What pickup for my Charvel?

[Wormaap]

Hey there, maybe I should introduce myself first.
I'm Wormaap, my real name's Ron, whichever you prefer.
Currently I own an Epiphone Gothic Les Paul, loaded with a Gibson 490R/498T set, a Charvel Model 6 with a DiMarzio ToneZone in the bridge position and a Kahler 2710 tremolo, and a Dean USA Pro Hardtail (JB/59 set)
I'm 19 years old and I've been playing for 2.5 years now. I run all of my axes into an ENGL Fireball head through a Behringer 4x12 cab (to be changed as soon as I find the money)

Now for the question: Recently I haven't been fully happy with my Charvel's sound anymore. For some reason when I fly high up the neck in solos, my tone sounds flat and dark. This has lead me to the conclusion that the ToneZone should leave and that a SD should replace it (I've been very happy with the Duncans in my Dean, they seem to have a bright top-end that DiMarzio's tend to miss)
Now of course for the question of questions: Which one? I play progressive/powermetal so it has to be tight for my rythm playing and bright and round when soloing. I already considered putting in a JB, but I'm afraid that might be a tad bit shrill in the top-end while shredding. I'm also very much considering the Full Shred, but I haven't had the chance to test it out all too well. The kinds of sound I'm looking at are the round, clear, 'liquid' sounds of bands like Dragonforce, Therion (last solo in 'Asgard' solos in 'Eye of Shiva' etc.) and Stratovarius.

Eternal gratitude to anyone who can answer me

 

[pinto79]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Hey there, maybe I should introduce myself first.
I'm Wormaap, my real name's Ron, whichever you prefer.
Currently I own an Epiphone Gothic Les Paul, loaded with a Gibson 490R/498T set, a Charvel Model 6 with a DiMarzio ToneZone in the bridge position and a Kahler 2710 tremolo, and a Dean USA Pro Hardtail (JB/59 set)
I'm 19 years old and I've been playing for 2.5 years now. I run all of my axes into an ENGL Fireball head through a Behringer 4x12 cab (to be changed as soon as I find the money)

Now for the question: Recently I haven't been fully happy with my Charvel's sound anymore. For some reason when I fly high up the neck in solos, my tone sounds flat and dark. This has lead me to the conclusion that the ToneZone should leave and that a SD should replace it (I've been very happy with the Duncans in my Dean, they seem to have a bright top-end that DiMarzio's tend to miss)
Now of course for the question of questions: Which one? I play progressive/powermetal so it has to be tight for my rythm playing and bright and round when soloing. I already considered putting in a JB, but I'm afraid that might be a tad bit shrill in the top-end while shredding. I'm also very much considering the Full Shred, but I haven't had the chance to test it out all too well. The kinds of sound I'm looking at are the round, clear, 'liquid' sounds of bands like Dragonforce, Therion (last solo in 'Asgard' solos in 'Eye of Shiva' etc.) and Stratovarius.

Eternal gratitude to anyone who can answer me

Try the Full Shred. It's crunchy and extremely defined but sounds great in a light bodied guitar (Like your Charvel, I have one in a poplar bodied Strat and it's amazing). It's unreal. Seymour's best pickup.

 

[Wormaap]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Sounds like the FS would indeed be for me then. Can it get me that 'fluid' even 'liquid' sound too? Where notes tend to flow into eachother just a bit in shreds?

Just to inform you btw, my Charvel is by far the heaviest guitar I've ever played It's heavier than any LP I ever touched, I have no idea why.

 

[Pierre]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Hehe Ron, I told you muahaha
Let me tell you one thing I noticed with the FullShred: the rythm sound is aggressive and to be honest it doesn't clean up great. It just sounds amazing for chugging. However my experience with lead sound is that it's smoother than it is aggressive. Single notes don't emphasize on the tight bass as much and you're left with a very mid oriented smooth tone, at least in my basswood model 4 which is probably warmer than your 6. The highs scream more than the bass growls so it's smooth AND bright, without being overly high oriented.

 

[Wormaap]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Well, Pierre, you know why I was considering the FS Smooth and bright + tight, actually sounds like the pup for me
Now to sell my TZ, find a FS and break even

 

[Pierre]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Too bad I'm leaving now dude, I was seriously considering a trade, I'm curious about the ToneZone.
About the brightness: don't get me wrong. It has plenty of bass, which is why it's such a great chugging pickup too.
I think this pickup is magical. I mean whatever you want to do with it, it does it.

Well I mean who plays clean nowadays anyway

 

[Wormaap]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Haha, for cleans there's always a pair of singles waiting in my 6 The TZ has (IMHO) lousy cleans too. Distorts the preamp even at 40% gain (clean channel) + I don't like the sound of a bridge pickup clean.

 

[Wormaap]

Re: What pickup for my Charvel?

Tiny bumpitybump. Any other suggestions for this kind of tone?