Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

[sonnyblu]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

I have some 36th aniv... on order... and after some time I have come back to my Pearly Gates... The Air Classics sound weak to me now. Recently I purchased a PRS CU 22... so now I'm still looking for pickups that split well. Giving the Air Norton another shot in this PRS for the bridge... I will try everything again for that matter. The PRS is much bassier than any of my other guitars. It came with a ANII in the neck... sweet for lead but I still need more chime. It had a lot of bass in the PRS. Trying a Jazz there next!
After I'm done with this I should post all my findings with sound clips...

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

The Jazz neck is really nice in the PRS... as was the Alnico II, I'm sure the PG's would be fine also. I'm still looking for the right bridge for my PRS... The PG is a little bright as it is in all my guitars... I just use the tone control.
I'm thinking C5, But still waiting on my DiMarzio 36th Aniv's.
I put the Nortons, Air and other wise in a Gibson Les Paul Smartwood... sound pretty good there.
I can hear that the Air Norton should split well, but I did not dig the 5 Way switch sounds with them. I don't think I like the 5 way switch at all with anything.
My PRS has a pronounced bass but thin in the mids and is pretty bright also.
So I get a cool Strat like sound with the Jazz... Just needs more mids in the Bridge but not Norton mids... lol I think the 36th Aniv or Duncan C5 are probably the ticket.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

In a PRS

The VPAF/VHPAF and A2Pro/PG and A2Pro/C5 sets sound pretty good. Never tried the Jazz/C5 in a PRS, but I imagine it would be good. Didn't like the 59 in a PRS CU24.

BTW I hear great things about the A2 59 MODEL.

 

[karpathion]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

i dont know how true this is, but i've heard if you use the air norton in the bridge put a bigger cap on it to calm the highs down a little, and then it's suposed to be really good for older rockin stuff like zepplin and sabbath. but i could be wrong.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

I think you could be very right... I have the Norton and Air Norton in my PRS CU22 right now and it sounds pretty good, the splits are nice.
Believe that I will still go with a Jazz or ANII neck and a CC bridge for a little more vintage vibe. The Norton and Air Norton sound even better in my Les Paul Smartwood than they do in the PRS (lower bass response) I did like the Air Norton in the bridge and I can see where using it with a 250K pot or something might work also.

I'm still waiting on my 36th Aniv... wont have them before my next gig either.

I'm gonna gig with the Jazz/CC combo first... but very anxious to try the ANII with the CC also. (In a PRS)
I like the Jazz because it almost sounds single coil even in full series humbucking. The ANII is just sweet...

 

[Ascension]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

First on the Air Classic neck it will be much MUCH darker than a PG. The Air Classic / Norton or Tone Zone set up is one I have used several times in all maple Carvins.
The regular Norton Bridge is a really good choice for that all mahogany guitar. Check the Dimarzio tone charts the Norton was designed to be used in a Mahogany neck and boddied set neck guitar. I'm with Frank on this one as I like the tones better in the bridge better with the full strength Norton rather than the Air Norton. The Norton is somewhat similar in basic tone but with a different mid structure and more output to the PG.
I would go V PAF / Norton or VHot PAF in a Mahogany guitar instead of the Air Norton /Air Classic.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

Both the Nortons sound great in my Les Paul Smartwood... (Thin Les Paul, Bannara Top)
The Air Norton neck... I can't stop playing it. If I were a full time jazzer I think that would be the PU for me... sounds great in that guitar. Both are too bassy and middy in my other guitars, Coil taps sound good too.

Hey another question: If I switched to parallel wiring instead of split can I still add my treble bleed caps to the circuit? 2 HB, 2 Vol, 2 PP, 3 Way

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Air Norton Bridge - Air Classic Bridge for Neck?

Ok... Well it's been a while... Still on my quest for the right bridge pup for this PRS CU22.
It has been quite an experience, playing the next gig with a different pup each time.

The trade off seems to come down to versatility for rhythm (treble chime) vs Fat enough Mids for leads.
Here are some of my findings... (IMHO of course) I'm anxious for your continued opinions.

CC - Way to dark... If I were only playing lead it would be great! Sweet... but not versatile.
Norton - Milkshake mids... very fun to play... but again, no good for versatility.
Air Classics - I was surprised, I found these to be very uninspiring... bland and flat.
36th Aniv. - Well, I had my money ridding on these puppies... Wrong! Too Woody... flat, even. This was my biggest disappointment!

And the winners are... thus far anyway... Pearly Gates & Air Norton (Bridge)
Nobody seems to like the Air Norton in the bridge... but in this guitar anyway,
it sounds like a fatter Pearly Gates... which is perfect!
Of course I won't know until I gig with it... but via recording... I'm digging it.
So I'm saying this Air Norton sounds fat and chimey at the same time, no one else?

By the way... The neck is not a problem, Jazz or EJ work beautifully there.
.