Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
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barbarianbrute
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
norton. i like the eq on the norton more. the air zone is too bottom-heavy for my tastes like the tone zone and super d. the norton is like a tone zone with a better eq, more articulate, and better dynamics.
norton. i like the eq on the norton more. the air zone is too bottom-heavy for my tastes like the tone zone and super d. the norton is like a tone zone with a better eq, more articulate, and better dynamics.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
pedalinbob
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
I have been intrigued by the Norton for some time...but, the EQ appears to be a bit more bottom heavy for my tastes. T5, M7, B6.5.
I typically like balanced pickups or those favoring mids/treble just a bit.
Maybe the Norton isn't as bottom heavy as it appears?
Ok...I am a moron. I looked a bit more closely, and it is close to the EQ I have set on my amp.
Darn...now I have to buy another pickup...
Any comments on the tightness/looseness of bass?
I have been intrigued by the Norton for some time...but, the EQ appears to be a bit more bottom heavy for my tastes. T5, M7, B6.5.
I typically like balanced pickups or those favoring mids/treble just a bit.
Maybe the Norton isn't as bottom heavy as it appears?
Ok...I am a moron. I looked a bit more closely, and it is close to the EQ I have set on my amp.
Darn...now I have to buy another pickup...
Any comments on the tightness/looseness of bass?
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barbarianbrute
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
nah, the eq estimates are relative. it's definitely not a bottom-heavy pickup. it is indeed very balanced. i can point you to a sound clip i made a while back if you're interested in hearing it.
nah, the eq estimates are relative. it's definitely not a bottom-heavy pickup. it is indeed very balanced. i can point you to a sound clip i made a while back if you're interested in hearing it.
pedalinbob
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
Point away, barbarianbrute!
I would love to hear it.
I find this interesting: my basswood RG with rosewood board and OFR isn't thin...or thick sounding. But, it does tend to dull the tone (knock the highs back), so the Tonezone sounded WAY too fat, muddy and inarticulate.
It is kinda hard to explain, but in general, the guitar seems to like more mids and highs, with somewhat subdued (or at least more controlled) lows.
The "more articulate" part of your post really caught my attention.
Point away, barbarianbrute!
I would love to hear it.
I find this interesting: my basswood RG with rosewood board and OFR isn't thin...or thick sounding. But, it does tend to dull the tone (knock the highs back), so the Tonezone sounded WAY too fat, muddy and inarticulate.
It is kinda hard to explain, but in general, the guitar seems to like more mids and highs, with somewhat subdued (or at least more controlled) lows.
The "more articulate" part of your post really caught my attention.
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
Norton would probably be better, because it's going in a hardtail.
I had the air zone once in a hardtail, and the bottom and low-mids were a bit too much.
The norton isn't so bottom-heavy, so it would work well.
Norton would probably be better, because it's going in a hardtail.
I had the air zone once in a hardtail, and the bottom and low-mids were a bit too much.
The norton isn't so bottom-heavy, so it would work well.
lakomaisipeh_sori
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
well, instead of the norton, you could give the Air Norton a try
well, instead of the norton, you could give the Air Norton a try
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
But isn't the Air Norton supposed to be a neck pickup?
Part of me wants to do this:
Air Zone in Bridge
Air Norton in Neck
or this:
Norton in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
or this
Virtual Hot Paf in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
or this
Breed in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
But isn't the Air Norton supposed to be a neck pickup?
Part of me wants to do this:
Air Zone in Bridge
Air Norton in Neck
or this:
Norton in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
or this
Virtual Hot Paf in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
or this
Breed in Bridge
Bluesbucker in Neck
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Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
I thought the thread title said "Norton". That said, I like the Air Zone much better...
I thought the thread title said "Norton". That said, I like the Air Zone much better...
lakomaisipeh_sori
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
the air norton was initially designed to be a bridge pup. but dimarzio together with the users found out the AN was also good as a neck pup..
anyway, i'll go with the AZ in the bridge.. dime my volume knob if i need full crunch then if i would like to clean it a bit, ill just lower the tone or volume knob of the guitar. the AZ is a very dynamic pup that has the capability to scream when overdriven.
the air norton was initially designed to be a bridge pup. but dimarzio together with the users found out the AN was also good as a neck pup..
anyway, i'll go with the AZ in the bridge.. dime my volume knob if i need full crunch then if i would like to clean it a bit, ill just lower the tone or volume knob of the guitar. the AZ is a very dynamic pup that has the capability to scream when overdriven.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
I LOVE the Air Zone. I have one matched up with an Air Norton S. It's one of my favorite combos. Although the AZ is like the TZ in some ways, the airbucker technology makes it way different. It's more dynamic, cleans up WAY better, splits incredibly well, and like said, screams when played through an overdriven amp. The highs are there, just rolled off some, like the Custom Custom. The Strat I have it in is alder with a maple neck / maple fingerboard. I have no doubt it'll be fine in yours with an ebony board.
