New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

[Hot Octopus]

New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

I got a Charvel San Dimas as a trade for my Carvin V and want to put some different pups in it. I have 3 other San Dimas Charvel's. The green one has a set of AHB3's, the black tele has the stock JB and 59, the purple tele has a C8 and a 59' A2.

So far, my favorite bridge pups are the Blackout 3's and the C8. I'd like to find something that has a tight bottom end with nice bass response, lots of singing mids and a nice treble bite and treble cut, but not something as icepicky as a JB. I like the C8 a lot, but it doesn't have enough treble. I've tried the other custom variations, and the C8 is my favorite.

I would also like to try some other company's pups other than SD, DiMarzio and EMG (I hate emg). Any suggestions?

The polar white Charvel one is the newbie-

 

[Masta' C]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

Bareknuckles: Holy Diver, Nailbomb or VHII bridge & ??? or Rebel Yell set
LACE: Red/Silver "Dually" bridge & ???, Hemi set or the Drop & Gain set (a personal favorite)
Dean DMT: Baker Act bridge & ???
GFS: Crunchy PAT set
DiMarzio: Air Zone bridge & ???
Duncan: PA-TB2 or TB1 bridge & PA-TB1 neck
Motor City: AFWAYU set

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

I'm assuming you meant the White one was the newbie

How about an Alternative8? I've got one in the WarAngel and it smokes. It's like a Distortion, but slightly controlled (and I got no knob on that one!)

Otherwise Id say get a pair of 89s just so you can get real single-coil tones. Wouldn't really recommend an 85/89 set since you do get the volume mismatch from splitting the 89. Well, I do anyway :lol:

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

I'm assuming you meant the White one was the newbie

How about an Alternative8? I've got one in the WarAngel and it smokes. It's like a Distortion, but slightly controlled (and I got no knob on that one!)

Otherwise Id say get a pair of 89s just so you can get real single-coil tones. Wouldn't really recommend an 85/89 set since you do get the volume mismatch from splitting the 89. Well, I do anyway :lol:

Yea, I meant the white one.

I heard the Alt 8 is voiced similar to a JB. I tried the JB8 in a star-body guitar and didn't like it, so...

 

[Masta' C]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

I heard the Alt 8 is voiced similar to a JB. I tried the JB8 in a star-body guitar and didn't like it, so...

It has a slightly different upper mids structure than the JB with a tighter bottom end and bit more bass/low mids. Users of the Distortion and JB tend to be comfortable with the change, as it's different, but not as drastic as some other models out there.

When I was researching the Alt 8 for myself, S.D. told me it is a completely different wind than the JB/Distortion with a lower resonant peak and higher resistance than either one...a pickup completely designed around the high-power A8 mag, as opposed to the typical swapping of A8 mags into the lower resistance designs.

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

It has a slightly different upper mids structure than the JB with a tighter bottom end and bit more bass/low mids. Users of the Distortion and JB tend to be comfortable with the change, as it's different, but not as drastic as some other models out there.

When I was researching the Alt 8 for myself, S.D. told me it is a completely different wind than the JB/Distortion with a lower resonant peak and higher resistance than either one...a pickup completely designed around the high-power A8 mag, as opposed to the typical swapping of A8 mags into the lower resistance designs.

It has me wondering a little. I live the JB in my tele, but not in my strat. The JB8 didn't sound right, and the JB2 sounded sweet but lacked output.

-The BKP painkiller seems pretty cool too.

 

[Frogman]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

Try the JB+ before you get rid of it.

I have one in my USA Jackson and itz deh Titz!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

Alt 8 is a much diff animal than a JB. Has a big punchy sound with a hit more akin to the punch of a tone zone. (doesnt sound like a TZ, but has a big hit) Whereas the C8 has that bit of vintage sag character that makes is sweet, the Alt is more sudden and punchy

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

As well, body shape will influence tonal character. Kellys and Stars and Warriors sound like an Exlorer - their base shape - just as KVs and Y2KVs sound like a Gibson V. There's a tonal/frequency focus you get with these shapes that is different from a Strat or LP shape. Even an SG sounds more like a Strat compared to a "pointy" model.

So, a JB which has an upper-mid spike in a guitar whose shape focuses its resonance into a mid spike is going to be way spiky (which is why Mustaine likes the JB-styles - they cut viciously).

 

[Masta' C]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

Don't forget, he already has a JB-equipped Charvel.

He wants to try something different...preferably from a company other than Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio or EMG...according to his own words.

I threw out 5 "other" brands. All have a decent selection and good overall quality and I provided a few choice models from each...check them out.

You should also take a look at Rio Grande and SIN pickups. The guy at SIN will wind you a custom pickup to match what you want for about $60...pretty tough deal to beat, especially if you want something no one else has!

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

Don't forget, he already has a JB-equipped Charvel.

He wants to try something different...preferably from a company other than Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio or EMG...according to his own words.

I threw out 5 "other" brands. All have a decent selection and good overall quality and I provided a few choice models from each...check them out.

You should also take a look at Rio Grande and SIN pickups. The guy at SIN will wind you a custom pickup to match what you want for about $60...pretty tough deal to beat, especially if you want something no one else has!

I just sent Sin and email.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

What about a Super Distortion? A double cream one would be tits in that guitar.

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: New Charvel Day = New pickup Day

What about a Super Distortion? A double cream one would be tits in that guitar.

double cream- maybe. But I'm not a fan of most of the dimarzio pups, especially for the bridge.