DiMarzio Pickup Shootout - Metal
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Took 5 DiMarzio Pickups I had laying around and did a quick metal shootout! I used the same settings on the amp for each pickup.
X2N
Gravity Storm
Evolution
The Tone Zone
Crunch Lab
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Links:
matt.bodnar.90
www.chainsoffailure.bandcamp.com
/ chains-of-failure
Chuggy Riff - Arpeggio Riff - "Thirds" riff
X2N 0:10 - 0:21 - 0:31
Gravity Storm 0:42 - 0:53 - 1:03
Evolution 1:14 - 1:25 - 1:35
The Tone Zone 1:46 - 1:57 - 2:07
Crunch Lab 2:18 - 2:29 - 2:39
Thanks for all the work on the time stamps. And double thanks to the Uploader
gravity storm
Dude, this has to be the very best pickup comparison video I have seen. First off, you offer a killer mix and "real world" tone and application. Plus your playing is spot on which makes all of the pickup sound good. Plus the consistency of your playing in the different takes is also note worthy and makes for a great experience for the listener to hear the differences in the pickups on the video's audio. Your sound quality is top notch for this type of thing. A lot of times the reviewer will talk about the differences they hear in the room but doesn't translate to the audio. You can hear texture, tone shape and volume. Thanks for posting.
Well done Holmes!
+Enzo Treppa Thanks a lot man!! Glad you liked it!
Yeah this was a really good and straight to the point pickup shootout.
Definitely the best DiMarzio comparison. There's literally no other high gain comparison between diffent DMZs that doesn't suck ass.
I know this is 3 years late to the party, but seconded. You absolutely nailed the mix. It shows off how responsive and dynamic each pickup is. Your amp tone doesn’t take over too much either and the guitars are forward enough in the mix to hear the difference while still hearing the practical application.
For me.... ToneZone. It had the clarity across the range and still cut through while getting that smooth velvet-ish feel with the chords.
Same here, and they're all great pickups. Been using a TZ since 1991. Great pickup.
I agree 100%
Bottom end on the Tone Zone just really ain't doing it for me. It's also probably his tone tho
@@sacredxgeometry Yea, the subtle differences would likely be ironed out in a more realistic mix as well. This is superb for showcasing the pickups but in reality you'd have the bass guitar turned up and some vocals over the top.
This is an amazing comparison, stellar job. The Evo is fantastic, but the Gravity Storm really combines definition and warmth in a great way.
X2N 0:09
Gravity Storm 0:42
Evolution 1:14
The Tone Zone 1:46
Crunch Lab 2:18
Dude this is up there with a Keith Merrow demo in my book. Great job!
Wow thank you!!!!
I honestly couldn't tell the difference, even with ear buds on. All sound very similar if not the same.
They all sounded different, some sound tighter, more defined , spongier ... in the end these things are all pretty subtle especially to an untrained ear .. in the end though pickups only change your sound so much, I think people expect pickups to magically change their entire sound...
Your chorus riff is freaking tasty! One of the better riffs I’ve heard in a long time.
Excellent video. I really appreciate the work that went into this comparison video. Thanks, man!
Thanks!!!
This is the right way to do pickup or guitar shootouts: nonstop music playing with backing track. the best way to a/b tones. thanks
Definitely the EVO for my tastes. Thanks for posting such a concise demo on song and volume so we can hear the differences, some are subtle but most are not, much appreciated!
+Roland Lemus Thanks! Glad you liked it! I'm all about the EVO as well haha
From what I hear, Crunch Lab has a rich botttom and low mids just like what you hear from early JP's works - note it sounds somehow muffled on lower notes; Tone Zone has a balanced EQ thus sound warm and soft but you can hear all the notes clearly; and EVO has the most definable tone thanks to its standing-out mids and top end. I'd say go for what you want as they are just tuned differently - not that much. The difference can mostly be compensated by other factors like the woods, amp, post-eq and efx, etc.
Put the bong down. They sound the same.
Amazing how similar they sound. And how everyone hears them the way they want. I’ve had most of them and love them all.
So true. A factor most people ignore is high gain actually destroys fidelity, so for someone to say that "This pickup as a more robust bottom end" or "This one has a brighter midrange" is just using their own brand opinion to which "sounds" better.
