Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

metalmantiss

metalmantiss

New member
Pun intended! :cool2:

Hi everybody, noob to the forum and I need some input. I've got this Charvel Model 6, it has an SD JBJ in the bridge and stock Jackson pickups in the middle and neck position (HSS). So basically this system that's in it is useless, it has the 3 mini toggle switches and 1V, 1T, and a JE 1200. It sounds like crud, and the wiring is horrible. The JE-1200 is not on the pot as it should be, it's wired into the "system". So I was thinking of dropping a Dimebucker in the bridge, an SSL-4 in the middle and a SSL-1 Vintage Staggered for the neck. The thing is, I don't want to drill any holes in it, I would like to ultilize what's in it as far as the switches go as there is no pick up selector switch.

I will also be replacing the pots and cap, along with pretty much re-wiring the thing. What would be a good way to do this? I have some ideas but this is a different situation for me, lol. I kind of want to keep the guitar as original as possible, and I really don't want to start drilling holes or installing a 5 way selector switch, but would like to get it going again without spending $350 on just the wiring harness, let alone trying to find a OEM bridge pick up, that stuff is expensive!
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Welcome to the forum.

The three mini switches ARE the selection system. On/off for each pickup. This was fashionable for a time back in The Eighties.

List your JBJ humbucker on this forum's Trading Post section. You should easily find a buyer.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

I would like to see the wiring, but ok.

What's wrong with the JBJ? The JB should SMOKE in that guitar. The dimebucker is so, so hot. I wouldn't use it in a charvel model 6, simply because I'm afraid it will blow the guitar away: it's an 80ies guitar, treat it as such. That's my idea. and, the dime is way too hot for the ssl1 in the neck. why the ssl1 in the neck (that's the vintage stagger, not the ssl4, that's the quarter pound flat) and not the ssl4? I'd rather go with that, but OK...

if I had to do it over, I'd keep the JB and get 2 ssl4's or 2 ssl3's. I love the 4 and 3, but I think I prefer the 3 in this guitar better since it's still a singlecoil with a singlecoil voice like a strat only much, much hotter. the ssl4 is more like a p90 ish pickup.

if you wanna go balls to the walls, go with the alternative 8. that sounds like a sledgehammer strapped to a german Panzer tank, with a laser cutter up its ass. The Dimebucker sounds like shooting a baby uzi while standing inside a swimming pool, shooting at tin cans.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Oh yeah, the wiring.

Get rid of the toggles and install the following, from left to right:

3 way toggle: neck, neck+bridge, bridge (or: Neck, neck+middle, bridge)
2 way toggle: swaps neck and middle
2 way toggle on/off for any booster you may want

pot 1: master volume
pot 2: master tone
pot 3: pot to tweak the booster.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Thanks for the replies and the welcome! I think the reason the JBJ sounds like crud is because of the wiring, that and the fact that it's a passive pickup in an active pickup environment, I figured that thing would sound killer. The reason for the Dimebucker is that's what the program on the website suggested, it helps that I have one laying around. As far as a booster is concerened, what would you suggest for passive pickups? I thought only active pickups utilized those? I will post up a pic of the guts later, I should have done that in the OP. I was actually considering throwing a TB-4 in the bridge position, so I'm not really sure which way to go, as I play mainly metal. The guitar has a Kahler trem on it, and everyone I ever talked to suggested taking out the older pickups and replacing them with F spaced pickups since the poles and strings don't line up.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

You will probably want EMGs since those single-coil routes cannot accommodate Duncan's current Strat-friendly single designs. Or, you could try your luck finding an older set of Lil/Jr Duncans (Lil59, JBJr, etc) where the wires come out of the underside instead of the middle.

That's if you intend to keep the guitar as mint as possible. If you want it to actually be functional, you're going to have to have someone cut the single slots to fit oval baseplates.


The JE1200 system was active, not the pickups. It's a gain boost similar to the EMG AfterBurner, and works with any pickup type, passive or active.

The Kahler trem does not require a trem-spaced pickup. That's only for Floyds and Fenders.
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Thanks for that bit of info DrNewcenstein, I was really trying to stay with SD on the pickups though, I'll look into the Lil '59 and JBJr and see what I can find. I've also looked into the EMG AB and may end up tossing that in for some extra options. I appreciate all of the info, keep the great suggestions rolling in!

ETA: Also, would you install 2 Lil '59s or 2 JBJrs or one of each? I was thinking Lil '59 in the neck and the JBJr in the middle.

ETA 2: Or maybe as orpheo suggested, 2 SSL-3s, one in the neck and one in the middle?
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Dr. Newcenstein: wrong. The ssl3 and ssl4 don't have that triangular flange on the bottom. Thus they fit. Have done it tree times by now.

