Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

[RF7812]

I just picked up a new amp, 5150 iii with the 6L6s and need to bring my 2009 US Gibson Les Paul Studio (Wine Red & Gold Hardware with stock 490R & 498Ts) up to snuff, I cannot stand these pickups. I bought the Les Paul as I was going through a divorce, promptly moved across country and unfortunately have not played it much until recently (this is something I should have done 10 years ago LOL). I play all sorts of music 80s metal/rock/hairbands/OZZY to Metallica to Slipknot/Stone Sour to Pink Floyd and Van Halen. I also have a 1987 Charvel Model 6 with all original hardware and pickups (Gladly taking pickup ideas for this one too!) that I purchased when I was 10 in '87. I also just picked up a brand new Charvel USA Select with a Super Distortion & a PAF Pro.

My thought is to make the Les Paul darker for metal and hard rock since it has a fixed bridge and changing the tuning is much easier. I am thinking the JB/Jazz or 59/custom Hybrid/Jazz for the les paul through this amp. I am not a big active guy and have gone back and forth on EMGs vs. Blackouts vs EMTYs, but just cannot commit to those one-trick ponies (although I LOVE the sound). I am looking for good cleans and good crunch.

For the Charvel model 6 (HSS- both SS are stacked humbuckers) I am not sure where to go, I do like the stacked humbuckers that are in it with the stock midboost circuit, the bridge is under powered though. I know some will look at my love of Pink Floyd and point me towards that route, however this summer I will be building a Gilmour strat with the custom shop parts.

Thoughts/Comments/Suggestions?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Welcome to the forum!
For the LP, I'd recommend a 59 and a Custom. You get a wide open tone that sounds great with distortion, is tight on the low notes, and sounds great with an LP. For the Charvel, I'd do that Jazz/JB thing for a perfect 80s pushed Marshall tone.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

I agree with Mincer mostly on the Les Paul. The Custom or Custom 5 works fantastic for that pushed PAF tone. However, if you want something even a bit more hot, i would HIGHLY recommend the Alternative 8. I have one in an Edwards Les Paul and it is incredible! the 59 Neck is very good, however, i usually prefer an Alnico II neck pickup-a bit more round and bluesy sounding IMO.

I dont know how an after market pickup works with the mid-boost in that Charvel. I had a Model 4 with the same stuff, but never messed with it before i sold the guitar.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Regarding the Charvel, here is what I've noticed with my model 4: the mid boost is not only a mid enhancer . It also shifts down the resonant peak of the pickups and tames the high range.

Result: when the mid control is full up, the stock J50BC bridge pickup has the EQing curve of a high gain humbucker and it should be a fire-eater: in this situation, mine spits 1164mV, which is more than what I've measured from HB"s like SH4 or SH13... and it still delivers 692mV with the mid boost @ 0/10 while my measurements mention 450mV as an average output with typical P.A.F. clones: that's not what I'd call "underpowered".

Related question: are the mid boost circuit and the stock bridge pickup set properly or are they simply intact? If the guitar was mine, I'd check the onboard capacitors and wires, I'd clean the contacts of the IC and pots then I'd try with a fresh battery, just to be sure...

Anyway, I'm not certain that the mid boost would deliver something else than a muddy mess with a higher inductance pickup than the stock J50BC (?)...

Regarding the J200 stacks: if I had to replace them, I'd mount a pair of bridge Cool Rails with parallel/series wiring, because this solution gives the inductance of Fender single coils in parallel and mimics the value of P90's in series (but their more open EQing should cooperate in a nice way with the mid boost).

FWIW - 2 cents from a CH4 user. I still love mine as it is although she's an old lady now.

Good luck in your quest.

P.S.: is there a plastic cover on the bridge PU of your CH6 or is it an uncovered one? In the second case, it's easy to damage a coil and to remain with a "capacitive pickup" - in which case, yes, it would become underpowered, without much bass... So, it would be interesting to measure the resistance of the pickup (separately from the electronics): if it's intact, it should measure 8.5k to 9.3k in series (and a beefy 5.3H of inductance VS 4.4H of average value for normal P.A.F. clones).

 

[RF7812]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Thanks for the reply!

When I say "underpowered", I have to boost the volume on the amp when using the Stock J50 a bit to match the output of the J200 - it's not much but you can hear a subtle drop in output. It never was an issue with my old Crate, but I'm not digging the sound of the J50 in the 5150; the J200 stacks actually sound really good. The amp sounds very balanced with my other Charvel and the Les Paul btw.

It is still 100% original from the Chushin Gakki factory where the guitar was made and yes it does have a fresh battery (you learn that lesson quick). As I am writing this response and thinking, I like your suggestion of cleaning the contacts and Pots; it has been a long time since I have cleaned them up and I wonder if something is going on there. Also, the bridge pickup has the plastic cover.

I don't think I would just swap out the J50 anyways, if I did I would bypass the mid-boost as I agree it would most likely be plain awful.

Hands down this is still my favorite one, it plays so smooth and fast - the neck is just fantastic.

 

[RF7812]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Thanks for the advice, I haven't checked out the Alternative 8 yet, I will check that one out today. As I haven't messed with the Les Paul too much, one thing I have noticed is that this one is pretty dark and muddy; although it appears to be the 300k pots that it comes with (along with the 490 and 498) from what I find online.

 

[RF7812]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Thanks for the replay man!

I skipped over checking out the custom and looked at the 59/custom hybrid, which caught my attention. I will add this to my list to check out today when I get a minute.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

Thanks for the reply!

When I say "underpowered", I have to boost the volume on the amp when using the Stock J50 a bit to match the output of the J200 - it's not much but you can hear a subtle drop in output. It never was an issue with my old Crate, but I'm not digging the sound of the J50 in the 5150; the J200 stacks actually sound really good. The amp sounds very balanced with my other Charvel and the Les Paul btw.

It is still 100% original from the Chushin Gakki factory where the guitar was made and yes it does have a fresh battery (you learn that lesson quick). As I am writing this response and thinking, I like your suggestion of cleaning the contacts and Pots; it has been a long time since I have cleaned them up and I wonder if something is going on there. Also, the bridge pickup has the plastic cover.

I don't think I would just swap out the J50 anyways, if I did I would bypass the mid-boost as I agree it would most likely be plain awful.

Hands down this is still my favorite one, it plays so smooth and fast - the neck is just fantastic.

Yes, these old Charvel's have outstanding necks.

Regarding the J50, that's strange: in my model 4, it delivers 2.4 to 3.4 times more output voltage than the J200's (measured respectively @ 193mV and 279mV). It's as if yours had been wired in parallel in the factory... I'd definitively check the resistance of this pickup disconnected to see what is going on here...

 

[DonP]

Re: Pickup recommendation(s) For LEs Paul Studio & Charvel Model 6

For the LP, 59/Custom would be darker as you wanted.



Adjust the J200's closer to the body and the J50 closer to the strings. With the cover adding more distance between the actual pickup and the strings, you can get as close as possible without hitting the strings.

I say leave it as-is, or get a J80C or J90C. I have one stock M6, and one I rebuilt with a J80C in the bridge.

You can fit any non-TB pickup under the cover. Just pull it off and glue it on a new pickup. DiMarzios work best because you can get F spaced but they still fit under the cover. A good old Super D should work well.