I will agree that playing any of them through a clean amp setting will definitely produce a different tone, in a high-gain application, there really is no sonic difference. The only difference you may actually hear is the db output of the different pickups, nothing more.
@@kiillabytez some you can tell with hi gain. A jb vs a distortion. I can tell apart. But it’s a subtle difference. Most if they are similar wound n magnets are very hard.
Mmm that Evo was beautifully defined, as was the Tone Zone. I love them both
gravity storm
This is a great comparison! It definitely allows us out here in TV land to get a dose for our styles of Metal! I can definitely hear the distinction between the pickups and can pin point what types of metal they'd fit with!
Awesome tones sir! Loving all these Dimarzio humbuckers! I have the Crunch Lab 7 on my Ibanez 7strg. Sounds great!😎🤘🤘🤘
Definitely the Evos, the Tone Zone had great bottom but the Evos by far are the ones. Great demo
Thanks! Yeah Evo was my favorite as well.
Evo is the best to my ear...totally cuts through
Took 2 years to develop the evo. Designed for big live sound.
Wrong.
thanks to your TH-cam video it sealed me on the deal to buy some dimarzio gravity storm pickups. thanks!
Think the Gravity Storm has more clarity, maybe I´m wrong but that is my opinion!
Those were some killer riffs! Any chance you will be posting tabs? Don't have a good enough eye to figure it out.
Crunch Lab all the way 🙂
Like all of the pups and the riff sounds like a cross between Lamb of God, Megadeth, Iron Maiden and In Flames
Lamb of Bored, Megabored, Iron Boredom... *yawns*
All great, Crunch lab ahead by a nose for me. Thanks for doing this, it‘s really helpful
Good work! The best pickup comparison I have seen so far. Having the Tone Zone and the Gravity Storm, I was surprised how "metal" the X2N sounded. I guess I will give it a try!
Thanks! Yeah the x2n can sound really metal, it also can sound very classic.
Why are you suprised? The X2N is literally two slabs of metal producing an extremely large magnetic field. What should be amazing is how they aren't picking up more than just the strings.
Finally a pickup demo for metal rhythm players! Thank you. Gotta say, all of'em sounded pretty damn good to me!
Thanks! Yeah they all can sound good. I have the evolution in one guitar and the x2n in another...and switch them out randomly lol
What neck pickup do you pair with the X2N? That pickup reminds me too much of Death :).
I actually have the Air Norton paired with it right now in the neck position. It's not matched or even close with the output but I like the sound of it. Yeah Death was awesome \m/
for me x2n and crunch lab wins with a slight win for the x2n
Abyssium agreed! x2n sounds tighter
Just the opposite for me. Too muddy. No clarity and note seperation.
It's the blade mags. The X2N is the best, the Crunch Lab, second best. If you want clarity with ultra high gain you simply CANNOT beat blade mags. I've used a number of DiMarzios and my favorite for high gain are the X2N and the D Activator X, which is also dual blade. They are awesome.
Same
Yeah, same. This is one of the best pickup demos I've seen. Would have been nice to have the D Activator X and the Super Distortion in there. The D Activator X is a slightly toned down version of the X2N. I have a vintage 1987 X2N. There is no hotter passive pickup on the market still to this day. It's an untamed beast. The Crunch lab has a good natural tone but it lacks the power of the X2N.
Fantastic riff
That third variation of the riff is fucking awesome! So good. Also a kickass comparison!
Thanks!
Tone Zone sounded muffled on the low end. I have blue Evolutions in my purple neon RG550. I’m looking for something a little different in my new, desert sun yellow, RG550. I was considering the Tone Zone but this demo saved me from that. Thanks!
What did you end up with in your new RG550? I came to this video because I'm trying to decide which pickups I want in my RG550... I tried the Crunch Lab and this guitar is just too bright for it. The Crunch Lab is all mids, so in this guitar it just lacked bottom end. I was going to go with the Tone Zone, but I do love the Evolution, how do you like it?
Did it? Are you sure about that?
Definitely think the best two are the X2N and the Evo. The tone zone is a little too bassy sounding whereas the GS and Crunch lab are too clear.
Wow!. Such articulation and capturing of the individual tones of the pickups!. I don't know if it's because of my bias, but the Crunch Lab wins for me, I came for the Tone Zone demo though!.
Gravity Storm.