About the bridge. Not all model 6's used a kahler trem. If you have a fulcrum floyd style trem any regular floyd will fit. Upgrade the junk and you have an amazing player.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

I think I'm going to keep the JBJ for now, and go with 2 SSL-3s, wire it as Bridge, Neck and Middle / Neck, in that order, and keep everything at least looking as original as possible without routing and junk. 1 volume, 1 tone and possibly an EMG AB. I'd like to wire it so that if I throw one switch it cancels out any others, but not sure if I can do that or how to go about that. Oh well, off to the drawing board and pickup shopping.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

orpheo said:
Dr. Newcenstein: wrong. The ssl3 and ssl4 don't have that triangular flange on the bottom. Thus they fit. Have done it tree times by now.

About the bridge. Not all model 6's used a kahler trem. If you have a fulcrum floyd style trem any regular floyd will fit. Upgrade the junk and you have an amazing player.
Click to expand...

Interesting. What about the wire coming off the pickup; does it stick out of the center of the bottom edge of the base (so it can shoot straight down a Strat route)? Been a while since I poked around in a Model 6.

Kinda hard to confuse a Kahler for a JT6, also. For one, the Kahler logo.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Yea I believe after 1986 they came with JT trems, the first year the Model 6 came with, at least mine did, a Kahler 7300, according to the patent #.

The SSL-4 and SSL-3 appear to come out of the bottom, I'm awaiting confirmation on this.
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

I am very happy with the Duncan PATB Distortion and 2 PA Classic Stacks in my Charvel 475 and I kept the JE-1200 since it works great, although this combo doesn't need it much except for leads on the singles. If I hadn't already done the EMG thing in my 650 (last version of the Model 6 line), I would have done it in that one. Besides sounding fantastic, the PATB set also looks fantastic. You should have a tech look closely over all the old, crusty internals to see if your 6 needs a bit of a restoration. It happens with 25+ year old guitars!

PATB2_AussieStrap.jpg


BTW, stock passive OEM Jackson pickups such as the J50BC, J80, J90C (hot) are very easy to find on ebay. The J50BC has the most classic voicing and tends to mix well with the JE-1200 system, although hotter pickups don't need it as much.
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

DrNewcenstein said:
Interesting. What about the wire coming off the pickup; does it stick out of the center of the bottom edge of the base (so it can shoot straight down a Strat route)? Been a while since I poked around in a Model 6.

Kinda hard to confuse a Kahler for a JT6, also. For one, the Kahler logo.
Click to expand...

comes out of the bottom. I have 90 more minutes before my plane leaves. if you ask nicely, I'll make a pic of the quarterpound's back I have in my backpack ;)

and yes I agree about what you said about the kahler but I didn't read at all where the t.s. has a kahler but ok.

@mk3 greneade: yes. just yes. that combo SMOKES. Love it.
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

Ok I took some pics of the guts, the JE-1200 (if that's what it is) appears to be wired into the first pot, which should be the volume, and it is, so someone wired it into the volume pot. Horrible job as stated, and it's killing me that I don't have the time to tear it all out and start over. This was not done by me.

IMG_0030.jpg

IMG_0033.jpg
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

orpheo said:
botch job.... that's what I think of it.
Click to expand...

Agreed, that's probably why it sounds the way it does. I'll be tearing it all out and starting from scratch this weekend. I've got some SSL-3s coming in next week.

Once I get it all done I'll post up some new pics, not sure if I'm going to leave whatever that is in there or get an EMG AB and toss that in there. Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

:headbang:

ETA: I'm still ROFLMAO over your decsription of those pickups, LoL. Good stuff!
 
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Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

I know for a fact that SSL-4 and SSL-6 will fit, and I wouldn't be afraid to do a Dime in there (if you like the sound of the Dime).
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

King IzzO))) said:
I know for a fact that SSL-4 and SSL-6 will fit, and I wouldn't be afraid to do a Dime in there (if you like the sound of the Dime).
Click to expand...

Yea the Dimebucker is a HOT pickup, I have one in my LTD along with a SH-59 in the neck, it's a screamer in the bridge position and very warm and creamy in the neck.

I haven't tried the neck and bridge together yet though, something bad may happen.

:wall:
 
Re: Need some input on pick ups for a Charvel Model 6

orpheo said:
comes out of the bottom. I have 90 more minutes before my plane leaves. if you ask nicely, I'll make a pic of the quarterpound's back I have in my backpack ;)

and yes I agree about what you said about the kahler but I didn't read at all where the t.s. has a kahler but ok.

@mk3 greneade: yes. just yes. that combo SMOKES. Love it.
Click to expand...

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...rvel-Model-6&p=3585835&viewfull=1#post3585835

Right there.
 
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