Dimarzio AT-1 vs Norton?

[Speeddemon]

I scored an AT-1 last week and put it in my 3rd Burny Les Paul (Standard...thick maple cap) yesterday, after recording the Norton that was in there with my Mesa Mark V:25 and a TC Alter Ego v2 in Looper mode.

So far, in comparison to the Norton:
AT-1 Pro's:
-Slightly bigger (and spongier) low-end. Norton is quite tight, while remaining on the Vintage/Alnico side of things.
-Retains similar bite and harmonics. I'm using 500k Bourns push-pull pots and I expected the AT-1 to sound duller, but that's not the case at all.
-A bit better/wider clean sound in humbucker mode.

AT-1 Cons:
-Split tone is quite jangly, but a bit dime-a-dozen, and weak-ish. Reminds me of the Super Distortion split-tone. The Norton has a bolder, almost Tele-bridge-like split tone that's awesome. I wouldn't be surprised if the Norton has un-even coils and I know the AT-1 doesn't.
-The brightness in the top-end can make high-lead lines a tad shrill.

General thoughts:
I get where people see the Duncan JB comparison. I find the JB to have a bit bigger, but looser low-end than the Norton and I see some of that back in the AT-1 as well.
I'll use it for a while and see what happens after the honeymoon period, but the Norton might come back in. While I may lose some boldness in the lows in humbucker mode then, the coil-split tone (which I use a lot, especially for classic rock/Joe Walsh stuff) is noticably better.

 

[Speeddemon]

After a week, the AT-1 might stay!
Being going back and forth comparing it with another guitar (the ESP Horizon NT-II that has the Duncan Custom 5 in the bridge) and the AT-1 is really cool.
Even the split tone seems to be growing on me.

I think Savage Riffer said it best; whether you choose the Norton or the AT-1; either one is fine basically. The AT-1 will add some more chunk in the low-end, and the Norton's split tone is a tad better.

Yesterday I've been doing some AC/DC style stuff on my EVH's red channel. Yes, you read that correctly. The red channel. (which I partially retubed for less gain) Gain at 8 'o clock, AT-1 volume dialed down to 7. And the AT-1 kills for this.