Air Coil vs. distance

[akozols]

HI,

What's your opinion of having an "air coil" pickup compared to a regular pickup. In other words, have you noticed a difference in using an Air Zone compared to a Tone Zone that is set far from the strings.

Here's a quote from someone in the know "A TZ set at the right distance (which will vary from guitar to guitar) should produce the same output level as an AZ set closer, but it won't sound exactly the same. For one thing, the AZ has a higher resonant peak than the TZ. It's not much, but the AZ does have a little more presence"

thanks,

Al

 

[revolution]

Re: Air Coil vs. distance

I really dig the Air Norton for a neck position...my fave neck pic of all. Strangely...I don't like anything else by Dimarzio.

 

[Majestic]

Re: Air Coil vs. distance

It depends on how picky you're being. Since we're here at Seymourduncan.com, I assume we're being very, very picky.

IMO, lowering a pickup's height is like moving a microphone further away from someone's mouth. Not good.

Better to keep the microphone where it is, and set the proper buffers/EQs/etc.

The "Air" schematic that DiMarzio uses in their Airbuckers is NOT AT ALL similar to simply lowering your pickup.

You want the SAME vibrations being "received" or "caught" by those pole pieces....you simply want them artificially EQd by the space/plastic/whatevever present in the Airbucker. That's the point.

You wouldn't take a Custom 5, lower the pickup away from the strings, and call it a Custom Custom. It doesn't work like that.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Air Coil vs. distance

I have tried BOTH lowering a TONE ZONE and using an AIR ZONE. I somewhat agree with the microphone comparison. Although, ambience is a nice thing with mics, on guitars it can change the feel, attack, and power of the notes. It's much better to just buy the Air Zone. The Tone Zone is sooo balls out, it's best for Hard Stuff only. The Air Zone has a lot more dynamics, and is sweeter and smoother on the higher strings, as opposed to stiff like a ceramic (although the TZ is Alnico 5)