1

The Pickup Place / Re: Touch and feel of Norton vs Air Norton

« on: March 02, 2018, 09:49:39 PM »

Thanks both. As I continue to read reviews around the web I often hear that the Air Classic was particularly noted for its softer pick attack whereas the Air Norton does seem to get universal praise without soft pick attack being mentioned too often as a detriment. Perhaps the Airing has less of an effect on the higher-dc pickup.

Also, I still find myself troubling to select a bridge humbucker that balances to my liking compared to the standard Norton in the neck despite enjoying the tone it gives. To raise the output to the increase I usually prefer between neck and bridge leaves few options, even fewer noted for their less than intense gain abilities.

Perhaps where I will start is with an Air Norton and replace the Norton to the bridge. This time around I'll make time to evaluate the Air Norton within the window of the exchange period and if it needs to be replaced I will try one of the selections mentioned above.

2

The Pickup Place / Touch and feel of Norton vs Air Norton

« on: February 15, 2018, 10:58:49 AM »

I've just discovered through experimentation that I love the tone of the regular Norton in the neck position of my HH strat. My reason for joining this forum was to ask the following:

How dramatically does the Air technology change the pick attack and dynamics of the pickup?

Is the tonality as close to identical as Dimarzio indicates?

I most recently had an Air Classic installed and one of the reasons I pulled it from the guitar was that the pick attack always seemed softer than what I wanted, I don't want that quality if it effects the Air Norton similarly.

The advantage the Air Norton would give me is the lowered output, giving me more flexibility with my bridge oickup choice. (That is where the regular Norton was before I gor the experimentation bug.) The advantage of the Norton is that I already know I like it there with downside that the output is higher, since I usually like about 50% more output from the bridge for my use.

Due to spacing whether I choose Norton or Air N I've got to buy another pickup anyhow, so it's not a tiebreaker that I already have a Norton.

3

The Pickup Place / Re: Anybody know what the Norton DP160 might sound like on the neck of a guitar?

« on: February 15, 2018, 10:42:05 AM »

By bored experimentation I discovered I love how it sounds. I get no mud in my alder strat. It really brings to mind the thickness of certain shorter scale set neck guitars famous for thick lush humbucker tones.

4

The Pickup Place / Re: Anyone try the Norton DP160 in the neck?

« on: February 15, 2018, 10:37:40 AM »

I have it currently in a alder strat. The tone is sublime to my ears, it isn't the mud everyone fears. I didn't change any settings on my amp other than reducing the gain a touch and the sound has all the thick, rich qualities I'd normally associate with a shorter-scale set neck guitar. In fact the reason I just joined this forum was to discuss the Norton vs the Air Norton in such cases, so look for that thread if you are curious there as well.