Looky What I Got

[refin]

Some great new winds from Zhangliqun.I installed the Woodbucker(neck) and the Slugbucker(bridge) on my '50s LP.
Initial analysis------Wow :clap:.I've only played through the G-DEC amp at work,but I know that amp.These are wonderful pickups,with all the vibes I want.The Woodbucker is warm and sweet,while the Slugbucker is a fantastic bridge pup; lots of sting and articulation,and the notes seem to have a haze around them.I'll be doing some different soundclips soon,from solo direct inject to playing with a backing track.........and some tracks with amps too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/Zangwinds.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/Zangwinds2.jpg

[Teleguy]

AlNiCo II?

[LesStrat]

Z is one cool dood.

[Tech Player]

All look good. Yes I see A2 on them for Alnico II. They must be excellent. Nice going!

[Crunchyriff]

A2 is about my favorite magnet for humbuckers of the PAF kind/variants. JUST SUPERB.

I need a napkin... no I need a bib.

[refin]

First try----I haven't really dialed them in yet,I'm using the settings on my J-Station that I had for my other pups.I was shooting for that Carlos tone.I want to try them with some bluesy stuff later with a real amp.
Excuse the unimaginative clambake.:embarassed:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=330460&songID=7125739

[MadHatter]

yeah... I wish could be as unimaginative and make mistakes as well as that...
lol

they sound great though... the pick ups I mean...
your tone is always amazing tho...

[Crunchyriff]

That ain't a clambake- that's diggin up gold, bruddah!

[refin]

Well,gee,thanks guys for the kind words.
I haven't dialed them in with the J-Station yet,but I will.Once the J accepts a guitar,they are friends for life.
I've only played them through small amps,but they sound really good.Can't wait to open up the Marshall half stack a little!

[Tech Player]

I have some questions. My Les Paul clone with USA Burstbuckers in gold covers is going to be leaving very soon, probably in under 2 months, and it is definite, though I just got it this year and love it. I wanted to keep it for 5 years, but it is being taken by the very man that got my daughter's 1966 12 string. He does not live near here, but called on the weekend to say that he feels 100 times better with the Gibby B45-12 than he did before I met him on Friday, when he brought it home.

'Nuf of that. I want to know about these Zhangliquns please, the 2 you are using, also Zebra - the very same thanks. I am going to bring out my 1958 RI Tokai Love Rock, year 1983 or '84, already equipped with vintage MIJ Zebras, and no complaints from me. Plus, I have a spare set of Zebras with 4 conductors; and I have custom all-blacks and chrome-covered, made by my pickup winder.

I have not done a thing with the Love Rock, because I didn't want to alter as much as a solder, but if I get another set of pups, I want to change just once and keep it neat. I only know it can be improved because it would be a move from factory cost-controlled stock, to professional, boutique and better-sounding pickups made with technique and 'feeling'. So, I have a inquiry, how are they sounding at this point, what's good, anything not "out-of-this-world" and what about cost? Any pics of the guitar?

I am curious because of the Alnico II's, and I've been an Alnico 5, more-drive person, for knockdown strength and big bang boom, IMO. I know that compression and big rigs change all of that, of course. But I'm staying back with the old sounds of the 60's and pre-heavy Les Paul days, if there is such a thing. My PRS twins have both-era sonics, if interested, see section 3 w/ Hot Fat Scream treble pickup in ceramic, and the Vintage Bass, merely says alnico, but it is a fairly good one. http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/faq.html

And my PRS w/Dragon II's is very powerful - not needed actually. Splitting to singles suits my taste, but I won't need it at all, so it's on the hit list, also leaving the fold whenever?

Back to technical relevance, you seem to have single-lead hot wires, meaning humbucker only. I would want the Tokai to optionally switch to outside single coils if considering Z-pickups, and what's the price again, along with your current evaluation?

Again, I'm just curious. I may not buy but will consider. I am really in a cash conservation mode, absolutely downsizing and simplifying without yielding much versatility in guitars, and re-evaluating life altogether (:yikes:) - maybe can add something interesting, and the cherry sunburst Paul-look is an old standard, which I hope to always keep in some form.:D:up:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/bluesdlx/100_2365.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/bluesdlx/moved/100_2243.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/bluesdlx/moved/100_2246-1.jpg

Not to hi-jack, sorry I admit to stretching this topic to cover for making such a personal statement as keeping a Cherry Sun Burst. One guitar is fine too if it's the one for you, or still waiting for the right guitar.... which we all do at some point. For me, if not a CSB LP with PRS mods or a multi-function stock PRS and an Acoustic/Electric, it could with pleasure & complete satisfaction & many times "Thank you Jesus" be the 4-way Crucifiction/Salvation Tele.

I'm really appreciating this pickup thread and have additional points of inquiry that I could learn about to suit my gear and choices, which I am still making (many choices ahead & things to consider and deal with).:confused:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/bluesdlx/moved/100_2025-1.jpg

Thank you buckets for your post and commentary.lol

[Brian]

...Excuse the unimaginative clambake.:embarassed:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=330460&songID=7125739That was wonderful! I really like your playing.

