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Average Price: $85
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Description
Discover the perfect blend of warmth and precision with the DiMarzio Norton electric guitar pickup. This pickup straddles the line between vintage charm and modern versatility, making it an ideal choice for musicians looking to expand their tonal palette. With its patent-applied-for magnetic structure, the Norton reduces string pull to enhance sustain, while offering remarkable control over dynamics and pick attack. Whether you're aiming for fat, warm tones without muddiness or hot sounds without distortion, the Norton delivers with aplomb.
Designed to perform in both solidbody and semi-hollowbody guitars, the Norton is a powerhouse in the neck position, delivering open, expressive tones that seamlessly balance with bridge humbuckers. For those who love experimenting with their sound, this pickup pairs beautifully with a variety of configurations, including the DiMarzio Tone Zone and Air Classic. And with 500K pots, you'll enjoy a bright treble and rich harmonic presence. In the bridge position, experience a medium output with solid lows and biting harmonics.
For guitarists who crave flexibility and expressive capability, the DiMarzio Norton pickup stands as a testament to innovative design and superior sound quality.
Key Features:
- Patent-applied-for magnetic structure for reduced string pull and enhanced sustain
- Ideal for solidbody and semi-hollowbody guitars
- Warm, open-sounding neck position with excellent dynamic control
- Medium output bridge position with solid lows and biting harmonics
- Versatile pairing options with other DiMarzio pickups
Product specs
| Brand | DiMarzio |
| Model | DP160FBK Norton F-Spaced Humbucker |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Guitar Pickups |
FAQs
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What type of tone can I expect from the DiMarzio Norton pickup?
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The DiMarzio Norton offers a balanced tone with a blend of warmth and clarity. It's known for its midrange punch and harmonically rich sound, making it versatile for rock and blues styles.
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Is the DiMarzio Norton suitable for the bridge or neck position?
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The DiMarzio Norton is primarily designed for the bridge position, providing a powerful and articulate sound that complements a variety of playing styles.
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How does the DiMarzio Norton compare to the Super Distortion pickup?
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While both pickups offer high output, the Norton provides a more balanced tone with less emphasis on the high end compared to the Super Distortion, which is known for its aggressive and bright sound.
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Is the DiMarzio Norton F-spaced pickup compatible with Floyd Rose tremolo systems?
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Yes, the F-spacing of the DiMarzio Norton is specifically designed to align with the wider string spacing of Floyd Rose tremolo systems and other similar bridges.
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Can the DiMarzio Norton handle high-gain distortion well?
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Absolutely, the DiMarzio Norton excels with high-gain settings, delivering clear and defined notes even with heavy distortion, making it suitable for rock and metal genres.
Videos
thesalienttruth
Dimarzio Norton vs Duncan JB vs Dimarzio Crunch Lab
Reviews
PROS
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Strong mids, highs, and tight lows for versatile sound
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Exceptional sustain and power compared to similar pickups
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Great for hard rock and classic rock, especially in Les Paul-type guitars
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Retains clarity and articulation even with high gain
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Produces amazing harmonics and overtones
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Musical, not nasally, balanced tonal output
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Works well with hot-rodded amp setups
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Suitable for both distorted and clean tones
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Stands out in live band settings
CONS
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Name lacks appeal, potentially impacting popularity
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about DiMarzio Norton.
Features and functionality
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The DiMarzio Air Norton pickup provides a warm, darker tone on clean settings, contrasting with the brighter, more aggressive tone of the D Activator pickup.
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The Air Norton is praised for its liquid, singing character on high gain, making it ideal for players seeking expressive dynamics in their sound.
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DiMarzios offer wiring options like coil tapping and phase switching for greater tonal flexibility, unlike Fishman Moderns, which provide Multi Voice switching for EQ changes.
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Use cases and applications
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The Air Norton is ideal for players seeking a calmer, less aggressive neck pickup tone without excessive gain, making it suitable for cleaner musical styles.
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The Air Norton excels in progressive and sludge/stoner metal, providing warm sustain and harmonics, while retaining clarity and dynamics, suitable for varied musical styles.
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The DiMarzio Norton is noted for its versatility in styles beyond metal, providing a warm, vocal sound ideal for fluid lead tones.
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User experience
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Owners note that the D Activator's high output can require a reduction in amp gain to achieve balanced distortion, highlighting the Air Norton's milder output as a smoother alternative.
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Users report the DiMarzio Norton loses some high-end with long cables or many pedals, a characteristic some players appreciate for a darker tone.
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Mods and upgrades
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Custom routing work is often necessary for installation, suggesting the importance of professional help for precise pickup swaps in some guitars.
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Splitting the Air Norton with a True Velvet middle pickup results in a thin, sweet tone with clarity, preferred on clean settings over high gain.
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Comparisons
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Compared to the Bareknuckle Aftermaths, the Air Norton offers a warmer, more sustained sound, while Aftermaths provide punch, clarity, and aggression.
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The DiMarzio Norton with Tone Zone offers medium-high output, suitable for metal but less compressed than Fishman Moderns, which are ideal for modern metal due to high gain and compression.
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DiMarzio Norton is described as less versatile for downtuned metal compared to Fishman Moderns, which are tighter and brighter, catering more to all-metal styles.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
863
Best bridge HB on my Gibson SG
It's always difficult to assess the quality of a guitar pickup because there are so many factors to consider about the guitar it's mounted on that it's unclear what will most affect the sound. So I can only base myself here on my experience. I've changed my SG pickups a bunch of times (P94, Pearly Gates, Bare Knuckle, Alnico II Pro) and all I can say is the Norton is my favorite. It's bright but it doesn't have too many mids, the sound is very articulate and can be heard without any problems in a live situation. It has a big sound, but not as much as a Seymour Duncan SH-4 (which I used to have on another guitare). Moreover, unlike the latter, it also sounds very good clean. I can therefore only recommend it for any form of use ranging from classic rock to alternative metal.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
I use it paired with a PAF 36th anniversary.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Similar
Add recommendation1 alternative for DiMarzio Norton, curated by the Equipboard community.
$99.00 - $119.00
These are quite similar but the DiMarzio is less fizzy, sounds best clean and is a tad more balanced.
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