Making a Charvel sound like a Les Paul

[Rock Pig]

So I have recently bought myself a Charvel Production Model San Dimas Style 1, and I'm starting to hear its flaws. The JB in the bridge sounds a little too thin for my liking when I'm up at the dusty end of the neck, and the '59 sounds almost Stratty in some of its trebles, which might work for some but not me. Can anybody reccomend me some replacements based on my tonal demands?

In the bridge position I'm looking for a woody midrange surrounded by clear trebles that cut through without being harsh and a beefy but well defined bass response. Upper midrange bark is a predilection of mine, as well.

In the neck position I need it to be thicker with a smooth treble and a vintage vibe - as much like a good Les Paul as I can get it, to be honest.

I play 80s Hard Rock in the vein of Extreme and Van Halen, and to that end I'd been considering Nuno's preffered Bill Lawrence L500something (made by the man, not the company). Can anybody with experience of these fill me in on their pros and cons, and whether they'd suit me.

I'm not fussed about output but I don't want to sound particularly modern.

Thanks then :D

By the way, if you're interested I can give you a mini-review of the guitar; it's amazing, with a killer neck, good trem and superb quality, but the idiots at the factory NEVER SOLDERED THE GROUND WIRE IN. Being that I'm not a genius at DIY I'm going to have to give it to a tech to take the spring base off and solder it in. -_-

[Davey]

my only gripe (well, good thing, depends on how you look at it) is that it doesnt have a floating trem, that's why i havent got one (luckily lol)

i say what i always say :P
Ceramic warpig, VH II .. others may have better suggestions

[FernandoDuarte]

Mule AIV
Black Dog
Crawler

Are the things that comes in my mind, from clips and comments here... (to sound like a LP, not like Van Halen)

[MGheartGuitar]

How about you replace the volume pot with a 250K?

[Prawnik]

To be honest, any guitar with a Strat (25.5") scale length will never sound like a Les Paul or any other guitar with a 24.75" scale length.

This is because scale length determines string tension, and by extension, the resonant frequencies of the strings. Pickups can make a tone fatter, hotter, thinner, whatever, but they can only emphasize or diminish what the strings produce. They don't produce anything on their own.

In other words, a Strat-type guitar with hot pickups will sound like a boosted beefed-up Strat but not like a Les Paul.

[hunter]

I would say you should NOT get:

VHII
RiffRaff
ColdSweat

Those are too bright/thin for your objectives.

I would consider:
-Holy Diver (the thickest)
-Mule (the allrounder)
-Rebel Yell (the rocker)

Black Dog sounds interesting. This could work as well, but I only heard one in a 'Paul.

[Twinfan]

Having owned nearly all the pickups he mentions, I completely agree with Hunter.

Holydivers sprung immediately to my mind to get you some girth to your tone....

[darkbluemurder]

+1 for the Holydiver Bridge. The Cold Sweat Neck is a good match for it. I have this combination in my PRS Custom and I really like it.

Based on what I read recently, I would also consider the Abraxas for the neck position (have not played one though).

[Twinfan]

The Holydiver neck ain't too shabby either  ;)  Don't rule out a matching set!

[Crazy_Joe]

The Holydiver neck ain't too shabby either  ;)  Don't rule out a matching set!

Agreed.

[gwEm]

agree that the vh2 would not be a good choice

[Denim n Leather]

Cold Sweat

[Rock Pig]

my only gripe (well, good thing, depends on how you look at it) is that it doesnt have a floating trem, that's why i havent got one (luckily lol)

That's why I picked it over the competition - recessed trems are a pointless waste of tonewood, IMO.

To be honest, any guitar with a Strat (25.5") scale length will never sound like a Les Paul or any other guitar with a 24.75" scale length.

This is because scale length determines string tension, and by extension, the resonant frequencies of the strings. Pickups can make a tone fatter, hotter, thinner, whatever, but they can only emphasize or diminish what the strings produce. They don't produce anything on their own.

In other words, a Strat-type guitar with hot pickups will sound like a boosted beefed-up Strat but not like a Les Paul.

This has occured to me, albeit fleetingly. But then, beefed up Strat would probably fit the bill; I'm trying to get as much as there is to be had out of the guitar.


The Rebel Yells and Holy Divers sound nice. Right now I'm considering a Rebel Yell in the bridge (for, quite simply, a good rock tone) and a Holy Diver in the neck (for some beef). Does this sound about right? My main concern about this combination would be the outputs. How do you think they'd match up?
Thanks for all the input, guys :D

[Philly Q]

The Rebel Yells and Holy Divers sound nice. Right now I'm considering a Rebel Yell in the bridge (for, quite simply, a good rock tone) and a Holy Diver in the neck (for some beef). Does this sound about right? My main concern about this combination would be the outputs. How do you think they'd match up?
Thanks for all the input, guys :D

I may well be wrong, never having owned one, but I don't think the HD neck is particularly beefy.  It's the bridge pickup that's renowned for its bovine qualities.  I think the neck is relatively mild, probably no fatter than the RY neck. 

You might be better off with a calibrated set.

[Davey]

my only gripe (well, good thing, depends on how you look at it) is that it doesnt have a floating trem, that's why i havent got one (luckily lol)

That's why I picked it over the competition - recessed trems are a pointless waste of tonewood, IMO.

I do not like you sir.  :x




 :P