[refin]

Thanks Brian for the kind words!
Tech Player,the pickups are sounding very nice........I will be playing the guitar again today while teaching to get more of a reading.I've had three sets of custom wound PAFs in the guitar,and all sounded good,but these seem to have that "thing" that's right for this guitar.
I used to have an '84 Love Rock.Mine was an okay guitar,looked the part and sounded pretty good.The stock zebras were nice.It was nowhere near a burst,but what is? I would like to find another one.Yours looks very nice!
Here is the Les Paul with Wolfetone winds (and a few old friends)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/TheMacandCompany.jpg

WB prototype PAF winds--
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/TheMac1.jpg

Don't have any pics with the the Zhangs,but they look just like the WBs (zebra).
Contact David at zhangbucker@yahoo.com He can wind it any way you want,with coil taps,any strength.Besides these,he has wound me a P-90 which is utterly foolish,a tele bridge pup (his Paul Bunyan wind) and sent me a prototype P-90 strat unit.All sound really good.

[Tech Player]

Thanks for the reply and the address.

I like your music too, and picked up on the smoother-than-Santana vibe, similar tone as well as other instrumentals which were very nice. :)

You're doing a great job, I hope you are thoroughly enjoying everything. Your musical offerings and contribution to the business (& website) are very noble and honed with talent and skill, plus great tone, with articulate and pleasant use of it!:clap:

Nice pics, thanks!:cool:

[refin]

Wow.............I don't know quite know how to respond to that slice of kindness.
Thank you,it is encouraging.:sunny1:

[BuckyB]

Gee, if I get those same pickups, will I sound like that?


IN MY DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[refin]

Gee, if I get those same pickups, will I sound like that?


IN MY DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I think you will---these are incredible!
I played them again today,and really listened---they are so fat and stinging with a little drive,and so warm and wonderful with a clean setting.I'm glad I got mine before the big rush that is sure to come.You can almost feel the tone under your fingers,like you can trust the tone to be there.:yeah:
I've decided to do some unaccompanied tracks,clean and dirty to really give an idea....I'll do some more with tracks,but solo tells the tale.

[Crunchyriff]

I'd really like to get-in on a set of those too, before, as you said, the rush for orders hits him. It will happen. I just don't have a guitar for a set of those yet...

[Tech Player]

I can seriously picture those pickups, if not in an Epi 335, Lucille or Ibanez, then a Fender '72 Thinline, with one little problem; the Fender guards have 2 holes on one side of the humbucker, and one on the other. If we discussed this before when I was new here at the time, I stuck to my guns and offered that I would get a pickguard made by WD (not Wrong Dimensions) or another place on my list, before I would misfit something. A very thin ring could also be fitted around the Fender types.

One might go for an affordable Gibson SG too, like my faded yellow etc., but I think a plain SG special with dot fingerboard would be even nicer in gloss dark cherry.

Studio LP's are great guitars just begging for an upgrade of this type? For the Les Paul look, we all are aware of the Epiphones, not cheap by any means, and now Gretsch entry level! I like the Gretsch look-of-vintage class. Epi's have similar bodies, presumably sound to Gibson of course, and the Gretsches are always chambered.

So, Gretsch Electromatics are also possible candidates, not sure. Well, yeah, the idea is to get one of the humbuckered models, and not singles which are most common - avoid DeArmond, singles in the case of Synchro and Electromatics. I saw an all-white one, not on the site, a clearance model, could be made into a budget White Falcon. FYI, it was a copy of an ES-175.

Add: http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?product=G5120&cat1=&cat2=&q=&st=1

Those sound clips are beautiful, haunting, works of art.

[SAguitar]

I should not covet my brother's pickups... but I do. Please forgive me. :embarassed:

[refin]

I just made some clean tracks with a real amp---don't know how they came out,but I will post them if they are okay.

[Tech Player]

Friday the 12th. I tried to listen to the amp tracks, haven't heard them yet. Anyway, I went to "Save the Tu Tu's" for something different, and it's just beyond excellent again.

I mean first of all, your playing is second to none and you are blessed with your dedication to and mastery of the art, along with the elusive creativity for originals. Then you've got those gorgeous sounding pickups, and I should add that that I am rather used to good tone, and it's all I would expect or accept - I mean it humbly please; like knowing the difference between a good burger and a bad one, and obviously preferring the good one, smacking with flavor. It is nothing short of of a miracle, or close enough, the way your notes bloom, get round and full and fat, but clean and not dirty fat. That is in itself an art, to have the pickup crafted carefully and with precision, installed correctly, matched to the instrument, dialed into the amp, and then your working the fingers at the frets and inbetween with a mastery that makes tone from flesh on wire and wood. I can't do all that playing, but recognize it, and appreciate.

