DimarzioForum.Com > Everything you wanted to know about ....
The Norton
CityofBlindingLights:
Since SO many people keep asking about this pickup, and I never have time to type everything up all of the time (although I love the pickup enough to do it), I thought I'd just make one all-encompassing thread on what I think is DiMarzio's best pickup: the Norton.
Descriptions
CityofBlindingLights:
The Norton is, for lack of better description, the bastard child that would occur if a Tone Zone got it on with a FRED. It's got the harmonics of the FRED, but the output and a bit of low-end balls of the Tone Zone. Although, it's a bright pickup overall. It's got the nice midrange crunch needed for good overdrive and distortion, and a very distinctly PAF aftertaste.
buddroyce:
I guess I should probably add the description and say that it's got the sweet smooth distortion that makes the Duncan JB so popular but has better bottom end (at least in my opinion) and doesn't have the annoying honkiness. It's also got that 80's hair metal / old school Van Halen vibe if that's what your going for. ie. Your ideal tone is lots of smooth sounding mids, polished top end and nice tight bottom end (kinda like your run way super models of the day).
Soundclips
Thanks to Avenger316 for the following sound clips:
--- Quote from: Avenger316 on April 25, 2008, 05:29:01 PM ---Clean
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6491396
dirty riffing
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6429843
dirty solo
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6429913
--- End quote ---
Thanks to LuredMaul for the following soundclips:
--- Quote from: LuredMaul on June 30, 2009, 02:22:24 AM ---http://webpages.charter.net/luredmaul/
Clips
titled Norton Air P.A.F
I never had any intention to share this clip as I had just installed the pups and hit record; The patch used was heavy on the DELAY,CHORUS and Reveb,I'm used to this patch and just played what came to mind searching for what the pups did well and didn't do well. In this perticular guitar the "feel" of the Norton didn't work for me (Air Zone Won) I also tried the AIR mod ( brought on by this forum) on one of the S1(chrome polepiece P.A.F Pro) pups I had laying around. If I remember right,this is an Alder bodied Jem guitar thru a POD XT Live.
--- End quote ---
According to wsx3, Reb Beach used to use the Norton, and has kindly provided us with YouTube clips:
--- Quote from: wxs3 on April 03, 2009, 08:14:09 PM ---I have heard that Reb Beach from Winger used a Norton when he played with Dokken. Here's a couple of vids
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FFzMdyAZdk[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y41SCE-JjDA&feature=related[/youtube]
--- End quote ---
Wxs3 has also dug up an artist who's actually using the Norton in a mahogany bodied guitar (thanks again to wxs3):
--- Quote from: wxs3 on August 10, 2008, 03:52:48 PM ---I finally found someone who uses the Norton. He has the HFH in the neck. Not sure of what model ESP guitar he plays but here's a link
http://www.myspace.com/marcpattison
It almost sounds like a TZ except a little lighter and more harmonically friendly. I may have to check it out.
--- End quote ---
Furthermore, our very own Orkestra's band, Aghast, has a myspace, page, and he uses the Norton: http://www.myspace.com/aghastuk
Virtual Vintage Experiment
Avenger316 has also performed the Virtual Vintage mod on his Norton, here's the entire thread with the process, and sound clips before and after:
http://www.dimarzioforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=444.0
Some youtube videos:
--- Quote from: CityofBlindingLights on July 01, 2009, 06:14:31 PM ---
--- Quote from: wxs3 on July 01, 2009, 06:08:03 PM ---I found this video of a guy with a Norton playing some chuggin. Hope this helps you out.
YOUTUBE LINK REMOVED
--- End quote ---
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXqy8XOwd8[/youtube]
Great clip of the Norton as well.
--- End quote ---
This post and thread will be edited, added to, and modified as time passes/more information accumulates.
buddroyce:
Thank you for the info page Nick. I probably won't sticky this one just yet. I guess I should probably add the description and say that it's got the sweet smooth distortion that makes the Duncan JB so popular but has better bottom end (at least in my opinion) and doesn't have the annoying honkiness.
It's also got that 80's hair metal / old school Van Halen vibe if that's what your going for. ie. Your ideal tone is lots of smooth sounding mids, polished top end and nice tight bottom end (kinda like your run way super models of the day).
AllDimarzio:
Not being a smartA$$ here but if it's so great why does hardly anyone use them? I had one and thought it was OK but not any better or worse than a lot of other Dimarzios. I think I like the TZ better for what i would use a norton for. Mine was in an RG, maybe I need to hear one in a Gibson.
Kodzen:
One thing that Norton excels than other pup (within the same output range) is CLARITY and great harmonics, very useful for rhythm.
It's capable for doing many things for pop to metal, and especially if you're playing EVH stuffs.
Have to admit it's not the best for leads (some would say it's a bit ice-picky but not to the annoying level), but I'm using the neck for almost all of the leads so no problem for me.
Of course you can't compare it with a TZ (nothing compares to it) but it's definitely a keeper.
So far only TZ and Norton survived in some of my guitars as a bridge pup, having them both is enough for me, so far at least
wxs3:
I have heard that Reb Beach from Winger used a Norton when he played with Dokken. Here's a couple of vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FFzMdyAZdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y41SCE-JjDA&feature=related
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