PU suggestions for a Charvel

[nickcoumbe]

Ok,

I have a charvel 550xl. That's an early 90's thru-neck. Humbucker in bridge, and single coil (stacked?) in the neck. Standard 3 way switch, no toone control.

The PU's are OK (jackson), but not great, they are not giving me the full potential of what this guitar can do sound wise. I played it back to back with an SL1 with seymours in it, and it was frankly embaressing. The construction is the same, the trem etc is the same, maybe a slight difference in wood quality, but it can't account for that difference.

I play lots of different music, and guitars, I like dimarzio but am not a slave to them. I want an ok ckean sound, a good not too thick rhythm sound. But most importantly I want a searing lead sound. Definately want something more powerful than a paf pro, but still with good harmonics.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

[RSVampire]

the Dimarzio Fred is awsome in that area, hotter than a Paf Pro, not too much beefier but hotter. More upper mids so harmoincs are very easy to just scream out of the guitar.

[nickcoumbe]

Yeah everyone rates the Fred.

ANy ideas about a stacked hum for the the single coil space at the neck pos?

[darren wilson]

If you're putting aftermarket pickups in your Charvel, you may want to consider getting some new pickup rings from Dave at Frets on the Net.

Jackson made their humbuckers slightly oversized for some reason, and regular pickups look odd in those larger mounting rings. Dave makes rings that are direct retrofits to the Jackson ones, but with a "normal" sized cutout for the pickup so it doesn't have ugly gaps all around it. And you can get them in some cool colours!

Just a thought.

[nickcoumbe]

That's good advice,

It has a sparkly gold/platinum paint job, I wonder of he carries that kind of thing?

[VOLTAGE]

I would go with a tone zone in any 90's charvel for the biggest sound that will make the JB loaded SL-1 run for cover!

[darren wilson]

Originally Posted by nickcoumbe

That's good advice,

It has a sparkly gold/platinum paint job, I wonder of he carries that kind of thing?

He has white, light cream, black, camo gray (all solid Delrin... not hollow-molded) and solid polished aluminum, polished brass or brushed brass.

Drop him an email, as i think he can source some other materials as well.

[nickcoumbe]

Thanks again for all the good advice.

Frets on the net seems to have everything I could possibly want.

All I have to do know is wait for the Bank of England to lower interest rates and I can probably afford to buy the pickups.

[Kontalonis]

Andy timmons uses his AT1 humbucker in the bridge and two Cruiser single coils. Might want to go with that same setup. The AT1 isn't available to the public. It is based on one that is available to the public though. I just don't know which one. Anybody?

[Kontalonis]

Just found out. AT1 is closest to the breeds. Anyone have any experience with this setup?