Zebra Bobbins

kissfanps · 01-25-2010, 02:23 PM

Sorry for the extremely ignorant question, but is the black bobbin on a zebra closer the neck or bridge in comparison to the creme bobbin and is does that differ between neck and bridge pickups?

dennistruckdriver · 01-25-2010, 02:27 PM

JMV · 01-25-2010, 02:33 PM

I think you'll find that most winders have this setup with Zebra bobbins:

Bridge pickup:
- cream bobbin toward neck
- black bobbin toward bridge (screw side)

Neck pickup:
- Cream bobbin toward bridge
- Black bobbin toward neck (screw side)

This does vary from winder to winder and many will wind in reverse zebra as an option. I hope I answered the question I think you were asking.

snaredrum · 01-25-2010, 02:34 PM

erm... what?

i think the answer is you can get pickups with the bobbins in either position. the best way is to see which bobbin has the adjustable polepieces. this boes on the bridge side of the bridge pickup, and the neck side of the neck pickup.

original zebra pickups usually had the cream bobbin in the inside (i.e. the non-polepiece) side.

kissfanps · 01-25-2010, 02:34 PM

Thanks!

nitrous12 · 01-25-2010, 02:38 PM

Zebra = black bobbin on screw side
Reverse Zebra = cream bobbin on screw side

Typically you install the bridge pup with the screw side closest to the bridge and the neck pup with the screw side closest to the neck.

Hawk · 01-25-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous12

Zebra = black bobbin on screw side
Reverse Zebra = cream bobbin on screw side

There are winders that do opposite of this as well and call it the same name. Be sure to ask a specific question as to what configuration they offer.

jonesy · 01-25-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk

There are winders that do opposite of this as well and call it the same name. Be sure to ask a specific question as to what configuration they offer.

Yes, seems that is the case...

joebonsai · 01-25-2010, 02:59 PM

You are right in the vintage describtion
A Seymour Duncan Zebra looks like this
Vintage - '59 model SH-1 and TB59 - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

.... and a Seymour Duncan reversed zebra lokks like a vintage correct zebra

zeppelin101 · 01-25-2010, 03:15 PM

The problem has come from the way gibson now labels their pickups compared to how they did it in years past. Generally, your best off asking the winder or company. For example, gibson calls the traditional pro zebra, and has cream-black black-cream, but most winders (guitarforce, sheptone, WCR, WB, BG pups) call that configuration reverse zebra.

SKATTERBRANE · 01-25-2010, 05:35 PM

If you are talking original vintage 59 and 60 Gibson (and who isn't?) then zebras have the black on the pole screw side. Reverse zebras have the cream on the pole screw side. Any winder who confuses these two, are not adhering to the traditional definitions.

Hawk · 01-25-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

If you are talking original vintage 59 and 60 Gibson (and who isn't?) then zebras have the black on the pole screw side. Reverse zebras have the cream on the pole screw side. Any winder who confuses these two, are not adhering to the traditional definitions.

Which goes back to being specific as to what you want, no matter what name they give it.

SKATTERBRANE · 01-25-2010, 09:41 PM

That is true!

kissfanps · 01-26-2010, 06:14 AM

Thank you all for the great advice, it is much appreciated!!!

Armitage · 01-26-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM Vasek

I think you'll find that most winders have this setup with Zebra bobbins:

Bridge pickup:
- cream bobbin toward neck
- black bobbin toward bridge (screw side)

Neck pickup:
- Cream bobbin toward bridge
- Black bobbin toward neck (screw side)

This does vary from winder to winder and many will wind in reverse zebra as an option. I hope I answered the question I think you were asking.

DiMarzio and Duncan do it the other way around. And I think it was pretty random on old Gibsons.

weirdotis · 01-26-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

If you are talking original vintage 59 and 60 Gibson (and who isn't?) then zebras have the black on the pole screw side. Reverse zebras have the cream on the pole screw side. Any winder who confuses these two, are not adhering to the traditional definitions.

This is true. But you will occasionally see zebra marked as reverse zebras and vice versa.

SKATTERBRANE · 01-26-2010, 05:52 PM

Does anyone know WHY there were zebra and cream bobbins in the first place? If you do, then you know that in 1959 Gibson ran out of the black slug bobbins first. They had more black screw bobbins on hand when the supplier ran out of carbon black to make the bobbins. Instead of holding up production Gibson accepted shippments of cream bobbins. It was not so random in 1959 or 1960, a far minority of the zebras had cream on the screw side.

Now they make cream bobbins ON PURPOSE.

SKATTERBRANE · 01-26-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weirdotis

This is true. But you will occasionally see zebra marked as reverse zebras and vice versa.

I know, and if someone calls a pickup with the black bobbin on the screw side a reverse zebra, they are mistaken.

Armitage · 02-05-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

It was not so random in 1959 or 1960, a far minority of the zebras had cream on the screw side.

And I think that's why Duncan et al make them that way, people seem to like the rare ones. They seem more special.

-=[Shifty]=- · 02-05-2010, 08:05 AM

Here's my Samick SG copy with a '57 Classic+ in the bridge position. The pickup was simply marked as zebra on the back of the box.
Looks like Gibson doesn't adhere to their traditional definition, either.

