Soulcrusher_X
New member
A few long weeks ago, I placed an order for a Zhangliquin Crushbucker. It's 10.3k with a UOA5 polished magnet and the widebucker poles. Instead of the usual 3/16" sized slugs, they are 7/32" I think. I think they are supposed to widen the magnetic field in a way that broadens the tone and fattens it up. (I hope I explained that correctly) And the bobbins are maybe 1/4" taller than usual humbucker bobbins. Maybe to spread the wire out more and keep it closer to the poles?
Anyway, I had been jonesing for a Brobucker for a long time, but didnt want to sped that kind of money on a pickup. I checked out the Crushbucker because the specs are close on paper, but with the 'regular' wind, it was far less cash. Well, I sprung the extra money for the widebucker slugs, and it started adding up anyway. It's not that I dont want to pay that much for a Duncan pickup. I love the Custom family, the 59s, JB and other SD pups. I am still holding onto my JB, it is one of my favorite pickups ever. I just wanted to see what one of the independent, little guys had to offer. Plus, if you look at Zhang's website, he has a lot of cool options to really customize your tones. Then, since it's just him winding them, you have a wait ahead of you. I was originally quoted 6 weeks, but it ended up being closer to 9 weeks. Was it worth it?
Yes. This is what I was looking for. I think it sits nicely in between say...the 59 and the C5. It's meaty. VERY meaty. It's got sweet highs, never piercing nor brittle. It has solid, fat lows but not much slop, just a little extra love around the edges. The mids have a lot of muscle and clarity. They don't cut through a mix as much as they push through, and hard.
At first, I thought it was too fat of a pickup to have good harmoincs, but I finally realized that the harmonics are thick and broad, but will really jump out at you after I changed my technique a bit. It's really responsive for a heavy wind, too. Cleans up decent with lighter picking and really barks and snarls when you dig in.
I haven't really gelled with my JSX in quite a while, but it's the first time in a LONG time that it sounded this good. I've never really liked the JSX clean channel, but it's so 3D now. I found myself using the Crunch more than the Ultra channel, too. It was really easy to get Sabbath and AC/DC type tones with this thing. It handled drop D pretty easily, too.
I have only played it a few times, but I am very impressed. Sometime soon, I'm going to have to order a neck pickup from him. If anyone has ever been interested in giving Zhangbuckers a shot, I highly encourage it.
Thanks David, my Les Paul is very happy.
~Jay
Anyway, I had been jonesing for a Brobucker for a long time, but didnt want to sped that kind of money on a pickup. I checked out the Crushbucker because the specs are close on paper, but with the 'regular' wind, it was far less cash. Well, I sprung the extra money for the widebucker slugs, and it started adding up anyway. It's not that I dont want to pay that much for a Duncan pickup. I love the Custom family, the 59s, JB and other SD pups. I am still holding onto my JB, it is one of my favorite pickups ever. I just wanted to see what one of the independent, little guys had to offer. Plus, if you look at Zhang's website, he has a lot of cool options to really customize your tones. Then, since it's just him winding them, you have a wait ahead of you. I was originally quoted 6 weeks, but it ended up being closer to 9 weeks. Was it worth it?
Yes. This is what I was looking for. I think it sits nicely in between say...the 59 and the C5. It's meaty. VERY meaty. It's got sweet highs, never piercing nor brittle. It has solid, fat lows but not much slop, just a little extra love around the edges. The mids have a lot of muscle and clarity. They don't cut through a mix as much as they push through, and hard.
At first, I thought it was too fat of a pickup to have good harmoincs, but I finally realized that the harmonics are thick and broad, but will really jump out at you after I changed my technique a bit. It's really responsive for a heavy wind, too. Cleans up decent with lighter picking and really barks and snarls when you dig in.
I haven't really gelled with my JSX in quite a while, but it's the first time in a LONG time that it sounded this good. I've never really liked the JSX clean channel, but it's so 3D now. I found myself using the Crunch more than the Ultra channel, too. It was really easy to get Sabbath and AC/DC type tones with this thing. It handled drop D pretty easily, too.
I have only played it a few times, but I am very impressed. Sometime soon, I'm going to have to order a neck pickup from him. If anyone has ever been interested in giving Zhangbuckers a shot, I highly encourage it.
Thanks David, my Les Paul is very happy.
~Jay