Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

[matt239]

I have a Carvin M22SD (circa:1984!)
The tone is fantastic, but it's a bit microphonic & sensitive to noise.

I'm guessing this pickup was modeled on the old DiMarzio Super Distortion, but with Alnico 5 magnets.

DC: 13.9k, Alnico 5. -- Don't know resonant peak.

I have the M22SD & an M22N in a Strat type partscaster; maple neck, ebony fretboard, alder body.

- Clean the M22SD sounds almost like a very hot Tele P/U, HUGE twang, lots of bottom, lots of upper-mid bite.
Distorted it's somewhere between Niel Young & Angus Young (definitely hotter, brighter-twangier-more bite than PAF though..)
The M22 neck P/U is hot warm & sweet, but with some upper-mid bite. (DC: 8.4k, Alnico 5)
I can get a nice SRV sound from it, (or maybe what SRV would've sounded like with a neck humbucker??)

Anybody have a suggestion for Seymour Duncans that would have a similar tone, but better performance?

And then a suggestion for a humbucking-single to go between? (HSH)
(I'm planing on getting the 'buckers with metal covers.)

 

[Ascension]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

I have owned a BUNCH of Carvins and many with the M22SD's. The early ones like you have sound different from the later post say 1995 ones do.
Because of the 22 pole design the only Duncans that are close in the way they respond are the PA Trembuckers.
What are you looking for in tone, more meat, more cut more output what?
I know the M22SD's well and also most of the Duncan line so maybe I can help.
I get absolutlely glorious tones out of my stone stock Maple neck Poplar body Pearl Pink 1990 Carvin X220C with a M22SD and a standard M22. Wouldn't touch it!!
Here is a live clip through my 25 watt Zinky Blue Velvet and using a Doss DD-8 delay as the only effect.
http://www.box.net/shared/20ng2ygb7h
I absolutely LOVE the tone of the old M22SD Carvins!!

 

[matt239]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

Actually, I wouldn't change a thing about the tone on the old M22SD.
- it's just a touch microphonic, & also picks up some RFI/EMI noise.
(not bad, just not dead quiet like I think a Duncan in a metal cover would be..)
plus, I might build a new guitar, & you can't get "old" M22SDs anymore (I haven't heard new ones, I don't know how different they are?)

So I am looking for the Duncan that sounds most like an M22SD I guess.

I wouldn't think the difference in pole pieces would be that dramatic..
It should have a fairly hot wind, but mellow Alnico 5 magnets. (I think one of the M22SD tricks is that the alnico5 bars are a bit taller than normal..)
Carvin used to have a tone chart that showed the M22SD having A LOT of Lows, a lot less low mid, a bit more high mid, and quite a bit of top end.

Maybe for my current guitar I should keep the Carvins & try to make a custom cover for them? (just shielding the guitar & even wrapping the coils with shielding tape didn't eliminate all the noise..) (I'd like to make my guitars ultra-quiet.)

 

[matt239]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

The early ones like you have sound different from the later post say 1995 ones do.

Can you say HOW different, & in what way?

Originally Posted by blueman335 View Post
C5 is a 14,000 ohm A5 HB, and great in mahogany. If you have brighter wood or just want more mids, A8's work well in it (C8).

I'm considering: Custom 5, JB, PATB3, or a custom AH1 (12-Pole) ...

 

[matt239]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

have you considered potting the pickup?

that is supposed to cut down on microphonics

 

[stm113]

Re: Replacements for Carvin M22SD & M22N ?

I know the M22SD's well and also most of the Duncan line so maybe I can help.

sorry for the necro-bump but I have a M22SD I bought around 2005 in a mid 90’s Iceman IC300 (basswood body, bolt-on maple neck rosewood fingerboard ) and it screams! I have 3 Ibanez SCA 220 guitars (Saber Classic thin mahogany body maple bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard hard tail bridge). I plan to use them in 3 different tunings (Eb standard/Drop C#, D Standard/Drop C & Drop B). What would you recommended to get me closer to that tone I’m getting with the IC300 M22SD pairing?

 

[dave74]

While certainly not the same, I think a Pegasus might work well in the Saber and offer some of the same clarity with a more controlled low-end while still retaining that "smokey" a5 midrange.