Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

[alkeys]

I have always heard the Air Norton in the neck position described by some as "airy, spacey and dreamy" so I've decided to put that in my
Japanese HH Fender strat with maple board.

Now I need your guys help in selecting a bridge pickup.

I want something heavy for the bridge to pair with the Air Norton neck that I can really do some heavy rhythm work with but is delicate enough for moody gothic clean/chorused passages with a bit of twang and sustain kinda like the clean passages on the Opeth album called Deliverance.

I think I might want to stick with Dimarzio for this guitar. The vibe I'm after is moody, delicate, but goth/metal for this particular guitar- think Opeth or Type O Negative type stuff.

Is Norton or Air Zone a good selection? Any others I should be thinking about?


Thanks!

 

[heymcz]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Air Norton is bottom heavy, and I wouldn't call it "airy"...your mileage may vary, but I didn't think of it as ethereal at all.

Sounds like you want a Breed bridge though. Love mine.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

I've heard a lot of people praise an Air Norton & Super Distortion combo. Haven't tried the two together but played both of them lots. I think it would make a great combo.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

I've heard a lot of people praise an Air Norton & Super Distortion combo. Haven't tried the two together but played both of them lots. I think it would make a great combo.

SuperD = SH-5
Breed = SH-4 without icepick

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

SuperD = SH-5
Breed = SH-4 without icepick

No offense but the Super D and Sh5 are worlds apart. I personally think the Super D is way better than the Sh5. The Sh5 is second lowest on my list right above an Sh14. Super D is a little smoother and more balanced. Sounds great clean too.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

The Sh5 is second lowest on my list right above an Sh14.

Wow, that's low! %) I do like the SH-5 quite a bit, maybe I didn't have the SuperD in the right guitar at the time. Plus it's been a while since I played one. I did recall them being similar.

Have you tried the Breed bridge?

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Wow, that's low! %) I do like the SH-5 quite a bit, maybe I didn't have the SuperD in the right guitar at the time. Plus it's been a while since I played one. I did recall them being similar.

Have you tried the Breed bridge?

Yes in a Petrucci Music Man. Fantastic sound! Much different that I expected. When you look at the specs of that pickup on Dimarzios website you wouldn't expect it to sound the way it does. I don't know why but I would liken the pickup to a FRED somehow. The Petrucci model is basswood so I think in an alder, ash or mahogany guitar it would open up nicely.

I have to add that I only tried the SH5 in an alder body guitar. I don't know if being in a mahogany body would help smooth it out. Perhaps.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

I have to add that I only tried the SH5 in an alder body guitar. I don't know if being in a mahogany body would help smooth it out. Perhaps.

Yeah, I had mine in mahogany guitars...It's never completely smooth even there, a bit of harshness on the top and a clouding in the mids...but for all the problems, I still think of it as balanced and for me, a go-to....

 

[gOgIver]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Someone posted this clip a couple days ago, even thought they are in dif instruments you can clearly hear the dif between the SuperD and C5.

5 Humbucker Comparison

Someone should do that with a Breed in the mix. Does anyone know if the Breed has more or less crunch than the SuperD?

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Someone posted this clip a couple days ago, even thought they are in dif instruments you can clearly hear the dif between the SuperD and C5.

5 Humbucker Comparison

Someone should do that with a Breed in the mix. Does anyone know if the Breed has more or less crunch than the SuperD?

That Super D sounds fantastic! I played an Axis with the custom wound Dimarzios and it was not what I expected. It sounded very very good! A real treat to play.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Yeah, if I wanted a heavy bridge pickup and had an Air Norton in the neck, I'd get a Super D. I had one in my Fender Strat for a really long time...I kind of miss it now that I think of it. It sounds really 80's so it'd be perfect for Type-O-Negative.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: Spacey, Airey and Dreamy / Gothy sounding pickups- need ur help please

Kenny (Of Type O) has Distortions in the bridge of his guitars with Fernandez sustainer neck pup's.