Versatile HSS set for Basswood '89 Charvel 375

[declanpearson1]

Hey!
First post, be gentle...
I'm looking at changing the pickups in my '89 Charvel 375 Deluxe. It has a basswood body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard, with an original Schaller floyd. Currently installed are a set of EMG's - an 89R in the bridge, and 2 S-x single coils in the middle and neck, with a Strat Presence Control mid-boost pot installed. My main issue with these are the jump in power between the hum and singles, and just the lack of character and soul the EMG's have - don't get me wrong the clarity and articulation is there but they just sound limp.
The application of this guitar is wide and varied. I use it at University (I study Popular Music and Recording at Salford) for session musicianship, my guitar tuition, and whatever other genres and styles my course throws at me. I also play in a progressive metal band, and although I generally use my 7 string for that, occasionally being able to use this in Drop C would not be a bad thing.
I have tried both a c-pig and an a-pig in this, and I feel they're a bit too much for what I'm after in the bridge. Maybe something slightly lower gain that'll clean up well and and compliment the guitar. For middle and neck, I need versatility. I need those pickups to cover jazz, blues, funk, rock, soul, and anything/everything between, whilst being able to somewhat level well with the bridge.
So, any suggestions? Or am I asking too much?
Thanks for reading, sorry for the length!
Declan

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome.

I am not an expert on HSS, but it sounds like you really want something versatile here in general, not just middle and neck.

I would therefore suggest looking towards the vintage hot range. Hot enough to go heavy, but very capable of doing lower things wonderfully.
For example the Abraxas could be very nice here. Hotter version of the mule, which is the absolute oposite of a one trick pony (pun intended). Even the mule can do metal wonderfully with the right gear, but for generally being versatile and looking towards session stuff the AB might give a little more versatility.

Splits well also, though I recommend adding a 1k or 2,2k resistor in series with the ground path (PRS stlye) to not have the coil shut off completly, therefore keeping that little extra of bottom end and output to have it be more on par with a true SC.

Combine that with Irish tours in middle and neck probably, which are like taking classic SCs, adding some hotness, agression and mids plus a certain rock sparkel.
They can still wonderfully do clean stuff, keep up with most bridges and rocks much better than classic SCs. When it comes to versatility these are hard to beat imho.

[Dave Sloven]

Maybe have a look at this review.

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=30291.0

If you tried Warpigs maybe a Sinner/Miracle Man combo might be your thing

[Telerocker]

Abraxas or the beefier Crawler + Irish Tours is a versatile set to play jazz, funk, blues, rock etc.
If you want more mids but still vintagehot character: Slowhands for the sc's.
Abraxas and Crawler split wll and will give you a balanced tone and nice Fenderish quack on the fourth position.

[declanpearson1]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

The Abraxas sounds cool, I've just listened to the sound clips on here and I'm really digging the nice clean sounds it produces. Any experience with this in lower tunings or slightly heavier stuff - along the lines of Dream Theater etc?

The Crawler also sounds appealing, maybe a little hotter and more suited to my progressive interests, but again does anyone have any experience in dropping it to C?

I've already tried Warpigs in this, both Alnico and Ceramic, and whilst both did the heavier stuff fine, they just sounded a bit too heavy and harsh for anything else. Definitely saving those for if I get a baritone in the not too distant future!

I've never heard of running a resistor in series with the ground but it sounds like an interesting idea, do you have any wiring diagrams or examples to clarify this a bit?

The Irish Tour pickup sounds like exactly what I'm after! Would it be worth pairing this in the middle RWRP with maybe a Slow Hand in the neck? And any opinion on zinc plated steel baseplates? Would I benefit from these, and would they even be a possibility with me requiring EMG sized SC's?

Cheers,
Declan

[declanpearson1]

Sorry Agent Orange I completely missed the point of your comment until I re-read - it's been a long day!

The miracle man looks like it would be a little too hot for what I'm after, and the same with the sinner. They may have some versatility in them but they definitely come across as more metal pickups. Thanks for the suggestion and input though!

Declan

[Dave Sloven]

No worries.  In terms of contemporary humbuckers you might think of the Cold Sweat or Holy Diver.  These are some of the more versatile metal pickups. I think your guitar sounds a bit bright for a Rebel Yell.

Also have a look at the VHII

[Kiichi]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

The Abraxas sounds cool, I've just listened to the sound clips on here and I'm really digging the nice clean sounds it produces. Any experience with this in lower tunings or slightly heavier stuff - along the lines of Dream Theater etc?

The Crawler also sounds appealing, maybe a little hotter and more suited to my progressive interests, but again does anyone have any experience in dropping it to C?

I've already tried Warpigs in this, both Alnico and Ceramic, and whilst both did the heavier stuff fine, they just sounded a bit too heavy and harsh for anything else. Definitely saving those for if I get a baritone in the not too distant future!

