Zexcoil® Z-Series™ Vintage Output
Vintage Specs – Radical Design
Along with redesigning our platform with the new Z-Series, we’ve taken the opportunity to target the output and response closer to vintage specs than we ever have before. These models were designed to get as close to vintage output and frequency response as we can, providing the tonal signature of the vintage models but with all of the clarity, articulation and hum-free performance you’ve come to expect from Zexcoil.
Z-Core 5™
Our Z-Core 5 family of pickups utilize Tone Tuning Technology™ to mimic the frequency response of AlNiCo 5, the magnet alloy that is most closely associated with the classic Strat® tone. The 5 voicing is the most open and transparent, giving that signature, glassy Strat quack in the in between positions, a nice, open, “woody” response in the neck and that classic Strat snap in the bridge. These models are designed to emulate the range of vintage single coil output, maybe just a hair hotter on the high end. These models are all compatible with the 250 kΩ controls that are standard on most Strat-style guitars. The metric we use to match conventional performance is the Inductance of the pickup in Henries. Approximate equivalent conventional pickup resistance output values are given above for reference, but these pickups actually achieve these output levels at lower resistance values than their conventional counterparts, coming in at around 4400, 5300 and 6000 Ω respectively.
Click on product names below for a more detailed description.
Please note:
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
Pickups may take 2-3 weeks before ready for shipment.
Lefties are considered special orders and may take up to 3 weeks before ready for shipment.
Left-handed "Z-Core" pickups are only available from the Custom Shop. If you want this feature for a set, here is an option.
Z-Series pickups have their covers potted on. Removal will void the warranty.
Cover color choice is presented at checkout.
All of our pickups are made to order and with fixed cover (pickups potted in their covers) Z-Series/Z-Core models, orders placed will be built with covers selected at checkout and color changes will be subject to a $10 restock fee, $25.00 for a set of three.
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
Z-Series Buckers™
The Z-Series Buckers were designed to emulate the tone and response of the classic, vintage hum-buckers, best described as a “Tele on steroids”. At low gain they have that nice rich snap, but dig in and they start to bark and growl. The bridge model is based on our Legacy Juicy voicing, but dialed in to vintage specs. The neck model uses our Legacy Throaty voicing, a hybrid approach that pushes that HB response a little in the single coil direction to minimize muddiness while still retaining that fat neck tone. The metric we use to match conventional performance is the Inductance of the pickup in Henries. Approximate equivalent conventional pickup resistance output values are given above for reference, but these pickups have slightly higher resistance values than their conventional counterparts, coming in at around 8000 and 9500 Ω respectively.
Click on product names below for a more detailed description.
Please note:
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
Pickups may take 10-15 days before ready for shipment.
Lefties are considered special orders and may take up to 3 weeks before ready for shipment.
Left-handed "Z-Core" pickups are only available from the Custom Shop. If you want this feature for a set, here is an option.
Z-Series pickups have their covers potted on. Removal will void the warranty.
Cover color choice is presented at checkout.
All of our pickups are made to order and with fixed cover (pickups potted in their covers) Z-Series/Z-Core models, orders placed will be built with covers selected at checkout and color changes will be subject to a $10 restock fee, $25.00 for a set of three.
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
Z-Series Vintage Sets™
Click on product names below for a more detailed description.
Please note:
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
Pickups may take 10-15 days before ready for shipment.
Lefties are considered special orders and may take up to 3 weeks before ready for shipment.
Left-handed "Z-Core" pickups are only available from the Custom Shop. If you want this feature for a set, here is an option.
Z-Series pickups have their covers potted on. Removal will void the warranty.
Cover color choice is presented at checkout.
All of our pickups are made to order and with fixed cover (pickups potted in their covers) Z-Series/Z-Core models, orders placed will be built with covers selected at checkout and color changes will be subject to a $10 restock fee, $25.00 for a set of three.
International shipping has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Please review the International Shipping page.
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 low wind 50’s/late 60’s response in the neck and middle. The slight 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.
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.
Z-Core 5 Vintage Staggered Set™
Bridge: Z-Core Vintage Hot 5 (ZVH5)
Middle: Z-Core Vintage 5 (ZVN5)
Neck: Z-Core Vintage Underwound 5 (ZVU5)
Another way to set it up is to set the neck output, then have the middle one notch up and the bridge one notch up from that. This is an approach that some find to be more balanced. As above, this is an obvious way to group our Vintage Output models, but there are two more output levels available in this configuration from the Custom Shop. 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-Series Vintage Bucker Set
Bridge: Z-Series Bridge Bucker (ZHBJ)
Middle: : Z-Core Modern 5 (ZMD5)
Neck: Z-Series Neck Bucker (ZHNT)
TThe Z-Series Vintage Bucker Set is our version of a vintage output HSH configuration, with a beefed up middle pickup (our Z-Core Modern 5) to keep up with the Buckers while still providing plenty of clarity on its own and quack when teamed with the bridge or neck. Make sure and wire this with a blend knob, or custom switching) to enable the bridge/neck position. We’ve never heard a bridge/neck combo with conventional HBs that sounds this good. You can also use the blend knob as a quack adjust on the in between positions as you bring the third pickup in.