Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

[appar111]

I've had an Air Norton installed in the neck position of my frankenstrat for a while now and while I like the sound (fat & warm), it sounds too woofy/jazzy, particulary on clean stuff. I've wanted to try a HFH for a long time, which is supposed to be more strat-like, but had been turned off by some of the comments on it, so I thought I'd try something in between the two and wire the Air Norton in parallel.

Man, I don't know why I didn't try this sooner! All it took was soldering two wires, and I'm loving the sound.

It's like what I imagine the Humbucker from Hell would sound like-- VERY strat like, but a little bigger sounding, but still hum-cancelling. Sounds nice and warm & stratty when the volume's not maxed out, and then gets into fat strat territory w/ plenty of bite when the volume's on 10.

I've also had a hard time getting the Air Norton to balance volume wise with my bridge pickups. Despite its specs, it's quite easy for it to sound too loud/big, even compared to higher output bridge pickups like the JB. Wiring the Air Norton in parallel drops the output enough that it makes it very easy to balance volume-wise w/ my bridge pickup now.

I think that parallel wiring for a neck humbucker would probably solve most peoples' gripes with them sounding too muddy or bassy.

Just thought I'd share my good news!

 

[WyrmCracker]

Re: Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

Yes.


I use the Norton in Bridge with Air Norton in Neck with a Dimarzio multipole switch. Gets both the standard humbucking sounds, plus the parallel sounds of both pus. The Norton parallel positions are really useful.

If you dont have one of those super 5-way selectors, you should get one.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

This is cool info. I have an Air Norton and a Steve's Special sitting on my desk just waiting for an install. I'll have to get a switch and try this.

 

[appar111]

Re: Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

If you dont have one of those super 5-way selectors, you should get one.

Nah, don't need it. I just want a good clean, articulate neck humbucker sound, and a good rock tone out of the bridge pickup. The Air Norton (parallel) + JB (w/ A2) on a 3-way tele style pickup selector is definitely getting that for me

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

I take it you figured out the dimarzio to duncan wiring code conversion?

 

[appar111]

Re: Air Norton in parallel--- wow!

Yep, I realized that the parallel wiring was in the Dimarzio instructions (duh on my part!)