I LOVE the Air Zone. I have one matched up with an Air Norton S. It's one of my favorite combos. Although the AZ is like the TZ in some ways, the airbucker technology makes it way different. It's more dynamic, cleans up WAY better, splits incredibly well, and like said, screams when played through an overdriven amp. The highs are there, just rolled off some, like the Custom Custom. The Strat I have it in is alder with a maple neck / maple fingerboard. I have no doubt it'll be fine in yours with an ebony board.
pstarove
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
Better have a listen of these clips and decide for yourself:
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20CustomVHPAF%20(plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirZone%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirNorton%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20CustomVHPAF%20(plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirZone%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirNorton%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
These clips were made by me, the whole story is here:
http://www.parkerguitars.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5827
There are more clips, if someone is interested.
Sorry, no clips for the Norton (it will sound like a harder, harsher version of the AirNorton with more bass and treble).
EDIT: By the way, my favorite is the VHPAF with an A2 magnet.
Better have a listen of these clips and decide for yourself:
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20CustomVHPAF%20(plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirZone%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/clean%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirNorton%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20CustomVHPAF%20(plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirZone%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20magnet).mp3
http://www.jwrooker.com/clips/distorted%20bridge%20Gen1%20AirNorton%20(two%20plastic%20spacers,%20A5%20%20magnet).mp3
These clips were made by me, the whole story is here:
http://www.parkerguitars.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5827
There are more clips, if someone is interested.
Sorry, no clips for the Norton (it will sound like a harder, harsher version of the AirNorton with more bass and treble).
EDIT: By the way, my favorite is the VHPAF with an A2 magnet.
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Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
PSTAROVE- Thank you so much for posting that.
Wow now you're making me think of putting an Air Norton or VHOTPaf in the Bridge- maybe that's what I'll do : VHOTPAF or Air Norton in the Bridge, Bluesbucker in neck.
The problem is- I have no way to "mod" pickups with different magnets. So I can't have an A2 VHotPAF it would have to be the stock A5 magnet- I definitely didn't like how dull and "non-chimey" the Air Zone sounded in your clips- maybe I'm discovering I like a vintage sounding pickup more. I definitlely can tell that the Air Norton is a bit more compressed than the VHOTPAF.
So PSTAROVE and others, do you recommend the VHOTPAF stock over a stock Air Norton for bridge? Remember this is going in an Alder hardtail strat with maple neck, and ebony fingerboard.
thx
PSTAROVE- Thank you so much for posting that.
Wow now you're making me think of putting an Air Norton or VHOTPaf in the Bridge- maybe that's what I'll do : VHOTPAF or Air Norton in the Bridge, Bluesbucker in neck.
The problem is- I have no way to "mod" pickups with different magnets. So I can't have an A2 VHotPAF it would have to be the stock A5 magnet- I definitely didn't like how dull and "non-chimey" the Air Zone sounded in your clips- maybe I'm discovering I like a vintage sounding pickup more. I definitlely can tell that the Air Norton is a bit more compressed than the VHOTPAF.
So PSTAROVE and others, do you recommend the VHOTPAF stock over a stock Air Norton for bridge? Remember this is going in an Alder hardtail strat with maple neck, and ebony fingerboard.
thx
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Eric Dahlberg
Member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
The Air Zone is great for leads, it's super mid-focused so there isn't a lot of high-end mess when playing fast, but it's terrible for rhythm work and completely lacks the openness of an Air Classic or Custom 5. Is there any pickup that combines the best of both worlds? Would that describe the Norton?
btw, the Air Zone split is gorgeous sounding, more P90-ish than strat-y.
The Air Zone is great for leads, it's super mid-focused so there isn't a lot of high-end mess when playing fast, but it's terrible for rhythm work and completely lacks the openness of an Air Classic or Custom 5. Is there any pickup that combines the best of both worlds? Would that describe the Norton?
btw, the Air Zone split is gorgeous sounding, more P90-ish than strat-y.
pstarove
New member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
That describes the AirNorton. But still, I would prefer the AirClassic for its more natural eq.
That describes the AirNorton. But still, I would prefer the AirClassic for its more natural eq.
Eric Dahlberg
Member
Re: Norton vs Air Zone in Bridge
I do, too, but I've already got one in another guitar and want something more lead-friendly for this particular guitar. Also, I was so happy with the P90-ish split tone of the Air Zone and am hoping to still be able to get a bit of that (the Air Classic sounds awesome split, too, but more in a traditional single coil way).
Where would the VHPAF sit in this spectrum?
I do, too, but I've already got one in another guitar and want something more lead-friendly for this particular guitar. Also, I was so happy with the P90-ish split tone of the Air Zone and am hoping to still be able to get a bit of that (the Air Classic sounds awesome split, too, but more in a traditional single coil way).
Where would the VHPAF sit in this spectrum?
