The present invention is an air bearing slider comprising a transducer for communicating with a disc; a composite slider body with a front portion composed of a first material and a rear portion composed of a second material; an air bearing surface defined on a disc opposing face of the composite slider body, where the air bearing surface comprises the front portion and the rear portion; and a transducer basecoat portion attached to the rear portion of the slider body and containing the transducer. During flight, the mechanical close point of the slider body is at the transducer pole tip.