Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

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MarioCesar

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I'm searching a Humbucker for my HSS strat, I'm currently using a PAF, cool sound with distortion and clean but too vintage for my taste. I'm looking for a more modern sounding pickup without going over the top... but often modern sounding pickups sound muddy clean, that's why I'm planning to put a switch for split the humbucker, I wonder if the norton will have enough power to match common single coils (like ssl-1's) in split mode

Thanks and sorry for my english :headbang:
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

Should be fine. I love the Norton, it's a cross between vintage and modern.

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Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

Output maybe, tonality not even close........but sometimes that latter is less important.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

AlexR said:
Output maybe, tonality not even close........but sometimes that latter is less important.
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I wanna get something like these (He's using a Screamin Demon) :


I think is a pretty decent sound for a splitted humbucker, but the full humbucking sound of a Screamin Demon is not what I'm lookin for... too low in midrange
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

Hotter. I have one wired to split and it's similar to the P-Rails in single coil mode. It sounds more like a P90, but it's a great sound split. Split it has nice crunch and bright harmonics.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

SavageRiffer said:
Hotter. I have one wired to split and it's similar to the P-Rails in single coil mode. It sounds more like a P90, but it's a great sound split. Split it has nice crunch and bright harmonics.
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thanks! Are you using the inner coil?
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

I do not know much about wiring but my experience tapping inner/outer coils with the Super Distortion was the outer coil was thinner and brighter, kind of like playing a lipstick tube in a tele or something like that. Maybe that's why it's always on the inner coil with the default wiring? I cannot give you a qualified answer to that.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

Hot pickups can often sound killer in parallel. I know the JB like that had this cool jangly vibe about it.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

MarioCesar said:
I'm searching a Humbucker for my HSS strat, I'm currently using a PAF, cool sound with distortion and clean but too vintage for my taste. I'm looking for a more modern sounding pickup without going over the top... but often modern sounding pickups sound muddy clean, that's why I'm planning to put a switch for split the humbucker, I wonder if the norton will have enough power to match common single coils (like ssl-1's) in split mode

Thanks and sorry for my english :headbang:
Click to expand...

You might look at the 59/Custom Hybrid, which splits to the Custom coil. It straddles the vintage/modern thing really well- I use it in my HSS guitar. The split sound sounds great with regular singles (I use Five Twos, or Classic Strat Stacks).
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

MarioCesar said:
I'm searching a Humbucker for my HSS strat, I'm currently using a PAF, cool sound with distortion and clean but too vintage for my taste. I'm looking for a more modern sounding pickup without going over the top... but often modern sounding pickups sound muddy clean, that's why I'm planning to put a switch for split the humbucker, I wonder if the norton will have enough power to match common single coils (like ssl-1's) in split mode

Thanks and sorry for my english :headbang:
Click to expand...


The Norton has a published series DC resistance of 12.6k, and is presumably wound with 43 AWG. Half of that would be 6.3k, but of course the SSL-1 is wound with 42 AWG. Using a wire gauge calculator and doing some math, if the Norton were using 42 AWG, it's DC resistance per coil would be approximately 4.8k. That's much lower wound than the SSL-1 at 6.5k, however the next issue is that the steel cores of the Norton have a much higher permeability than the AlNiCo 5 of the SSL-1, so the Norton coil will have a higher inductance relative to the wind count, and a higher inductance is what generates a "fuller" sound. Given the trade offs being made between wind counts and core permeability, they might end up being pretty close in that respect. You'd have to use an LCR meter to see how half a Norton's inductance compares to an SSL-1.

It doesn't end there though, probably the most important difference between an SSL-1 and half a Norton coil is difference in flux at the string with steel poles versus AlNiCo 5 poles. Even though both pickups technically use AlNiCo 5, the flux of the SSL-1 is much greater than that of the Norton, because the magnetically charged steel pole pieces produce less flux at the string compared to the SSL-1, which has it's AlNiCo 5 poles is directly in proximity to the strings. It's that higher magnetism that gives Strat pickups a glassy edge compared to a split humbucker. The metal frame of the Norton also induces eddy currents, which serves to blunt the high end response. The SSL-1's fiber bobbins do not induce eddy currents.

All things considered, the split Norton will most likely sound anemic compared to SSL-1s. I actually did split Nortons for a while. While I didn't have them in same guitar as Strat single coils (it was a Les Paul), I can testify that the split sound was generally underwhelming.
 
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Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

The Norton slug coil is wound to 7.15k using 44AWG wire. That is the same as Air Norton pickup that I have used. I think the Air Norton is brighter due to the air gap in the magnetic circuit - It was not what I was looking for.

The Fred is a better pickup for the bridge of a strat IMO. It works well for a HSS autosplit, because the Slug coil is wound to 4.5k of AWG42 wire. Also Paf pro has 4.3k of 42AWG on each coil, so that part is similar.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

If it's 44 AWG, then the equivalent 42 AWG DC resistance would be that much lower.

The air gap of the Air Norton should have two effects, it would reduce the inductance a bit, making it a little brighter, and it would reduce the flux at the strings. The difference between a stronger and weaker magnetism is not linear, because flux drops off exponentially at a distance. When you first pluck the string, is initially swings close to that area over the pole piece where the flux density is highest, therefore producing the most flux change, the most voltage. The stronger the magnetism of the pole pieces, the more disproportionate the flux change will be between the nearest and furthest point in the string's movement. The weaker the pole piece, the more proportionate it is, hence it produces voltage in a more linear manner. It's hard to describe how that changes the perceived tone, but it's definitely different. I'd say weaker magnetism, and the more linear pickup response makes for a more subdued tone.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

Teleplayer said:
The Norton slug coil is wound to 7.15k using 44AWG wire. That is the same as Air Norton pickup that I have used. I think the Air Norton is brighter due to the air gap in the magnetic circuit - It was not what I was looking for.

The Fred is a better pickup for the bridge of a strat IMO. It works well for a HSS autosplit, because the Slug coil is wound to 4.5k of AWG42 wire. Also Paf pro has 4.3k of 42AWG on each coil, so that part is similar.
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A FRED wouldn't come to mind for a strat. It's pretty bright with a lot of edge and harmonics that are balanced for basswood and mahogany. The Norton split isn't weak. In fact, it's a little stronger than a single coil. It's not the ideal pickup for splitting but it doesn't suck either. There is a lot of tech talk in this discussion, however practical application does not match conjecture. Easy solution - wire it in parallel.
 
Re: Does a Dimarzio Norton DP160 splitted match SSL-1's output?

The FRED would not be bright with a 250k Volume pot. Its more likely to be warm, nothing like you expect a JS signature pickup to sound like. Generally I would recommend going for either 300k or 375k volume pot if you decide to install a FRED in an Alder body strat, so you retain some of the brightness and harmonics the FRED is designed to have. This kind of problem comes up when mixing vintage single coils and full size humbuckers. Ideally you want a bright humbucker with lots of mids if you will use a 250k volume pot.
 
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