Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Eddie J.

Eddie J.

New member
I need some help to pick a neck pickup for my Dean Hardtail Select. (mahogany/maple cap/rosewood/setneck)

I ordered Duncan Custom to put it in bridge, but for a neck pickup, after some thoughts about Jazz and PG, I decided to go for Dimarzio.

I almost took PG, but (i heard only samples) there I hear good big bite, but no smoothnes, no singing tone. I prefer the Jazz tone, but i really think that dimarzio makes better "singing voice" neck pickups.

I thought about Air Norton, PAF Joe and PAF Pro.

What do you think, which one would blend best with Custom?
Basically, I want dynamic and versatile pickup, not too modern and not too vintage.
I think that PAF pro could blend in custom`s volume, but i have fear that it sounds too modern.

Any opinion is welcome ;)
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

The Air Norton is a really nice pickup. I think it sounds like a hifi duncan jazz. It plays great cleans, but also plays great under gain. I think the Custom/Norton combo would give you a very versatile guitar.
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

I thought that Air Norton has much more mids than Jazz. I am wrong?
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

it does have more mids than a jazz, which gives it a very smooth/round tone as well.
I have a air norton in my ibanez and im loving it, probably one of my fav neck buckers of all time
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

All highly subjective of course, but.....I tried the Air Norton in the neck of my Wolfgang Special and did'nt care for it. Way to boomey for my liking. Of course, maybe that pickup did'nt agree with that particular guitar.

I have a LP Standard (somewhat similar to your Dean) and in the neck spot I'm using a DiMarzio V-PAF neck model. The neck pickups I've tried have been a Burst Bucker Pro, 490R, Duncan Jazz and DiMarzio's Air Classic. For what I like to hear and in MY guitar nothing beats the V-PAF. No boom at all and it seems to have the right amount of mids and highs. Sounds great clean or with a tad of OD. Very even sounding but not as in "compressed." Blends really well with the Duncan Blues Saraceno bridge pickup that I'm using.
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Mike M. said:
All highly subjective of course, but.....I tried the Air Norton in the neck of my Wolfgang Special and did'nt care for it. Way to boomey for my liking. Of course, maybe that pickup did'nt agree with that particular guitar.

I have a LP Standard (somewhat similar to your Dean) and in the neck spot I'm using a DiMarzio V-PAF neck model. The neck pickups I've tried have been a Burst Bucker Pro, 490R, Duncan Jazz and DiMarzio's Air Classic. For what I like to hear and in MY guitar nothing beats the V-PAF. No boom at all and it seems to have the right amount of mids and highs. Sounds great clean or with a tad of OD. Very even sounding but not as in "compressed." Blends really well with the Duncan Blues Saraceno bridge pickup that I'm using.
Click to expand...

I am surprised to hear that. That's the guitar I have the norton in and I love it. The Air zone in the bridge is pretty good, but I am not crazy about it. Different amps and tastes I suppose.;)
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Eddie J. said:
I thought that Air Norton has much more mids than Jazz. I am wrong?
Click to expand...

More mids? Yes, but the clarity sounds similar to me. Like Mike M. said, everything is subjective and different rigs play a major roll. Everything being said though, the Norton is one of my favorite neck buckers.
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Thanks for replies, and sorry for my slow response, i was offline for few days.

Well, I certainly don`t want a boomy neck bucker. I really like the lead tone of air norton, but if it is dark and overall bassy for chord playing in a hardtail, then i`ll skip it.
I think a Jazz or PG would work best with the Custom, and in that guitar.
Click to expand...
I won`t disagree, but PG sounds too nasty for what I want to achieve here, I want something smoother. Smooth, and melodic with some bite, not the other way around. That`s why i`m looking into dimarzio, I think I can nail that better with them.

For what I like to hear and in MY guitar nothing beats the V-PAF.
Click to expand...
I tried the V-PAF bridge in a Fender mustang. It is really nice pickup, wide, airy and very organic for being a dimarzio :9: . Its a good suggestion, but I think it would be a touch too vintage and dry for what I plan with this guitar.

Well, regards Air Norton...neck bucker in my hardtail is made by 59 specs and it can sound very bassy. Maybe someone can compare 59 bass freq with Air Norton`s? (not the chart, the experience)
That could help.
 
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Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Ok, I`ll bump it.

Can someone compare the lows of a 59 and Air Norton (neck) ?
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

The PAF Joe might be the pickup you are looking for...

I have it in my hardtail ibanez and it is NOT boomy at all, but still full of good tone. -- just the right amount of bass, mids and highs (at least to my ears in this particular guitar).

It's good for both lead playing and chording, and it won't get woofy on the bass strings! I also hate boomy neck pickups...
This pickup ended my search (for the meantime) for a neck bucker
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

Yeah, if i don`t find anybody to compare those pickups directly, I`ll take PAF joe, somehow looks like the middle of the road.

Tell me please, is it more bright or round sounding? Some say it is similar to PAF pro in some ways and I`m curious is it equally easy to play, cause everyone says how PAF Pro plays legato effortless.



I would really appreciate if someone who tried both 59 and Air Norton in the neck of a same guitar could chime in with some info about lows.

Thanks.
 
Re: Neck pickup (dimarzio) with CUSTOM in bridge

the norton, air norton, or air zone would all be excellent choices.
 
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