Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

[ledvedder]

I'm pretty stocked that I'm receiving a Charvel So Cal today! I've heard a lot of good things about them. Now I'm not saying I know I won't like the pickups that come stock with it, but I figured I'd ask just to get ahead of things. I've tried the SD Distortion pickups in other guitars I've had and didn't really like the high frequency fizz that they seem to introduce. Ultimately, I don't know how they'll sound or feel in the So Cal. But, if I do find that I'm experiencing the same thing, what pickups would you guys recommend?

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

I put an SSL-2, SSL-2, and SSL-6 in mine, and it's a lovely guitar now . . . but I was looking for something a bit less aggressive than stock. The Tone Zone that it originally came with in the bridge was a great match if you're into hard rock, but I never warmed up to the EVO neck.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

It comes with 2 humbuckers. You converted it to 3 singles?

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

You can get rid of the fizz by swapping the ceramic mags for alnico. I recommend A9 in the neck and A5 or A8 in the bridge. If you want to change pickups, decide if you want to stay high output or go to medium or vintage.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

You can get rid of the fizz by swapping the ceramic mags for alnico. I recommend A9 in the neck and A5 or A8 in the bridge. If you want to change pickups, decide if you want to stay high output or go to medium or vintage.

The Distortion has double thick magnets, so it's not so easy to swap them.

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

It doesn't make a difference. You can also order double thick alnico mags from cermag, which I recommend for the bridge but not the neck.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

I'd actually recommend that you stick with the stock pickups for a few weeks to see if there are any tonal issues you might want to correct.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

It comes with 2 humbuckers. You converted it to 3 singles?

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

Yep. First I re-wired the neck and bridge 'buckers for splits with a superswitch. Then after about six or seven years I realized that I was only using the split sounds most of the time on the guitar so got a new pickguard and de-supered the superstrat.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

Personally I like the Custom Custom/A2Pro (or Slash) in those

 

[DonP]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

I'd actually recommend that you stick with the stock pickups for a few weeks to see if there are any tonal issues you might want to correct.

+1 to this.

I bought a SoCal used on CL and it came with an X2N in the bridge (likely the stock pickup in the neck). I never thought I'd like the X2N but I love it! Don't fear the X2N like I did for years and years. I even bought another X2N.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Pickup choice for Charvel So Cal Pro Mod?

Personally I like the Custom Custom/A2Pro (or Slash) in those

I ended up going this route with a superstrat, as an experiment. I ended up loving it.