Charvel San Dimas 2009 Polar White - What pickup rings come as stock?

[masterofsolos]

Hi,

I've got one of these guitars second hand and the previous owner changed the pickup rings, from what I can tell. They're cream coloured but they're slanted, which I don't like. He's also stripped most of the mounting screw holes for the rings As it's an angled pickup ring, I assume he went and bought 4 longer screws for the highest sides of the rings, but I only have 3 long screws! the rest are small ones..so he's made a balls of things. I'd like to change the rings back to flat ones like I assume come stock. Where would be the best place to get these? I'd like them to be as exact as the stock ones if possible! Also, what screws would I need? (for screwing the rings to the body) - I assume i'd have to refill the holes somehow so I was thinking woodglue + slivers of toothpicks/matches?

Here's the current rings:


And here's the two different types of screws. He only had 3 of the long ones!


And the best picture of what I assume is the stock setup of the guitar?


Thanks!

[AndyK]

Yup, originally came with cream (flat) rings like the above photo.

Awesome color combo - very custom 80's Charvel!

[DonP]

Some of these had the pickups mounted to the body and no rings!

[AndyK]

Some of these had the pickups mounted to the body and no rings!

Not the USA ones - they all came with pickup rings.

[ginsambo]

Wildcard red 1H didn't, came with direct mount. The ones that came with black rings use Seymour Duncan rings.

[vondran]

... I assume i'd have to refill the holes somehow so I was thinking woodglue + slivers of toothpicks/matches?

Just cut some ends off of tooth picks to the depth of the holes and shove in, no need for glue. It will add enough extra material for the strews to wedge against. It's a permenant fix I do all the time with stripped strap button holes and I have no worries hanging a guitar by the strap afterwards. Same technique applies to pickup ring holes.

[Radiohead]

Nothing else to add, but great looking guitar. I always love white guitars.

[masterofsolos]

Thanks guys does anyone know where Charvel source their pickup rings so I can order some decent replacements, to bring it back to stock?

[dmoney666]

I would imagine they are just DiMarzio rings.

[MikeStrat]

Just an FYI. Gibson cream pup rings match the SD cream better than DiMarzio.

[masterofsolos]

Thanks MikeStrat! I just put in a zebra SD pickup last night and noticed how white the SD pickup is compared to the pickup rings so I'm thinking of changing the rings again!

[straycat]

One of those guys where everything HAS to match.
Screw length is nothing to worry about they will work for the flat rings just as well.

[masterofsolos]

I should have said "thinking again of changing the rings" - I haven't changed them from whatever the guitar had when I bought it, second hand. I figure it's not going to break the bank to throw a few quid at getting the guitar the way I want it the toggle switch is particularly crap.. it was changed from the stock one which I have no issue with to something that feels horrible and nasty when you change it. It also has a really light cheap plastic tip on it - I prefer the stock black metal one. Feels more solid.

[sytharnia1560]

why not just sand the angled rings flat?? .... I do it all the time, so easy

[Gigi]

masterofsolos:
i have your very same guitar, bought second hand me too, and my pickup rings are slanted just like yours. they look exactly like your first photo. so i would not be so sure that this guitar came with the flat pickup rings out of the factory.
other thing, in my guitar the screws of the pickup rings are all 12 mm long, and 6 (out of 8!!!) spin freely without having grip to the wood. so you're right, maybe the previous owner changed some of them with longer ones for this reason. i think i'm gonna replace some of them too...