UberMetalDood
New member
I have been using Dimarzio Air Nortons as neck pickups for a long time, but I had an idea the other day that really paid off. I took my Air Norton from the neck of my RG1570 and put it in the bridge. For the neck pickup, I ordered an Air Classic neck. Wow! I am just blown away. I know it probably sounds silly but I never tried the Air Norton as a bridge pickup. I always thought it made a unique neck pickup but this thing is even better in the bridge.
It's not as bassy as a Tone Zone, and not as bright as a Norton. In the neck, it sounds very dark and smooth. As a bridge pickup, it's not dark and it's not as smooth. The output is also very good. It's not weak at all. The midrange is magical. It's like a Custom Custom that's a bit tighter with a little more bass, and airier and smoother. It has a smidge more bass than a PAF Pro. It's very warm but still cutting. It's like the midrange presence of the Norton is all there, but any harsh frequencies that might exist are smoothed out and airier. It's not as spongy as a Norton either. I would go as far as to say that it's a bit more versatile than the Norton overall.
I know some of you might think it's not bassy enough for metal, and indeed it's not a bassy pickup, but through a bassy amp like a Mesa Boogie or Engl, it doesn't lack any low end. It doesn't add any low end, which I like because I don't like pickups that add low end, but it also firms the low end up a little bit. Seriously, wow! A Mesa Boogie and Engl sound so good with an Air Norton in the bridge. It's also very good through my Blues Junior.
As for the Air Classic, well think of the typical complaints some people have about the Air Norton and fix them. That's the Air Classic. It's smooth and airy like the Air Norton, but not as dark. It's a bit more lively sounding as a neck pickup than the Air Norton, and it surprisingly keeps up pretty good with the output. Air Norton in the bridge has an output that's kind of in between a Pearly Gates and a Custom Custom. I would say that the Air Classic matches the output of a Jazz.
Together they make an amazing combo. Wait, there's more. I put the Air Norton in the bridge of my Les Paul Studio yesterday, and then in the bridge of my strat today. Indeed, it does make an incredible Les Paul bridge pickup. Think of a PAF 36th but just a tiny bit less bright. In my strat it was equally amazing. The strat I put it in is the brightest strat I have and while it doesn't necessarily warm up the strat to the point of no longer being bright anymore, it does smooth things out enough to where it's a shade less bright.
I did not trt the Air Classic in another guitar, but I might do that soon. The Air Norton went back into the bridge of my RG1570 tonight and it's going to stay there. Next, I'll be installing a nickel covered Air Norton/Air Classic set for my Les Paul Studio.
It's not as bassy as a Tone Zone, and not as bright as a Norton. In the neck, it sounds very dark and smooth. As a bridge pickup, it's not dark and it's not as smooth. The output is also very good. It's not weak at all. The midrange is magical. It's like a Custom Custom that's a bit tighter with a little more bass, and airier and smoother. It has a smidge more bass than a PAF Pro. It's very warm but still cutting. It's like the midrange presence of the Norton is all there, but any harsh frequencies that might exist are smoothed out and airier. It's not as spongy as a Norton either. I would go as far as to say that it's a bit more versatile than the Norton overall.
I know some of you might think it's not bassy enough for metal, and indeed it's not a bassy pickup, but through a bassy amp like a Mesa Boogie or Engl, it doesn't lack any low end. It doesn't add any low end, which I like because I don't like pickups that add low end, but it also firms the low end up a little bit. Seriously, wow! A Mesa Boogie and Engl sound so good with an Air Norton in the bridge. It's also very good through my Blues Junior.
As for the Air Classic, well think of the typical complaints some people have about the Air Norton and fix them. That's the Air Classic. It's smooth and airy like the Air Norton, but not as dark. It's a bit more lively sounding as a neck pickup than the Air Norton, and it surprisingly keeps up pretty good with the output. Air Norton in the bridge has an output that's kind of in between a Pearly Gates and a Custom Custom. I would say that the Air Classic matches the output of a Jazz.
Together they make an amazing combo. Wait, there's more. I put the Air Norton in the bridge of my Les Paul Studio yesterday, and then in the bridge of my strat today. Indeed, it does make an incredible Les Paul bridge pickup. Think of a PAF 36th but just a tiny bit less bright. In my strat it was equally amazing. The strat I put it in is the brightest strat I have and while it doesn't necessarily warm up the strat to the point of no longer being bright anymore, it does smooth things out enough to where it's a shade less bright.
I did not trt the Air Classic in another guitar, but I might do that soon. The Air Norton went back into the bridge of my RG1570 tonight and it's going to stay there. Next, I'll be installing a nickel covered Air Norton/Air Classic set for my Les Paul Studio.
