F*ck with a CS Star?

[xenophobe]

I'm not a fan of SD at all, but the SH-5 I have in my CS Charvel sounds amazing. Not nasaly like the JB, excellent pinch harmonics and a very balanced eq. I'd say put an EMG 85 in the bridge cause it isn't sterile, but apparently that wouldn't float with you.

[vector]

I'm not a fan of SD at all, but the SH-5 I have in my CS Charvel sounds amazing. Not nasaly like the JB, excellent pinch harmonics and a very balanced eq. I'd say put an EMG 85 in the bridge cause it isn't sterile, but apparently that wouldn't float with you.

Xen- I have a custom in one of my Hamer Californians and it sounds really good. Not nasally, like a JB as you coined it. However, IMO it still lacks something in the mids that I can't put my finger on. Maybe that's the mahogany and ebony influence.

I keep thinking of the two Charvel USA ProMod San Dimas I've had- one had a Tone Zone and the other, a JB (I believe) & both had a '59 in the neck. Both were friggin' sweet for pick articulation and harmonics; killer highs but had a nice thick chunkiness to them when playing rhythm on the bridge PU. The '59 was so damned smooth as well.

[j2379]

1 thing, you may need to drill from the spring cavity into the control cavity since these were factory EMGs there may not be a hole for a ground to the spring claw.

[vector]

1 thing, you may need to drill from the spring cavity into the control cavity since these were factory EMGs there may not be a hole for a ground to the spring claw.

j2379- I can live with that. If that's the only thing standing in the way of me getting a better sound dialed in then, fuggit! Time to drill.

And for the last time- they're Blackouts, not EMG's.

[slayer]

I'm not a fan of SD at all, but the SH-5 I have in my CS Charvel sounds amazing. Not nasaly like the JB, excellent pinch harmonics and a very balanced eq. I'd say put an EMG 85 in the bridge cause it isn't sterile, but apparently that wouldn't float with you.

I agree. The EMG 85 in the bridge is very nice. The SD Custom, if it`s what is also what is known as the SD Custom 5 then I totally agree. Great pickup. Another option similar to the Custom 5 with a little more mids is the Rio Grande BBQ Bucker. Holy smokes does that thing had some serious harmonics!! i had it in an all mahogany set neck guitar and it brought it to life like no other pickup ever in it.

[vector]

Decided to give the SD Gus G Blackouts a shot as they have a bit more of the response and dynamics of a passive with the output and gain of the actives. Plus, they're easily installed: quick connect rather than soldering, using existing guts.

Question: the active Blackouts did not need a ground to the trem spring claw and thus a hole for the ground wire to the trem spring cavity was never created . My guess is the Gus G's also won't need one?

[toejam]

The SD Custom, if it`s what is also what is known as the SD Custom 5 then I totally agree. Great pickup.

No, there's the Custom (Ceramic magnet), Custom Custom (Alnico 2 magnet), and the Custom 5 (Alnico 5 magnet). I think they're all wound the same, just the different magnets give them different sounds. The Custom is like a PAF on steroids, a little more balanced. The CC is warmer with more mids, similar to early EVH. The C5 is more scooped in the mids.

[toejam]

Question: the active Blackouts did not need a ground to the trem spring claw and thus a hole for the ground wire to the trem spring cavity was never created . My guess is the Gus G's also won't need one?

I think they do need a ground. http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/..._schematic.pdf

Just ask on the Seymour Duncan Forum to be sure. http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/

[vector]

I think they do need a ground. http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/..._schematic.pdf

Just ask on the Seymour Duncan Forum to be sure. http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/

Thanks Toejam!

[toejam]

No problem. I read something awhile back about someone complaining they thought it was weird the regular Blackouts needed a ground, but you say they didn't. And I remember seeing that schematic about the Gus G and they seem indicate they do. Active Duncans, Blackouts and Live Wires, have always confused me, so I just stuck with EMGs.

[vector]

Mutha fooker! Putting in the Gus G's is more tedious than the time I tried to bang that virgin in high school...taking for-EVAH! Hope the result with the Gus G's is better than with the virgin. 3 hours, a LOT of sweettalkin' bullshit and a 6 pack of beer I'll never get back.

[RacerX]

3 hours, a LOT of sweettalkin' bullshit and a 6 pack of beer I'll never get back.

And they say romance is dead

[vector]

And they say romance is dead

Yup. I was (am) a reg'lar Casanova.

[84sups]

I don't see a ground on those diagrams at all. It would be coming off the back of the volume pot. Should be a wire going to this symbol and there isn't
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[vector]

I don't see a ground on those diagrams at all. It would be coming off the back of the volume pot. Should be a wire going to this symbol and there isn't

Sups- are you referring to the Gus G Fire Blackouts? I did not see a ground wire depicted either BUT they did have a housing/ terminal for the ground wire so, I put one in. It can't hurt the functioning so far as I know, and the fact that they're passives with an active preamp suggests that they should have a ground.