It combines some of the clarity of the Evolution with the punch and weight of the Tone Zone without being too much of either... Where the Evolution is too pingy and the Tone Zone too fat, the Gravity Storm is just right.
The thing that's missing though is the PAF PRO. For soe reason, lately, that pickup, as old as it is, is winning shootout after shootout.
The PAF pro is awesome, we didn’t have one at the time but do now!
Ummmm...., I think yoou might want to listen again. There is no difference in the tone of any of them, unless you've got supernatural hearing, of course.
Another deaf zombie entered the chat.
This is one of the few good dimarzio comparison videos on youtube, good job. Think Im going with the X2N
Been wanting the X2N or D Activators but my tone zone sounds so damn good
Ed Martinez I'm having the same problem Lol wanna try others, but I love the tone zone.
Cheers from Texas!
🤘😎🤘
I appreciate your dedication to this project!!
Killer song!
Great performances!
I'll listen again with better speakers...
Rock on!
M
Thanks a lot!!! Cheers from Florida! 🤘
Gravity storm and Crunch Lab are the most atitude sound, imo.
Great comparision! Deserves more views! I like the Evolution and Gravity Storm the most, leaning towards the Evolution.
+JayF Official Thanks! Those 2 were my favorites, but something about the Evolution in the midrange that makes it my favorite.
I used to have them in a JEM back in the 90's and i remember they had great sound.
+JayF Official I had the Evolution in my Jackson and kept trying different pickups to see if they were better but just ended up putting it back.
+JayF Official The tone zone isn't designed for djenty binary metal. It's designed for actually TONES, actually chords and decent solos. I LOVE the tone zone just like I love the Dimarzio AT1, which has a very similar EQ curve to the TZ but with a little lower output and far superior harmonics. The problem with this demo, like most demos nowadays, is that people think djent=the only kind of metal there is today which is total bullshit. Mindless chugcraft is not the only kind of metal there is and certain pickups will not sound good in that situation. The Tone Zone is one of those pickups.
Now if Matt there actually did something besides downtuned chugfest, something in E standard along the lines of Dokken, the Tone zone would sound a million times better.
+pilotamurorei I don't like any "Djent"! But the Tonezone is to dark for my taste and the Crunch Lab to harsh or to "precise". The X2N i think has too much output for my liking.
all sound sick with that bad ass riff lol. amazing video thanks
What a guitar work, Beaton Guru says Bye Bye
I agree, this is an excellent comparison. Most of these PU videos are soling. You can't tell mush from single notes, you need to hear chords and rhythm playing. Most just can't handle looking like they can't solo well and turn it into an "I really don't suck" video. No help at all unlike this video. I just bought an Ibanez with a Tone Zone in the bridge.
I am kinda tone deaf, but the EVO and XN2 had a specific crunch I like, but they all sounded good!
Yeah I know what you mean, I have the EVO in my Jackson and the X2N in my Ibanez
I am a die hard Super Distortion fan. All of my humbucker guitars have a DP-100 in the bridge. IT seems to be the most versatile, but I bought a High end Ibanez Prestige that had a tone zone in the bridge, and I have to say it made me question if one of them was going in my new SG. The vid does not do it justice.
Looks like the super dist. I just can't tamper with perfection.
Fantastic video comparing the exact pickups I've been debating over for my HSH strat to beef it up
X2N was a little too hot but sounded good. The tone zone lack definition. The I couldn't hear a difference between evo and gravity storm besides the latter having more low end. Crunch lab was nice too.
A lot and noticeable difference. Crunch Lab is most meaty and balanced and require less equalization. Thank you.
anyone of them would make a great pickup. Just ordered an evo bridge for my jackson js32. Can't wait to get it installed!
Very useful and informative video btw and awesome riffing. Thanks man
One word : GREAT ! My favorite : Evolution :)
I like to try to cover a lot of ground, style-wise, so, having a lot of different guitars is appealing to me. With that being said, for this heavy/tight metal rhythm style, my picks would be:
#1 - Crunch Lab
#2 - Evolution
#3 - X2N (but probably would never use, just too hot)
I wouldn't use either of the lower-output AlNiCo magnet ones (Gravity Storm and Tone Zone) for this type of application.
