CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

[rockman23]

I got a CARVIN sc-90(maple neckthru w/alder wings)-----I like current pickups: c-22's(they're stock vintage pickups), they sound good, I want better!!
I bought these, havn't got em yet---Custom 5(bridge) & AlnicoProII(neck)...I could change my mind & get different.

----What are your thoughts on this combo??

--I want the most beautiful singing leads I can get(like a FLUTE)--I was told by a Seymour Rep.(phone) to get the AlincoProII for NECK...a couple years ago.
It's for HardRock primarily.

--thanks in advance...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

I feel Carvins lack mids. I have two. A hardtail alder/maple DC127 and an all maple (ebony fingerboard) DC127-T.


In the 127, I have a C22/JB combo that I like for bright cutting sounds.

In the 127-T, I have a PGb/CC combo. It'ss warm, big and smooth sounding with enough cut and aggressiveness to punch through a loud band.

 

[rockman23]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

--Thanks---ya say Carvins lack 'mids'--SO, the c5 SHOULD be good cause everyone here says the c5 "SCOOPED MIDS"(that means ALOT of mids, right?)

--I've always only used either the Bridge or Neck pickup--I've never had a combo of pickups that sounded great together---at least to my damaged eardrums.

--I have a CARVIN dc-400 it has: SEYMOURDUNCAN FULL SHRED(b) & Seymour '59....HUGE improvement over stock pickups!
--LESPAUL Gibson----Seymour DISTORTION(b) & '59...Distortions' too SHRILL for me.
--LESPAUL Agile----stock, soon to have Seymour JB(b).If I feel like installing it.
--CARVIN sc-90----stock c-22pickups--soon to have c5 & alnicoproII.

I'm hoping the C5 & ANPII will be the answer to my TONE needs & desires!!

ANYONE ELSE HAVE CARVIN GUITARS???

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

.

About the generalization of Carvins lacking mids, I don't understand. There are so many wood combinations possible, how can they all lack mids?

Small headstocks, ebony fingerboards, small bodies, maple neck thru construction (in most cases), and Carvin's use of two carbon rods along with a trussrod all contribute, IMO, to the general lack of mids.

To be fair, I have not tried a mahogany necked Carvin, but even my 62 RI strat sounds rounder unplugged than my Carvins.

The Carvins are louder and much more detailed though.

BTW, the C5's scooped mids mean that the pickup has a lot of lows and highs and not a lot of mids. It works great in my LP, but it sounded icepicky and harsh in both my Carvins.

In your SC90, I'd opt for the CC or even the normal Custom.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

I used to own an SC90 with maple neck through, alder wings. Who knows, rockman23, maybe your guitar is my old SC90. It was a great playing guitar!

I thought it had a powerful upper midrange. Lots of CRUNCH! But my SC90 lacked bass. That was allright for leads in the high registers, but power chords had no bottom to them.

I think the C5 and Alnico 2 Pro combo are a great choice for your SC90. The Alnico 2 Pro has good bass response, which contributes to the flutey lead sound. Though I have not played a guitar with a C5 bridge pickup yet, I've read they have a strong low end too.

If the highs from the C5 are a little too much in the Carvin, I think Benji 26's suggestion of using a CC instead is a good idea.

 

[frehley]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

I disagree as far as Carvin pups lacking mids. I just bought a CT6M and
tried replacing the C22B/N combo with both a Custom & Full Shred and a DD/FS combo and the Carvins sounded WAY better.

Kindred Spirit, if you feel the Carvin bridge pup is shrill & harsh then why would you install a Custom in it's place? The Custom is REALLY bright too.
What Carvin pup do you have in the bridge? Is it the C22T? If it is then I agree with you about it being shrill in which case you should try the C22B which sounds amazing. Think a JB with a fuller low end.

Rockman23, scooped mids means it has little to no mids. That's why people call it scooped, like when one scoops ice cream from the container leaving a gaping hole in it.

Rockman23, you won't find pups that sound better than the C22B/N combo you have already. I tried and realised that there is nothing better IMHO.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

Nobody said Carvin pickups lack mids. I said Carvin GUITARS lack mids.

BTW, there are a TON of pickups better than Carvin's pickups. My PGb/CC combo is worlds better than the M22's I had in the DC127-T.

 

[slash857]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

if you want a c22b i could sell it to you for 25. i really dont need it, i got a super distortion in my dc127 w/OFR to replace it. it sounded good i just wanted the super distortion sound in there.

 

[madguitar26]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

I tried and realised that there is nothing better IMHO.

so you want mids and hate the terrible highs of both the distortion and custom(just like me).
i keep saying this no one seems to be listening(reading).
giva a tom anderson pickup a shot.model H3+
70 bucks at gtr heaven aint gonna hurt yur wallet.
if you wanna know the tone its kinda like a invader with more clarity.way more.tons of mids,with tight bass and smooth highs.a very cutting tone too.
love the JB to death but the anderson H3+ is the exact oposite.
best of luck

http://www.gtrheaven.com/pickups/pickups.asp?ven=27&ar=0&t=Tom+Anderson+Pickups

 

[frehley]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

I disagree that Carvin guitars lack mids too. If one chooses a swamp ash body for example, then expect less mids. Alder actually has lots of mids, my Carvin BoltPlus has a alder body and tons of mids. Remember that no two pieces of wood are ever the same. To say that Carvins lack midrange implies that the tone of the wood is somehow influenced by the brand name. I personally don't care for the M22's either and I don't doubt your Duncans sound better,
but the real jems in the Carvin line are the C22B/N combo and their AP11 single-coils.

Please don't take this as an attack on your personal experience with Carvin.
From what I've seen here, you and I have similar musical tastes so I think I know where you're coming from. Rock on brother! :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[rockman23]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

Yep-----I do like the c-22b in my CARVIN sc-90, I want more...I have a dc400 w/fullshred(b) & compared to the c22 in sc-90, it's more articulate, better lead toned, better harmonics, not better rythum tone, kinda dark actually(rythum)..

-I already bought the c5 & anpII----I'm gonna install them asap(I got em yest. from ebay)--we'll see, I'll let ya know.

--If the c5 is too shrill, couldn't I get a 250k pot.(volume)(Like they do with the JB)??

-THANKS FOR CLARIFYING WHAT "scooped mids" ARE--you'd think I would know that...

Do you'll think a 250pot. would do anything IF the c5 is too shrill???

 

[frehley]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

If you replace your pots to 250k, it will roll off only the highest frequencies
of the pup. It will leave most of the tone intact. It won't be a huge change to the tone though, the difference is quite subtle.

I also just liked the tone of the C22B/N combo too. I tried replacing them with a Duncan Distortion/Full Shred set and didn't like it as much as what I already had. Then I tried the Custom/Full Shred combo and didn't like them as much either. The C22B/N combo just sounded better overall. Distortion tones are thick & harmonically rich and clean tones are crystal clean & clear. What else could I possibly ask for.....Nothing!
:usa1: :usa1: :usa1:

 

[rockman23]

Re: CARVIN sc-90---custom5 & alnicoproII??

Thanks ACE----for clarifying about the 250k pot!!

When I finally install these C5 & AnpII pickups I'll reply--I'm waiting for Gold pickup-rings from WARMOTH before I install my new pickups--the guitar is white w/Gold hardware--my new pickups are white & they're gonna have gold rings.(I hope it looks good)