F*ck with a CS Star?

[vector]

After 2+ years pf playing my Custom Shop Star, I've decided I really like passive p'ups better. There's cases to be made for both types, but as a unapologetic waste-product of the 80's shred/hair metal era, I just dig the sound of a good passive humbucker. Leads to my two questions:

1) Do I risk fucking with a CS ax and go for the sound I'm really wanting- passive?

2) If so, which p'ups for it?

I'm a fan of SD JB's, Customs, EVH Frankensteins, WCR Murkat Floyd Specifics. Wondering which would work best for an 80's sound with a little more bottom than, say, the EVH or JB. No scooped mids, easy pinch and open harmonics and well-suited for lots of Floyd work are a must.

The ax has an alder body with maple bolt on neck and rosewood board. Very warm and crunchy sounding.

[Vass]

First I'd say: absolutely fuck with it. Life is too short to have a CS with pups you don't like. Not a thing about it that can't be undone anyway.

Second, Duncan Distortion?

[neilli]

Pickup changes aren't "fucking with" a guitar - I thought I was gonna read about a refin, kahler install or something LOL As far as pickups go, I'd suggest the Duncan Custom..

[Axewielder]

Is there a battery box in the body?

[AIC70]

Just don't change the graphic and all is good. Custom Custom for the bridge, Pearly gates for the neck. Nice red Charvel logo!

[shreddermon]

Pickup changes aren't "fucking with" a guitar

+1. Entirely reversable, fuck away.

[Richard W]

Trust me, DiMarzio Gravity Storms.

[Jack Napalm]

That's a damn nice guitar no matter the pickups. Switch em out. Look at the Seymour Duncan actives too.

[hunter1970]

That's one cool Star. Liking the Red Logo.
As far as pickups that's really a personal preference, and depends on different factors, like string gauge, tuning, and the amp and settings.
With all that said I'd say a Duncan Custom. I had one in a Charvel I had before and I really likes it.

[toejam]

DiMarzio Tone Zone. Or if you really dig the JB, why not have Duncan's custom shop wind you one with a little more low end so you get specifically what you want?

[Flatpicker]

It's yours.

Do what you want with it. That's the cool thing.

[xenophobe]

Honestly, I don't think any CS Jackson or Charvel is worth more or less with the original pickups.

Put what you want in it. It's a CS guitar. Putting in pickups you like more is something you're expected to do, IMO.

Oh, and I really love the SH-5. It's got such massive tone and squeal without compromising the somewhat cut mid-range.

[vector]

Couple o' things- currently there are SD active Blackouts in there. I like the Blackouts but not enough freq. dynamics in them compared to passives. And EMG's? I can't stand the sterile EMG's so, actives are a "no go". Co-guitarist in my band has Gus G's which have a greater freq. range than other actives, with higher output of actives but the dynamics are still not as appealing as the passives. This means that there is, indeed, a battery box built into the control cavity (my suggestion to the CS, btw)

toejam- great idea. I have heard of this but had forgotten it was an option.

[Hellbat]

Well, since you already have a battery box why not go with the pickup models you want and then go with the standalone Blackout pre-amp? makes everything solderless too, which is nice.

http://cdn.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/schematics/BMP_2H_1V_3W.pdf

[vector]

Even better idea, Hellbat!