The Area 61 is definitely gonna be more traditional. If you want to hear a neck-position Cruiser, Andy Timmons uses a Cruiser bridge in the neck and middle of his AT, and a full Cruiser set (bridge, middle, and neck) in his ATZ.
The Area's probably gonna give you a little less output and a different response (more like a traditional Strat pickup vs. the Cruiser being a little more even and balanced) because of its different construction.