NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

ExplorersRock

ExplorersRock

X-Files Duckbucker
Hey Everyone!

Not too long ago I was able to straight-trade a Schecter I had for a Jackson 7-string. I already have an Agile 7 with a Nazgul/Sentient Combo, so I wanted to try something altogether different. Something less metal and more PAF style. I wasn't quite digging the other S.D. options and DiMarzio doesn't have many PAF options for 7-string at all. In fact, as you'd expect, 7-string pickups are still not that easy to find when compared to the variety of 6-strings. So what to do? Well, I know that Zhangbucker is represented by a forum member, so I gave him a call. We chatted, and just yesterday afternoon, my pickups arrived. I haven't hooked them up yet, so updates on this thread will hopefully be done by Sunday. Depending of course on my Honey-Do list content. But below are a Zhanbucker Woodbucker 24 (neck) and a Super O-Bucker (bridge). The later is based off of a sale pickup I bought from Zhang, that was wound to 12.8k with an A4 mag. And yes, same specs here! So without further ado, I present to you, dear forumites, the first 7-string Zhangbuckers ever! Lucky me! :D

ZB7-01_zps24b4d64e.jpg


This one's without the flash. A little blurry, but better represents the cream color of the reverse zebra bobbins.
ZB7-02_zps78e65d03.jpg
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

His pickups are amazing.

FTR, David doesn't represent the company. He IS Zhangbucker.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

I have a set I've never installed. It is the first time I've ever been unfaithful. I just wanted to get some strange. Someday I may also buy a TV Jones pickup or set since they seem to dominate the Filtertronic zone, but I doubt my proclivity for infidelity will ever take me much further.
 
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Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Sometimes training an apprentice is the same as raising up your competition. I am absolutely not speaking for David, but I know that in my business the installers have a special skill set and they don't want to train anyone that they fear may ultimately take food off their tables.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Lazarus1140 said:
That is some serious degaussing there .....
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A sort of degaussing-only electromagnetic pulse...

Lazarus said:
Sometimes training an apprentice is the same as raising up your competition. I am absolutely not speaking for David, but I know that in my business the installers have a special skill set and they don't want to train anyone that they fear may ultimately take food off their tables.
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It's something to consider, but will most likely this will be determined by the level of sales and the business climate of where I am -- right now, CA, not good.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Alrighty. I have been busy with other stuff so my play time on these has only been about a total of 30 minutes. That said, the results have been quite pleasant thus far. The bridge has a great PAF, vintage-like jangle and clarity that is quite nice on cleans and aggressive when pushed with gain. I'm able to get some nice tones with moderate gain, and some nice tones with gobs of gain too. Not as aggressive sounding as a high-output pickup like a Duncan Distortion, but more full sounding and dynamic which adds a lot of tonal color. Think about how the 59/Custom Hybrid sounds when compared to the Duncan Custom. The neck has a good warmth to it and is smooth, but not muddy like some A2-based neck HBs can be. Clarity is excellent. Both pickups have great articulation. The Low-B sounds almost bass-like in tone giving it a chimey-clear type of sound that is both unique (IMHO anyway) and quite pleasing.

I'll get some more play-time in tonight and see if I can give some more info. Also of note, while these pickups aren't high-output by specs, they are giving me some overdrive on clean, so I need to lower them a bit to kinda lighten-it-up on my clean channel.

P.S. - On a professional note, David has been excellent with his customer service and working with me to get these dialed in. Just wanted everyone to know, if you are ordering some pickups from him, you can rest assured he's pretty damn awesome to work with.
 
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Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Zhangliqun said:
A sort of degaussing-only electromagnetic pulse...
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So . . . you're cooking them in the microwave? :D

Demanic said:
Shouldn't you consider training an apprentice or something?
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Can I volunteer for this position?

Seriously though, the only Strat I have, where I love to play the middle pup by itself, is the one wound by Dave. I really need to check out one of his HB'ers soon.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

ArtieToo said:
Seriously though, the only Strat I have, where I love to play the middle pup by itself, is the one wound by Dave.
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Oh, so you're the other one. I heard I wasn't the only one, but what are the odds we'd both be on the same forum!
 
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Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

You guys ordered just a Strat middle each from me?

And on a related note -- could use a recommendation or two on a good but cheap 7-string guitar as a testbed.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Zhangliqun said:
You guys ordered just a Strat middle each from me?
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No. I ordered singles for neck and mid and an O-Bucker for the bridge. The guitar I am building for them is incmplete. My "joke" was that Art and I may be the only two people on the planet who like the middle alone setting. It is certainly my default setting for full chord type rhythm work.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Lazarus1140 said:
The guitar I am building for them is incmplete. My "joke" was that Art and I may be the only two people on the planet who like the middle alone setting.
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Just off the top of my head from experience with my customers, it seems to be divided evenly 3 ways between Those Who Love #2 and #4 Only, Those Who Love Middle Alone Only or At Least Primarily, and Those Who Love Both.
 
Re: NPD - Zhangbucker Content!

Or those like me, who are Tele players in disguise. When I'm playing a Strat I always have the bridge pickup hooked up to a tone control and use only the bridge and neck (mostly bridge).
 
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