Hey guys, I have a Charvel that i believe is a model 3 (but im not sure) and im looking to get new pickups for it. I dont know what was in it originally (the guy I bought it from really screwed it up) I don't know what is in it now (but i could find out if any of u wantsd or needed to know) and so i just want to know what the original pickups were, or if there are any reccomendations. Im a rock guitarist and I will be putting a Floyd Rose back in it.
Anybody know Charvels?
- Thread starter RedSTi
- Start date
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Pics would be most helpful.
They probably originally had Jackson pickups. I have an '86 Model all Stock and it has two Jackson Ceramic humbuckers in it.
Pics would be most helpful.
They probably originally had Jackson pickups. I have an '86 Model all Stock and it has two Jackson Ceramic humbuckers in it.
jackson111
New member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
I don't know what it original came with but I have a promod wildcard that I bought a few years back with the same pickup arrangement as the charvel 3 (HSS) and mne came stock with a Duncan JB bridge, and 2 Duncan stk4 single coils. makes the guitar extremely versatile. you may want to take look at them
I don't know what it original came with but I have a promod wildcard that I bought a few years back with the same pickup arrangement as the charvel 3 (HSS) and mne came stock with a Duncan JB bridge, and 2 Duncan stk4 single coils. makes the guitar extremely versatile. you may want to take look at them
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Pics
Pics
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Also, here is a site that is helpful to eyeball your guitar with what is here http://www.charvelusa.com/models.html
I love my Model 3 (3A to be specific) and its 100% stock, well except for the strings
Also, here is a site that is helpful to eyeball your guitar with what is here http://www.charvelusa.com/models.html
I love my Model 3 (3A to be specific) and its 100% stock, well except for the strings
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Man that looks like a modded fusion.
TIS DA 1989 charvel fusion custom in magenta.
Heres mine in the same colour. woooooooooooot brothers
It pains me to think someone butchered such a nice guitar. You should return it to its former glory........... like mine.
And for the record i love mine its a ****ing sweet metal axe. i have a heap of guitars and honestly this is in my top 5.
Man that looks like a modded fusion.
TIS DA 1989 charvel fusion custom in magenta.
Heres mine in the same colour. woooooooooooot brothers
It pains me to think someone butchered such a nice guitar. You should return it to its former glory........... like mine.
And for the record i love mine its a ****ing sweet metal axe. i have a heap of guitars and honestly this is in my top 5.
Last edited:
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
original schmigional. Put a JB in there
original schmigional. Put a JB in there
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
I've never understood how/why the tips of so many pointy headstocks get whacked off...?
I've never understood how/why the tips of so many pointy headstocks get whacked off...?
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Not to sure if they came with a covered j90c. I am guessing the bridge has been changed.
Not to sure if they came with a covered j90c. I am guessing the bridge has been changed.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
First, research what the original vibrato would have been. The Jackson JT-6 double locking vibrato was licensed under FR patents but deviates from the OFR design in some critical respects. Specifically the pivot post threaded inserts are not interchangeable with anything else.
First, research what the original vibrato would have been. The Jackson JT-6 double locking vibrato was licensed under FR patents but deviates from the OFR design in some critical respects. Specifically the pivot post threaded inserts are not interchangeable with anything else.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Fixed for evenbetterness...
original schmigional. Put a DIMEBUCKER in there
Fixed for evenbetterness...
vinta9e
New member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
The original bridge was a Jackson branded Schaller (the JT590).
The original bridge was a Jackson branded Schaller (the JT590).
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
Most people will tell you that Charvel & JB's go together hand in glove: if Charvel / Jackson has a sound, its the JB.
I'm gonna say the Duncan Distortion because: it's heavier. The lead tone isn't as honey sweet because JB's have that midrange focus. However, it's common for some guitars to have soggy spongy bass chunk with a JB.
So unless you ONLY play a stack, on 10, the Duncan Distortion (with its mighty double ceramic magnet) is pretty much a heavier identical big bad brother to the JB (with its middle of the road Alnico5 magnet): the DD is easier to get a tight metal bass chunk on any amp, any wattage. Also, on a JB the mids are so pronounced you can never scoop them, not even a smidge. Whereas with a Duncan Distortion, you can get the Rhoads Diary of Madman
Tone, or Testament or Jeff Hanneman tone, or even Kirk Hammetts Jackson tone by using what they used: the Duncan Distortion. You can arguably dial an approximate JB tone with the DD: not as warm, it's arguable, but nonetheless very similar.
Nothing against the JB: its magnificent, original, great growl, and compresses your leads for some great lead playing. When Randy & Eddie started shredding during the verses, fellow L. A. Metal ax heroes loved how the JB could go from rhythm to lead & back without kicking a boost pedal. But even back then, some guys (e.g. Jake E Lee) used a pedal to boost the tightness of the bass thru their Marshall stacks.