I've never heard of running a resistor in series with the ground but it sounds like an interesting idea, do you have any wiring diagrams or examples to clarify this a bit?

The Irish Tour pickup sounds like exactly what I'm after! Would it be worth pairing this in the middle RWRP with maybe a Slow Hand in the neck? And any opinion on zinc plated steel baseplates? Would I benefit from these, and would they even be a possibility with me requiring EMG sized SC's?

Cheers,
Declan

I think the Abraxas should do pretty well with drop C, while the Crawler in my mind would not.

On the wiring itīs like this http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2012/dgt_2012.pdf. Use a 2,2k for the bridge and it really works well.
Since one HB coil is still not a true SC this makes up for the difference a little.
I also just discovered it rather recently but I love it since. Itīs not night and day, but it really is worthwhile.

EMG sized SCs can be done when you ask for them far as I know.

RWRP middle can be good if that is what you are after, but for me personally I donīt like that humcancelling. Have a look here and hear the difference http://youtu.be/j2Z7ZIKAXTA
You might really want that humcancelling, but I feel for me it is wrong.

[Telerocker]

The Crawler isn't the tightest in BKP-line (but still tight enough for me in standardtuning) and I would not recommend that one for drop-C. If you want something in the vintagehot-range that is tight and does lower tunings very well: Black Dog.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Much as I love the versatility of the Crawler, for your requirements I'd suggest looking at either a Holydiver or Black Dog. For the single coils, I think it will depend on how much you want a traditional single coil tone or how much you want there to be no volume drop. Irish Tours will give you the most traditional tone but you'll also notice the biggest drop in volume. The Trilogy Suites have a more modern tone while still being distinctly single coil in nature and will give you very little volume drop while Slowhands sit a bit between the two.

[declanpearson1]

Thanks for the replies guys!
So as of yet, after looking at the posts and listening to sound clips of suggested pickups, I'm currently thinking: Holy Diver/Abraxas/VHII in the bridge, Slow Hand or Irish Tour in the middle, and Trilogy Suite or Slow Hand in the neck.
How would you guys cut this? I think the Holy Diver is definitely as hot as I'm willing to go, and I think anything lower in output than the VHII will struggle with the progressive metal interests. Anyone else with experience with the Trilogy Suite? My understanding is it's named in relevance to Yngwie, suggesting its a shredders pickup, but how versatile is it?

[Kiichi]

How would you guys cut this? I think the Holy Diver is definitely as hot as I'm willing to go, and I think anything lower in output than the VHII will struggle with the progressive metal interests. Anyone else with experience with the Trilogy Suite? My understanding is it's named in relevance to Yngwie, suggesting its a shredders pickup, but how versatile is it?

Just to make one thing clear mate http://youtu.be/g-xQJOu9mN8 Mule bridge, Manhattan neck. Questions?^^

Oh and have a look around the review collection thread which is stickied here. Should help you out looking up more on our recommendations.

[Slartibartfarst42]

A couple of things about what you say suggest that you'd prefer a pickup with a more modern voice. Having had EMG pups you'll be used to something with a modern voice and while I appreciate that you don't want active pickups, I think you'll miss the cut you get from a modern voicing. Furthermore, given the lower tuning, I think you'll prefer a pickup that is reasonably tight. The Holydiver does fit the bill in that regard while being warm, smooth and organic enough to make it far more versatile than your existing pups. One of the reasons I like the Holydiver so much is that it covers Classic Rock to more modern Metal really well. The reason I think the Black Dog would work well is because its voicing is similar to the Holydiver and it uses a modern polyspl wire that helps to keep things nice and tight for the lower tuning. The others you're considering use a more vintage wire so will be that touch softer and while they will work well, I just think a pickup with a slightly more modern voicing will be a safer bet. In many ways the Black Dog would be really good as it has a distinctly vintage character but with modern cut.

The Trilogy Suite may have a modern voice and is good for shredding but it is also quite versatile and has a great single coil tone. One final thing about the middle position is that the middle pickup is invariably set lower than the other two so if you had say a Holydiver in the bridge and Trilogy Suite in the neck, a weaker pickup in the middle may get swamped a bit.

[darthphineas]

I'm new to BKPs and have only have them for about a week.  but the OP has brought up the HD and VHII in this thread.  I put a VHII in my basswood Charvel Predator (maple neck, rosewood board, Jackson-branded Schaller trem) and I like it there a lot.  there's a little more output to that pickup than expected due to the tone and the overall voicing.  while I have a HD in an alder guitar, I can totally see it working great in basswood as well...maybe even a bit better if you're into drop tunings.  I don't have experience with any other models so far, but I'd be willing to agree on those.