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frank falbo · 03-12-2008, 01:04 AM

You guys are missing some of the details.

First, as far as I've seen, no Dimarzio Airbucker uses a smaller magnet. The gap is created by removing the spacer surrounding screw poles, and using tapered slugs on the slug poles.

Second, the New 7 has fat threaded poles. That means they don't taper on the way down like a typical PAF pole. Instead they're like threaded slug poles, fat all the way down. That means there are NO SPACERS in a New 7, Super D/II/III, Evolution, or any other Dimarzio that has the same pole pieces. So now, in order to "air" one of those pickups you either have to convert the bobbins for screw-style poles, and or use tapered studs from another airbucker, OR you have to find a non-standard, smaller magnet.

Thirdly, as far as I've seen, Airbuckering is done with Alnico 5 magnets only. Alnico has a way of softening and "dithering" as you introduce the air gap. It's not really that different than simply using an Alnico II or III, but Dimarzio has created the tones of many of their pickups this way, and then they only need to stock A5. Ceramic is different. Ceramic is more rigid in it's magnetic field. I spoke with a not-to-be-named Dimarzio employee who agreed that to Airbucker Ceramic is really not that different than lowering the poles or the whole pickup just a little bit. the Airbuckered Ceramic really just gets a slight volume drop, not much else regarding the character or "airiness" of the note's attack and decay.

The New 7 is Ceramic, as are all of Dimarzio's 7-string pickups, including those with Alnico 5 6-string counterparts. So the Air Norton 7 should be aired, right? And I believe it is, but it's aired Ceramic. So any of you that have an AN7, if you think it sounds and feels airy, then I guess trying to air a New 7 could be good. But my estimate? I would guess you'd like the New 7 a lot with an Alico 5 magnet. I've had New 7's and I liked them, but they were a little compressed. The coil isn't anything magical though. So if you converted to screws and slugs, and aired one or both coils, you'd probably have a cool pickup.

Oh yeah, here's my cool Airbuckering mod:
I call it "vari-air". You know how some guys like a half-aired pickup? Well I've taken non-aired pickups, removed the spacers, and then arranged the magnet in a diagonal manner so that it's touching the treble pole of one coil and the bass pole of the other coil. Now high and low notes are clean and clear because they have one coil with strong magnetism and the other "fully aired". Then the middle strings have half the air but on both coils. The signal coming off the strings is also strong in a diagonal pattern, so it's kind of like an angled pickup that way too. You can have so much fun with this mod it's silly.

Holy crap did I just write like a whole page? Sorry...

03-12-2008, 01:04 AM	#15
frank falbo ss.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 224 Main Seven: Custom Thanked: 9 / 1	You guys are missing some of the details. First, as far as I've seen, no Dimarzio Airbucker uses a smaller magnet. The gap is created by removing the spacer surrounding screw poles, and using tapered slugs on the slug poles. Second, the New 7 has fat threaded poles. That means they don't taper on the way down like a typical PAF pole. Instead they're like threaded slug poles, fat all the way down. That means there are NO SPACERS in a New 7, Super D/II/III, Evolution, or any other Dimarzio that has the same pole pieces. So now, in order to "air" one of those pickups you either have to convert the bobbins for screw-style poles, and or use tapered studs from another airbucker, OR you have to find a non-standard, smaller magnet. Thirdly, as far as I've seen, Airbuckering is done with Alnico 5 magnets only. Alnico has a way of softening and "dithering" as you introduce the air gap. It's not really that different than simply using an Alnico II or III, but Dimarzio has created the tones of many of their pickups this way, and then they only need to stock A5. Ceramic is different. Ceramic is more rigid in it's magnetic field. I spoke with a not-to-be-named Dimarzio employee who agreed that to Airbucker Ceramic is really not that different than lowering the poles or the whole pickup just a little bit. the Airbuckered Ceramic really just gets a slight volume drop, not much else regarding the character or "airiness" of the note's attack and decay. The New 7 is Ceramic, as are all of Dimarzio's 7-string pickups, including those with Alnico 5 6-string counterparts. So the Air Norton 7 should be aired, right? And I believe it is, but it's aired Ceramic. So any of you that have an AN7, if you think it sounds and feels airy, then I guess trying to air a New 7 could be good. But my estimate? I would guess you'd like the New 7 a lot with an Alico 5 magnet. I've had New 7's and I liked them, but they were a little compressed. The coil isn't anything magical though. So if you converted to screws and slugs, and aired one or both coils, you'd probably have a cool pickup. Oh yeah, here's my cool Airbuckering mod: I call it "vari-air". You know how some guys like a half-aired pickup? Well I've taken non-aired pickups, removed the spacers, and then arranged the magnet in a diagonal manner so that it's touching the treble pole of one coil and the bass pole of the other coil. Now high and low notes are clean and clear because they have one coil with strong magnetism and the other "fully aired". Then the middle strings have half the air but on both coils. The signal coming off the strings is also strong in a diagonal pattern, so it's kind of like an angled pickup that way too. You can have so much fun with this mod it's silly. Holy crap did I just write like a whole page? Sorry...