Speaking of Charvel San Dimas guitars..PU swaps?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kapo_Polenton
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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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A few people have mentioned swapping out the JB in their Charvels.. I already have a JB in one of my other strats. I'd like to swap the stocker out of my san dimas. Any suggestions? I'm a total 80's guy so my first inclination was to go to a custom custom SH-11 for some vintage hot rod style tones. Maybe that motor city black belt pup. What else that doesn't cause tons of cashola? an SD?
 
SD Distortion has done me well with a So-Cal, also have a PAF type in another one for a lower gain tone. I dig both. The tone zone when louder was very cool but at lower level playing I did not dig the mids from it.
 
Liquifire neck with AT1 Bridge (killer combo)
or Suhr Aldrich in bridge

or find a vintage X2n (works great with coil split)
 
I started by changing the A5 in the JB to a Ceramic 8......which essentially makes it a Distortion "light". This was a big improvement and I could have just stopped there and been happy. However, I had a Suhr DSH+ laying around. I threw that in and it's almost perfection to my ears.

I bet the SH-11 would sound great. I love that pup in Strat bodies.
 
+1 for the Super Distortion in the San Dimas, and best thing is, it sounds great for both rhythm and lead work.
 
For me, it's between the Duncan Custom, and the Dimarzio SD. Both remove that dumb JB mid hump sound, the Custom is a little fatter in the mids than the SD.
 
duncan super v is a great pup for the san dimas!! it is really a cool pickup, hot but totally able to reign it im when needed!!
 
I like the JB but I find it is better suited to a strat that is a little darker. It is good in brighter alder but those mids do really pop out at you and I'm sick of the sound when I record. I like my air zone in my other bright guitar so i thought i would finally get around to trying something a little fatter and less mid humpy than the JB. The JB has a sound to it but I think after a while that sound can get old. I'm going to look into that super V. Is that essentially a screamin demon with more gain? Anything "Super v" makes me think Lynch right away.

Between Duncan and Dimarzio SD.. who'se is more VH authentic sounding? About the same?
 
I love the Dimarzio Super Distortion......but the extra height of the pickup requires some readjustments with the Floyd ? Right ????
 
I def don't need anymore pickup height.. I'm already stuck with a direct mounted pickup that comes close enough to the strings because of where I like the action.. maybe someone can chyme in on this?
 
So far, my favorite bridge pups in a San Dimas are the Mich Thompson Blackouts and the Tone Zone.
 
For more EVH you need a PAF clone, lower resistance reading pup that the SD Distortion.
 
Hey Digital jams.. Rockstah seems to get a pretty good VH vibe to his stuff with a cascade and an SD so the verdict is still out on whether or not the lower resistance PAF type pickup is the ticket. I'm using VH as an example but essentially it is that 80's tone I'm going for.
 
Kapo_Polenton":tilrugv9 said:
I def don't need anymore pickup height.. I'm already stuck with a direct mounted pickup that comes close enough to the strings because of where I like the action.. maybe someone can chyme in on this?
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Since you have a direct mount pickup, you have to be careful what you put in there. I believe pickups with ceramic magnets are taller and you can run into issues there.
 
I vote for a duncan custom or if you have some more $ then go with a BK Holy Diver.
 
Thanks for the input guys.. I'm going to compare my SH-5 to the JB.. it is ceramic so in theory would be about the same height as a duncan distortion or dimarzio SD if there was a diff. I'm leaning towards trying a dimarzio super D though... prob also a good time to look at shimming the neck to get the action a little closer to where I want it. I like these charvels but i will admit that I have not crushed over the neck as much as the rest of you. I have a custom strat with a neck built off the N4 specs and that thing is sweeter than a hot chick with a thong! (ok, not quite..but it will probably keep it's looks longer)
 
No issues here with the DiMarzio Super Distortion in my Dimas...but then I did add rings and its been so long that I dont recall the install day, just might've had to do a little shuck and jive after all to make it fit properly, can't remember, but I am pretty handy with the chisels and I do love that pickup so it WAS going in, lol. It sits perfectly in there now with plenty of space for any type of adjustment so all is well either way. It's a very old Super D however, not sure if that matters, heh. SD = San Dimas and Super Distortion, how could they not sound great together. ;)
 
rockstah":15alz09v said:
Check out Wades Detroiter. i haven't tried it in my strats yet but in my les paul its a kickass hotter paf pickup.
http://www.motorcitypickups.com/products/detroiter.htm

Mark
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I had the Detroiter in my old 80s Kramer Baretta II (I do not know the wood type - either Poplar or Maple) and I liked it a lot, but the bass was too tight. Perfect mids and sounds pissed off. I put a Rebel Yell in the Baretta and love everything about it except it is a little tinny/thin on the treble strings. If it had a slightly thicker treble response, it would be perfect. The quest continues as always. Still have not look into the Suhr Aldrich BKP Nailbomb, MCP 2nd Degree Black Belt, MCP Angel Dust, or Fender EVH. Thinking of just putting a good ole Duncan Distortion in it. I have one in a cheap LTD and it sounds pretty good. Evenly voiced for my rig, which is an Engl Savage 120 through a Bogner 2X12 cab (V30s, which I do not like anymore). I am probably going to wait until I get my new amp and cab before I start changing out pickups again.

The Suhr DSH+ is also a great pickup. I really like that one. Have it in my Ibanez Prestige 3120 and it sounds great. Wonder how much the Suhr Aldrich differs?

I had the Holy Diver in an Alder-bodied Carvin and that might work for you. Great for a bright guitar, but it is too much voiced in the center mids where it needed a little upper mid boost. Great pickup for leads though!!! Sent them to my buddy so he could try them out in his Jackson RR3.
 
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