Here's my Epi LP with SD '59 zebras.

SKATTERBRANE · 02-05-2010, 03:07 PM

Gibson calls them all zebras, they do not designate "reverse zebra"

snaredrum · 02-07-2010, 06:40 PM

and some original '59 style (i repeat, style - not the real thing!) zebras, as they were usually done at the gibson factory when the black bobbins were running low

01-25-2010, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
kissfanps Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Zebra Bobbins Sorry for the extremely ignorant question, but is the black bobbin on a zebra closer the neck or bridge in comparison to the creme bobbin and is does that differ between neck and bridge pickups?

01-25-2010, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
dennistruckdriver V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25,424 Thanks: 365 Thanked 816 Times in 168 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins __________________

01-25-2010, 02:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
JMV Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 13,804 Thanks: 238 Thanked 162 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins I think you'll find that most winders have this setup with Zebra bobbins: Bridge pickup: - cream bobbin toward neck - black bobbin toward bridge (screw side) Neck pickup: - Cream bobbin toward bridge - Black bobbin toward neck (screw side) This does vary from winder to winder and many will wind in reverse zebra as an option. I hope I answered the question I think you were asking. __________________ Guitars Gibson SG Standard \| Gibson Les Paul Classic \| Tele Partscaster \| Strat Partscaster \| Squier Jaguar \| Taylor 714ce \| G&L L-2000 Amps Cygnus-7 \| Cygnus-30 \| Armstrong P51 \| Weber 5e3 Clone \| Fender Greta

01-25-2010, 02:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
snaredrum V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 16,163 Thanks: 153 Thanked 141 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins erm... what? i think the answer is you can get pickups with the bobbins in either position. the best way is to see which bobbin has the adjustable polepieces. this boes on the bridge side of the bridge pickup, and the neck side of the neck pickup. original zebra pickups usually had the cream bobbin in the inside (i.e. the non-polepiece) side. __________________ www.facebook.com/themadelinerust

01-25-2010, 02:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
kissfanps Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Thanks!

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01-25-2010, 02:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
nitrous12 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: In a van down by the river Posts: 1,111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Zebra = black bobbin on screw side Reverse Zebra = cream bobbin on screw side Typically you install the bridge pup with the screw side closest to the bridge and the neck pup with the screw side closest to the neck. __________________ '10 Gibson Les Paul Tradtional - Desertburst '09 PRS McCarty - Smokeburst Partscaster Guitarforce and Wolfetone Pickups Egnater Mod50 (SL2 and VX Modules) Line6 POD HD500 - DT50 1x12 Avatar 2x12 (Eminence Governor - Swamp Thang) Martin Prototype Martin D28 w/Fishman Martin D45

01-25-2010, 02:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
joebonsai Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Duesseldorf/Germany Posts: 1,634 Thanks: 230 Thanked 164 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins You are right in the vintage describtion A Seymour Duncan Zebra looks like this Vintage - '59 model SH-1 and TB59 - Seymour Duncan/Basslines .... and a Seymour Duncan reversed zebra lokks like a vintage correct zebra

01-25-2010, 05:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
SKATTERBRANE Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21,441 Thanks: 603 Thanked 549 Times in 185 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins If you are talking original vintage 59 and 60 Gibson (and who isn't?) then zebras have the black on the pole screw side. Reverse zebras have the cream on the pole screw side. Any winder who confuses these two, are not adhering to the traditional definitions.

01-25-2010, 09:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
SKATTERBRANE Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21,441 Thanks: 603 Thanked 549 Times in 185 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins That is true!

01-26-2010, 06:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
kissfanps Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Thank you all for the great advice, it is much appreciated!!!

01-26-2010, 05:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
SKATTERBRANE Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21,441 Thanks: 603 Thanked 549 Times in 185 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Does anyone know WHY there were zebra and cream bobbins in the first place? If you do, then you know that in 1959 Gibson ran out of the black slug bobbins first. They had more black screw bobbins on hand when the supplier ran out of carbon black to make the bobbins. Instead of holding up production Gibson accepted shippments of cream bobbins. It was not so random in 1959 or 1960, a far minority of the zebras had cream on the screw side. Now they make cream bobbins ON PURPOSE.

02-05-2010, 08:05 AM	#20 (permalink)
-=[Shifty]=- Epi Verification Expert Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kraut territory (Germany) Posts: 14,752 Thanks: 159 Thanked 50 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Here's my Samick SG copy with a '57 Classic+ in the bridge position. The pickup was simply marked as zebra on the back of the box. Looks like Gibson doesn't adhere to their traditional definition, either. Here's my Epi LP with SD '59 zebras. __________________ Shifty's Channel

02-05-2010, 03:07 PM	#21 (permalink)
SKATTERBRANE Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21,441 Thanks: 603 Thanked 549 Times in 185 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins Gibson calls them all zebras, they do not designate "reverse zebra"

02-07-2010, 06:40 PM	#22 (permalink)
snaredrum V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 16,163 Thanks: 153 Thanked 141 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Zebra Bobbins and some original '59 style (i repeat, style - not the real thing!) zebras, as they were usually done at the gibson factory when the black bobbins were running low __________________ www.facebook.com/themadelinerust

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