2 different guitars, 2 different pickup swap debacles

[STLMTLHD79]

I have a 2014 Charvel MIM San Dimas HS HT that is a great player however, not a good "sound-er" so to say. I have swapped the OEM TB-4 JB for a TB-16 59/Custom Hybrid-It didnt work well in this guitar. I now put a Dimarzio Dominion in and its SUPER Woof-y. Now i want to replace that with an 80s Full Shred or 80s TB-5 Custom. I think that will brighten it up just right. I already replaced the pot and switch with good stuff, so I hope the outcome is what i want.

The 2nd guitar pickup swap debacle is a 1991 Fender HM Strat (the 2-pot version). Maple neck, Basswood body. it currently has a SD Crazy 8, which again, love the pickup, but its WAYYYY too Bright in this guitar. I have an old 90s TB11L Custom Custom that i think will be the perfect fit for this guitar. I also plan on a Cool Rails neck.

thoughts, opinions and suggestions are encouraged

 

[Mincer]

On your Charvel, what didn't you like about the JB or Hybrid? The Full Shred is a bright pickup, with not much bass or mids. Is the natural sound of the guitar mid-heavy? I had a mid-heavy guitar and the only pickups that sounded good in there is a Jazz and a Custom 5. I needed pickups to not amplify mids much at all.

 

[jeremy]

cool rails neck and cc bridge should be a nice pair. 500k pots in there? if its still bright after the pup swap, i might try a lower value volume

 

[Chistopher]

Why do you want a Custom or FS from the 80s?

 

[STLMTLHD79]

On your Charvel, what didn't you like about the JB or Hybrid? The Full Shred is a bright pickup, with not much bass or mids. Is the natural sound of the guitar mid-heavy? I had a mid-heavy guitar and the only pickups that sounded good in there is a Jazz and a Custom 5. I needed pickups to not amplify mids much at all.

I am not a fan of how modern JB's generally sound (and yes there IS a difference between 80s JB's and current ones), so i went with the TB-16. The guitar is very low-mid heavy so the JB didnt work well out of the box. I have a very similar guitar utilizing the same body with a Charvette neck and it is much brighter sounding. If the 80s Full Shred doesnt work, then i dont know what to do with the guitar, probably off-load it.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

cool rails neck and cc bridge should be a nice pair. 500k pots in there? if its still bright after the pup swap, i might try a lower value volume

Yea, the Fender HM strat has a 500k volume and a TBX tone pot. I think that combo will do well there.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Why do you want a Custom or FS from the 80s?

Its what i have in my current pickup inventory that i think would work well in the guitar.

 

[Mincer]

I am not a fan of how modern JB's generally sound (and yes there IS a difference between 80s JB's and current ones), so i went with the TB-16. The guitar is very low-mid heavy so the JB didnt work well out of the box. I have a very similar guitar utilizing the same body with a Charvette neck and it is much brighter sounding. If the 80s Full Shred doesnt work, then i dont know what to do with the guitar, probably off-load it.

Sounds like the Full Shred is the right choice here. If it was all mids instead of mids and lows, I'd say the C5.