JP pup questions!

[Whammy_Abuser]

Hey guys, I have some questions about the two John Petrucci pickup sets (I realize this isn't a pup forum, but I figure there is nowhere else on the internet where there are more people with more experience on these sets than right here, so you'll have to forgive me.)

I am wondering two main things, first, out of the two bridge pickups...which has a thicker voicing? I figure they will both be good for tight, chunky rhythm sounds, because John tends to favor the neck pup for solos, so I am wondering which has a fatter, fuller lead sound.

And the second is simple, how different are the Air Norton and the Liquifire?
The Dimarzio site doesn't give a really good description of the Liquifire IMO, is it fat and loud? or articulate and smooth?

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[ShorterOnVenus]

I never owned a guitar with the D-sonic (I'm pretty sure the JP7 that I sold had the current P.u.'s) so I'm no help there, I have a Air Norton in a non EBMM guitar that has a locking trem, and a mahogany body/ bolt on neck to compare to my BFR JP with its alder body, hog tone block, and maple top. Imo I think Dimarzio's description is on the ball as the Liquifire is fat, loud, while being articulate n' Smooth it's a wonderful P.u. it really is! in comparison to the Air Norton the AN isn't as loud but it does drive an amp well, the AN is a bit brighter, but still has a nice singing tone, the clean sound is (again) brighter than the LF and sound a little brittle unless you play with your setting, as its not a bad sound, it just seem um... cheaper sounding when a/b'd against the LF with the same amp (a Super-sonic) but that could be that the guitar itself isn't on par with the BFR. the LF clean has a nice Jazzy, P90ish quality to it, and love's a little grit to get nice and bluesy, under heavy distortion where tone can blurred by gain the AN seems fuzzy with dyads, and has a little more grind on the lower notes to compare to the LF they sound very similar for long sustained notes, and legato playing, they are both smooth both get decent pick harmonics for neck p.u.s.

but everything I hear is my own take and a can of worms is opened any time people try to compare this and that sound, or this and that wood, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I like them both so I'm just absolutely no help

 

[Whammy_Abuser]

Hmmm, so after doing some more research (and reading this post) I think that I understand the AN and LF are quite similar, so similar that I'd rather get the LF due to the hex poles...just for cosmetic reasons.

What I haven't found yet is if either of the JP bridge pups have the thickness required for instrumental rock (Gilbert, Vai, Satch, Timmons) or if they are better suited for heavy rhythm playing. I could just fall back on a Tone Zone (god knows that's fat enough) but I'd really like something that will give me a fat, singing lead sound AND a good rhythm tone, something the TZ doesn't deliver...

 

[Whammy_Abuser]

Bump...I know there must be at least one person that has tried both pups

Thanks again, responses are greatly appreciated.

 

[whitestrat]

And the second is simple, how different are the Air Norton and the Liquifire?
The Dimarzio site doesn't give a really good description of the Liquifire IMO, is it fat and loud? or articulate and smooth?

Fat and Smooth is more like it.

Hmmm, so after doing some more research (and reading this post) I think that I understand the AN and LF are quite similar, so similar that I'd rather get the LF due to the hex poles...just for cosmetic reasons.

What I haven't found yet is if either of the JP bridge pups have the thickness required for instrumental rock (Gilbert, Vai, Satch, Timmons) or if they are better suited for heavy rhythm playing. I could just fall back on a Tone Zone (god knows that's fat enough) but I'd really like something that will give me a fat, singing lead sound AND a good rhythm tone, something the TZ doesn't deliver...

The AN and LF are NOT similar. I much prefer the LF. Where the AN was a lot more compressed and "softer" sounding, the LF is bigger, fatter and less compressed.

The CL is definately my choice so far. It's big, fat, and has this nice vowel like quality. It's fatter than anything I've tried, except maybe the DeActivator for chords, but for single notes, I'd say they're on par.

From that you want from a bridge, I'd say the CL does deliver those attributes.