Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

[Anficht]

Hey guys,

so, I'm in the market for one of these neon-colored Charvel without pickguard and dual-humbuckers plus Floyd Rose trem.
Having never had a guitar with a Floyd - this would be my first one. It's an Alder SuperStrat with a Maple neck and fretboard.
It comes stock with a JB bridge and 59 neck.

Having no love for a JB, I'm already looking to order a set of replacement-pickups, having not even tried the actual guitar.

So, what would be a versatile set for a guitar like that for Maiden / hard rock & metal?

For the bridge I was thinking either:

-SD Custom 5
-SD Custom
-SD 59/Custom hybrid
-DiMarzio Evo2

for the neck I'm clueless. I do a lot of soloing over the neck pickup (think Dave Murray, Yngwie, Slash etc.).
I did like the 59neck I had once but I would love to get something with a tad more mids.

-59 neck
-DiMarzio 36th PAF
-DiMarzio PAF Master
-PAF PRO
-Evo Neck
-SD Distortion neck
-SD Custom?

any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Change the magnet in the stock SH-1N from Alnico 5 to Alnico 4.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Listen to what comes stock in the actual guitar you receive, then figure out what you want more/less of.

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

I had a So-Cal for many years. A Custom Custom bridge and a Pearly Gates neck sounded amazing in this guitar, including combined and split-coiled.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Try the guitar out before you change pickups–you don't know how that guitar sounds so you don't know what is needed. You've never had a guitar with a Floyd–different bridges affect the tone differently. Magnet swaps can be a great way to tweak the tone as well.

I'm all for swapping pickups to what, its just that in this case you've never played the guitar and you've never owned a Floyded guitar so you don't know what you are lacking/needing to fix in this guitar.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

this week's review (going live Wednesday AM) covers a 2010 MIJ San Dimas Pro Mod.

it has a set of S-Deco humbuckers that MJ made for me in her Custom Shop. A2 in bridge and A4 in neck. it's also been modded with a full Ti bridge.

 

[jclogston]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

For the neck, Dimarzio Evo neck, liquifire, or Fred is what I have.

 

[mantis]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Listen to what comes stock in the actual guitar you receive, then figure out what you want more/less of.

I find it strange that someone who never played a certain guitar is already trying to modify it.
The Tones you want this guitar already does. The only thing the JB pickup in the Bridge position needs to make it scream is a proper Pole adjustment. It makes a world of difference.

 

[swissmountain]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

I found over the years that the JB is a pickup that does not sound good in all guitars but lately I put one into a guitar and it really came alive. So I agree to the posters who have said to first try the guitar before any modifications. Play it a while and then assess what you like and what you don't like about the tones. That would also make it much easier for us to make recommendations.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

The Charvel Pro series (HSS) I just bought came with a Custom 5 in the bridge & I love it :bigthumb:

 

[devastone]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

I find it strange that someone who never played a certain guitar is already trying to modify it.
The Tones you want this guitar already does. The only thing the JB pickup in the Bridge position needs to make it scream is a proper Pole adjustment. It makes a world of difference.

This/\ the tones the OP wants from this guitar are exactly what it is designed for.

FWIW, Adrian Smith uses a DMZ Super Distortion in the bridge. The neck tones you listed go from single coil to PAF-ish, so, to recommend a Duncan, it would be the 59 (doh), If you go with the Super D, a good DMZ choice to match and get similar tones would be a PAF Pro or Evo neck, but nothing is doing to cover all those although a coil tap would help with the single coil tones.

 

[Anficht]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Thanks guys.
FWIW, I know the JB well and just don't like how it sounds.

I bought the guitar and checked out the pickups. I like the 59 but not the JB.
Anyway... will be replacing the pickups for a Pegasus bridge and Sentient neck!!

Thanks for your input

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Thanks guys.
FWIW, I know the JB well and just don't like how it sounds.

I bought the guitar and checked out the pickups. I like the 59 but not the JB.
Anyway... will be replacing the pickups for a Pegasus bridge and Sentient neck!!

Thanks for your input

don't forget to give us some feedback...

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Thanks guys.
FWIW, I know the JB well and just don't like how it sounds.

I bought the guitar and checked out the pickups. I like the 59 but not the JB.
Anyway... will be replacing the pickups for a Pegasus bridge and Sentient neck!!

Thanks for your input

sorry for the delay.

HERE is a rundown of the 'made in Japan' Pro Mod that I nabbed a few years back. given how it has ended up, the different tweaks/upgrades worked together to produce something that gels. it can take a bit of time and experimentation to ferret out your goals. it will be interesting to read about your take on your selection when compared to the stock pickup options.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel So Cal Pro Mod HH Floyd pickup replacement pickups

Yeah, give us a review of how you like the new pups! Great guitar choice!! I have a 59custom hybrid and a Jazz in one of mine and a Custom8/jazz in the other.