? Petrucci used a Tone Zone on Images & Words
I have a Tone Zone in my ESP and just bought a Super Distortion for my Jackson. I'll be doing a vid soon. Great job brother!
Thanks for taking the time to make this!
I got 3 Ibanez' with EMG active PU's and 1 with an X2N in the bridge position and the X2N outperforms the EMG's for heavy distorted tones
Listen with a good set of headphones and jump from pickup to pickup and you can spot the differences. X2N has way more bite. Crunch lab sounds more hidden or veiled. All sounds good in the context of what he is playing however.
Good video. X2N for this genre of music, followed by Crunch Lab. The others I didn’t like- for this style of music. Tone Zone is great if you’re not playing fast chunky rhythms. For speed chunky stuff Tone Zone becomes mud. Probably the best all-around would have been the Super Distortion. Great from classic rock to modern metal. At 13 K it may be too low output for this, though.
They all sound so similar, practically identical BUT I do think the X2N sounds better 4 sure
Evolution was great~ Kind of a more.. cleaner, yet gritty distortion? And X2N was also great too, much more aggression, sharpness maybe?? But I'm also saying that because I'm a huge Death fan.
Is it just me or does the Gravity Storm cut more than the others?
For that metal sound. And great tone and note separation under heavy distortion…..gravity storm hands down!!!
Sure, buddy.
i mean your not going to hear really any diffrence unless he takes the distortion off. I can attest that the tone zone and evolution will be way more versatile then the x2n.
Was actually here to see how the tone zone would compare. I've been playing x2ns for years, and I wanted to find something that wasn't a one trick pony.
Cateraxman333 I have a tone zone and am here bc I feel it's too weak for more extreme metal even thrash it's not tight or defined but it is probably more versatile I just need something hotter
@@Blazzjaster I have a tone zone and I think it sounds undefined and to bass heavy. I think the evo sounds best, then gravity storm.
Gravity Storm sounds the best to me overall. It's got the clearest tone with the most impact. X2N was good, but a bit too gainy in the chord sections. Evo sounds a lot like Gravity Storm, but a bit more "metal" in the sense of a sharp attack with fuzzplosians, but I though that the GS sounded better. Tone Zone lacked punch in the mids and sounded just a bit murky. Crunch Lab was my second favorite, it's always fascinating to me and I loke the sound, but I don't think it's ever won a shootout. As always, I dug the solid low end and highs, but it sounds a bit scooped to me.
Tied between the Evo and the Crunch Lab for me. Been meaning to get rid of my dead ass EMGs for a while, I guess it really shows pickups designed by shredders are a player's best bet for high gain tones with livelihood and definition to them.
Yeah either one would be great, I have the Evo in my guitar right now, but had the Crunch Lab in there for a long time. I have a DiMarzio Illuminator in my 7 String and it's awesome also.
Well that sold me haha. X2N 7 for my bridge and blaze in the neck. Currently running a pair of D Activators and while they're not bad, they just aren't my style. They really tried to replicate the sound of actives and Its pretty sweet if you're into that. Guitar came with em so I can't really complain. The X2N just had this specific bite to the low end. Wish they came in more bobbin colors then black but either way it has an wonderful tone
Many comments saying they can't hear the difference. Well, I CAN hear the difference, but it's underneath some really muddy, sludgy, canned poop pod hatched distortion that really masks the goodness.
That said, I still appreciate the effort and it was enough for me that I can hear the differences enough to know what I am going for. This is helpful so thumbs up from me. But to really hear and FEEL the differences these pickups will make in your situation, you gotta try 'em out with YOUR amp and dial in YOUR sound.
Keep training those ears, my friends.
uh.... I like the one where it goes chugga chugga? They all sound great. I've been using the X2N for 10 years. Top 5 pick ups. The Evo is great too.
great test dude! I'm split between Gravity Storm and Evolution. I'm curious what's your opinion on that?
I personally like the the evolution more, just because of the slightly higher output. The gravity storm does have better note separation though, so it just depends on the type of music.
Killer riffs. If I had to pick I would take the Crunch lab. The X2n would be my runner up.
Thanks! I had the crunch lab in for a long time, sounded great
In high gain, the thing you should be asking yourself is, "Which pickup would look best on my guitar."
dude THANK YOU. I have a guitar with crunch lab coming... it sounds like I may have to swap out for the X2N damnit
hahahaha No Problem!!! X2N is awesome
I'm so torn between the Gravity Storm, Evolution, and the Titan. I feel like the Gravity Storm might not be too good for Drop C tuning.
Love the evo
thanks man. you rock
Dimarzio the Legend!
They are all great Tone Zone is my pick
X2N has the best and smooth sounding open E string sound. Also the the following damped single tones are kickn in with full power and dynamics. Maybe not the super clearest PU, but it has a lot ENERGY in it.
bit hot though, limits versatility.
@@alvarg there is such thing as a volume knob
Awesome video! Wanted to get a gravity storm but your video (which actually shows rhythm tones and not Steve Vai-style soloing with lots of delay) changed my mind. Way too muddy and scooped for my taste. Will consider the X2N though.
Thanks!! Yeah solos are cool and all but most of a song is rhythm hahaha
Great comparision and awensome play man !!!
Is the guitar body made of mahogany or basswood ???
+GZ Hannover Thanks man!! That guitar has an alder body.
WOW !!! awesome riffing 👍
I was thinking of a super 3/gravity storm neck combo on ash body with an ebony fretboard...I'd really like your opinion on this 1...thanx in advance 🎸💣🤘!!!
I've never played the super 3 but you definitely can't go wrong with the gravity storm. It would sound awesome!
Dammit. I'm going to be tapping my foot for the rest of the day. P.S. I have had a megadrive for probably 30 years. Still love what it does.
Haha nice, glad we could help! Some of that old gear is great.
Tone zone
They sounded pretty much the same to me although the crunch lab seemed to have a smidgen more punch....
The crunchlab is punchy but also boxy. Needs some post-EQ to handle that boxiness on metal.
You did well man! I've got the X2N and Evolution sets and love them both. I also have a D Activator X which is similar to the X2N in many ways but more open sounding with a lot of low end and midrange definition. The Evo's treble response is one of my favs ever. X2N is a 'sawed off shotgun' for sure with a tight treble response too. The Gravity Storm had this nice, wide low end with an 'airy' top end that sounded pretty damn good too albeit with less volume than the Evolution.
Hi
I want ask you something please help me if you can.
I have Jackson Warrior in basewood body Duncan Design HB108 humbuckers.This is Korean copy Saymour Duncan.Distorzion.
He is look like Invader because he have big hex srews pole pieces.
This pick up is true nice and lots of people is very pleasure with them and want buy his what talking in forums.
But his Sound is too bassy and I want more sharper and higher sound.
I very like SD but i think that is very bassy for bassewood so Dimarrzios maybe better way..Play 80 hairy metal.
Please what you recommend
I like Breed Sdistorzion2 Dactivator
Evolution and X2N.
Which is best opnion.
What you think
Kind regards
@@marijazlatar5457 Hi. If you like to play hair metal from the '80's then based on that selection from DiMarzio you should play the Super Distortion 2 or the Breed. From Seymour Duncan you should play the Full Shred. Trust me :)
@@RolanTHUNDER
Hey thank you for quick replay.
Please tell me is it Dimarzio better opnion than SD and which is different between Evo, Dactivator and Super2.
Just tell me what you think about Dsonic.
Kind regards
@@marijazlatar5457 My pleasure :)
It's not so cut and dry to just say which is better between the two as both companies make great pickups for decades now. Im' a DiMarizio first then SD second player because the number of pickups I like more come from DiMarzio then SD. You have to look at them from which pickup suits which situation/style/guitar more. Evolution is a screamer. It's a loud pickup that's very bold and is designed to bring out every nuance of your playing. It's not for the faint hearted and won't suit every player but I love it. D Activator is more powerful than the Evo but only by a little bit and is more focused on slightly tighter bass and a midrange that's punchier than the Evo. Highs are a bit less than the Evo bridge. D Sonic is like a cross between the Super Distortion and X2N although that's not the best description, I don't think so haha :) I think you can do better by getting a D Activator X. Super 2 is quite bright. Nice for a neck pickup with a more powerful bridge like the X2N or it's good in the bridge of a dark sounding guitar. Look at the Seymour Duncan Full Shred. It's awesome!
