Air norton or paf pro??

[Motorpud]

I'm thinking about picking up an air norton for the neck position in my Jackson. I know it's a pretty popular pickup and I've looked up the specs already but I'm wondering if anybodys had experience with both of these and how they differ. I play mostly thrash or metal in some form so they would really only be used clean and for solos. Oh, and FYI the bridge will be a suhr aldrich.

 

[guitarslinger]

moto,

Have you considered a Duncan in the Neck spot?

I was a Dimarzio fanboy for like 14 years, until I decided I liked Suhrs and Duncans more.

My fav neck pup for cleans and Solos = Duncan Alnico II Pro, or the Duncan '59, or Duncan Jazz.

The Paf Pro really has not stood the test of time tonally, IMO. It sounds REALLY bland compared to a LOT of nicer neck pups out there.

BTW, I use the Aldrich bridge pup in like 3 or 4 of my axes. Great pickup!!!

 

[Motorpud]

Yeah, I like the Aldrich too, outstanding pickup. For some reason I have always had something against Duncans, I can't figure it out but I had a 59' in the neck of another guitar and I really like how it sounded. I just haven't had the chance to sample all the different dimarzios so I figured I'd try some out. Variety is the spice of life
For the record, I am leaning toward the Air Norton right now though over the paf pro.

 

[jmgman69]

Yeah, I like the Aldrich too, outstanding pickup. For some reason I have always had something against Duncans, I can't figure it out but I had a 59' in the neck of another guitar and I really like how it sounded. I just haven't had the chance to sample all the different dimarzios so I figured I'd try some out. Variety is the spice of life
For the record, I am leaning toward the Air Norton right now though over the paf pro.

I had the air norton in the neck and it was very well rounded and sounded great in a schecter I had.Much better the the pro imo!!

 

[Motorpud]

I might need to add that it's an alder body ......What was your go-to pickups in your Dimarzio "fanboy" days Gene? Just curious

 

[glpg80]

ive got both, have used both.

for darker guitars, run the paf pro. for brighter more solid guitars, use the air norton. the low end that the air norton posesses wont turn to mush in guitar bodies that are not dark sounding. it will also round-out well.

to be honest the PAF pro actually is higher output than the air norton. but the paf pro is a more in your face clean-tone sounding pickup, and with the right wooded guitar, can sound better than an air norton IMO.

im waiting for my ESP to stick an air norton in the neck - its also an alder guitar.

im also waiting to stick a PAF pro in the neck of a mahogany robin medley in the future.

duncans have always sounded best in the bridge position to me, ive never liked a duncan in the neck - and i still dislike many more in the bridge - but dimarzio's have always and will always be in my guitars for now

 

[jmgman69]

ive got both, have used both.

for darker guitars, run the paf pro. for brighter more solid guitars, use the air norton. the low end that the air norton posesses wont turn to mush in guitar bodies that are not dark sounding. it will also round-out well.

to be honest the PAF pro actually is higher output than the air norton. but the paf pro is a more in your face clean-tone sounding pickup, and with the right wooded guitar, can sound better than an air norton IMO.

im waiting for my ESP to stick an air norton in the neck - its also an alder guitar.

im also waiting to stick a PAF pro in the neck of a mahogany robin medley in the future.

duncans have always sounded best in the bridge position to me, ive never liked a duncan in the neck - and i still dislike many more in the bridge - but dimarzio's have always and will always be in my guitars for now

I agree with this 1000%

 

[Motorpud]

to be honest the PAF pro actually is higher output than the air norton

Aaahh now that's the main question for me that I really should've been asking all along I think. I pretty much have my mind set on the air norton but I read that the paf pro is hotter and has a specific vocal quality to it. So I was wondering if the lesser output of the air norton will be balanced with the higher output of the Aldrich or if I should go with even a hotter neck pickup than either of the 2. I read that it's a good match with the tonezone and that's pretty high output too so I should be ok I guess. I'm really just looking for a nice smooth overdrive with none of the super fuzzy muddiness.

 

[jmgman69]

I think you'll be fine!!I used it with Duncan Distortions and JBs and it sounded great!!

 

[glpg80]

I think you'll be fine!!I used it with Duncan Distortions and JBs and it sounded great!!

+1

the PAF is SLIGHTLY higher output, but not by much - at least to my ears. but its there. we're talking a difference that can almost be ignored here, nothing thats too great to choose one over the other.

to be honest if you mentioned smootheness, the PAF pro is extremely smoothe across the entire fretboard - a very linear pickup with a clean character on overdriven high E bending vibrato tones. the air norton has an auto wah character to it, in reference to if you are doing a run vertically down the neck - so it adds emphasis in an "aw" effect and is a little easier to get the creative juices running on. but sometimes its character gets annoying as fuck - depends on the day.

like i said before, ive got both, and use both. for the aldrich - run the air norton. if you were using a tonezone in the bridge and a rosewood fretboard, id check out the PAF pro instead - you'd be surprised.

