Air Norton vs. SH-2N Jazz (for the neck)

[lakomaisipeh_sori]

7 questions.. :banana:

1) What are the advantages of the Air Norton over the SH-2N Jazz?

2) And vice versa, what are the advantages of the SH-2N Jazz over the Air Norton?

3) The Air Norton is famous for its harmonic ovetones even if used in the neck; is the Jazz great for harmonics too? Or is the Air Norton really better with harmonics compared to a Jazz, side by side?

4) I assume that the Jazz is better used in clean amps than overdriven or used with a distortion (..that is if compared with the Air Norton). On the other side of the spectrum, the Air Norton is best used when slightly overdriven or with a distortion. Am I just generalyzing this, or are my accounts true?

5) Haven't tried the Air Norton yet. Is the Air Norton good for clean bell-like tones? Or does it tend to be warm. Is it too warm compared to the Jazz? Or, when it comes to glassy clean, the Jazz is still the king.

6) I have a perception that the Jazz tends to cling on the clean side while the Air Norton leads its way to mild warm crunch sounds (also known to handle harmonics pretty well). Question is, which of the 2 would be a more verstile neck pup that can handle a wider spectrum of musical genre?

7) In your opinion, what would be a better neck pup between the 2? Each has its own tastes. That's one thing that is really very interesting in the vast genre of music. And that is also why your comments and insights are greatly appricated!


Take it easy my fellow tone lovers and good day!

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Air Norton vs. SH-2N Jazz (for the neck)

1+2:The Air Norton and Jazz are two totally different pups imo.
The AN is smooth,warm and thcik, while the Jazz is rather bright and glassy. Both have a singing quality to them. It's a matter of preference

3:The An definitely wins when it comes to harmonics, the range it can produce is just way bigger than that of the Jazz imo.

4:Both have great cleans but the AN cleans are more jazzy smooth while the Jazz has more sprakling cleans. Both are great under gain and the same difference still apply.

5: Definitely warm cleans from the AN, but still very defined and articulate. If you want glassy, go for a Jazz.

6: Both can handle everything imo it's just a matter of what sound you want.

7: I just totally love the AN and it's my favorite neck pickup ever. Jazz is good but not what i really want.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Air Norton vs. SH-2N Jazz (for the neck)

Instead of answering each question, I'm just gonna lay out my take on them.

First, the Jazz neck is much lower output than the Air Norton so that puts them in different classes right at the start. Each one is a great neck pickup and to me, it boils down to whether you want a hotter neck pickup or not.

Second, their EQ curves are different. The Jazz has less mids and more highs than the Air Norton. Both are extremely articulate though. The Air Norton gets the nod for being a fuller neck pickup.

Both are really good under gain or clean, there is no winner there in my book. I can't really say one is better than the other there.

For me, the Air Norton works better. But that is for me. You may find that the Jazz neck works better. It all depends and the only way to know for sure is to try them.

I used the Jazz neck for years in several guitars and love it. It's still one of my favorite neck pickups. I wanted something hotter while still remaining articulate and the AN does the trick.

The versatility of the two is going to come out in how you use them, what guitar and amp you use and the like. Some pickups are made for pure metal and some are made for pure jazz or what have you. These two can do what what you set them up for.

Another option for the neck, yet still low output, is the Jazz bridge. It has the same qualities as the Jazz neck, just a little hotter (around 8k).

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Air Norton vs. SH-2N Jazz (for the neck)

They are the two most popular necks pups, but for different reasons. If you want warm, smooth, and clear, you get an Air Norton. If you want round with more defined top end, you get a Jazz. Both excel equally under high gain.

 

[lakomaisipeh_sori]

Re: Air Norton vs. SH-2N Jazz (for the neck)

thanks for ur insights guys!