Author Topic: Pickup suggestions needed for my Charvel (Read 3725 times)

Brow · « **on:** January 02, 2007, 11:40:47 PM »

Hey guys.

As some of you may remember, a few months ago I did something very out of character for me and bought a superstrat style guitar :lol:

From what I've been told, the guitar is an early 90s Charvel Fusion Special with an Alder body, a maple neck, rosewood fretboard and a single locking Schaller Floyd Rose style trem.

Here it is for anyone that may be interested:

I'm not sure if you can tell from those pics, but it's actually 2 single coils side by side in the 'bridge' position. I've decided to sand the body out and fit a pickup ring and a humbucker to it and am in need of suggestions for the bridge and neck pickups.

I've spoken to both Tim and TO about this guitar and both have given me their suggestions about what will work in this guitar, but thought I'd throw it open to everyone before I made my mind up.

I'm looking for something that 1 step up from the current pickups I use in my other guitars (Mule in LP, Black Dog in LP, Crawler in Strat) but don't think I have the need for anything as hot as a Miracle Man or a Warpig. If I had to describe what I wanted, it'd be more of an 80's Rock tone :)

I'm currently thinking along the lines of a Cold Sweat in the bridge and a Trilogy Suite in the neck.

Thanks for any suggestions, and sorry for the long post for what is essentially a very simple question :roll:

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2007, 11:48:18 PM »

That is screaming out for a Cold Sweat!! BTW where did you buy that from?

Davey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2007, 11:48:27 PM »

go with that combo.

or maybe VHII, Irish Tour ??

Brow · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2007, 11:59:44 PM »

Thanks for the quick posts guys.

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

That is screaming out for a Cold Sweat!! BTW where did you buy that from?

It was hanging on the wall in my local music shop. I don't usually go for these style guitars (not a fan of thinner necks) but I gave it a try and liked it :)

The shop had it for sale at £135 as they thought it was just some Korean copy, so I got them to knock a bit more off the price and walked out with it :twisted:

Quote from: Davey

or maybe VHII, Irish Tour ??

I originally thought of a VHII myself but TO suggested a Cold Sweat after long talks on the subject :)

Davey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2007, 12:01:02 AM »

ok, then cold sweat it is... i don't want to go against the word of the Ancient of Metal!
:D

Brow · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2007, 12:06:42 AM »

When I spoke to Tim on the phone about this, he suggested a Miracle Man (says it's a 'silly grin' pickup in a Superstrat), but I think that'd be too much for what I'm looking for although I loved the sound of TOs in his Kami and soundclips. He also suggested a Painkiller, but if I'm honest, I've not heard a soundclip of a Painkiller bridge that 'spoken' to me :roll:

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2007, 01:04:06 AM »

135?! you lucky bar-steward!!

Painkiller focuses on the midrange sound, lots of mids for that typical british marshall sound.

Miracle Man is more scooped than the Painkiller, both though extremely tight!

I describe Cold Sweat as a less powerful Miracle Man, it's basically the same but has more of an 80's feel to it and is not all power harmonics and stuff.

Brow · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2007, 05:49:48 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

135?! you lucky bar-steward!!

I felt it was a good deal too, hence I bought it :lol:

I bought it with some intention of maybe selling it on for a small profit, but then got the idea of routing it out to be my '80's guitar' and then all thoughts of selling went out of the window :D

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

I describe Cold Sweat as a less powerful Miracle Man, it's basically the same but has more of an 80's feel to it and is not all power harmonics and stuff.

This has pretty much cemented the Cold Sweat in my mind for the bridge pickup :twisted:

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2007, 06:02:52 PM »

It'll sound huge!!

You planning to put a BK in the neck?

Brow · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2007, 06:07:58 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

You planning to put a BK in the neck?

I sure am! :D

I've tried Duncans, Dimarzios, EMGs, Lace Sensors and more and have never been happier with my guitar tone than I have been with BKs in my guitars :)

I'm gonna more than likely put a Trilogy Suite in the neck :)

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2007, 06:11:43 PM »

Whoah, exactly what i was gunna say!

It's gunna sound awesome!

Antag · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2007, 08:41:37 PM »

HOLY DIVER!! :twisted:

If you want something "more" than BD/Crawler but "less" than MM/WP than the mighty HD surely must be a prime candidate? :)

FWIW, I just threw up a load of HD clips (got carried away one weekend :lol:)
clean
dirty
dirtier
dirtiest :)

Brow · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2007, 11:38:46 PM »

Quote from: Antag

HOLY DIVER!! :twisted:

If you want something "more" than BD/Crawler but "less" than MM/WP than the mighty HD surely must be a prime candidate? :)

FWIW, I just threw up a load of HD clips (got carried away one weekend :lol:)
clean
dirty
dirtier
dirtiest :)

I actually quite like the tone of those clips :)

The tone was more 'metal' than I currently use myself, but there's no denying that that pickup sounded good :)

Brow · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2007, 06:39:38 PM »

For anyone that cares, at some point this week I will be placing an order for a Black Trem spaced Cold Sweat and a Black Trilogy Suite for the neck :twisted: