Which BKP's for my mystery wood Carvin Guitar?

[Mister Crowley]

Hi Guys,

I picked up a used Carvin DC200 a couple of months ago at Guitar Center. It's currently got EMG's in which sound good but I'm looking at putting some BKP's in it. The only problem is since it's used I don't know what wood the body or neck is. It's a super strat layout but it's heavy. The three body wood options were alder (which was standard), mahogany, or walnut. I'm thinking it's either Mahogany or Walnut because of the weight. I was just going to buy a Ceramic Warpig for the bridge and a Cold Sweat neck. Do you think this pup combo would work in the aformentioned woods? I was thinking it wouldn't matter but I've heard some say a Miracle Man sounds to bright in an Alder body, a Warpig sounds too muddy in a Mahogany body, etc. Any other pickups you could think of would be great as well. Thanks!

PS. This will be my shred/heavy metal guitar. Thanks.

[Ratrod]

A Miracle Man works great with mahogany. Not shure how it is with the other types of wood you mentioned. The Miracle Man is also very good for your style.

[TwilightOdyssey]

A Carvin with EMGs?!

Well, the stock pickups were replaced, and perhaps EMGs were used because the guitar does not have a good tone to begin with. (Doubtful, since all of the Carvins I have played had exceptional tone)

Walnut is primarily used in bass guitars.

Pictures would really help us out, here. And in turn, help you out.

How does the guitar sound acoustically?

[genocidal tendencies]

Don't carvin keep records of the guitars they make? Unless it's really old I would have thought you could call them up with the serial number and find out what wood it is.

I guess carvins get treated to EMG retrofits quite often because a lot of carvins are active anyway, so it's a bit easier than with other brands.

[Mister Crowley]

I'll try and get some pics later after I get off work, it's on'y 8:45 am over here in Caliornia ;) The guitar is all black, with no serial number I tried that route but didn't get anywhere. Yes I think who ever owned the Carvin before me had the EMG's installed so yes they are mystery EMG's in a mystery Carvin. I like the sound now, just would prefer going back to passive pups since the Carvin's coil taps and phase switch don't work with the EMG's. If walnut is used primarily for bass guitars I'm thinking it's Mahogany, because of the weight (it's a little heavier than my Alder tele, if it were alder I think it'd be lighter) and acoustically it's a little on the darker side. That being said would the ceramic warpig be a good match for a mahogany superstrat like this?

[MDV]

Well, I wouldnt worry too much about what the name of the wood is: trust your ears! Bits of wood of the same type vary anyway: theres not that much in its name per se anyway.

If its dark in tone (then its probably mahogany anyway) then the MM will work to add to the bass and the treble will still cut through, brightening the dark sound.

Sounds like a good idea to put an MM in to me.

Even if its alder, I've had a few MMs in an alder/maple guitar with fantastic results.

I also got one in a particularly dark couple of pieces of mahogany: accoustically all low end unless you raised the action right up to get some mids in, and it crushed, but still with a lot of highs.