DiMarzio Norton vs Air Norton?

[Rex_Rocker]

Curious about how these pickup differ?

I understand how the Air technology works, I just don't know how that translates into tonality other than the Air thing lowering the output. How about the response of the pickup as whole, though? EQ?

Thanks!

 

[soulforger]

The weaker magnetic pull on the strings theoretically increases string vibration which increases sustain. Larry Dimarzio describes how and why they came up with it in his article "Remembering Van Halen" available on the Dimarzio website. It was supposed to mimic the weaker pull of Alnico 2 while using an A5 magnet, I too wonder however if that in turn has a similar effect upon the actual tone, or is the actual composition of the magnet material responsible for all or some of this? Anyone? I had wondered for example, if anyone has ever attempted to "air" a JB or a Custom, and if the result would sound anything like a JB2 or CC?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, I'm mostly curious as well as far as how it affects the EQ profile of the pickup. The DiMarzio site shows the Norton as being slightly more mid-pushed than the Air Norton. But I don't really trust the EQ profiles there. Sometimes, they nail it like with the X2N's dark and bassy profile. Sometimes, like with the Dominion, it's nothing like the real pickup.

 

[Teleplayer]

The Norton / Air Norton pickups are a bit unusual because they have completely different windings on each pole. The only general comment I'd make is that reducing the magnetic field strength allows the pickup to be mounted higher, so it is closer to the strings. Obviously the different height of the pickup will cause the tone to change.