Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

[Dmitry]

Hello people,

I'm searching for versatile and perfectly balanced pickups combo with Humbucker-2-Single swithches for my Koa Carvin!

My gtr config.ini :

Model: DC127
Wood: Koa Neck n' Body (neckthrough), ebony fingerboard
Pickups: 2 Carvin C22 Humbuckers with hum-2-single switches
Tremolo: Willkinson

The stock C22s really sux! :grumble:

And now I'm totally messed up what to chose: Dunkan / DiMarzio / Bill Laurence or maybe something else?

I'm a crossover player, and I want this guitar to be very flexible in different styles: from Jazz/Blues/Rock to Pop/Funk, or from Les Paul to Strat...

No EMGs please I'm not a metal head. :saeek:

Thanx :smokin:

Koa is an exotic medium weight wood grown exclusively in 
the Hawaiian Islands. It was used by ancient Hawaiians to build canoes and 
surfboards. Koa has warmth and sustain similar to Mahogany and also 
possesses the clear open tone of Alder. Koa looks wonderful whether you 
choose a tung oiled, satin or gloss finish.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Sounds like your looking for something really versatile... Hard to beat the JB/Jazz combo... What sort of amp are you going to be using?

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Ok, to be honest, it will be plugged to Digitech GNX3 most of the time, but in the other cases it will be Marshall Valvestate or Roland amp through few boss pedals...

So you suggest SDs! What about DiMz? Or Bill Law...???

Thanx for reply

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

For what you described, I'd go with a Pearly Gates in the neck and either a Custom Custom or a Custom 5 in the bridge.

It won't exactly sound like a Paul or a Strat, but it will get close enough to fool most non-guitarists.

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

You'll find all you need and a bag of chips in the JB/Jazz combo, I know I do

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Thanx for all your replies!!!

Sorry for posting that in SD's forum? :smoker:

What do you think about this DiMz combo:

Air Norton (DP193) in the neck position and an F-spaced Tone Zone (DP155F) in the bridge position.

As DiM's tech said: Both pickups have a very good Strat-like sound when they are split!!!

Any comments? :wink:

 

[Kac]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

What do you think about this DiMz combo:
Air Norton (DP193) in the neck position and an F-spaced Tone Zone (DP155F) in the bridge position.
As DiM's tech said: Both pickups have a very good Strat-like sound when they are split!!!
Any comments? :wink:

Comment: Get the JB/Jazz combo
Rock On :13:

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

What do you think about this DiMz combo:

Air Norton (DP193) in the neck position and an F-spaced Tone Zone (DP155F) in the bridge position.

As DiM's tech said: Both pickups have a very good Strat-like sound when they are split!!!

Any comments? :wink:

Tried the Tone Zone and hated it! Very muddy, especially in combination with warmer sounding tonewoods (like Koa and mahogany, although Koa is a bit less warm compared to mahogany). There was no note definition and when I say "no" I mean NO. We respect and often recommend a great variety of brands on this forum, and I think DiMarzio's great, but the Tone Zone didn't do much for me.

The Air Norton however sounded incredible, it's prolly my favorite neck pick up, very modern and warm sounding with great attack and harmonics. I often refer to an experience of a friend of mine who has a piezo bridge so amazing cleans are available, but hardly uses it because he thinks the Air Norton cleans up so nicely.

Perhaps you could try something I've always wanted to try, mix the JB bridge with an Air Norton neck. The combination should be a mix of very versatile modern sounds, great for singing lead work. I think the Jazz is great though, I did a review on the Jazz, I'm sure you'll be able to find it by using the search button

Good luck!

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Thanx again for your replies.

Now I'm totally lost... :eek5:
I've spent like 1 week trying to figure out what can be suitable for me!
I don't want to see my monitor again... :bigeyes2:

Anyways the job must be done!

I've figured out the two "clever" combos (I guess):

1) DiM's Air Norton in the neck and an F-spaced Air Zone in the bridge
2) SD's Jazz in the neck and JB in the bridge.

Please take in consideration the KOA nature of my guitar! And that I'll split the pups into single coils from time to time! (imp!)

I hope my next step will be buying......................... :saeek:

 

[VanStone2]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

In S/D pickups:

I've never played a Koa guitar, but as I understand it the sonic qualities are similar to mahogany - warm but with a slightly brighter top end. Since the guitar is already warm sounding, I would probably stay away from most alnico II pickups with the possible exceptions of the Custom Custom and Pearly Gates (those are fairly bright for alnico II pups). Otherwise, I think the guitar would end up sounding too dark.

I had an SG knockoff (all mahogany) with a Pearly Gates in the Neck and an Alnico 5 in the bridge. Which was fairly versatile, but maybe a little too raucous for what you want. It also produced a ton of harmonics. If I had to do that over I’d probably go with a ’59 Neck / Alnico 5 bridge. That would tame the sound to more what you are looking for I believe.

