Reverse Zebra?

[voodoochild]

So this seems like a dumb question but I wanted to get others opinions. Some of my customers request Seymour Duncan's as well as other brands for guitars I build. I never force them to use my pickups. My customer has requested a reverse zebra 59 model for the neck. However the reverse zebra Duncans are not what I consider to be reverse zebra at all. Duncan's reverse zebra is cream slug side and black screw side. I always thought it was the other way around. Am I just confused or what? I am getting old but geez. Can someone clarify this for me?

[David Schwab]

Zebra is black screw/cream slug.

[voodoochild]

Zebra is black screw/cream slug.

Thats exactly what I have always thought. For over 15 years I have thought this but in fact every "zebra" Duncan has been Screw cream and Slug black. To get what I think to be regular zebra you have to order reverse zebra. Really confusing for my customer especially who has only used Duncans before.

[voodoochild]

I guess this brings up a good question "who is really correct?" We could all be totally wrong for all this time. Or the whole reverse zebra thing is just a myth.

[David Schwab]

There is no correct, it's just what ever you like. Zebra pickups were just by chance, as were double white (it's not really cream on the originals, it just yellowed with age). The bobbins were never intended to be seen, so they just grabbed what ever color was in the box of bobbins.

Everyone gets hung up on this vintage correct stuff, which is silly. Making a pickup look "vintage" wont make it sound better, make the player any smarter, or make it really vintage.

It's a dumb fad IMO.

[voodoochild]

There is no correct, it's just what ever you like. Zebra pickups were just by chance, as were double white (it's not really cream on the originals, it just yellowed with age). The bobbins were never intended to be seen, so they just grabbed what ever color was in the box of bobbins.

Everyone gets hung up on this vintage correct stuff, which is silly. Making a pickup look "vintage" wont make it sound better, make the player any smarter, or make it really vintage.

It's a dumb fad IMO.

That's basically what I think too. Its just interesting the perception of reverse zebra from company to company. They should all say "reverse from my standard zebra"

[David Schwab]

It's like color codes on pickups. Why is everyone different? What's the point? Except for Schaller everyone uses red, green, white, and black. I follow DiMarzio's color codes because they did it first, so that seems good enough as a standard for me!

But I guess when everyone's pickups all basically look alike, you have to do something different.

[voodoochild]

Yeah really. I use the Duncan color code simply because he has so many diagrams on his website Makes it easy for me and my customers.

[jrfrond]

It is also interesting to note that double-cream (or double-white, as Dave aptly pointed out) is a DiMarzio trademark, which is why you do not really see any other pickup manufacturers using this (though GFS/Artec have a couple like this).

When Gibson made humbuckers back in the old days, they never thought that players would be removing the covers, so bobbin colors were mixed, and you could get any of four combinations.

[David Schwab]

It is also interesting to note that double-cream (or double-white, as Dave aptly pointed out) is a DiMarzio trademark, which is why you do not really see any other pickup manufacturers using this (though GFS/Artec have a couple like this).

You do see double cream if it doesn't have six round poles per coil.

[jrfrond]

Exactly, which is how Artec gets away with it too. I've meant to ask Steve Blucher while at NAMM, but it's not usually cool to ask about trademark details. Besides, it's probably posted at the USPTO.

[salvarsan]

I've never tried a reverse zebra, but
a reverse cowgirl does come to mind.


-drh

[David Schwab]

Exactly, which is how Artec gets away with it too. I've meant to ask Steve Blucher while at NAMM, but it's not usually cool to ask about trademark details. Besides, it's probably posted at the USPTO.

I think the DiMarzio trademark is in the US only?

I wouldn't mind meeting Blucher. It would be fun to pick his brain.

[David Schwab]

I've never tried a reverse zebra, but
a reverse cowgirl does come to mind.

And remember... zebras are black with white markings.

[salvarsan]

And remember... zebras are black with white markings.

(blush)

I defer to your superior wisdom and experience.

-drh