Zexcoil® Z-Core™ Pickups are the most economical pickups we can make, while retaining all of the quality and features of our Z-Series™ design! The only difference is they are built in our U.S. partner factory, the same factory where our unique coils have always been wound. We’ve put together some suggested sets, but with all of our model options there are myriad possibilities. If you don’t see the exact configuration you want, we can put together a set just for you in the Custom Shop.

Assembled sets are wired to the controls (3 potentiometers, a 5 way switch and capacitor - no switch tips or knobs) and mounted on a cardboard template.

Loaded pickguards are available to drop into your guitar too.

Z-Core 5 Vintage Set™

• Bridge: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)

• Middle: Z-Core Vintage Underwound 5 (ZVU5)

• Neck: Z-Core Vintage Underwound 5 (ZVU5)

The Z-Core 5 Vintage Set is the lowest output Strat set we make, targeted at that classic "mid-scooped" low wind 50’s/late 60’s response in the neck and middle. The slightly hotter bridge, like an early/mid 60’s output, provides a more balanced response than you would find in a true vintage set of pickups. It is compatible with conventional 250 kΩ controls. Use kit 6 with this set (or 10 if you want to add a blend pot) for a vintage control response. Use kit 9 (or 11) for a 275 kΩ load if you want to open up the high end just a wee bit more. Select the kit with an "A" on the end if you want a no load tone pot for the neck and middle pickups (or a master no load for kits 10 & 11).

Z-Core 5 Vintage Hot Set™

• Bridge: Z-Core Vintage Hot 5 (ZVH5)

• Middle: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)

• Neck: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)

The Z-Core 5 Vintage Hot Set is a step up in output from the Vintage Set. The neck and middle pickups are targeted at a vintage output, but more like those early/mid 60’s versions that were wound a little hotter. The bridge is pushing a more modern “boutique” output, with a few more winds over the original vintage designs to round out the attack and deliver more punch. It is compatible with conventional 250 kΩ controls. We recommend control kit 6 with this set(or 10 if you want to add a blend pot). Use kit 9 (or 11) for a 275 kΩ load if you want to open up the high end just a wee bit more. Select the kit with an "A" on the end if you want a no load tone pot for the neck and middle pickups (or a master no load for kits 10 & 11).

Z-Core 5 Modern/Vintage Set™

• Bridge: Z-Core Modern 5 (ZMD5)

• Middle: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)

• Neck: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)

The Z-Core 5 Modern/Vintage Set is an example of a configuration where the bridge output is “two notches up” from the neck and middle. In most of the modern re-imaginings of vintage pickup configurations, including the standard sets we list above, the bridge is what we could consider “one notch up” (whereas most of the original pickup sets were all wound to the same output level). This is an output level that we find particularly useful, in fact bridging the gap between Vintage and Modern output. We could go crazy listing all of these out, but you can see the pattern behind it. If you’d like to imagine this kind of configuration in a different output level, let us know, that’s well within our Custom Shop capabilities. This set can work with either 250, 275 or 500 k controls. Use 275 (kits 9 & 11) if you want to open up the high end just a bit (we think that's the best option for this intermediate output set). Use 500 (kits 1 & 2) if you want to open up the high end a lot. Select the kit with an "A" for a no load tone pot wired to neck and middle (or a no load master tone for the kits with a blend).

Z-Core 5 Modern Set™

• Bridge: Z-Core Modern 5 (ZMD5)

• Middle: Z-Core Vintage Hot 5 (ZVH5)

• Neck: Z-Core Vintage Hot 5 (ZVH5)

The Z-Core 5 Modern Set is a step up in output from the Vintage Hot. The neck and middle pickups are targeted at an output just slightly hotter than true “vintage” output, but because of our unique design they still retain the vintage response. The bridge is a modern high output “boutique” flavor of Strat, with a powerful but still very Stratty attack like our Legacy Series SV5. This set can work with either 250, 275 or 500 k controls. Use 275 (kits 9 & 11) if you want to open up the high end just a bit (we think that's the best option for this intermediate output set). Use 500 (kits 1 & 2) if you want to open up the high end a lot. Select the kit with an "A" for a no load tone pot wired to neck and middle (or a no load master tone for the kits with a blend).