New Toys

amusiathread · #1 05-08-2010, 01:10 AM

New toys this week that I'm pretty "jazzed" about (I know, what a horrible pun).

First, I have received and am installing a new pickup, a Vintage Vibe Charlie Christian style blade pu in a Dogear P90 format. It's going into my Godin 5th ave. Kingpin. Really, I liked the stock Kingpin pickup a lot, but my main archtop already has a much better sounding P90 (another Vintage Vibe pu), I had to try a CC pu for something different, so the Godin was it. I really can't wait to hear it when I'm finished.

Also, my new ZT Lunchbox Acoustic is in the mail on its way. After some very helpful correspondences from Ken at ZT (top notch service from this guy), I settled on this model. I really like the idea of added features and flexibility from the standard ZT LB model.

So I'll post some thoughts on these products for anyone who's curious.

goshawk · #2 05-08-2010, 11:23 AM

You just bought two things I'd like to get for myself. I was actually going to have Pete at Vintage Vibe make me a customer p'up for a guitar with a non-standard rout. I ended up buying a new guitar instead

, but found him very helpful and responsive. And of the ZT amps, the acoustic seems the most interesting to me.

So, yes, please, give us a full report.

derek · #3 05-09-2010, 12:10 AM

Count me in among the interested, and congrats on the new toys.

amusiathread · #4 05-10-2010, 11:16 AM

When my ZT LB Acoustic arrived, it was damaged and not working properly. So no info on that yet. I'm loving the new pickup though.

The Vintage Vibe Dogear Blade pickup (CC pickup) is among the best pickups I've heard. It's super warm and clean, rather bright but not at all harsh. I've heard it described as a midway point between a Tele pickup and a P90. This analogy isn't bad, it has that piano-like quality on the low strings, but the high strings have a distinctive "tink" sound. It's as noisy as a P90, but not as noisy as many strat pickups I've played with. It's very dynamic and complex, a nice departure from my other pickups and a welcome addition to my collection.

Specs:Alnico 5, 8.8k, 7,500 winds, scatterwoud coils

Pete made it custom for me as I needed a slimmer profile for a non-standard placement. It was built, shipped, and arrived in less than a week. Pete is very responsive and professional, top notch customer service, and offers really good prices ($125 custom wound and shipped).