Product Description

Artist BullBucker Zebra Neck Humbucker Guitar Pickup

The Artist BullBucker Neck Pickup is a classic, moderate-output humbucker engineered for guitarists seeking smoothness, dynamic warmth, and articulate clarity. Built around a custom-voiced Alnico V bar magnet, this neck pickup delivers rich, vocal-like tones in an eye-catching zebra (cream and black) open-coil design. Whether you are upgrading a factory instrument or building a custom guitar from scratch, this pickup provides the touch sensitivity and fluid headroom required for modern stage and studio performance.

From glass-like cleans and warm, rounded jazz lines to expressive soloing and singing distorted lead runs, the BullBucker neck pickup offers exceptional note definition across all dynamic ranges. Engineered to maintain brightness and transient punch without becoming muddy in the lower registers, it serves as the ultimate neck-position tone engine.

Articulate Neck Performance

The BullBucker neck pickup is carefully calibrated to deliver sweet, balanced output with smooth sustain and high-register clarity. Voiced with a 7.1kΩ DC resistance, 3.86H inductance, and standard 50mm pole spacing, it produces an articulate quality that excels during fast runs and nuanced, fingerstyle playing.

When clean, the pickup produces smooth, glassy textures with full, rounded lows and polished highs. Under overdrive or high gain, it delivers singing sustain and warm harmonic depth, making it the perfect partner for higher-output bridge pickups.

Versatile 4-Conductor Coil-Splitting

Equipped with 4-conductor shielded cable wiring, the BullBucker neck pickup offers extensive switching flexibility beyond standard series humbucking operation. This versatile lead wire scheme allows for easy integration with push-pull volume/tone pots or mini-toggle switches for authentic coil-splitting capabilities.

By deactivating one of the internal coils, you can instantly transform the humbucker into a crisp, bell-like single-coil pickup. This dual-identity wiring provides access to funk-friendly spank and airy, transparent cleans alongside warm humbucking power.

Streamlined Wiring Configuration

The BullBucker neck pickup uses a standardised 5-wire colour code (4 conductors plus a bare shield ground) for straightforward installation and customisation. Below is the wiring label guide:

Standard Humbucker (Series Wiring)
To wire the pickup as a standard humbucker in series:
• Solder the White and Red wires together and insulate the connection with heat shrink or electrical tape.
• Connect the Thick Black + Yellow wires to ground.
• Connect the Thin Black wire to the Hot Output.
This gives you full humbucker output with maximum power and hum cancellation.

Coil Split - North Coil
To use only the North coil as a single coil:
• Connect the White and Red wires as normal.
• Connect the White/Red junction to Ground when the coil split is activated.
This bypasses the South coil, leaving only the North coil active.

Coil Split - South Coil
To use only the South coil as a single coil:
• Connect the White + Red + Thin Black wires.
• Connect the White/Red/Thin Black junction to the Hot Output when the coil split is activated.
This bypasses the North coil, leaving only the South coil active.

Neck Pickup Lead Colors:
Top Coil Polarity: South
Bottom Coil Polarity: North
Ground Wire: Thicker Black wire
South Start: Yellow wire (Inside Screw wire)
South Finish: Red wire (Outside Screw wire)
North Finish: White wire (Outside Slug wire)
North Start: Thinner Black wire (Inside Slug wire) — Hot Output Wire

Wax-Potted Alnico V Construction

Every BullBucker pickup is fully wax-potted to eliminate unwanted microphonic noise, squeal, and structural resonance under high volume or high gain. This thorough potting process ensures quiet, reliable operation whether playing on stage or tracking in the studio.

The high-grade Alnico V bar magnet provides excellent magnetic output, fast transient response, and natural compression. Designed with open-coil zebra bobbins, it delivers a stylish vintage-modern look that complements virtually any guitar finish.

Tech Features

Brand: Artist
Model Code: BULLBUCKERNZB
Pickup Type: Electric Guitar Humbucker Pickup (Neck Position)
Magnet: Alnico V Bar
Color / Finish: Zebra (Open-Coil)
Wiring: 4-Conductor Shielded Cable (Coil-Split Capable)
Potting: Wax Potted (Microphonic Noise Reduction)
Neck Output: DC Resistance: 7.1kΩ
Inductance: 3.86H
Pole Spacing: 50mm

(17718)


Reviews (3)

Write a review

new neck pickup

By: on 29 July 2026
after learning to use a multimeter to find my Strat's Zebra humbucker had ceased working I found Artist version online. It's virtually identical looking to the original, sounds great and was a fair price. Having bought 5 Artist guitars over the years I didn't doubt it would be fine. thank you.

Artist Guitars Response
Thanks for your review! We really appreciate your continued support!

Open Coil Bullbucker

By: on 3 May 2026
I bought this and the bridge HB to replace my Skylers ceramic pickups ..I love LaoHao PUs but those Skylers ones did not do the guitar justice..These PUs have transformed my Skyler and its now a a favourite guitar..No need to spend $100s on boutique PU,s ,honestly these are just awesome..

Artist Guitars Response
Great to hear these pickups brought your Skyler to life! Love that they’ve turned it into a favourite without the need for pricey boutique options. Thanks for sharing the awesome feedback!

Excellent Product + service

By: on 28 May 2024
Product worked excellent and the sound from the pick up is exceptional. I also had an issue with shipping, no fault of artist guitars, but they chased it up with the shipping company for me! Would recommend product and services to my friends!

Artist Guitars Response
We are glad to hear that you are happy with the item. Thank you so much for your review.