Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
- Thread starter ryan_1934
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StrangeSound
GlossesForNothin'
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
I have it in my Ibanez RG2570 and it's a bit too boomy in there with 500k pots, which could lead to the conclusion that it would mud up in a LP but I'm not sure.
I have it in my Ibanez RG2570 and it's a bit too boomy in there with 500k pots, which could lead to the conclusion that it would mud up in a LP but I'm not sure.
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
FWIW, I have a Norton (not an Air Norton) in the bridge of a Les Paul. It might be helpful to you, since the DiMarzio page says, "The Air Norton started out simply to be the Airbucker version of the Norton".
In my LP, the Norton's tone is massive and glorious. NOT a traditional Les Paul tone, but wonderful nonetheless. The guitar I have it in is a replica built with 55-year-old woods (hy a luthier who knows how to build a serious Les Paul) so that has some effect on it for sure. But I tried a good ten or more pickups in the bridge (as well as in the neck) to find just the right tone for this guitar. The Norton has an incredible combination of high-end bite and midrange honk (think Duane Allman at Fillmore east) with a huge-but-tight low end.
In this particular guitar the Norton is not muddy at all. I use it for melodic rock and blues, but it could easily deliver Metallic-style rhythms. In a darker-sounding Les Paul I can imagine it getting a bit dark, but not really muddy. But if your LP has a bright bridge tone (like 99% of LPs do) the Norton might be a revelation for you.
I'd suggest calling or e-mailing DiMarzio to ask how the Air Norton would compare to the Norton in this type of guitar. I love the sound of the Norton in my (replica) Les Paul, and I doubt I'll ever replace it. The tone is so unique and cool that I can't imagine wanting to change it.
FWIW, I have a Norton (not an Air Norton) in the bridge of a Les Paul. It might be helpful to you, since the DiMarzio page says, "The Air Norton started out simply to be the Airbucker version of the Norton".
In my LP, the Norton's tone is massive and glorious. NOT a traditional Les Paul tone, but wonderful nonetheless. The guitar I have it in is a replica built with 55-year-old woods (hy a luthier who knows how to build a serious Les Paul) so that has some effect on it for sure. But I tried a good ten or more pickups in the bridge (as well as in the neck) to find just the right tone for this guitar. The Norton has an incredible combination of high-end bite and midrange honk (think Duane Allman at Fillmore east) with a huge-but-tight low end.
In this particular guitar the Norton is not muddy at all. I use it for melodic rock and blues, but it could easily deliver Metallic-style rhythms. In a darker-sounding Les Paul I can imagine it getting a bit dark, but not really muddy. But if your LP has a bright bridge tone (like 99% of LPs do) the Norton might be a revelation for you.
I'd suggest calling or e-mailing DiMarzio to ask how the Air Norton would compare to the Norton in this type of guitar. I love the sound of the Norton in my (replica) Les Paul, and I doubt I'll ever replace it. The tone is so unique and cool that I can't imagine wanting to change it.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
thanks for that, i've heard good things about the norton and quite like the airzone so was curious about the AN, but it seems more and more the regular norton is the DMZ option to look at for a LP bridge
good description and btw, that LP sounds very nice...
thanks for that, i've heard good things about the norton and quite like the airzone so was curious about the AN, but it seems more and more the regular norton is the DMZ option to look at for a LP bridge
good description and btw, that LP sounds very nice...
Mark Le Comte
New member
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
You could ask over at the dimarzio forum www.dimarzioforum.com
They dont have a lot of members but the AN seems pretty popular with them.
You could ask over at the dimarzio forum www.dimarzioforum.com
They dont have a lot of members but the AN seems pretty popular with them.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
<cough> already done... ; ]
<cough> already done... ; ]
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
I've got an air norton in a lester. sorry for the late response. I really dig it. its smooth, articulate, nice overtones/harmonics, its crunchy, tight, smooth, whatever you play and 'put' in it, it will come out great.
though i have to say, I prefer the rio grande TX; more complex sounding. the Jazz has also a more complex texture over the norton. its just a plain sound, no depth. It used to be my nr. 1 pickup, but now I prefer others over this pickup.
the bluesbucker is, for example a lot better, due to the extreme mismatch in coils. this design makes sure that there isn't as much frequency elimination than on 2 coils which are very similar, like on the air norton.
I've got an air norton in a lester. sorry for the late response. I really dig it. its smooth, articulate, nice overtones/harmonics, its crunchy, tight, smooth, whatever you play and 'put' in it, it will come out great.
though i have to say, I prefer the rio grande TX; more complex sounding. the Jazz has also a more complex texture over the norton. its just a plain sound, no depth. It used to be my nr. 1 pickup, but now I prefer others over this pickup.
the bluesbucker is, for example a lot better, due to the extreme mismatch in coils. this design makes sure that there isn't as much frequency elimination than on 2 coils which are very similar, like on the air norton.
Kosh Naranek
New member
Re: Has anyone ever used an Air Norton (neck) in a Les Paul?
I have an Air Norton in the neck pos on my Hamer Sunburst, which is essentially like a double cut Les Paul. Mahogany body and neck, rosewood board, maple top, 24 3/4" scale, TOM bridge/tailpiece.
I like it. It sounds great together with the Custom Custom I have in the bridge pos of that guitar, as well as by itself.
It's pretty amazing that you can actually play crunch rhythm on the neck pickup on that guitar and it sounds tight. It is round, but not too round IMO. And certainly not too bassy. The Air Norton has a real unique bass response. It's full, but extremely tight. It never sounds loose or boomy. I have not heard another pickup like it.
Which brings up a point. The Air Norton does not sound like other pickups. It has its own very unique flavor. If you need the sound of a typical vintage style neck pickup sometimes, either get another guitar for that or don't use the Air Norton.
I have an Air Norton in the neck pos on my Hamer Sunburst, which is essentially like a double cut Les Paul. Mahogany body and neck, rosewood board, maple top, 24 3/4" scale, TOM bridge/tailpiece.
I like it. It sounds great together with the Custom Custom I have in the bridge pos of that guitar, as well as by itself.
It's pretty amazing that you can actually play crunch rhythm on the neck pickup on that guitar and it sounds tight. It is round, but not too round IMO. And certainly not too bassy. The Air Norton has a real unique bass response. It's full, but extremely tight. It never sounds loose or boomy. I have not heard another pickup like it.
Which brings up a point. The Air Norton does not sound like other pickups. It has its own very unique flavor. If you need the sound of a typical vintage style neck pickup sometimes, either get another guitar for that or don't use the Air Norton.