 

[Motorpud]

Well, I was already leaning toward the air norton so for me this pretty much seals the deal. Thanks for the info guys, now I'm going to look for one used. If I dont find one within a week or 2 I guess I'll buy one new The guitar it's going in is getting painted right now anyway so I'm not really in a rush, I just want to be prepared when I get it back

 

[Valtiel]

but sometimes its character gets annoying as fuck - depends on the day.

I know exactly what you mean, old PRS' have this thing called a sweet switch which basically that "aw" character on a mini toggle. It's really cool for some thing but would drive me crazy if it was always there, thankfully its on a switch.

 

[guitarslinger]

I might need to add that it's an alder body ......What was your go-to pickups in your Dimarzio "fanboy" days Gene? Just curious

depends on the guitar, but:

HB:

Breed B (still a badass pup)
Breed N
Evolution B (nice in the right Ibanez with the right Bogner)
Paf Pro (just doesn't sound as good as most duncans, or even other dimarzios)
X2N
Double Whammy (NEVER sounded as good as the breed)
Paf Classic (still pretty nice.)
IBZUSA F1

SC:

Virtual Vintage VirtuAL2 Neck (still LOVE this pup)
Virtual Vintage '54 Neck (I think I still love this)
HS3
HS2


Dimarzio pups I NEVER liked:

Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues
Tone Zone
Fred
Paf Joe
Super Distortion (tried to like it )

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

MCP Afwayu neck flat out rules! I hate neck pickups!

 

[Motorpud]

I might need to add that it's an alder body ......What was your go-to pickups in your Dimarzio "fanboy" days Gene? Just curious

depends on the guitar, but:

HB:

Breed B (still a badass pup)
Breed N
Evolution B (nice in the right Ibanez with the right Bogner)
Paf Pro (just doesn't sound as good as most duncans, or even other dimarzios)
X2N
Double Whammy (NEVER sounded as good as the breed)
Paf Classic (still pretty nice.)
IBZUSA F1

SC:

Virtual Vintage VirtuAL2 Neck (still LOVE this pup)
Virtual Vintage '54 Neck (I think I still love this)
HS3
HS2


Dimarzio pups I NEVER liked:

Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues
Tone Zone
Fred
Paf Joe
Super Distortion (tried to like it )

Funny you should mention the X2N, I'm putting 2 of them in a King V that I just picked up, one's already on the way and I'm still searching for another one. Might have to break down and buy it new

 

[guitarslinger]

Funny you should mention the X2N, I'm putting 2 of them in a King V that I just picked up, one's already on the way and I'm still searching for another one. Might have to break down and buy it new

You like Buckethead??

 

[Motorpud]

Funny you should mention the X2N, I'm putting 2 of them in a King V that I just picked up, one's already on the way and I'm still searching for another one. Might have to break down and buy it new

You like Buckethead??

Hell yeah I was thinking about what pickups would sound good in the V and then I remembered how he used to use dual X2Ns in his KV2 and that guitar could just flat out do anything. I doubt I'll have the same luck but it's worth a shot

 

[guitarslinger]

Funny you should mention the X2N, I'm putting 2 of them in a King V that I just picked up, one's already on the way and I'm still searching for another one. Might have to break down and buy it new

You like Buckethead??

Hell yeah I was thinking about what pickups would sound good in the V and then I remembered how he used to use dual X2Ns in his KV2 and that guitar could just flat out do anything. I doubt I'll have the same luck but it's worth a shot

He was using a 27" scale too.

Was his custom jackson V all maple? or something weird like that?

 

[Motorpud]

I'm not sure right off hand but I know the body was oversized too due to him being so tall. I think he's like 6'5" or something like that. The skills that guy possesses is just disturbing to me. A lot of people don't like him or find him gimmicky but I dig most of what he does, especially some of the live performances I've seen on YouTube.

 

[guitarslinger]

I'm not sure right off hand but I know the body was oversized too due to him being so tall. I think he's like 6'5" or something like that. The skills that guy possesses is just disturbing to me. A lot of people don't like him or find him gimmicky but I dig most of what he does, especially some of the live performances I've seen on YouTube.

I saw him live with Primus at Ozzfest in '99.

It's still the most jawdropping impressive playing I've ever seen in real life.

He's definitely one of my fav players.

I listen to Colma, a LOT.