So I say, fix it at the source: get the Duncan Distortion, if you play hair or thrash metal rhythms, if you play lower wattage amps, solid states or pc sims.
(there's a link below to my youtube discussion of the DD on my Charvette, & i also did a JB with the same exact settings if u wanna compare.)
Most people will tell you that Charvel & JB's go together hand in glove: if Charvel / Jackson has a sound, its the JB.
I'm gonna say the Duncan Distortion because: it's heavier. The lead tone isn't as honey sweet because JB's have that midrange focus. However, it's common for some guitars to have soggy spongy bass chunk with a JB.
So unless you ONLY play a stack, on 10, the Duncan Distortion (with its mighty double ceramic magnet) is pretty much a heavier identical big bad brother to the JB (with its middle of the road Alnico5 magnet): the DD is easier to get a tight metal bass chunk on any amp, any wattage. Also, on a JB the mids are so pronounced you can never scoop them, not even a smidge. Whereas with a Duncan Distortion, you can get the Rhoads Diary of Madman
Tone, or Testament or Jeff Hanneman tone, or even Kirk Hammetts Jackson tone by using what they used: the Duncan Distortion. You can arguably dial an approximate JB tone with the DD: not as warm, it's arguable, but nonetheless very similar.
Nothing against the JB: its magnificent, original, great growl, and compresses your leads for some great lead playing. When Randy & Eddie started shredding during the verses, fellow L. A. Metal ax heroes loved how the JB could go from rhythm to lead & back without kicking a boost pedal. But even back then, some guys (e.g. Jake E Lee) used a pedal to boost the tightness of the bass thru their Marshall stacks.
So I say, fix it at the source: get the Duncan Distortion, if you play hair or thrash metal rhythms, if you play lower wattage amps, solid states or pc sims.
(there's a link below to my youtube discussion of the DD on my Charvette, & i also did a JB with the same exact settings if u wanna compare.)
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Anybody know Charvels?
My first high quality guitar was a Charvel 375, which was similar to the Fusion, but 25.5" scale and no painted headstock.
I actually liked the stock open coil Jackson J90C quite a bit. It was definitely hot, but still lean and it fit the character of the guitar. The stock J100 singles were non-hum cancelling however, an unforgivable sin!
Jackson and Duncan have been married throughout the years, much like Ibanez and Dimarzio. They just seem like natural combos. If I had your guitar, I'd probably go for a JB at the bridge and Cool Rails mid/neck. The other option would be a full PATB set, with PATB2 at the bridge.
I have the JB/'59 Combo in my San Dimas Style 1 (people on intreweb forums often moan about how common this setup is---but it's common because it works!). I can conjure Warren DiMartini all day with it, something that doesn't happen as easily with other pickups. The JB in a Jackson-Charvel type superstrat is THE '80s metal sound to me. OK, call it hair metal if you like, it doesn't bother me.
I must say this though---the next step up the ladder at that time (Charvel 475) is head and shoulders above the 375 or Fusion. As soon as I bought my 475, the 375 was on the chopping block, and I still have the 475....gulp :boggled:....20 years later (has it really been that long?!!)!! In fact, I picked up my 2nd 475 only last year, and gave it a full PATB set. The love affair continues...
My first high quality guitar was a Charvel 375, which was similar to the Fusion, but 25.5" scale and no painted headstock.
I actually liked the stock open coil Jackson J90C quite a bit. It was definitely hot, but still lean and it fit the character of the guitar. The stock J100 singles were non-hum cancelling however, an unforgivable sin!
Jackson and Duncan have been married throughout the years, much like Ibanez and Dimarzio. They just seem like natural combos. If I had your guitar, I'd probably go for a JB at the bridge and Cool Rails mid/neck. The other option would be a full PATB set, with PATB2 at the bridge.
I have the JB/'59 Combo in my San Dimas Style 1 (people on intreweb forums often moan about how common this setup is---but it's common because it works!). I can conjure Warren DiMartini all day with it, something that doesn't happen as easily with other pickups. The JB in a Jackson-Charvel type superstrat is THE '80s metal sound to me. OK, call it hair metal if you like, it doesn't bother me.
I must say this though---the next step up the ladder at that time (Charvel 475) is head and shoulders above the 375 or Fusion. As soon as I bought my 475, the 375 was on the chopping block, and I still have the 475....gulp :boggled:....20 years later (has it really been that long?!!)!! In fact, I picked up my 2nd 475 only last year, and gave it a full PATB set. The love affair continues...
Last edited:
