

[LeftyRobb]

I would go with the TZ/AN.

[blank9870]

cool are you left handed?

[LeftyRobb]

What gave it away?

[seth3556r]

You should also make a vid. on your setup to see exactly what it looks like (effects, amps, all your guitars, you linings). I would like to check it out man. :)

[LeftyRobb]

its all on my myspace page, no need to make a vid :)

[seth3556r]

What exactly does the BBE Sonic Stomp (Maximizer, which ever one) do for you?

[LeftyRobb]

Its a device that has an algorithm in it that automatically EQ's the input and adds bottom end, its basically like having a 31 band EQ that is already set the way you want it, it makes the sound go from lifeless and tinny to full,rich and phat.

[rot1488]

X2N because EMG is active pickup.

[seth3556r]

Hey, did you ever have to change your pots from 500k to 250k, or did you do something to make better noise reduction.

[LeftyRobb]

I'm honestly not 100% sure of the value of what I have in it. However there is no tone knob which really makes a huge difference. As we like to call them in the shred world, the "Tone Suck" knob :) Aside from that, just a noise gate on the T.C. which does a good job.

[seth3556r]

I have one more question for you bro: what is the difference in feel of the Wizard 2 neck versus the JEM neck (and maybe if you have - the JPM neck). I was just curious on how the neck was comfortable.

[LeftyRobb]

back of the neck has no finish for one, making it like silk and doesn't drag me down like a poly coat, and the neck is the super super thin, thinner than my prestige wizard and wizard on my 550 and smaller frets, Wizard 2, which I did have, is chunkier by like 1 or 2 mm. Jem necks are just hands down ultra awesome, and this one just happens to be maple which = win. a JPM neck is an Ultra Wizard, unique to the JPM, never played one, but I know its thicker than jems, like a flatter wiz 2

[seth3556r]

What is your pickups' height on the guitar?

[LeftyRobb]

I don't have a ruler or caliper handy, but I would say around 1/4 inch, with the Tone Zone being a little lower.

[seth3556r]

Thanks man. :)

[lolomgwtf0]

Hey LeftyRobb, would you happen to have that X2N in a split-coil setup?

If you do, would you say the single-coil mode is good for some rock tones, and maybe decent for a clean-ish sound?

How does that Tone Zone work out for cleans? (I didn't watch the full video because I'm about to go to sleep :P) I'm looking for a really versatile sound for my Epi SG, thinking of an X2N/TZ setup myself.

[seth3556r]

Yes the X2N has a great split coil for Strat leads and is absolutely amazing in clean mode. The Tone Zone is especially great clean because it gives you a Jazz tone and is great for arpeggios. It's a great setup to have, but if I was you I would buy a shred guitar like an Ibanez RG to put those pickups in instead of wasting them on an SG.

[LeftyRobb]

I've never bothered to split these coils, never had a need, if you want a clean single coil sound, get a strat with noiseless pickups. I would also imagine that one of these coils alone would be fairly noisy just due to the high output, but don't quote me on that, I've never done it.

[seth3556r]

Is that guitar made of basswood? Do you think The Tone Zone sounds muddy in the neck?

[LeftyRobb]

Yes its basswood, no its not muddy.

[seth3556r]

Thank-you buddy! :)

[seth3556r]

You know that if you wanted too, you could get a 5-split pickup selector so you can get the a selection of: bridge, bridge-coil and neck-coil, bridge and neck together, and the neck. It would cost only $14 and whatever your tech charges - unless you can do it yourself.

[sakicfan55]

YYYYEEEEAAHHHH go lefties!!!!!

[skunizzi]

Dude,

Thanks for the video, but next time shut up and play your guitar! :)

Thanks again!

[LeftyRobb]

Yep, I know exactly who they are. I'm just a die hard DiMarzio fan, but I may get some BKP's for my 8 string when I get it.

[MrMoteef]

really consider putting this x2n in the bridge of my beast .. stock pup are good to say there stock .. how ever .. gets slightly muddy on low e ... and playing metal i need everything to be a beast but still have clarity ... would you say this pickup is the beast ? .. stuff i play is like symphony x all that remains pantera metallica .. that sort of range .. and is it a metal pup would you say ? thnx .. great vid and great guitar love it and mucho jelous :)

[LeftyRobb]

Seeing Mike Romeo from Symphony X used this exact combo, um yeah :) This is the premo Metal pickup from DiMarzio.

[treborillusion]

I can't wait until my guitar is built, It's got a Di Marzio X2N in "Double Blue" I think like yours. Tell me, can you pull off an old school Slash type solo with it, or is it always hyped up for metal and ultra fast playing? I already have a bunch of Seymour Duncan APH1's already, so no way do I expect it to sound like Slash, but, I just wonder, If I try play Slash type guitar on the X2N, would I want my money back? Please respond Leftyrobb. Thankyou

[LeftyRobb]

I wouldn't know, I'm not a Slash fan.

[gillenh2o]

where did you get the lefty jem neck - i need one

[LeftyRobb]

Its not a lefty neck, its a real Jem77BFP neck bolted to a Lefty 550 body. I have no side dots but I got a reverse headstock so its worth it.

[glassprisoner417]

how is the triaxis bud, cause i'm torn between the X3 Pro from Line6 or the Triaxis, Does it really replicate the mark and rectifier tones without sounding fake????

HELP ME DECIDE!!!!

[LeftyRobb]

Well, lets just say I was a Line 6 user since the Red Bean 2.0 came out, I also had the Rack version, once I got the Triaxis, I gave the Bean to a friend for free and traded in the Rack version the next day. The triaxis is pure tone, but remember, you will need a FX unit with it like a G-Major and a power amp. Be prepared to spend at least $2000, if you already have a power amp then $1500. but its $1500 well spent. Its pure Glass tube tone through and through, nothing fake about it.

[glassprisoner417]

that makes sense, that exactly what i'm going for, i don't want that fake or emmulated tube tone i want the real deal. I already have a 2:50 Stereo Mesa/Boogie Power amp with the stock 6L6's, and yeah effects will be needed as well, but i don't need them right away

[classicrockguitarist]

I'm putting this combo into a voyager project guitar with a vintage trem. My question to you is did you flip the tonezone so its facing the opposite way it would have been in the Bridge position, i have heard this will make the pickup sound much smoother. I play mostly speed metal, thrash, and power metal. My question to you is the Tone Zone good for sweeping as is? Or do you think it could be better? I want the tone zone to be really smooth, but i want it to retain its awesome metal tone.

[seth3556r]

It will, it has a Evo tone but with a good bass response, it is perfect for sweeps and sounds great for taps and high string clarity. The X2N is your riff and spead picking pickup, the Tone Zone is your smooth soaring solo, taps, and sweeps pickup.

[jahjahjag]

Youre a cool guitar nerd :P keep up the good work...

[brodudesnsupras]

Jesus. Nice playing. I'm gonna do what you did and put a JEM neck on my rg-350. Nice idea considering it DOES have an AANJ neck joint.

[LeftyRobb]

Yes, you can, but keep in mind a real jem neck with a AANJ (Jem77vwh) will cost around $800, at least that is what they have been selling for on the secondary parts market, that is if you want a vine, some other AANJ jem necks like the DBK are less.

[229Mafia]

Try a Carvin amp. Their guitars kick so much ass....and their amps are twice as good as their amps.

[LeftyRobb]

Had a Legacy half stack, not enough gain, and I have a Carvin DC127 guitar, its fairly good.

[SonOfVipers]

i tune to drop b and play death/thrashy stuff similar to black dahlia murder and suffocation. i want a good mid sound running my eq with 6505+ b-6 m-7 t-5 and want to keep that edge to it that it has. would x2n keep mid sound to it and not scoop it? hate that sound.

[glassprisoner417]

thanks for the insight man, i want to put this pickup into my Jackson RR3, replacing the JB seymour duncan...the JB has great output but it's fuzzy, i want something more crystalline and sparkley, while retaining the clarity and chunk, hopefully this will solve my problem

[glassprisoner417]

hey bud, nice playing, does this pickup have a very tight responsive feel, i'm putting it into a guitar that i'm going to tune down 2 whole steps for my dream theater playing....i don't wanna resort to active since the battery and such, is the X2N for me??

[LeftyRobb]

The X2N can handle just about anything you throw at it, its very responsive with just about any tuning. Both Symphony X and Chuck Schuldiner tune down to D while using the X2N. Just make sure you have the correct string gauge to keep the same tension with the low tuning, so it doesn't turn to mush, I would recommend 12's for C-C.

[withoutajem]

were did u get the neck because i want a custom jem neck for my rg550

[LeftyRobb]

Its not a custom jem neck ;)

[GMSAnubis]

Nice video. Have you ever test the evolution neck? Cause i dont like it and i would like to change for a tone zone. I got a JEM.

[LeftyRobb]

I have a evo bridge in my 3120L and I hate it. I already have a tone zone/Norton waiting for transplant, but I've been lazy.

[Rhaab]

why do you hate evo bridge?

[LeftyRobb]

Becasue it has no bottom end and is very shrilly, I've had it in both basswood and Mahogany and its the same, I guess it only sounds good in alder, which it was made for.

[Bigb121213]

how is the tone zone with pinch harmonics

[LeftyRobb]

about 10x more present in the neck that any other neck pickup I ever had, sometimes I forget I'm even playing on the neck.

[Bigb121213]

beast

[GoldenRatio]

Sounds tight as hell dude. I really need to get an X2N for my Ibanez. The only problem is deciding which colour to get...pink or black?

[LeftyRobb]

Well, If you don't like it, its easier to sell a black one than pink.