@@RolanTHUNDER
Hi very nice because you answered me quickly. Well I roughly know the references of those pick ups, but it is very important to me I could only find out if I tried each of them, and that's impossible, that's why I'm trying in every way to find the best solution. From what I've seen, I would need a very bright pick up for basswood, so that's why I asked you which one better between Dactivator Evo and Super2 because I read everywhere that Duncan is not good for basewood but Dimarzio for sharpness. Now I saw a good link where a man has an EVH wolfaang bass in basewood and it sounds incredible. Here's the link, so check it out. kind ragards
th-cam.com/video/8Q_PBIeStfg/w-d-xo.html
Wow, nice demo. The only one I didn't like is the Tone Zone, the mids are a little too extreme for these metal rhythms although for leads it might win. The X2N sounds gigantic and the Evolution or Crunch Lab have the best balance.
The only thing you wrote that makes sense is that the X2N had the biggest sound, because of the magnetic field, it will definitely produce more output. Other than that, there is no sonic difference.
@@kiillabytez get your ears checked. This is easily the most laughable comment I've read all day and it's going to be a while before something tops it.
I think the big take away is dimarzio is fucking awesome
That was awesome!
Not noticeable in this demo but the crunch is veeerrryyyy smooth in person. Almost too smooth.
Hey man, if you're using X2N on the bridge, what would you use on the neck if I'm looking something with rich harmonics. Was thinking of X2N bridge, Fred F Spaced on neck(RG 550/basswood/maple neck). Afraid that the power difference will make the Fred slightly shy on volume. Ive been using Air Norton on the neck for 20 years on two guitars, one with Steve's special and the other Fred on the bridge. Thinking of going without individual pole piece styled bridge pickup to experience the other spectrum of sound and attack of the flavourful Dimarzio.
Thank you for your time pal.
I actually have the X2n in an Ibanez right now with the air Norton in the neck and it sounds awesome, tiny bit of a volume difference but not enough to worry about in my opinion. Fred would probably work fine, I usually just put in what I like lol
That's a killer riff i can't get it out of my head! In my opinion palm mute section is sounded the best on X2N, open E(i guess it is E note) sound awesome on Gravity Storm just a pure Evil)
Thank you for the comparison!
Thanks!!! Yeah I agree the Gravity Storm has this hollow type sound to it
For Metal i would go with the X2N and for everything else the Tone Zone.
Nice! ive been wanting an x2n!
Evo and gravity storm. Nice vid!
Nice demo, I love DiMarzio pickups. For me....
1) Evolution & Tone Zone (my favorite DiMarzio bridge pickups, so makes sense they tied for 1st)
2) Crunch Lab (I have one but haven't installed it yet...still need to get the Liquifire neck pickup to go with it)
3) X2N (planning to get this for a future HH Ibanez... any recommendations for a neck pickup that would pair well with the X2N? If I can't decide on one I'll get a set of DiMarzio D-Activators instead.
4) Gravity Storm (I didn't like it as much as I had hoped, which is disappointing because those are the stock pups for the Ibanez JEM77P that I hope to buy later this year)
What is wrong with the Tone Zone?? Muddy, unclear, loose... other pickups all sound great and pretty much the same. Is it possible TZ is this bad compared to other Dimarzio pickups?
I didn't like the one on my Caparison at all. It sounded basically like your description.
Put in on guitars with floating bridges
That tone zone rocks.
I would say crunch lab for the win
Evolution!
I mean really this should have the super distortion and d activator those are like the 2 most used dimarzios for metal rhythm probably
Very true, didn’t have either of those so we just went with what we had.
I liked your riffs in general. idgaf what pickups used. The riff sounded good on all of them.
Thanks!!!!
Tone Zone every day of the week!
Evo and Gravity Storm worked the best here by a lot.
Nice man wanted to hear how the crunch lab and the evo sounded side to side thanks
Thanks! Great pickups, glad you liked it!
@@TheMetalCult1 heck yeah keep it up
I liked the gravity storm and the crunch lab the best .. And surprisingly liked the gravity storm a lot . I use to have that pickup but sold it , it was in a Les Paul , it really didn't go that well in that guitar , but I think it would work great in a super strat styled guitar . Would've saved it , but it was gold covered and it would not fit the colors in my other guitars ! Oh well . Nice comparison
+Koki Zuniga Thanks! Yeah I have never tried it in a Les Paul style guitar but I liked it a lot as well, along with the Evolution.