Will it fit?

[Larsson]

So i am looking at replacing the pickups in my Charvel 375.

But the single coil slots in the guitar don't seem to have room for the bit on the bottom of a single coil pickup that sticks down a bit.

Hopefully this pickup shows what i'm trying to explain.



Anyone had any experience with trying to fit aftermarket pickups to a pickup slots like this?

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Will it fit?

If I remember correctly the pickup route in your guitar is sometimes referred to as the "EMG" route, since EMG's do not have the ear/taper on the pickup base like the typical strat style pickups do, therefore, you have 3 choices:
#1. Leave the stock pickups in it.
#2. Find a pickup with a straight/non tapered base.
#3. Get out the dremel or router, and re shape the pickup route to accept the more common strat style pickup.

It's a really simple modification if you take your time and go slowly, otherwise you're more or less stuck with the few choices avail to fit that single coil route.

Nice Charvel btw!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Will it fit?



Route the guitar and use those. That's the simplest solution to your problem.

HTH,

 

[Aceman]

Re: Will it fit?

Don't you DARE put those ugly @$$ plates Kojo suggested on that!!!!


Might I suggest instead, a fine distinguished pickup from the Seymour Duncan Custom shop. Worth the tone, worth the money, worth the wait.

That guitar deserves it. You deserve it.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Will it fit?

Don't you DARE put those ugly @$$ plates Kojo suggested on that!!!!


Might I suggest instead, a fine distinguished pickup from the Seymour Duncan Custom shop. Worth the tone, worth the money, worth the wait.

That guitar deserves it. You deserve it.

Id have to agree with you on this.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Will it fit?

Also, I believe that the bridge pickup mounting ring is bigger than the normal pickup mounting rings. I had an '87 Charvel Model 3 that had the same single coil routes and large mounting ring. Its been so long since I had that guitar, but I'm thinking that I gutted it and went with an EMG-81/1vol, and I remember having to use the original mounting ring from the Charvel on the '81.

I personally wouldn't route the body in order to use a different pickup only because it appears to be an original guitar, and it's hard to find an unmolested Charvel like that.

Id probably opt to get a SD C/S pickup(s) made for it because it truly does deserve having a couple bucks put into it like stated above. Plus, you could always go back to original at any given time. Or you could just go '81/S/S and call it a day. I think there are some DiMarzio and Duncan single coils that are a direct fit (w/ a non tapered base), so there are options without breaking out the router or the custom shop ordering form...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Will it fit?

Some pickups are lipless while others are not. Nearly half of SD's single coils such as the SSL5/6 are lipless. I think you can also get any of SD's single coils wound on the same bobbin as the SSL5/6 as a shop floor custom?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Will it fit?

I think you can also get any of SD's single coils wound on the same bobbin as the SSL5/6 as a shop floor custom?

This is true... but there is a caveat some of the little humbucker pickups like the Lil JB and Lil 59 the wires exit from out the bottom front and they wont fit without a bit of minor surgery the ones that actually exit from underneath are fine.

A pup swap here can be easily done without involving the custom shop

 

[Larsson]

Re: Will it fit?

this will be my first time replacing pickups so didn't realise it might be an issue.

I'm wanting to put a YJM fury in the neck and 59 humbucker in the bridge - the middle I'm gonna remove and put in a dummy pickup.

Assuming it will be difficult to use the YJM? Is it possible to modify the pickup to fit rather than the guitar body?

What are my options?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Will it fit?

this will be my first time replacing pickups so didn't realise it might be an issue.

I'm wanting to put a YJM fury in the neck and 59 humbucker in the bridge - the middle I'm gonna remove and put in a dummy pickup.

Assuming it will be difficult to use the YJM? Is it possible to modify the pickup to fit rather than the guitar body? What are my options?

For the humbuckers the wires come out of the bottom in the middle. All you need to do is use a dremel to create a shallow slot for the 4 conductor wire to lay in. That way you still have enough clearance to direct mount the pickup without binding the wire. With the true single coils you have a single wire at either ends of the bobbin which shouldn't interfere with direct mounting since they are thin.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Will it fit?

You need to put in a call to custom service and see if you can get the YJM without the flat work on the bottom. Check with them to be sure. Modifying the pickup at the user level to remove the flat work would be something not for the faint of heart.

To use the 59 you will have to replace that pickup ring also which will leave the marks and holes from the old ring visible... you cna use the old ring but it leaves a decent sized gap around the pickup. You can also remove the plastic cover from the Jackson pickup and put it on the 59.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Will it fit?

I think some of the sd actually fit in there as is. I know the hotrails dont anymore but you can dremel out a little opening down the bottom of the cavity for the wire.
Otherwise if you look hard enough you can find flangless dimarzio pups.

jcf will help you.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Will it fit?

As was stated, SDs that do not have the ancient Fender flanged design still feed the wires out of the same place as if they did, so they're easier for pickguard mounting (obviously because the only guitars ever made were made by Fender and have a massive hole straight down the middle for the wires).

Some older Duncan Lil/Jrs and xRails had the wires coming out the underside near the mounting hole, which made them ideal for every pickup route known to man.
Why that universal design was dropped in favor of the vintage Strat spec I'll never accept as logical.

I did order 3 custom SDs a few years ago to fit in a Jackson with similar routes, and they were roughly $120 each. However, they were Jr versions that were not in the production line - Distortion Jr, Custom Jr, and Jazz Jr. There was no way I was going to pay extra for production models to have the wires rerouted properly, so if you're going Custom Shop, at least make them unique.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Will it fit?

jcf will help you.

I can give him the same advice here that i will on jcf

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Will it fit?

Don't you DARE put those ugly @$$ plates Kojo suggested on that!!!!

i got one of those for a project. Don't make me question it.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Will it fit?

i got one of those for a project. Don't make me question it.

I bought a gold one yesterday at the music store. It's been there for atleast 10yrs. I know it's the same one because the package was opened and taped back shut. I felt bad for it so I bought it and took it home. Now it will sit in my parts stash for 10 more years...

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Will it fit?

I bought a gold one yesterday at the music store. It's been there for atleast 10yrs. I know it's the same one because the package was opened and taped back shut. I felt bad for it so I bought it and took it home. Now it will sit in my parts stash for 10 more years...

yeah! well! I have a set of 3 wood ones here that i have had for 3 years and counting :friday:

They can look cool imo but not on that charvel

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Will it fit?

Indeed

 

[Larsson]

Re: Will it fit?

Not sure what i'll end up doing.

Contemplating having the pickup slot routed since it would only need a little bit done.

I've got all the electronics i need just gotta buy the pickups now. Summer project for me sorted at least!

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Will it fit?

I wouldnt route it... there is no need to you just need to make sure and buy pups without the flat work. Call customer service and ask them which models are available. I'm pretty sure most are.