A lot of people like the JB for the bridge in an application like this but I personally dislike the JB. It has a dentist’s-drill quality to it at the top that just isn’t very musical to my ear. I personally would take an Alnico 5, Screamin’ Demon, or Custom Custom instead.

Outside of the S/D lineup:

Well, I own three Carvins myself - two DC127s and a DC135T. IMHO, Carvin makes some of the best electric guitars on the planet at any price, but their pickups really do leave a lot to be desired. So, all three of my Carvins have had a pickupectomy.

My #1 axe is a Carvin DC127M, mahogany neck and body, walnut top, and ebony fretboard. It's tone is probably very similar to your Koa. I loaded it with a RioGrande Texas/BBQ set, and I absolutely love it. They are a very versatile pair. The BBQ in the bridge is a on the punchy/raunchy side. Its tone reminds me a lot of Angus Young. The Texas in the neck is classic ‘57/’59 PAF sounding all the way. They sound stellar together as well. I highly recommend them.

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Never tried the Air Zone so I can't help you there

 

[VanStone2]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Oh, I forgot to address the coil-split. I set my #1 DC127M up to split with the inner coils on. I don’t much care for that setup - it doesn’t produce much of a change in sound. My #2 DC 127 is set up to have the outer coils on, and the change in tone is much more noticeable. So, I would recommend having the outer coils on.

You should also note that, no matter what pickups you choose, coil cut humbuckers will never really sound like single coil pickups. That goes for both the Rio’s in my #1 DC127 and the Duncans in my #2 DC127.

BTW, my #2 DC127 is maple neck, swamp ash wings, and ebony fretboard. It’s a very bright sounding guitar. I loaded it with the S/D Alnico II Pro neck and Custom Custom in the bridge. I’m very happy with that setup. It warmed the guitar up nicely.

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Ok, no DiMarzio fans here!
The DiMarzio tech said that theirs pups slits really well!
I feel I'll go for DiMz... Donno why, I have this trustful feeling towards DiMz!


BTW this is my Carvin:

Sorry for a bit lame picture :newangel:

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Sorry, this is off topic, but how do you like your Carvin? What would you compare it to in terms of quality? (e.g: Gibson, PRS, etc)

I'm thinking of getting one, you see....

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Sorry, this is off topic, but how do you like your Carvin? What would you compare it to in terms of quality? (e.g: Gibson, PRS, etc)

I'm thinking of getting one, you see....

Don't think, go for it straight way! It's unbeatable value for money!
And very customizible! Big variety of wood to chouse, great finshing, wonderfull hardware, quality workmanship. The only dissatisfaction (as for me) - the pickups, the whole electronic setup is 3 out of 5.

So, if you can order it without electronics, and than install a nice Duncan set or DiMarzio set, or anything else you like - %100 satisfaction guaranteed!!!

:smokin:

You won't go wrong with Carvin!

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Time to buy!

Last check I wanna make:
for neck: Jazz or Pearly Gates?
for bridge: JB, Dunkan Custom or CC?

Oh, I forgot! I have a Wilkinson tremolo, will I need a special-sized polepieces pups for a bridge?
Also Carvin's pups have 3 skrews instead of 2 on the mounting rings!

Will trembucker solve this prob, or I'll need to get a new couple?

BTW what is trembucker exactly? (sorry for a lame quetion) :dance:

Thanx.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

measure your guitar from e string to E string where they pass over the pole peices of the bridge pickup .. 2" or more? get trem spaced .. less than 2", get regular spaced

i bet gold covers would look nice on pickups for that guitar ..

oh, and i vote for AIIP neck / JB bridge .. the splits are sweet when you go for inner parallel and outer parallel

cheers
t4d

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

tone4days, I've measured the distance between the strings over the bridge & neck, it's 1cm and 1.05cm respectively... It's almost the same! :blackeye:

Can you measure the distance between the pole peices of trem and normal pup? ...in centimetre pls!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Go with the PG at the neck and a Custom Custom for the bridge.

Even though your Carvin is made of Koa, Carvins are still on the bright side, due to their construction. I own a DC127-T myself and went through a lot pickup combos trying to find something hat covers all the bases in this guitar.

As far as mounting and spacing, go with a trembucker at the bridge and you will need to modify the mounting rings. All I did was to drill a hole between the mounting holes and slightly enlarge the opening on the bridge position ring (to fit the slightly wider trembucker).

Good luck. :burnout:

 

[Dmitry]

Re: Pickups for Koa Carvin DC127T

Thanx for reply Benjy, but I still wanna know the distance between the pole peices of trem and normal pup! Cause maybe I'll have to use a trem as a neck pup too! :saeek:

As for mounting rings, isn't it better to get a new ones?