That Tele is unique, I can say that I've never heard one like it, though I used to formerly, definitely in the past see thousands of guitars each year at shows and visits to stores; never was one to overdo the experience - I think I might have played, which I call studying, 200 or less in a year, I can't just pick 'em up at random, and noodle all day? I look for special ones! Your Z-quipped Tele is a beaut, sounds better than a bridge pickup? That throws me off, it's so full and not too sharp or metallic.

And (here I am, a little long again) I've just been "studying" Roy Buchanan again this week. I can't say whether this deceased man's Nancy-caster is better or worse, it's different, that's all. And he makes her express pain and all that crying from his soul, miserable at times, so no comparison is possible. Nancy is Nancy, and yours is ONE the best of rest perhaps, one in thousands - I still don't get it, bridge pickup, eh? Well, all right, you have a magic mix of everything and beautiful, warm and inspiring music there. Nice going.

And it comes at a confusing time for me, I was just thinking as I go to bed at night/morning (since daytime thoughts tend to be more focused and task-centered) that I could build Nancy-casters, or "Buchanan's", lady-named guitars with a soul, over & over, and sell to rich people, if there are any, and if anybody remembers or would pay to emulate Roy. I'm retired but might have to do something since this current real recession has been having a downhill, possible-personally-ruining or terminal effect on my own life, due to how we're placed with fewer tangible assets of value, and more behind-the-scenes savings for whatever purpose, whether it would have been for Churches, Third World health & education, average Americans whom I encounter, or ourselves in older-age retirement; it disappeared w/o the option to plan as before?

So, yeah I was thinking of building Nancy clones, with the emphasis on identical sounds, the magic & sad crying lady-caster, and not worry about looks nearly as much - any color is fine, new or used, hee hee. Just a thought, if EVH clones came out @ $25,000 and were nothing special, just factory produced, new-looking guitars. I can not estimate the market for Roy's sound, or can't tell if anybody wants it, in the World, from Japan to the North of Europe. I only know I can make it, and repeat it. Small comfort to no comfort, if there's not a market.... I don't think there is a high-end Nancy market, so more credit to you for having a unique or signature, and highly desirable, even fuller and more eloquent, dignified sound. More confusion though, who wants what? All sounds of quality are valid and have uses.

That's my ramble on your pickups, music clips and my informal little ministry which had to employ money to find opportunities and do small instances of God's work, and can be tied to Telecasters, or not, thanks! ;)

[refin]

Wow,TP.............I'm not sure how to respond to all that,except I give God the glory.I'm just another player searching for the right notes,and thankful for punch-ins/cut-and-paste.:yeah::embarassed:rofl
Really...........I fall all over the place trying to get things right.I use a J-Station for direct-inject recordings,and it seems to really like a tele alot.Zhang's tele wind is over 9K,but super tele-like,not overly hot or anything.Sweet and tangy,that one.This is the tele in question:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/50stele.jpg

It's basically a partscaster,but the neck and body are Fender....neck is off of a MIM Classic '50s reissue,the body is a MIM Standard.The front pup is a MIM Classic too,great unit.
Anyway,as far as the new Zhang winds......I am going to try the Brownbucker in the bridge to see if it matches the front better than the Slugbucker.David said that the Brownbucker has a little more grunt and warmth,and not as jangly as the Slugbucker.I'm happy now,but he is the chief,and I will certainly take his advice! He is also a player,so he knows what he is talking about.
I made some clean tracks today,but didn't have the mic placement to my liking...not the amp's fault (original '57 tweed Deluxe),but mine.I will try to play some more tomorrow.
Again,thanks for the kind words---David winds a great pickup (I've got three),and he is a pro.He may very well be the Seymour Duncan of tomorrow.

Here is the P-90 rewrap he did for me.It is the bridge position of a mid-'60s Melody Maker.If Leslie West heard this wind,he would certainly want one.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=330460&songID=5073694

[Tech Player]

Great, I'm listening now, and writing here, multi-tasking w/2 windows, but most of all enjoying the really excellent sound, with great pleasure.:)

It's amazing, God has granted some fine talent and the equipment/tools in the right measure for some very awesome praise works & fine arts indeed.

You did extremely well to get the vintage bridge onto a MIM Std. and line up strings with rear ferrules etc., unless the body was a classic somehow? Saddles compensated, and you made the neck pup adjustable in a vintage blackguard!

Bless you, play that funky music & all, and for glory and goodness, in Jesus' name! :cool:

[refin]

Thanks again,Tech Player.I decided to try and make a blackguard all the way,so I got the compensated saddles......I don't know if the knobs are "period correct",I'll have to check.The body is a MIM Standard.
Here is a short jam I did last night with the new Zhang winds----couldn't get out of the starting gate playing-wise,but I think it shows the "woodiness" of the bridge pup.This was through a J-Station,no amp.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=330460&songID=7143885

[Tech Player]

Another fine example of tune and tone, thanks. I'm going to have to take some of these lessons!:clap: